Almost Ashamed.......

[zzvyb6]

Buy a used piece of crap that can do the jobs but keeps breaking down and needs lots of parts. Bandaid it up and sell it when she tells You to buy a new one.

 

[SouthernConservative]

Go to several live tractor auctions - take the wife...eat at the local cafe and after you get a good understanding on what a "good" tractor costs buy your wife a weekend away and when she comes back you make sure have created a new patio area with the tractor you bought while she was gone...I did this and got a great Kubota L4310 with FEL and Rhino Shredder.

Go to auctions - you will see what the tractors are worth - DON'T buy brand new..unless you have the extra cash.

 

[Scotty370]

Man! Some of you guy are shrewd! (ZZV, SC....) I'm 'tuned in' to see if I can get an excuse to buy an old 'Johnny-Popper' (50's-60's vintage) just 'cause I like how they sound, and bring back my youthful farm day memories........ . ~Scotty

 

[RRILEY]

Weeble, I am a new member (first post) and have also looked for a couple years and finally found a 2520 with 200CX FEL and MMM for about 2 to 4 grand less than the (for new) quotes I received in Feb. I traveled a couple hundred miles but it was well worth it. The tractor is a 2006 (October) with 32 hours. The guys on here are a wealth of information as I have read these post constantly and have fixed inherent problems ,with this model, before I have tore something up. The wife finally understood, really did not take long, and life only gets better.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Anyone want to trade tractor for wife>

Maybe - what brand, model, hours on the tractor?

But seriously - a well taken care of tractor has the greatest loss of it's value upon first delivery, and then goes down very slowly.

I justified one by adding up the jobs I KNOW I've got to do, the amount of time I'd expect it would take to do and the cost of a rental or having someone else do it. If you figure $400 a weekend for a rental it adds up.
example - http://www.rodiotractor.com/rentals_20081023155555.pdf
The costs really mount if when you tackle a project you are usually interrupted by something, causing that project to be put on hold for a while.

For instance I've got some roads to repair/rebuild. I figure given good weather someone who does it for a living could do it in a week, labor/equipment cost about $4,000. I might be able to do it in two to three weeks with no interruption if the weather held. So figure I'd have to rent one for a month, I'm looking at at about $2,000. I added up a few projects and easily got to the cost of a good used tractor w/ backhoe, which with moderate care will only lose a little value each year.

The tractor/trailer combo I bought will probably lose less than $1,000 a year in value.

So now I'll have the convenience of doing it when I want to, not trying to get it done before the rental period is up.

 

[Ductape]

I can only tell you what has worked for me.

First, when there is a project being done, get your wife involved. Digging up rocks, planting, yard clean-up. Tell her its just a little more than you can get done today by yourself, and if she'd just give you a hand it will be done and over with today. Once she sees how much physical work that stuff is, she'll soften up. Then...... for the clincher (hopefully you live somewhere cold in winter), get her out there to help you shovel snow !! Having my wife out in winter shoveling not only got me a newer tractor, it got me a tractor with a cab and heat !!

Second, show her the value in tractors and implements. I realize this is difficult if you don't already own one, but once my wife saw what a good investment (money-wise) it was...... there was suddenly no problem getting that next implement for that next project. Granted, I generally buy nice used stuff, and not new....... but well kept tractor stuff holds its value. With my first tractor (bought used), I had it three years and used it to clear our overgrown lot. I then leveled a large area behind our barn, removed stumps, and cleared the driveway of snow in winter. When it was time for a little more horsepower........ I sold it and made a $1500 profit. My second tractor came as a package with a couple attachments I didn't need. By the time I got around to wanting to upgrade the tractor again, I sold the tractor and attachments seperately and made $3000. Thats $4500 in profit by buying, USING, and selling (to upgrade) my first two tractors. This doesn't even include the work around here those tractors did while I owned them. With all this in mind, when I decided I wanted (needed?) a few more horses and a cab with heat...... I got ZERO grief over it. If only my wife could get a return like that on the 200 pairs of shoes she has in her closet !!!!

Third, you will find fifty upgrades to your property you'd never imagine tackling without a tractor. I have a few projects coming up...... like replacing some ratty looking concrete steps with reclaimed granite, 'planting' a vintage hitching post in the yard, etc. Things that will go a long way toward giving the house more 'curb appeal', which wifey really likes. We would never be able to afford contractors to do things like this, and the return in equity will be great.

Do plenty of reading here, and one thing you will hear repeatedly from new tractor owners is.... 'i should have bought a tractor years ago!'. I assure you its true! Once you have one, you won't be able to live without one!

 

[JiminGa]

as long as the money is in the bank, it's most often easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. LOL course almost 2 years later my wife still thinks I spent too much $$$

 

[laen64]

Take your wife out to the dealers and have her test drive them. she'll fall in love and you'll spend much more than you thought possible.

 

[thatguy]

Does the wife come with any sort of warranty or a 30 day return guaranty??

brian

 

[newbury]

Take your wife out to the dealers <snip>

See what they offer for a trade