Trying to buy a tractor - 3 options has me confused on best value for my use - HELP

[ovrszd]

Fortunately I have the resources to shed my tractors.

From that perspective, I'm not a fan of throwing a tarp over a tractor. I think all you accomplish is to create a healthier environment for the mice families that will most certainly move in.

 

[newbury]

<snip> I've been trying to identify why I've been reluctant to pull the trigger on a $20k+ unit. I came to realization that It's bc I only get to go up to the mts property 3-4 days per month to work on it. I'm hoping that changes as the kids get older but for the next year at least, it'll be when I can sneak away & 1 weeeknd per month. There's also the expense of the pending deck project & the new 12x12 building with a lean to for tractor storage. Until we start construction on the house, game plan is to convert my workshop to a comfy little cabin. $ is set aside for all of it but that wipes out my mts fund for at least 6 months. <snip>

It reads like you try to carefully plan and budget for most items in your life. But as the saying goes excrement happens.

I was routinely on travel for one to three weeks a month since the Gulf War, mainly training soldiers. Missed a LOT of family time. Lot's of outside chores not involving power equipment were done with one to four of our children playing on the ground nearby. I could have never squeezed out 3 days a month to work on another site, even though we had hundreds of acres. A dollar spent on a tractor would have been wasted for decades.

When I finally thought it was time to buy a tractor because we were going to retire within a few years my son & his wife started having babies. I was supposed to be sold out of the Washington area and ensconced in my Mississippi farm by 2005. It has not happened.

So be flexible and be prepared for some big delays.

Also I'd recommend you plan on buying a 40 foot or longer hi-cube shipping container (or two) and have it installed on site immediately. This will provide immediate semi-secure storage. Right now it seems there are plenty in stock for decent prices. You'll be able to store tools, tractors less than 8 foot wide and 8 foot high, equipment easily and fairly safely. I expect you should be easily be able to get one for $2,000 or less. And if you buy two you can use them to support trusses for a barn

 

[ovrszd]

It reads like you try to carefully plan and budget for most items in your life. But as the saying goes excrement happens.

I was routinely on travel for one to three weeks a month since the Gulf War, mainly training soldiers. Missed a LOT of family time. Lot's of outside chores not involving power equipment were done with one to four of our children playing on the ground nearby. I could have never squeezed out 3 days a month to work on another site, even though we had hundreds of acres. A dollar spent on a tractor would have been wasted for decades.

When I finally thought it was time to buy a tractor because we were going to retire within a few years my son & his wife started having babies. I was supposed to be sold out of the Washington area and ensconced in my Mississippi farm by 2005. It has not happened.

So be flexible and be prepared for some big delays.

Also I'd recommend you plan on buying a 40 foot or longer hi-cube shipping container (or two) and have it installed on site immediately. This will provide immediate semi-secure storage. Right now it seems there are plenty in stock for decent prices. You'll be able to store tools, tractors less than 8 foot wide and 8 foot high, equipment easily and fairly safely. I expect you should be easily be able to get one for $2,000 or less. And if you buy two you can use them to support trusses for a barn

That's awesome!!!! Best use of a milvan I've ever saw!!!! Can't tell for sure if they are 20's or 40's?

As one of the Soldiers you might have trained, thanks for your service!!!!

 

[UNCBLUE]

Newbury - Man - are you using some advanced interrogation tactics You';re all up in my head. 1st & foremost thank you for your service.... The sacrifice of body and time is greatly appreciated...

Ok sorry for the sappy post but we've had an awesome foggy/drizzly kind of Sat mornings with the kids that are oh so precious & rare. You're seriously hitting on some of my main considerations but I come with a slightly different perspective... My dad was a Vietnam Vet and LEO who was exposed to Agent Orange. He battled cancer for over 10 yrs on and off. He finally gave up the good fight at the young age of 52. I just turned 40 in Sept.. I am definitely a planner but I'm also a firm believer in get it done now b/c there will never be a perfect time... This mts property is a legacy project for my kids... When I'm planting trees, improving the land & soil, & sitting quiet @ the end of a long day by a bon fire @ night, I daydream that my family long after me will look @ this place as a special place that I provided to them. Every berry & mushroom they pick, every memory they make, I hope they know I helped improve it for them.

So all that said, as long as my exit strategy is solid, the ROI of $ saved from projects and resale value is high, and the experiences are rich, I'm fine with investing the $. My son is in love with tractors @ this point b/c of all of the youtube videos that he's watched with me I learned to drive behind a tractor and remember sitting in drivers ed looking at all the other nervous kids and snickering to myself b/c i'd been driving fields and backroads with my dad since i was 5-6.. if God gives me the health they'll know the same upbringing...

As far as the Conexs... I've been contemplating that as well... this set up here is pretty sweet...

shipping containers home work shop part 2 - YouTube

It reads like you try to carefully plan and budget for most items in your life. But as the saying goes excrement happens.

I was routinely on travel for one to three weeks a month since the Gulf War, mainly training soldiers. Missed a LOT of family time. Lot's of outside chores not involving power equipment were done with one to four of our children playing on the ground nearby. I could have never squeezed out 3 days a month to work on another site, even though we had hundreds of acres. A dollar spent on a tractor would have been wasted for decades.

When I finally thought it was time to buy a tractor because we were going to retire within a few years my son & his wife started having babies. I was supposed to be sold out of the Washington area and ensconced in my Mississippi farm by 2005. It has not happened.

So be flexible and be prepared for some big delays.

Also I'd recommend you plan on buying a 40 foot or longer hi-cube shipping container (or two) and have it installed on site immediately. This will provide immediate semi-secure storage. Right now it seems there are plenty in stock for decent prices. You'll be able to store tools, tractors less than 8 foot wide and 8 foot high, equipment easily and fairly safely. I expect you should be easily be able to get one for $2,000 or less. And if you buy two you can use them to support trusses for a barn

 

[mike69440]

Newbury - Man - are you using some advanced interrogation tactics You';re all up in my head. 1st & foremost thank you for your service.... The sacrifice of body and time is greatly appreciated...

Ok sorry for the sappy post but we've had an awesome foggy/drizzly kind of Sat mornings with the kids that are oh so precious & rare. You're seriously hitting on some of my main considerations but I come with a slightly different perspective... My dad was a Vietnam Vet and LEO who was exposed to Agent Orange. He battled cancer for over 10 yrs on and off. He finally gave up the good fight at the young age of 52. I just turned 40 in Sept.. I am definitely a planner but I'm also a firm believer in get it done now b/c there will never be a perfect time... This mts property is a legacy project for my kids... When I'm planting trees, improving the land & soil, & sitting quiet @ the end of a long day by a bon fire @ night, I daydream that my family long after me will look @ this place as a special place that I provided to them. Every berry & mushroom they pick, every memory they make, I hope they know I helped improve it for them.

So all that said, as long as my exit strategy is solid, the ROI of $ saved from projects and resale value is high, and the experiences are rich, I'm fine with investing the $. My son is in love with tractors @ this point b/c of all of the youtube videos that he's watched with me I learned to drive behind a tractor and remember sitting in drivers ed looking at all the other nervous kids and snickering to myself b/c i'd been driving fields and backroads with my dad since i was 5-6.. if God gives me the health they'll know the same upbringing...

As far as the Conexs... I've been contemplating that as well... this set up here is pretty sweet...

shipping containers home work shop part 2 - YouTube

I started "liven the dream" at 50 years old in 2005. Anyone thinking of starting later I hope your body can take it. I would not have it in me to do it again. Life is short.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/89163-busy-wife-weekend.html?highlight=busy+wife

So glad I bought a new little tractor, rather than wait. That old little B7200D was real good to me, now I understand the new owner is happy too.

 

[UNCBLUE]

Congrats man. It's amazing what 2 strong people
Can accomplish together. I just checked out your pics in that thread. That's a lot
Of rocks. Crossing. Fingers I never have to blast on our land. I'm sure it gets expensive quick.

 

[UNCBLUE]

Good evening all.... Man this tractor buying experience has been more of a up and down roller coaster ride then i could've ever imagined lol....

I ran across what i thought was an insane deal on a 2016 JD 3032E with 37 hrs for $13,500..emailed guy back last night asking to put down a down payment and pick it up today.. he didn't get back to me then all of a sudden emailed same night that it had been sold after we spoke on the phone that i wanted it...not happy to say the least with him...

Fast fwd to today.. i found a decent deal on a MX 5100 with bucket and grapple for $22,500... called service dept to check on maintenance expenses and holy share.. 11 gals of hydraulic fluid would be about $200just for fluid; I don't think i can do it...

Got a lead for a l3800hst with 325 hrs for $13,500...

My head is seriously spinning at this point.

 

[newbury]

Good evening all.... Man this tractor buying experience has been more of a up and down roller coaster ride then i could've ever imagined lol....

If ran across what i thought was an insane deal on a 2016 JD 3032E with 37 hrs for $13,500..emailed guy back last night asking to put down a down payment and pick it up today.. he didn't get back to me then all of a sudden emailed that it had been sold...not happy to say the least with him...

Fast fwd to today.. i found a decent deal on a MX 5100 with bucket and grapple for $22,500... called service dept to check on maintenance expenses and holy share.. 11 gals of hydraulic fluid would be about $200just for fluid; I don't think i can do it...

Got a knead for a l3800hst with 325 hrs for $13,500...

My head is seriously spinning at this point.

All large tractors require lot's of hydraulic fluid. But you don't have to change it often and a $20 used oil analysis might show you can skip a change.

/edit - My M4700 takes 42 quarts but it's every 600 hours.

 

[UNCBLUE]

To further add to the confusion, I've got a pricing quote of $21,200 for a new 2538 hst. With 6ft med cutter, box blade & tilt blade, I'm at $23,488. Out of state dealer so said they'd deliver with no sales tax up to 500 miles

 

[newbury]

To further add to the confusion, I've got a pricing quote of $21,200 for a new 2538 hst. With 6ft med cutter, box blade & tilt blade, I'm at $23,488. Out of state dealer so said they'd deliver with no sales tax up to 500 miles

Have you checked with Barlow's? They are listing a lot of inventory in the size range you are looking for.