Do I need a tractor?

[Larro Darro]

Well cared for tractors have not been depreciating greatly. But the bargains are there because some people can't think very far ahead and find they "have to sell it now", and if you are standing there with the cash you can take advantage of the situation.

This is true. Five or six years ago my boss's father had a heart attack and was told by his doctor not to garden anymore. He sold me the B7500 with 102 hours on it, a 42" Bush Hog, 5' tiller, 5' boxblade, lift-boom, middle buster, cultivator and a duel axle trailer to haul it all on for $7500. I had been looking for over three years for the right deal. When he offered it to me for that price, I almost sprang my wrist getting my checkbook out.

Six months later he bought himself another tractor and he has been gardening ever since. His health has got a lot worse lately. I wonder if he would want to sell his new tractor?

 

[k0ua]

This is true. Five or six years ago my boss's father had a heart attack and was told by his doctor not to garden anymore. He sold me the B7500 with 102 hours on it, a 42" Bush Hog, 5' tiller, 5' boxblade, lift-boom, middle buster, cultivator and a duel axle trailer to haul it all on for $7500. I had been looking for over three years for the right deal. When he offered it to me for that price, I almost sprang my wrist getting my checkbook out.

Six months later he bought himself another tractor and he has been gardening ever since. His health has got a lot worse lately. I wonder if he would want to sell his new tractor?

Man that was a deal, I got 8400 out of my 2002 in 2010, I had 100 more hours on mine (DT model) no implements, and dang sure no trailer.

 

[Larro Darro]

Man that was a deal, I got 8400 out of my 2002 in 2010, I had 100 more hours on mine (DT model) no implements, and dang sure no trailer.

I had the 3930, plus a couple of riding mowers, so I could afford to wait. That is the key to good deals. Well, that and a whole lot of luck.

 

[Reddernecked]

Points well made Newbury! I totally agree, good used well cared for tractors are fantastic deals these days. My Dad bought a 24 horse Kubota in 1978, I want to say it was a 24L, but don't quote that model number I am a Ford/New Holland guy and I just don't remember it exactly to give the model number. He also got a very nice tiller attachment, and bushog, and I can't remember what else he got, maybe a finish mower? He paid 7,000.00 and tax. We used that for our entire upbringing and then some and 37 years later, we sold that tractor for 3k. The buyer never blinked. That was May 2013! Point is that was VERY well used and still brought half the money he paid brand new. Dad and I, and another fella all 3 bought a New Holland TC 30 in 2007 all less than 30 hours. We bought 3 by 9 forward gears. The price was 9900.00~ I am pretty confident I could get the money back for my tractor today, as its been very well taken care of, and the new prices on like tractors are not 9900.00! Last I knew they were 12,300.00 or so. And this is the economy sized compact. They only go up, WAY up in price and power as you are well aware. Sounds like you have made some great purchases there! Good for you!

 

[Reddernecked]

Holy moly you did real well too Larro! Good for you!

 

[Larro Darro]

Reddernecked, I'm hoping to buy a 24 year old B1750 with a 48" woods RFM from my work. I used it for over half of those years, so I know it has been well cared for. I think they are going to ask $1.5K. That is what one of the board members told me anyway. It looks kind of rough, but still works great. They bought a new scag, so they can let the 'bota go.

 

[cardiologist]

Thank you all once again. A lot to think about. I agree with buying something used and letting someone else take the initial depreciation hit. I've never been one to be wasteful. I'll get something older with more attachments and implements. You'll get much more for your money.

I agree with the above, a lot of the low hour used tractors are probably someone who wanted to upgrade to a bigger tractor.

 

[drjay9051]

Do you NEED a tractor, most likely no. I'd venture to say unless you or any other forum members are on an active farm producing crops etc you (we) do not need a tractor. In the long run many of us would be ahead of the game financially if we just rented equipment on a daily basis.

Sounds like you want a tractor. in spite of medicare cuts, costs of EMR implementation and other hits to medical practice you likely can afford the lawn service. That is really not the issue.

i disagree with those who suggest you save your soft hands and let others do the work.

There is something therapeutic about cranking up the tractor, cutting some grass, digging some holes etc.

Like yourself several years back i asked myself "do i need a tractor", NO. However I wanted a tractor and am glad I purchased one. Does wonders for my serenity to climb aboard. Cheaper than an analyst and safer than benzodiazapines (think Valium, Xanax etc).

Get the tractor , get a mower , get a box blade and have some fun. I gave up golf for mountain biking and tractor work. Just seems like a better fit in my case. Yes at the end of the day I am sweating, dirty and stink but my inner self is serene, contented and destressed.

Why look back and think "Why didn't I..."

BTW: When you get your tractor look into a flail mower instead of a rotary cut. There is a whole thread on flail mowers in the implement sub forum.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Old MacDonald,

The good Dr. came here to get advice on buying a tractor, and asking if he needs one. You are implying the Dr. doesn't need one. Am I right on that implication?

He also states he has children, and they too can learn to operate a tractor, which all of us tractor operators learned when we were 8 or 9 years old, or there about.

Yes, you are correct that I think he does not need one. I am not quite alone on that. He did say in his opening post that he wants one but wondered if he needs one. Given his high pressure occupation I know he needs some relaxation, and he needs to spend quality time with his family. He cannot have very much spare time - and he told us at #35 the other things he does in addition to his "normal" workload. That post threw it for me, although as can be seen from my earlier posts, I was leaning towards him hiring people to do his grass cutting etc. If he was in a different occupation I would think differently. I bought a 163 acres working farm when I was in a fairly senior public service job, but had no commitments other than the job (which I soon afterwards gave up) and enjoyed nothing better than to unwind doing useful farm work with my little grey Fergie so long as there was daylight. I had been brought up on a smallholding and owned one of my own prior to buying the 163 acres so I was well experienced in agricultural work on a smaller acreage. I bought another two tractors and used all three daily. Cardiologist is in a different position to me. He does have other commitments.

Even Murph at #36 questioned what he wanted to do. Then lilranch2001 at #38 and TripleR at #40 reached the same conclusion as me from his post at #35. dragoneggs at#41 and Blackjackfarm at #62 questioned his need. Since he said in his OP that he wanted one, I reckoned he had already decided to buy something, just unsure what.

In turn, are you advocating that children should begin using tractors at a young age? If so what age, bearing in mind the number of fatalities around the world involving young children and tractors. I have already made the point that some countries have laws prohibiting kids using, and even riding on, tractors until their early teens. It has dramatically reduced the number of accidents involving children, although it still happens. A boy of 10 or thereabouts has been killed in the UK within the last couple of weeks. I do not know the details.

 

[pinetree10]

I own 2.5 acres that is mostly dense 80-foot pine and maple trees and this year I bought a JD 2720 (31 HP) with a FEL and a Wallenstein BX42 chipper. The tractor came to around $20K with the loader, ballast box, and extra front and rear work lights. I didn't want to buy something too small or underpowered and I made the right move. I don't have much grass so I mow it with a push mower. If you don't want to spend hours mowing then forget about the mower and pay the zero turn guys unless you're not happy with the quality of their work. I can't imagine you have much time to mow all that grass every week with your occupation. I use the chipper several times a year to keep the fallen branches in check. There's a constant bed of chips wherever branches fall and I don't have to look at a slowly building pile of branches all year long. I used to rent a large chipper at $250 a pop each year but after several years I realized I could have put that money toward my own chipper and used it whenever I wanted without worrying about getting it returned in time.

Before I bought the tractor I didn't think I would need a loader but I've used it often enough to justify it already. It's great for moving topsoil (moved 46 yards this summer) and cut wood when I have to take care of fallen trees. Beats the slow and tedious wheelbarrow I used to use for these tasks. If you think your trees will produce a constant workload over the years then maybe a grapple would be a practical investment because carrying limbs in the loader is not always easy or practical. I'd love to have a grapple because I think they're cool but my workload doesn't justify it.

As far as the snow goes I have a 100-foot driveway with a huge turnaround area and I clear it with a 32-inch JD 1332 walk-behind snowblower in about 20 minutes on average. I'd rather have the larger blower on the front of my new tractor but the 1332 is only 5 years old and I can't justify replacing it. Blowing snow is fast and doesn't dig up the lawn but if you want a blade that's pretty fast too. I just think blowing it leaves it looking neater and saves the grass. I've tried moving snow with my dad's tractor in the past and the loader takes too long for my taste. I wouldn't bother with the backhoe unless you think you'll use it for other tasks. Like other posters said, you can buy or rent a post hole digger or just use a shovel if the trees are small enough.

I did use my loader to excavate a 12x24 hole for a swimming pool and it worked great because the soil is sandy. I think it pounds on the tractor though and would recommend using the loader to move material rather than for excavation. The loader does work well for grading new topsoil once you get the hang of it. Keep in mind that my tractor is a CUT and not a SCUT so the smaller tractors may behave quite differently because they're lighter depending on what you're doing.

I also use the tractor to pull the wood splitter into and out of the woods. It's been a great investment for me already. I see your point about not buying things and then having them sit around, but when I need my new equipment it's right there and ready to go. If I use it a few times each year it's worth it in my opinion. You came to the right place for advice as you can see already.