Counting the hours

gerryjo · Apr 1, 2008

Hi all,
First, thanks to all who post for just the sheer education I am getting.

I have a question that just came up concerning used tractors. I visited my NH dealer and he has several tractors in or coming in, TC30s and 35s but they have 'round 1,000 to 2,000 hours on them. They're a few years old and usually from the local schools. I realize that a lot can depend on what they were used for but apples and apples should I worry about this amount of time on a machine?
With loader he is asking between 11g and 12g.

I am also looking at new NH, JD, Kubota, Kioti, and Mahindra in the 30hp range. Would prefer a shuttle. We have 70 acres, 3 of lawn, 6 of overgrown pasture, a pond, and a ton of tree tops in the 40 acre wood from the selective logging just finished. Any buying advice is welcome. Heck, just with a loader I could be moving c&*p around this place for the next ten years

Thanks

Barneyhunts · Apr 1, 2008

Hi Gerryjo!
My wife and I have 78 acres, with maybe 40 - 45 acres of woods and the rest is field - type stuff. I use a Kubota B7800 (30 Hp) in the woods and find it very manuverable. I don't drag logs with it but I do use the loader for carrying fire wood sized pieces out. I use a Woods 60" rotary cutter for cutting trails (i use the chainsaw for big stuff though) in the woods and also for maintaining the fields. I also use it for plowing, discing and seeding food plots. Welcome to the site. I'm sure you'll get lots of input to your question, especially if there are other uses you want to put the machine to?
Good luck !

AchingBack · Apr 1, 2008

IMO, $11 -12 K is way too much for a used TC 30 with that many hours. I could have bought a brand new TC 30 gear tractor for around $13,500 in 2005, but opted for a Mahindra 2615 HST

groundcover · Apr 1, 2008

Welcome Gerryjo,
Sounds like you are in for some good times ! The trades with those hours should be fine if they were well cared for. Good tractors tend to hold their value so you may not be too far from a new one as far as price. Kubota has 0% 42 months ,pretty hard not to go new. Get what you want ,know the history and how it was broken in, treated and serviced. I just traded my Kubota 3010 ,30hp GST in ,never a hiccup in almost 400 hours. I would have kept it but thought it was time for a cab. Good dealers can make a big difference too. Not sure where you are but it might be worth talking to any tractor owners in the area to get their feedback on local dealers.

firefighter9208 · Apr 2, 2008

As far as sales of used tractors go. My grandfather just sold a 1972 Ford 3000 with a Ford industrial loader on it. This tractor had been beat on. Used to skid logs, etc.... The hour meter quit working years ago with over 3000 hours on it. The front end was worn out, needs new spindles and steering arms. The tires were fairly new though and he put a new grill in it. He got $5500.00 for it. Not much less than he paid for it new in 1972.

I have a Kubota M4800 and a guy offered me what I paid for it the other day.

I think the offer of $14,000 from the dealer is good on a trade in. JMHO.

Chris

greggh · Apr 2, 2008

Welcome to the site. I don't know at this time if I would purchase a used tractor for that money. Most of the major brands are offering 0% for at least 36 months if not more. A couple of thousand dollars more to get a new tractor and know the treatment of how it's been used would be a no brainer for me.

Of course my brain doesn't work as efficiently as it used to.

But still I think that I would go to the dealers in your area and price the size tractor you need and check the pricing of used to new and figure in the interest rate and see how you feel about the deal.

AndyMA · Apr 2, 2008

I agree, unless I got at least 30% off of list for a used one I'd buy new with financing and warranty.

Andy

gerryjo · Apr 3, 2008

Thanks everyone for the replies. More and more I am leaning toward a new tractor, but of course it has to fit the budget. The love of my life likes the color green, and I'm not talking brands here

So far I've visited 2 Kubota dealers, a JD, and New Holland. I like the matter of fact, laid back, and informative way of the closer Kubota and JD dealers. AchingBack, I have to say that the specs on the 2615 (and 2815 and 2525) Mahindra are seemingly much better than comparable size and hp tractors from the others and the financing (0% for up to 60) is amazing. I think the prices are lower too. In another thread I was reading I saw that many Mahindras are really underrated by the manufacturer. There are a few dealers, including a Mahindra, about 35 miles away in Cortland that I plan to check out this Saturday.

Curious --
With the cost of fuel continually rising why doesn't anyone spec fuel consumption on their machines? And isn't there a machine line that can run off both diesel fuel and the newer biodiesel?