Can someone explain to me why I do NOT need another tractor?

[Piston]

Here is my situation:
My wife and I have our first kid on the way, we are trying to save to build a new house on our 31 acres in NH, and I'm going to start clearing the land this spring/summer/fall.
I don't want another payment because it will affect my credit, my current tractor is paid off, and I like no debt, however, I keep thinking my tractor is too light duty for what I tend to do with it.
I start reading through this forum and it makes me think I need some beast of a tractor to work on my land. I keep thinking I need to upgrade to something with about 50-60 PTO hp, a higher 3pt hitch rating, and considerably more FEL lift capacity.

I need to just be happy with the setup I have, and work within it's limits, and rent out the stuff I can't handle. However, I have this 'longing' for a nice big cab tractor that can handle everything I throw at it. (or at least 95% of what I throw at it)

Please explain to me that I'm thinking like a moron and I don't NEED a bigger tractor!

I just started reading the recent thread "Anyone regret having a cab tractor" and it reminds me how much I'd like to have a cab tractor. However, I think until I get my woods cleared out a little it's a better idea to hold off, but that doesn't stop me from really wanting a larger cab tractor :laughing:

 

[bcp]

Want > Need



Bruce

 

[grsthegreat]

No one NEED another tractor. i got my new one simply cause i dont have any bills or kids to support. if i did i would have stuck with my old tractor.


My best advice to anyone is..save up spare cash in a slush fund until you have enough cash to buy the new items you want. You take out a mortgage on a house cause no one has enough cash to buy a house. But to take out a loan (mortgage) to buy a truck or a tractor is nutz. 0% is never really 0%...theres always a catch involved. I made my best offer on my tractor..then came with cash and got a better deal. plus i have no payments hanging over my head.

family and home first
toys and tools second
fun always runs last

 

[JDgreen227]

If it were me, I would balance the cost of what you want as a replacment vs. the actual amount of time you would use it to prepare the property. You may be able to hire much of the heavy work you want to do for much less than your cost to trade up. Many variables...like how long do you plan to live on the property, what do you plan to do once you are settled, can you actually work the cost of a new and bigger tractor into your finances without screwing up your budget?

 

[Rackluster]

Piston - I have a score to settle with you. One thing lead to another and your grapple picture thread caused me to buy a brand new tractor. So, if I can get you to buy a cab tractor we'll be even.

Close your eyes...relax.....think about sitting in that cab in the middle of July....bugs everywhere....swealtering heat.....but you don't care because you have the ac cranked...The kids are running around like they're nuts, mrs. piston is screaming at them...but all you hear is the purr of those 60 horses and maybe some tunes on the radio....you spend the whole day in the tractor...never left the comfort of the cab....late in the afternoon a downpour comes out of nowhere but who really cares...You just keep a tractoring away...You haven't broken a sweat all day. All you can think about is how you should have gotten a 60hp cab tractor years ago.........

 

[LD1]

Please explain to me that I'm thinking like a moron and I don't NEED a bigger tractor!

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Wrong forum to be asking that on.

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

I suggest you subscribe to some "money management" forum

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[MtnViewRanch]

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Wrong forum to be asking that on.

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

I suggest you subscribe to some "money management" forum

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

I think that might not work out to good for many of us.

Piston, Kubotas have great resale and you have made other improvements on the tractor. :thumbsup: How much would it really cost you once you sold your current tractor? You don't have to go back with another Kubota.

I have known many people that when looking back they either could have kept something that they had sold because they thought that they needed to or they could have bought something that sure would have made their life nicer but didn't because at the time they thought that they couldn't afford it. But looking back they actually would have been able too.

It's a tough decision, A LOT of variables to consider.

Oh yeah, we were suppose to talk you out of getting that M7040, or Kioti 6010C, so just forget about the whole deal, your Kubota will keep on doing what needs to be done long after your kids are all grown and gone. It will just take you a little longer. :mur:

 

[magicheater]

Want > Need



Bruce

As soon as you have (WANT) 2 Tractors you will begin to realize which one you can live without. If you can't live without either one then you (NEED) 2 Tractors. :dance1:

 

[Verticaltrx]

I need to just be happy with the setup I have, and work within it's limits, and rent out the stuff I can't handle.

This is my vote, based on the fact that you have a full-size TLB.

I'll also add, no matter how big of a tractor you have, seems like there are plenty of jobs that it is still too small for. We have a M9540 at the farm, sometimes even it is too small leaving us yearning for a track loader. It's a never ending cycle, lol. Just be happy with what you have...

 

[buck12]

My rule is I never borrow money for toys (tractor, atv, shop, etc). I want a bigger tractor one day but it will be a cash purchase. My little tractor will do anything a bigger tractor will do given a little time. Also remember kids are money pits. It is amazing how disposable income disappears when kids come along.

 

[WM75Guy]

Also remember kids are money pits. It is amazing how disposable income disappears when kids come along.

:thumbsup: X2, 3, 4, to infinity. You cannot feed or put diapers on the kid with a new tractor.
You might be able to change diapers with your TLB if you can feather the backhoe good enough and it has a thumb. That's as close as I want to get to dirty diapers. :laughing::laughing:
Seriously, now is not the time for spending cash or having any new payments with a baby on the way.

 

[blueriver]

I have a rule ... If I want it, can pay for it ... Buy it.

 

[Singlemalt]

I used a Kubota L3710 to do a lot of work around my property when I was building, including stump digging with the FEL.

When you move to a bigger tractor it's amazing how many of your old implements that were satisfactory just won't adapt.

Don't sell your L4610 short.

 

[jenkinsph]

I used a Kubota L3710 to do a lot of work around my property when I was building, including stump digging with the FEL.

When you move to a bigger tractor it's amazing how many of your old implements that were satisfactory just won't adapt.

Don't sell your L4610 short.

Very good point you make, all of my tractors 110, 4520 and 820 are similar in size and weight and can share most implements. When I bought the small x749 with limited cat 1 hitch I had to buy another set of smaller sized implements.

 

[RTII]

While I think that purchasing "toys" with cash is the right way to go about things, I consider my tractor a tool which I just happen to enjoy using. With that said I also consider that my time has an actual value to me. So if the numbers work out that a better tool like a tractor will increase my productivity (thus enabling more free time - the REAL value!) then I don't mind having a note to pay off. This probably only makes sense to me but hey, we're not all clones so we do whats good for us as individuals.

 

[Singlemalt]

More important than asking us what we think, what does your 'significant other' think?

 

[deere5105]

While I think that purchasing "toys" with cash is the right way to go about things, I consider my tractor a tool which I just happen to enjoy using. With that said I also consider that my time has an actual value to me. So if the numbers work out that a better tool like a tractor will increase my productivity (thus enabling more free time - the REAL value!) then I don't mind having a note to pay off. This probably only makes sense to me but hey, we're not all clones so we do whats good for us as individuals.

Would be surprised to hear anyone state taking on debt is a good thing. It's just not always an option to pay cash for everything for some. I purchased my first tractor at a time I questioned if I should or not. Little later added a FEL to it. After spending a little time with this set up I realized I really wanted something a little bigger and 4WD. Moved up from 50 HP to 64 HP at engine and 4WD for very little extra due to finding a really good deal and buying initially a machine that would have a good resale. After now spending a year or so with the new machine I am very glad I made the move. I too would love a cab for certain situations, but just don't find it practical for what I do at this time. I spend an equal amount of time in the woods and would be constantly worried about damaging the cab. Like others have stated, if you have clearing work that your machine is not suited to you may want to consider highering it done or renting. Often this type of work can be pretty tough on a machine and you could avoid putting that wear on your own machine. For most maintenance and upkeep work you may find you have just what you need already.

 

[RTII]

"Would be surprised to hear anyone state taking on debt is a good thing. ".......

Yeah, hence my qualifier:

While I think that purchasing "toys" with cash is the right way to go about things, I consider my tractor a tool which I just happen to enjoy using. With that said I also consider that my time has an actual value to me. So if the numbers work out that a better tool like a tractor will increase my productivity (thus enabling more free time - the REAL value!) then I don't mind having a note to pay off. This probably only makes sense to me but hey, we're not all clones so we do whats good for us as individuals.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

You can do it yourself with what you have when you have time.

You can upgrade and do it yourself when you have time and get more done. :thumbsup:

You can pay someone else to do stuff, hope that they can do it when and how you want it done and have no new machine and still be out the $$$$$.

If money is tight, then the first option is probably the best for now. But to wait for everything to be just right, you will be waiting a long long time, there is always some reason NOT to do something.

Everyone looks at things a bit different, only you can make this decision.

 

[foreman Etexas]

If you need two then get the second,or just trade up. I have two and sometimes wish I had a 3rd so I dont have to keep moving one back and forth. I will suggest wait until the baby gets here,we had trouble with the second son and spent quite a bit a time in the hospital and doctors office for a short bit after he was born($$$$),then the wife didnt go back to work until he was around 2 but all is good now days. I have 2 sons and 2 kubotas,and of course I financed the tractors, if I waited 3yrs to save up and buy one,what would I do until then,rely on someone else? You take someone that says have to pay cash for eveything and take me who has finaced somethings and paid them off,and see who gonna get the better morgage rate or even financed. I have had the cash and still financed for year and pay it off in 6mnths to get my credit in the 700's.I keep my debt to income ratio under 50%. If you can afford it,then do what your wife will let you