Attachment costs??

Sully2 · Mar 25, 2006

Got a quextion about "impliments" ...sort of. Can anyone tell me why small impliments COST SO DA** MUCH? I look at the size of ??..maybe a tiny set of disks...or a box scraper...and have to sit down and fan myself to keep from passing OUT! We aint talking rocket science engineering or construction methods...

Is it mainly the going up the "food chain" adding cost as it goes..to get to the retail level???

And I know that some brands are built better than others...better welding..maybe better gear boxes etc..on say a rototiller...but one guy sells his "brand" for $1200...??...and the next guy down the road has a different brand thats retailing for $3100...I mean COME'ON!!!!

hwp · Mar 25, 2006

That's why I never buy new implements. When I want something I poke around dealers yards until I find something suitable in a back corner and then negotiate - usually lots of haggle room. Poor quality equipment is usually quite noticeable whereas good quality shows through even if rusty, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Farmwithjunk · Mar 25, 2006

After watching prices rise for the last few years. I've come to the conclusion that MOST of the cost on smaller equipment is transportation and steel cost. It will cost almost as much to truck a 5' disc from the factory as it would a $50,000 tractor.

Add to that, the fact that most FARM equipment these days is GIANT stuff. The smaller equipment used on farms 25 or 30 years back is all but gone (worn out) New stuff is getting to be in demand again.

The old "supply and demand thing" again.

KiotiJohn · Mar 25, 2006

Yep. The price of steel and transporting has really increased prices a lot. This is only going to get worse as fuel costs increase and China and India continue to grow their economies.
Their demand for more steel in China has really helped to make everything cost more.
This is another case for buying now what you need as opposed to waiting. It isn't going to get cheaper.
John

MrJimi · Mar 26, 2006

Sully, I own a Case skid steer and the attachments for those are outrageous, This is why I am building some my self and a 3PT hitch for tractor accessories and a hydraulic motor to drive my Bush Hog 286
Jim /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Sully2 · Mar 26, 2006

( Sully, I own a Case skid steer and the attachments for those are outrageous, This is why I am building some my self and a 3PT hitch for tractor accessories and a hydraulic motor to drive my Bush Hog 286
Jim /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

I sure understand that. If I COULD..I certainly would. The stuff I want isnt some exotic sort of things...but lord! I think some of it too is the "we are going to get you good"...since they arent going to get me twice.. I mean WHO..using a compact tractor..ever WORE OUT a "land leveler"?? As an example. It takes a ton of dragging one thru the dirt to wear STEEL out!

Just the little things...set of disc's...etc. Sure..I understand a BACKHOE will cost a lot of $$...but its the little things that get me!

I found something that "I" could really use...forget exactly what they are called though...I'll just call them "trash teeth". Looks like 24 inch long "forks" off of a forklift. Clamp onthe the lower lip of the bucket...5-24 inch long teeth...for picking up sticks..trash..etc..and the little stuff falls on thru..between the "teeth". The guy wanted $450.. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif...I asked him if he was totally out of his A**!!

Oh well..?...mt farmer buddy told me last year.."If ya got tractors..you wont have money"...lol ( Same thing I told him about a motorhome..lol)

AKfish · Mar 26, 2006

The wife handed me the March 13th issue of Newsweek. We're in the news guys!!! Small tractor sales were an estimated 900,000 units last year; up from 500,000 in 1999. That's nearly a doubling of demand in just over 6 years. With the number of farmers continuing to dwindle and the remaining ones are moving towards 500hp in order to get all those acres worked up --- manufacturers are looking towards the "hobby farmer" and the baby boomers that are moving on to other things after retirement as the "growth niche". So, I guess that it's gonna continue to be a challenge to find "deals" on CUT sized implements as well as the smaller tractors. (International demand for raw materials; steel and oil, won't help matters either...) /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

nomad · Apr 6, 2006

( And I know that some brands are built better than others...better welding..maybe better gear boxes etc..on say a rototiller...but one guy sells his "brand" for $1200...??...and the next guy down the road has a different brand thats retailing for $3100...I mean COME'ON!!!! )

To my observations over years, hobby farmers there in USA are, what we call, "ducks", that's, kind of people to whom you can sell anything for any price if you can. Hobby farmers are considered as novices/naives of this field by the dealers out there and these sellers don't want to miss this oppurtunity of making quick money. Another reason in the big price difference in, say, tillers above is that some dealers do use some implements just for promotion of their companies. For example, that dealer who is selling his tiller for $1200 is probably making little profit from the tiller, but, he is doing that to promote/advertise his other products from which he is making good money. For example, does he also have a disc mower ? or drum mower? Maybe, he is making only $50 profit from tiller, but, maybe making $1000 from drum mower. Some smart dealers I know of are doing this; indirect advertisements by selling some implements for cheap prices.

Pooh_Bear · Apr 7, 2006

Someone gave me a 6ft snow plow blade that came off the front of a truck.
I'm in the process of fabbing up a 3 point hitch for it.
I've got almost $200 in just the steel for just the hitch.
But when I get done I'll have an indestructible rear scraper blade.
Much MUCH better than any blade I could buy for my 8N.

Can't believe the price of steel.
Bought a little welder with big dreams.
Then starting pricing steel. Dreams went up in smoke fast.

Pooh Bear

ttowne66 · Apr 7, 2006

pooh bear

My suggestion regarding the steel would be to find your local machine shop and ask if they have any steel you could buy. Maybe if you helped them out in some way theywould do the same.