Buying Advice Too many hours?

[Dragonpharm]

I'd like to purchase a tractor in the near future and it will probably have to be new because everything used near me seems to sell for new prices unless it is really old or high hours. That brings me to my question. How many hours would be considered too many on a CUT? Specifically wondering about two for sale now. First is a Case DX35 with 3,000 hours asking $14K 2004 model. Second is a NH TC29 with 2000 hours asking $11,500 2000 model. Obviously they would need to be checked out but would you consider buying with that many hours?

The 35 horse tractor is about the size I'm looking at new. The 29 is smaller than I think I want. My neighbor has a 25hp LS and he said he would prefer a bit larger tractor. I'm not going to have a lot of time to work on a tractor. I'd definitely prefer to just use it and not have to constantly fiddle with the tractor.

Thanks in advance for the opinions.
Mark

 

[Tinhack]

Why do you need a tractor? :confused3:

"Fiddling with a tractor" is part of the normal ownership--You have to maintain it. Perhaps you should consider renting one when you need it. I did that for about the first 5 years of property ownership. I've rented tractors for mowing, backhoes, skid steers and ditch-witches. Even a road grader. All I had to do was return it full of fuel.

 

[Roadworthy]

Obviously less hours is better but of a greater concern to me personally is parts availability as things will break sooner or later. You give no clue of your purpose for a tractor other than 35 horse is about the size you're looking at new. You should probably be prepared to state how big your place is and what you plan to do with a tractor. Generally you don't have to fiddle with a tractor. They work or they don't. If they don't work you fix them.

 

[shooterdon]

If you do not want to wrench on a tractor, you need to have a servicing dealer you can depend on. Tractors last a long time if they are not abused. But plan on any machine breaking at some point.

I bought a "beater" JD tractor and took it to the dealer for evaluation. I wound up spending $2500 to get it working well. If I had done the work myself, it would have cost about half of that.

 

[Dragonpharm]

Maybe fiddle wasn't the right term. I would prefer to not have to fix something every time I go to use the tractor. I had an older Ford at our last house that looked nice but had something fail nearly every time we used it. It had been "thoroughly rebuilt" by a friend of my in-laws. I don't mind maintenance, it's outright repairs I'd like to avoid. I'm also concerned about the lifespan of the engine, loader etc.

Intended usage: maintenance of 1/4 mile gravel drive, clearing out woods/trails, possibly some mowing (not lawn), loader work moving garden materials and general maintenance. Property is 19 acres, roughly half wooded, rolling hills, creek at back of property. Would really like a grapple for clearing in the woods and a backhoe with thumb. Backhoes can be rented but I have a very long project list that it would be the right tool for the job. Could probably get by with a smaller tractor but I've always preferred to have more than enough power instead of working around limitations. Also I'm a bigger guy and a sub-compact won't work.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

What size 25 hp tractor does your neighbor have? Is it a SCUT? My LS is a small CUT, the same size as it's 30, 35, and 40 hp brothers in the same series. My LS runs circles around my neighbors Kubota 32hp. My loader lifts more, has a bigger bucket, and 3 point is stronger. You have to compare apples to apples. My other neighbor bought a JD 55 hp tractor... his thinking was get as big as he could.... he hardly uses it. It is way too big to do anything around his buildings, horse stalls, or landscaping around his house. It has become a big green yard ornament. He has gone and rented a smaller tractor for some projects.

You are very vague about your projects. You mentioned getting a BH. After having one on my SCUT, now one on my CUT, I would not get another tractor without one. With the work that I have done with the BH over the past few years, it has paid for itself. If I ever sell my current tractor, I will recoup even more of the cost. If you decide to buy new, get the BH with the tractor, it saves about 40% over buying it later.

You don't mention your general location in your profile. Doing so can help others understand what you need to do with your tractor. I don't have a single rock in our dirt... but it is rock hard clay. Much different digging all over the country. Do you get snow? Or do you get feet of rain? It all makes a difference. Also, tractor prices vary significantly in different regions.

At the prices you were quoting for the used ones, not much more will get you a new one... maybe finance just a portion of the cost?
I know you have a bunch to thing about.... take your time, evaluate what you really need vs what would just be nice...Go out and sit on as many as you can. See what "fits" you and which you are most comfortable on.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Professor Marvel]

my opinion if you care is that 2000 hours is way too many for it to start it's life with me. i am not saying you won't get lucky.
as far as the price goes about 5 years ago i bought a NH T45D with 1150 hours for 15,500 in great shape (i looked for a few months)
good luck

 

[Thomas]

Also consider what the owner used it for.

 

[skipperbrown]

It depends on your budget, your ability and time to fix stuff (or your proximity to a good service department), and the care of the tractor up to the point when you get it. There are a lot of good tractors out there with 2000+ hours on them and a few junkers.

 

[jwstewar]

Just a comparison, I sold my 2003 New Holland TC24D back in July with 2500+ hours for 10k w/ FEL & 60" MMM. I had put a clutch in it 2 or 3 years ago at about 2200 hours as the old one broke - yes, broke, not worn out Ran great and wasn't beat up other than the seat had a couple of tears in it. To be quite honest, had we not need more lift capacity on the FEL and 3PH, I would probably still have it. I liked it better than I do my new Kubota. Even though the Kubota has more lift capacity, the bucket on the New Holland would hold more - even though it was a 54" vs. the current 66". If money weren't an object, the New Holland would still be here and we would have added the Kubota to the fleet.