Buying Advice Brand New Workmaster 33 vs Continued Search for Used Tractor

[fried1765]

Hi. We have a small startup business on a five acre homestead (200 chickens, some goats, rabbits, an acre of garden land) and we are looking to buy a tractor. I have a JD x530, but it is time for something bigger (for various FEL tasks, snow removal, stall mucking, 200 foot gravel driveway/parking lot maintenance, tilling, etc). We had settled in on looking for a used tractor with a FEL in the 30-35 HP range and the 10-12 thousand dollar range. Last Friday we were at the local NH dealer looking at a couple of used tractors (a TC29D, a used Kubota, and an old Ford 2120) and they offered us a deal on a brand new Workmaster 33 with a FEL (manual shift) for 16,500. I have been looking online for reviews and opinions about this particular model and have not really found much (sorry if I am looking in the wrong places). Would love to hear some opinions about this tractor. The idea of a brand new tractor with a 2 year bumper-to-bumper and 6 year power train warranty that we will be taking very good care of appeals to us. Just wondering if folks think it is worth stretching the budget a bit and if the WM33 is a decent machine? Or should we keep looking?

I do understand the desire for new!
That said; Two years ago I bought a 4x4 1920 FEL with 1056 hours, and have since gone almost completely through it. Repaint too, which means it also looks like new.
For about $4000 more than what I now have invested, I could have bought new.
Why didn't I ?
My 1920 is a simple/basic tractor! I live almost 100 miles from any real tractor dealer.
Though I do have a 20' equipment trailer, I do not ever expect to need to haul the tractor anywhere for repair.
I can repair almost ANYTHING on the 1920 MYSELF.
I have NO electronic systems to fail.
The fenders & hood are all made of steel.
The 1920 is much heavier than comparable new tractors (weight is your friend).
I will NEVER have a REGEN issue.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I have NO electronic systems to fail.<snip>

I've never seen a 1920 that was hand crank start.

 

[rScotty]

Be sure you are very comfortable with the shifting.
For HST will shine.
I've an HST and a gear, if I had to muck stalls with a tractor I'd definitely go with HST.

Can you "test drive" it for an hour?

All the tractors you've looked at sound good. I'm an older guy and for me it would come down to comfort features. Two that I definitely want are power steering and a HST transmission. Comfortable seating comes next, along with decent legroom. Those are all nice things for us older guys to enjoy loader work - but the PS and HST are necessities.

I've nothing at all against a used machine - in fact, I can think of plenty of arguments in their favor....including proven reliability. I've seem plenty of really clean low hour used machines and demo machines that I'd rather have than a new one.
rScotty

 

[paulfun9]

IF your looking at the NH I would also look at the LS tractors. They seem to be the same thing with different badges and more features but around here they sell for far less. That being said if the HST was an option you want, you might just be able to get a HST LS for close to the same money and have some other Nice options thrown in with it.

 

[TractorGuy]

Might want to ask what the out the door price is going to be. By the time they add administration fees and taxes you might be better off looking at private party used tractors. If you are an official mini farm you should be able to get sales tax removed though. Not sure if every state has that option.

 

[tcreeley]

Shibaura engine and price- Can't beat those! Goodluck with the Workmaster!

 

[rooster2015]

Might want to ask what the out the door price is going to be. By the time they add administration fees and taxes you might be better off looking at private party used tractors. If you are an official mini farm you should be able to get sales tax removed though. Not sure if every state has that option.

Yep, we are tax exempt and there are no additional fees, so the price I listed is out-the-door (with free delivery, perhaps because the service manager drives right by my house on the way home every night.)