Buy,Rent or Hire?

[EddieWalker]

I am truly new to this and I am considering purchasing a used 22hp tractor with front end loader, rear drag and auger. I have about 3 1/2 acres and I need to level two, drill fence posts and clear brush. I also wish to build a rock wall and could use the tractor for procuring rocks nearby. The leveling of the land for farming will only need to be done once. Clearing adjacent land owned by the state to remove weeds could be ongoing. Some people tell me that I will always need the tractor and will be happy I have it. Others tell me that I could rent one or hire someone and save a lot. The tractor I am looking at is about $8,000. About half of the land is for crops and the other will be used for orchard. Thanks, JR

James,

You didn't say what type of tractor it is, how old it is or how many hours on it. All these things can add up to a money pit that won't get anything done. Used is great if you know what your getting, but a nightmare if you don't.

Before you do anything, you should ask a few contractors what they'd charge to level your field. It's probably allot more than you expect, but if you find a reliable one, it will get done and you can move on with your plans.

Renting and doing yourself means running a machine you're not familiar with, nor do you know how to operate it. Most likely spend allot of time without accomplishing anything. This can become very frustrating.

Buying a tractor is how I do most things, but I also buy used and spend allot of time fixing on my machines. It's not for most, and it's not even something I enjoy, but it's what I can afford. If you have the time, then buying will get it done. The bigger the tractor, the more you can get done.

22 hp is fine for most of what you want to do, but you will be limited in how big a mower you can pull. Probably 4 foot. Some might say 5 foot, but that will depend on the machine. Four feet doesn't cut allot of material, but it's only a few acres, so you should be fine.

I'm not sure what you mean by a "rear drag?" I have two that I made to smooth out ruts and tracks. It works fine for finishing off the dirt and fine smoothing, but only on loose material after it's already 95% done. Maybe 98%.

How bad is the field? That will really dictate on what you should do. If it's really rough, then you should hire it out. If it's just rough, than you should be able to smooth it out with a tractor and some implements

Eddie

 

[jbrumberg]

James_Reany:

Welcome to TBN ! Please provide us with more information about your property, location, "tractor of interest", and current as well as future anticipated uses. Then the readership of TBN will not only provide you with helpful information ; we will also help you spend more of your hard earned money ! Jay

 

[James Reany]

Well, I want to thank everyone for their responses. I had some issues to deal with over the last several days and I just got back from my farm. I had to get a new truck as my old one was begining to nickle and dime me to death.
After all is said and done I am really leaning to buying a tractor. Lets face it I can't wait to actually use one and I know I will get hooked. My 3 1/2 acres is by a river here in Arizona, fairly flat, and the soil is clay and sand with very few large rocks, most the size of footballs or smaller. I really need to level the land and that is the prime reason for the tractor. We also need to dig fence posts. I have looked at a refurbished ISEKI 23 HP 4WD with front end loader, rear drag for leveling and an auger for the fence posts. The person who has the ISEKI has several other makes and he gets them from someone in Texas who gets them from the Orient and refurbishes them. I am not sure as to what to think of them, I checked the ISEKI web sight and was impressed with their commitment to quality. The whole shootin match goes for $7,700. The machine really looks pretty good and he says he will stand behind the tractor if anything goes bad.

I am going to an auction tomorrow to see if I can find a real bargin, will let you know how that goes. Please comment on the refurbished ISEKI. Thank You JR

 

[EddieWalker]

Before you buy an tractor of any brand, be sure you can get parts for it in your area. I don't have a clue where you would get a starter, fuel filter or an injector for an Iseki. Do you?

Don't rush into anything, or think that all tractors are allike. There are not!! Even more important than what brand you get, is the dealer support you can get for that model. Most parts are not available at the local auto parts store, but some are. Napa has parts for the bigger brands, but again, I don't know about Iseki. I doubt it.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[john_bud]

You are looking at what is known as a "Grey Market" tractor. Nothing illegal, but they are tractors made for and sold into non-USA markets. Stickers may be all in japanese. USA versions may not be the same and some companies won't sell you parts for Grey.

The largest and best supported grey tractors are the Yanmar's. They have decent parts support and more folks that can help you get them running if (when) something goes out. The Iseki's are decent and I think they made the FORD tractors in the 80's and early 90's. But parts supply is tighter, if memory serves. Personnally, I would check out the yanmar forums and do google searches on any and all tractors you may be looking at.

In your budget, you can a lot of used tractor. Don't jump too quick.

jb

 

[Podunkadunk]

If you are going to an auction, please read the thread "Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers - Buyer beware!", it's in the same category on TBN that this post is in, just further down. You'll get all the info you need and more about what to do and not to do. A fellow TBN'r learned a hard and valuable lesson by not inspecting what he bought, then found out it wasn't as advertised by the Auction Company.

If you go, inspect your equipment BEFORE you buy. Also, since you don't know too much about tractors, do a little research on several brands you know they'll be selling (call them and ask what brands will be available). This site has just about every category of tractor listed and if it's not, you can bet your last dollar that someone on here owns one!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck if you go that route.

-Podunk

 

[Atlas]

ONLY BUY IF YOU ARE A DISCIPLINED MAN!

Surely you will find out about all the attachments you cannot do without and must have!!!

This is the most secret of hidden expenses of tractor ownership.

 

[HighLoader]

Acouple years ago I hired a contractor to do some serious dirt moving and it cost me thousands of dollars. That was when I decided to get my first tractor, a New Holland TC24DA. I got alot done with that tractor and had a lot of fun. Recently I moved up to a TC40DA. I can't imagine not having a tractor now. So I would say go for buying one. I also think a newer one or new one with a hydrostatic trans is the way to go.

 

[AlanB]

Well, I want to thank everyone for their responses. I had some issues to deal with over the last several days and I just got back from my farm. I had to get a new truck as my old one was begining to nickle and dime me to death.
After all is said and done I am really leaning to buying a tractor. Lets face it I can't wait to actually use one and I know I will get hooked. My 3 1/2 acres is by a river here in Arizona, fairly flat, and the soil is clay and sand with very few large rocks, most the size of footballs or smaller. I really need to level the land and that is the prime reason for the tractor. We also need to dig fence posts. I have looked at a refurbished ISEKI 23 HP 4WD with front end loader, rear drag for leveling and an auger for the fence posts. The person who has the ISEKI has several other makes and he gets them from someone in Texas who gets them from the Orient and refurbishes them. I am not sure as to what to think of them, I checked the ISEKI web sight and was impressed with their commitment to quality. The whole shootin match goes for $7,700. The machine really looks pretty good and he says he will stand behind the tractor if anything goes bad.

I am going to an auction tomorrow to see if I can find a real bargin, will let you know how that goes. Please comment on the refurbished ISEKI. Thank You JR

James, please do not take this wrong, we do not know each other, and the sum total of what I know about you, is what you wrote above.

That said, if you felt a pickup truck was nickle and diming you to death, I would be very hesitant to get into an older tractor, or especially an older gray. (an Iseki) read the other post of Eddies, I would venture to say Eddie has spent more time wrenching then he would like. I myself like the wrenching on my machines, even though there is usually a lot of cussing go on (actually I like the feeling when I am DONE) and so I tend to buy slightly rougher and cheaper machines then others and rehab them.

However, if your idea of a good time is not getting up on Sat morning and swinging by the tractor dealership, the Napa, and the Rural king, then tinkering a bit with the tractor to sort out the ___________ that is not working, you may consider buying a newer tractor with lots of support here.

I am sure someone is about to post down here that they have had a grey that they bought 20 years ago, never did anything too it, and have never had a problem. That does happen. There are also plenty of stories of folks that have bought older things, and had them nickle and dime them too death.

I guess, the point of this whole long post is to just say, I would wait, look, read and think a little longer before making the jump.

Then again maybe I am reading it all wrong.

 

[kwolfe]

I would have to agree with Alan. I would also consider looking around for a used Red, Orange, Green or Blue tractor. The dealer support could pay for itself over the long haul. You may spend $2000, but consider that piece of mind. Just my 2 cents.