Buying Rental Tractor

[RidgeHiker]

We are looking at a late 90's L35 with 1200+ hours that for the first 1000 hours was a rental unit. I am, like many of you, concerned with abuse as a rental. I have a few questions:

1. I know the L35's are very heavy duty. Is rental abuse less of a concern with a tractor like this, especially if it checks out OK?
2. Have any of you bought rental units? What was your experience with them?

Thanks!

 

[nspec]

Don't do it man.

 

[bp fick]

When there are one owner, cared for machines out there?
The price would have to be give-a-way for me to consider it. Just being honest. 1000 hours of rental time? That's like dog years, right?

 

[dkostiha]

Don's walk away, run away. Rental equipment gets regular oil changes, but is abused badly by renters.

 

[BruceWard]

I bought an exrental B21 in 2008 with 1050 hours on it. It has worked great for me. I can not identify any problems due to its rental history. I have used it about 300 hours. In that time the only non maintenance issues have been a burned out stop solenoid ($150) and a few hydraulic hoses. I am fairly certain that I am rougher with it than the renters would have been. Industrial Kubotas are built to work hard. In my opinion they are much tougher than the sandard B and L series.

 

[mjncad]

Do a search for DFKRUG's rental JD 4300 rebuild. He did a fantastic job rescuing a thoroughly abused tractor; but he has skills most of us do not possess.

I second another poster's comments...DON'T DO IT!

 

[beppington]

We are looking at a late 90's L35 with 1200+ hours that for the first 1000 hours was a rental unit. I am, like many of you, concerned with abuse as a rental. I have a few questions:

1. I know the L35's are very heavy duty. Is rental abuse less of a concern with a tractor like this, especially if it checks out OK?

Not to me. Tractor's are susceptible to abuse just like any other machine. And when the various people using it don't own it, there's just no way in the world that on average they will take care of it like it was their own.

I should add though that I'd be hard pressed to buy any used tractor, unless it was nearly flawless & could be easily proven to have only been driven to church on Sundays by a little old lady.

2. Have any of you bought rental units?

No way would I do it.

 

[sweep]

My local NH dealers stopped renting out tractors several years back so that tells you something. A 2 year old tractor looked like it was 20 years old and operated in a salvage yard. Every panel was busted or dented, front wheel bent etc.

Spend $2K more and get a one owner tractor.

 

[LD1]

For me, it would all come down to how much cheaper you could buy it for compared to other used ones.

IMO, just because it is a rental doesnt mean it is abused more than a privatally owned tractor. I know a lot of guys that abuse their OWN equipment. But at least with a rental, 9 times out of 10, you are guarenteed it was not neglected in the service department.

A private owner machine without a service record and 1000hrs would probabally scare me more, it all just depends on what it looks like.

If it looks in good shape, and not all tore up, it could possibally be a good buy. If you are unfamiliar with tractors and basic mechanics, take a knowledgable friend along with you to check it out:thumbsup: Check for things like slop in the hoe (pins and bushings), dentslbends in the main boom, loader frame, and buckets. Look for cracked castings around where the loader and BH frame mount. Things like this.

And to answer your second question, NO I havent bought a rental unit. But that didn't stop me from looking at them. But for me, the prices were too close compared to other used units.

And also, just because you find a unit off a private individual, doesnt mean that it didnt start life as a rental unit either. There's really no way to prove its past 1000hrs of history unless the owner cares to disclose his purchase paperwork, which he doesnt have to if he doesnt want. Someone out there may very well buy the unit you are looking at, do whatever he needs, and in a month mark it up a few thousand and re-sell. I have seen this done personally, and it's all because people think "private used" is worth more than rental used.

 

[wvpolekat]

I would say it would depend on what I found inspecting it and the price. Look for cracks, welds or other signs of abuse. Make sure the controls all function as expected without excessive slop.

I would also be leery of too many new parts or fresh paint.

 

[TripleR]

Hard to improve on the advice given so far. I am always leery of buying used if I don't know the history or condition. We have bought several used tractors, but my brother use to be a tractor mechanic and inspects them prior to the purchase. He saves us a lot of money by buying a basically sound unit and then fixing any of the minor issues.

The last used tractor I bought was a one owner L5030 HSTC from my local dealer. It had been purchased there and averaged 100 hours per year with regular maintenance performed by the dealer. It had been stored under roof and run by an "older guy", about my age maybe a little younger. It had been brought in for service and the owner happened to see a new L5740 on the lot and traded as he wanted an open station.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I'd be hard pressed to buy any used tractor, unless it was nearly flawless & could be easily proven to have only been driven to church on Sundays by a little old lady.

Not likely. :laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm with LD1 on this...I wouldn't pass by a rental machine if it was in good shape.
Now, I've bought three tractors and I think I know enough to ensure I buy a decent machine. If I was a first time buyer, I might shy away from a rental. Or, I'd take a person who was knowledgeable with me to examine the tractor.

 

[cgood]

I just bought a MF GC 2310TLB tractor that was a rental. It had a busted cylinder case(3 point hitch)=$416. It sat under a shelter for over 2 years unrepaired. They had two identical machines so I guess they weren't in any hurry to fix it. Now they are closing,and trying to sell all their equipment. It is beat up some,but for $1500 and 355 hours showing I figured I'd take a chance. I replaced that part and changed all the fluids.The FEL and backhoe work great. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If you can do all the work yourself,I wouldn't be scared to buy a used tractor.

 

[RidgeHiker]

We have friends that are very involved with heavy equipment that are going to look at it for us.
We will not buy it unless the price is very right - otherwise might as well buy one with a more acceptable proven history.

 

[RoyJackson]

We have friends that are very involved with heavy equipment that are going to look at it for us.
We will not buy it unless the price is very right - otherwise might as well buy one with a more acceptable proven history.

Just be prepared to walk away...don't let "tractoritis" cloud your judgement.

 

[PILOON]

I'm with LD1 on this...I wouldn't pass by a rental machine if it was in good shape.
Now, I've bought three tractors and I think I know enough to ensure I buy a decent machine. If I was a first time buyer, I might shy away from a rental. Or, I'd take a person who was knowledgeable with me to examine the tractor.

Good advice!
Hire a mechanic, preferably one who works on that brand even if you have to pay shop rates.
An hour or two of shop rate compared to your investment is a mere pittance in the overall picture,
Not only will he spot problems but being an 'expert consultant' you can then negotiate a price adjustment or have the vendor repair any problems.
BUT, don't nickle and dime normal wear items like battery, fan belts and obvious items like seat wear and tires etc, use him for major mechanical issues like clutch, transmission compression etc.

 

[jenkinsph]

I am with Roy on this, bring your expert friend and be prepared to walk if you can't make a good deal.


I wouldn't turn up my nose just because it was a rental.

 

[dfkrug]

For me, it would all come down to how much cheaper you could buy it for compared to other used ones.

IMO, just because it is a rental doesnt mean it is abused more than a privatally owned tractor. I know a lot of guys that abuse their OWN equipment. But at least with a rental, 9 times out of 10, you are guarenteed it was not neglected in the service department.

Yes, exactly right, LD1. These are points I have tried to make when I
have attempted to justify my rental tractor purchases. (I have purchased
nine ex-rentals in the past dozen years.)

I HAVE seen used tractors for sale in really really bad shape....not even
worth a low-ball offer. These were FSBO units listed on CraigsList. They
were far more risky than the rental tractors I bought. I don't think any
of my fixer units had any real big surprises. The yard I bought from was
very open with me....not just the guy in charge of sales, but also the
mechanics, whom I questioned at length.

It really IS about the cost, when you can't justify the cost of a new
CUT, or even a pristine used machine. I got all my ex-rentals very cheap,
even the ones that ran and did not need tons of work.

 

[RidgeHiker]

Thanks for all your help.
Our friends felt the tractor was OK but the price turned out to be higher than we were willing to go.
We'll keep looking!