Tractor decision

[jyoutz]

So do you think everyone should have a cab then?

Cabs are nice until you need to work in the woods.

 

[jyoutz]

I buy used cars and tractors. Prefer low miles/hrs from verified sources. I paid cash and saved 30% over new on my Kubota tractor. It was garage kept with 150 hrs on it, like new with all the addon rear hydraulics and bucket edge I would have wanted. Talked with the owner for an hour before buying. His place was clean, his trucks and other equipment was clean. He was local and moving out of state. I put 150 hrs on the in a bout 1.3 yrs without a hitch.
Currently driving a diesel car with 35k miles, saved similar $. It does take time, knowledge, and a bit of luck to get the right deal. If you are in a hurry to buy and you can afford it new is probably the way to go.

I think the bottom line is buying used can be a great deal if you have the cash on hand that you’re willing to spend. Otherwise it’s hard to beat low interest financing. I could have paid cash on my latest tractor purchase, but I was making more with investing that cash than the finance rate.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Many good questions from the others to help guide you. If you're in a snowy climate and you're clearing your own driveway, a snowblower attachment ( pull type) is almost essential and a cab with defrost is really nice to have.

D

I plow with my side by side but if I did use a snow blower I would use a front mount blower, I hate driving over the snow before I blow it off the driveway.

You’re going to want a set of forks for whatever tractor you get.

I disagree, two neighbors and myself both have had tractors for many years and none have us have pallet forks.

 

[jyoutz]

I plow with my side by side but if I did use a snow blower I would use a front mount blower, I hate driving over the snow before I blow it off the driveway.

I disagree, two neighbors and myself both have had tractors for many years and none have us have pallet forks.

It depends on your uses. I find pallet forks to be one of my most used implements.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

It depends on your uses. I find pallet forks to be one of my most used implements.

I get it but in 10 years I have never needed a set. And the one neighbor has had a skid steer for 20 years and he don’t have pallet forks, he has about everything else but no pallet forks.

 

[jyoutz]

I get it but in 10 years I have never needed a set. And the one neighbor has had a skid steer for 20 years and he don’t have pallet forks, he has about everything else but no pallet forks.

Then for your purposes your shouldn’t buy them. But many of us find them indispensable.

 

[Williy]

If you work in the woods you can clear a path for your tractor
and you will have no problems but them don't keep the path
clear and see what happens

willy

 

[tradosaurus]

I get it but in 10 years I have never needed a set. And the one neighbor has had a skid steer for 20 years and he don’t have pallet forks, he has about everything else but no pallet forks.

In 5 years of tractor ownership I have not had the need for pallet forks either.

 

[paulsharvey]

I'm not against cabs, But you are already keeping track of a bucket on the front, front wheels, and an impliment on the back; keeping up with cab corners too, is a lot of points to keep your eyes on it smaller areas.

My main reason to prefer open, is better situational awareness. That doesn't mean that's important for everyone. SOME cabs really block the view where you need it most, the corners; but that is not universal.

Hence, my advice, when sitting in the cab, you want to be able to see the bucket corners on a loader, and atleast one corner of your rear impliment. I would rather a somewhat less comfortable cab, but excellent views, over the most luxurious cab, with crap view. Some of the view will 100% be personal to you, you height, your seat position, the way you operate...

 

[paulsharvey]

In 5 years of tractor ownership I have not had the need for pallet forks either.

Not questioning that, but even with just cheap bolt on forks, i use them a lot, moving fence posts, tree debris, other impliments, and Even the odd pallet. Used them a ton to load up old riding mowers, air compressors, sheet metal, ect, to take to scrap yard.

I use them enough, that last week, while on vacation in E Tenn, I switched my Marketplace location (as one does on vacation, to explorer out of state used junk , and found a set of SS forks for $100; I started trying to figure out if luggage, kids, wife, and forks would fit in truck for the ride?

 

[tradosaurus]

Not questioning that, but even with just cheap bolt on forks, i use them a lot, moving fence posts, tree debris, other impliments, and Even the odd pallet. Used them a ton to load up old riding mowers, air compressors, sheet metal, ect, to take to scrap yard.

I use them enough, that last week, while on vacation in E Tenn, I switched my Marketplace location (as one does on vacation, to explorer out of state used junk , and found a set of SS forks for $100; I started trying to figure out if luggage, kids, wife, and forks would fit in truck for the ride?

I use my grapple for all of that and if I have to lift something my bucket with chains works.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

In 5 years of tractor ownership I have not had the need for pallet forks either.

Some are going to argue this to death and insist everyone needs pallet forks.

I use my grapple for all of that and if I have to lift something my bucket with chains works.

I have a grapple also and a bolt on hook on my bucket and a chain.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Then for your purposes your shouldn’t buy them. But many of us find them indispensable.

I know most of you will argue this to death and cannot believe everyone doesn’t think pallet forks are the first things the whole world should buy.

 

[rScotty]

I know most of you will argue this to death and cannot believe everyone doesn’t think pallet forks are the first things the whole world should buy.

I sure wish I had a nice set of of pallet forks - the kind that are easy to adjust and have a spill guard built onto the back... problem is I DO have an old pair of the crappy kind that are a wrestling match, but just good enough so I haven't bought some good ones.
I should... I know I should......

 

[Brendanspapa]

I agree with earlier comment that about 1 hp per acre is a good size. Get the cab, you won’t regret it, the added weight is beneficial. Get cast wheels or wheel weights, in addition to fluid in the tires. Extra weight provides much needed stability on slopes. If you have any trees, get the grapple. These are recommendations based on my experience on 22 years of owning 70 acres of grassy and wooded hills in the mountains of western NC. I’m also retired. I have a set of pallet forks that I rarely use, although I have a grapple and hay spears.
Best of luck

 

[rScotty]

I think the bottom line is buying used can be a great deal if you have the cash on hand that you’re willing to spend. Otherwise it’s hard to beat low interest financing. I could have paid cash on my latest tractor purchase, but I was making more with investing that cash than the finance rate.

I think you are on to something. It could be that the mechanical ability of a generation is directly affected by how easy itis to get credit.

My dad always wanted his own home, but couldn't qualify until he retired.
I only had to come up with 20% down...which became a race against inflation that I "won" and was able to finance our land by my mid 50s.
A young friend just bought his house as a sophmore in college ... nothing down.

But the differerence is the generations that couldn't finance easily became very good at reusing and rebuilding.

 

[Skeletor]

Buy more tractor than you think you need. You will always want a bigger/better tractor. Check out each dealer's reputation and whether or not they will pick up for service.

Exactly. Im jumping two sizes from what I have now.

 

[JurassicJet]

Funny.
I have a set of forks and use them a lot to move logs, steel, pallets of crap, etc. When we moved to our new house, the wife palletized everything, and I loaded the pallets into the semi with my tractor. When the new house was done and ready to move into, we brought the semi back, and I unloaded the pallets into the garage, at the front steps and behind the house at the lower level. According to a number of folks here, I shouldn't have them, nor do I need them.

The ground hornet risk and having a cab is real. About five years ago, when ramming around in my woods with the Kubota BX2380 that I had at the time, I ran over a log. I noticed the first wasp when it crawled behind my glasses. By the time it was done, I had been stung 17 times. Luckily, I am not allergic to bee stings but it took a few days to finally feel better. It would have killed my wife. But, again, I don't need a cab, according to some folks here.

 

[Skeletor]

I really like pallet forks. They get used as much if not more than my bucket. I do firewood with Ibc totes so ymmv. I find yellow jacket nests when I’m cutting trees. Two summers ago I musta stepped on one and I got popped maybe a dozen times. Few days later a bunch more in a different location…….

 

[scootr]

I like forks so much I bought a 5k pound forklift. Honestly the most used piece of equipment on the ranch. Just today I worked on the rototiller raised on a pallet to workbench height. Sure is handy.