Buying Advice anyone looked at how much per hour it costs to own a cut?

[Stick895]

My head hurts.

Joe

What I said, It. Just. Doesn't. Matter.

 

[sd455dan]

The great big SMILE-
that owning and operating tractors puts on our faces...


PRICELESS !!!

 

[chim]

Best guess on the B7500 I had for 10 years:

$3,000 (Sold for $3,000 less than I paid for it new)
$2,408 for fuel (estimated - 5 gals per 8 hrs x ave $3.50 per gallon)
$1,000 guess for oil/filters/SUDT/grease over the ten years of ownership

$6408 total / 1,100 hours = $5.83 per hour

As others have mentioned, there are other considerations such as saving one's back, fun, etc. This is about as accurate as I can guess. The fuel was under $10 for a 5 gallon jug in the earlier years. Should be a close ballpark number without consideration of any cash, cakes and cookies from neighbors.

 

[ovrszd]

Before I retired and got into partnership on a farm, I had a Kubota L3710 for 9 years. Figuring the original purchase price less true trade in value, fuel, filters, oil changes, and excluding insurance because it was covered under my homeowners for no additional charge, my cost was $28.18 per hour for the 400 hours I used it before trading. I had no repair parts and only included the cost of the tractor w/loader when purchased and same tractor/loader combination traded in - meaning no cost for any of the attachments that I added and disposed of or retained.

Right there's the best estimate I've read so far.

Logically, a person would think that number would shrink if the tractor was kept longer. But I don't believe it would shrink as much as expected. As time goes by repair/replacement part (tires) costs will go up dramatically and offset much of the cost of keeping a newer tractor.

I run a road grader for a township. We trade every 4 years (2000 hrs). We never buy tires or pay for any repairs (warranty). Our only expendable expense is oil changes and fuel. We decided that's cheaper than running a machine into the repair phase. Our cost of operation including operator wages is $85 per hour on a $210,000 machine. What that price buys us is dependability and reliability.

 

[ovrszd]

Best guess on the B7500 I had for 10 years:

$3,000 (Sold for $3,000 less than I paid for it new)
$2,408 for fuel (estimated - 5 gals per 8 hrs x ave $3.50 per gallon)
$1,000 guess for oil/filters/SUDT/grease over the ten years of ownership

$6408 total / 1,100 hours = $5.83 per hour

As others have mentioned, there are other considerations such as saving one's back, fun, etc. This is about as accurate as I can guess. The fuel was under $10 for a 5 gallon jug in the earlier years. Should be a close ballpark number without consideration of any cash, cakes and cookies from neighbors.

Another very honest estimate. Probably should add a little additional expense for taxes, insurance, etc??

 

[kevin37b]

Minor , compared to what it costs to be insured , taxes , gas , food . We are at the mercy of a racket in the good old USA . Seat time is the best therapy I enjoy .

 

[ovrszd]

Another minor factor is work accomplished. I have specific tasks that I need to complete with my tractor. My task list changed a few years ago which increased the load on the tractor owned at that time. I started with a 30HP, then 44HP, now 95HP.

The 95HP tractor cost twice as much to buy as the 44HP tractor. But it easily does twice the work in any given hour. So even though the cost of operation per hour is greater, the greater work accomplished offsets that cost. The hours put on the tractor are cut in half because of improved productivity.

So do we also need to factor in what work we do???

 

[smstonypoint]

So do we also need to factor in what work we do???

This is especially so if your livelihood depends on your equipment.

Steve

 

[ovrszd]

True that Steve, true that.

My needs went from "playing" with my tractor to maintaining a 160 acre farm. My needs changed dramatically as well as my financial justification of tractor ownership.

 

[chim]

And if one could be fortunate enough to spend several of those hours per week mowing for someone else in the summer months at around $20/hr the cost could be a wash or even better.