Correct my thinking...

[AllWaysBreakinSomething]

New is high right now. Just posted difference on RK tractors on another thread today (RK55 up $4500 from early 2020). Was thinking about getting cab. Going to wait till everyone has to go back to work. Inflation might take some time but I don't need it now.

 

[Torvy]

My fear with renting would be that I would do something to damage the rental and be out the cost of repairs. We tend to rush with rentals because we pay by the hour. Rushing with unfamiliar equipment is risky beyond my comfort level.

 

[zzvyb6]

You have to buy the right tractor brand, size(h.p.), and fuel type. Inflation is coming BIG time, too. Real goods like tractors keep their intrinsic value, assuming you don't break all the parts on it from overloading, abusing, bending, storage, and loaning out to morons and idiots.

 

[Torvy]

You are correct serious inflation is inevitable now. The only variable is whether between the Fed and the government they figure out the lessons of history. So far, it seems not.

 

[Williy]

I'm sorry but you left out the travel time to get
to the rent it shop and the time to fill out the
paper work then the time it takes to get back
home and of course when your done with it
you have the travel time to take the unit back
and check it in and another trip back home and
if you had your own tractor you could have done
the project twice over and been enjoying a cool
lemonade sitting in the front room watching tv
with your feet propped up! Just common sense!

willy

 

[Doughknob]

I don't know what your needs are for a tractor but for me renting would never be an option. Things happen, you need it now, you want to do this now but can't, you don't do things you could do if the tractor was right there and available, and on and on. For me, and I am guessing for many here, having a tractor ready right when you want it is worth the purchase.

This OP if all the above applies, buy. If you are talking about 'planned' tasks or projects that can wait - and maybe even as someone else said, would be better with a specific attachment, rent. Attachments can run cost to buy.

And if renting, take that cash you'd have paid to buy and invest it. It will build up more to either continue renting or buy later!

 

[LostMy65]

How about a 2021 MF GC1725M?
I can buy it or rent a BX from home Depot 50 times.

 

[airbiscuit]

Lots of good points above. I have owned several CUTs. Three of them I used for several years and then sold for as muck or than what I originally paid for them! It is important that you keep it well maintained. I agree with the point that it is nice to have a tractor around when you need it - even if it is ony 20 or 30 minutes.

Don't forget the cost of implements. They depreciate some, but not all that much.

Saving work and scrambling to get it all done with a rental is kind of like work. Having a tractor to jump on whenever you feel like it is fun.

Before my first CUT, I had a John Deere B and a Farmall H. Then I got a 32hp skidsteer. My wife was tolerant but said "what will you use that for"? The first day she came back from the grocery store, I met her at the car - put two bags of groceries in the bucket - and drove it to the house. The look on her face was priceless.

BTW, I also sold that for a profit after a couple of years.

 

[ning]

It all depends on what you need the tractor for.

I personally tried the "I can rent a tractor once a month/quarter/whenever" instead for a while. I finally bought a tractor.

Why? Because I had a ton of work to do that needed to get done now, but it was never enough to actually rent a tractor for it (including the time to go get the tractor and take it back). Broken irrigation? 15 minutes with a tractor. You don't rent a tractor for just to dig that hole, but trust me you'd rather use a tractor than a pick and shovel. I really tried to pile up the tractor tasks to make renting worthwhile, but I always ended up doing it the hard way before I had a good enough pile.

Finally we had an old horse die, and nobody was available to dig a hole for it for a week - we called every lead we could find for 20 miles around. Finally I rented a tractor (kub B tlb), did the job, and then realized I had 4 hours more I could play with it and presto understood just how much I could get done - things I knew needed doing but that never got important enough to get done because everything else took so long by hand.

So yeah
If you have an endless amount of things, buying is well worth it.
If you truly only have the occasional thing that needs a tractor, rent.
I wouldn't buy a mini-ex, because it falls into the second category, but on my land I'll never finish even with a tractor, but at least I'm making headway - because I bought a tractor.

 

[Rdrcr]

How about a 2021 MF GC1725M?
I can buy it or rent a BX from home Depot 50 times.

The MF GC1725M is a great tractor and really good value.

It would definitely save you trips to Home Depot and you could do your tractor work at your convenience. That’s pretty important in my book.

Mike

 

[MHarryE]

Availability of a rental - will there be one available when you need it?
Negotiator for selling - are you a good salesperson who can get top $$$ selling? I watch auctions continually as I am always in need of more equipment on my farm. I've seen CUTs go for 50% of their original cost after 2 or 3 years, and by that I mean JD & Kubota. Dealers ask a lot more but how much do they negotiate down on used?
Availability - I watched a video last night where a farmer was unloading his new JD tractor (large ag tracked). Won't be able to use it until spring planting but JD's availability runs out to middle of next year so he had to snatch it up now, store it in the back of his machine shed for the next 6 months. Sales of CUT size tractors were down drastically in July due to no tractors being available. Its driven up prices so most dealers aren't negotiating.
Credit - I have mailings from JD, Kubota, and MF this week wanting me to buy using their money (zero interest). Why, if there is a shortage, I don't know. It may be a leader to get you into dealerships even if they don't have the tractor you want to buy.

 

[IndyJay]

...Credit - I have mailings from JD, Kubota, and MF this week wanting me to buy using their money (zero interest). Why, if there is a shortage, I don't know. It may be a leader to get you into dealerships even if they don't have the tractor you want to buy.

I would venture to guess so that they have a good idea of how many to order. Also, if they commit to a certain number they may get a better price and a better slot in the waiting list. Again, only speculating here.

 

[dirttoys]

If I buy a new $20,000 tractor and some major issue comes up in my life and I have to sell it. What roughly would be my loss in 2 years?
.
Ok, so now, instead I rent a tractor every time I need one. I could seriously see myself wanting/needing a tractor to use at least once a month.
$300 to rent at 12 times a year for 2 years = $7200. (maybe I only need one once every 2 months. That's still $3600 lost by renting).
.
Yes, I'm trying to rationalize/justify, but I can't see how renting makes sense over buying, even if I have to sell my new tractor in 2 years.
.
Correct my thinking...

I hate renting, but, fair is fair. If you rent you have no real maintenance. If the machine fails (not due to you breaking it) the rental company is on the hook to fix or fight the warranty.

Best,

ed

 

[Raines]

How about a 2021 MF GC1725M?
I can buy it or rent a BX from home Depot 50 times.

Buy the massey. I just bought the mf gc1725mb and love it! So glad I chose a massey.
Plus, nothing is going to get cheaper. Even with prices high right now, I guarantee you next year it will be even higher. Inflation will continue especially if they pass a 3.5 trillion dollar grab bag. Even without that passing inflation will still rise, goods are still limited, everything is on back order. All this takes time to flatten out and start to recover and by that time prices will have raised significantly. Vehicles, RVs, tractors, all will be good commodities to own as long as they are kept in good shape. I could sell my 2018 rv right now that I bought new in 2018 and make 20 grand more than what I paid for it. Possibly more. Same with vehicles and tractors. And this trend will continue I believe. So no better time than now to buy.

 

[sambota]

Reasons to buy vs rent;
- there will be numerous occasions that you want to do a small task that would be been easier if you had a tractor handy. It is amazing how many times you will use it doing things you didn’t anticipate in addition to the things you ‘schedule’ to do while renting a tractor.
- sometimes it is just fun doing a task with a tractor. Think of it as a part recreational/relaxation/enjoyment. It is hard to rationalize spending money on a toy. Never makes sense, but people spend a lot of $$ on boats, RVs, etc.. Easier to justify if it is fun and you accomplish something also.
- Hopefully you will have many years of enjoyment with your tractor. I’m 21 years in and I still love my B2910.

 

[workinonit]

Funny thing about tractors. Mine is always worth less than the next guy and the one I want to buy is just a peach and worth more than the others they have, if they have others.

 

[fried1765]

This OP if all the above applies, buy. If you are talking about 'planned' tasks or projects that can wait - and maybe even as someone else said, would be better with a specific attachment, rent. Attachments can run cost to buy.

And if renting, take that cash you'd have paid to buy and invest it. It will build up more to either continue renting or buy later!

Buy the massey. I just bought the mf gc1725mb and love it! So glad I chose a massey.
Plus, nothing is going to get cheaper. Even with prices high right now, I guarantee you next year it will be even higher. Inflation will continue especially if they pass a 3.5 trillion dollar grab bag. Even without that passing inflation will still rise, goods are still limited, everything is on back order. All this takes time to flatten out and start to recover and by that time prices will have raised significantly. Vehicles, RVs, tractors, all will be good commodities to own as long as they are kept in good shape. I could sell my 2018 rv right now that I bought new in 2018 and make 20 grand more than what I paid for it. Possibly more. Same with vehicles and tractors. And this trend will continue I believe. So no better time than now to buy.

My 251 hour 2006 Kubota L48TLB that I bought for 32K 2 years ago, is reportedly now worth 10K more.

 

[airbiscuit]

My friend bought a new John Deere 3032E with a loader and a free back blade for about $15k shorty after they came out. Same tractor is now several thousand more used, and $12k more new. Unless you buy an orphan tractor, its hard to lose money on a CUT.

 

[Sidney71]

If I buy a new $20,000 tractor and some major issue comes up in my life and I have to sell it. What roughly would be my loss in 2 years?
.
Ok, so now, instead I rent a tractor every time I need one. I could seriously see myself wanting/needing a tractor to use at least once a month.
$300 to rent at 12 times a year for 2 years = $7200. (maybe I only need one once every 2 months. That's still $3600 lost by renting).
.
Yes, I'm trying to rationalize/justify, but I can't see how renting makes sense over buying, even if I have to sell my new tractor in 2 years.
.
Correct my thinking...

Buy your tractor- if you can find one. If you get a front end loader you will have to invest a $ 5,000.00 more ( category one tractor ) ,but you will find a great many more uses for your tractor and I predict you will Never sell it. That said if you do sale , you will not lose any money in today's environment unless you damage the tractor in some way.

 

[LostMy65]

How about a 2021 MF GC1725M?
I can buy it or rent a BX from home Depot 50 times.

Just put a deposit on it yesterday.
It was supposedly one already ordered in, so they said hopefully in the next few weeks.