Does Anyone Buy Used Tractors?

[WVH1977]

I read a lot through the buying/pricing/comparison forums and see that almost everyone recommends new over used. I also see where most folks on here end up buying new. I know it is not everyone but it seems more common. I agree that used tractors are very expensive.

1. Is it because it is harder to finance and folks don't have the cash?
2. Is it because folks don't want to pay that much for used?
3. If the used market is so expensive and no one wants to pay, why does the price stay high? Or are they selling for a lot less than listing price?
4. Are the used tractors even selling or do they just sit forever and not sell?
5. I read a lot of statements about certain brands having higher resale value. Does this even matter if no one wants to pay for it because the resale value is so high?
6. This might not relate but I see a lot if used chainsaws for sale that are way overpriced as well. I guess folks pay for it and folks selling think they are worth near new prices.

Whenever I am ready to get rid off something, I usually put a decent price on it and it sells quickly. Maybe I need to up my price when selling and be willing to wait 6 months.

 

[scootr]

I bought used last Summer. I also sold my old tractor privately after the new one arrived.
I bought used privately after going to 2 dealers and being told there are no used tractors - we have a waiting list of used tractor buyers. And what you want is in stock for about $50k dollars. When I saw something pop up on my local CL market I bought it the same day. I paid 32K cash and seller delivered. I saved 18k and came home and sold the old tractor within a week for $15k. Also the dealers told me they would give me next to nothing for my old tractor even though I bought from one of the dealers I was talking to. To me it was a good deal. By the way, new used tractor had less than 150 hrs on it and the 3 rear remotes and gannon I needed.

 

[masseyrider]

I had the one dealer want more for the new tractor I was looking at with a trade than if I bought it straight up.
He is no longer my dealer.
I mentioned to a friend that I may be getting rid of a tractor and replacing it with a new one.
He mentioned it at the local coffee shop. In the next 2 days I had 6 or 7 different guys show up hoping to make a buy.
In my area there is still a waiting list for certain models of new and a pent up demand for good used tractors. It's a sellers market, at least around here.

 

[Yander]

Up until my last tractor, which I bought new, I bought only used tractors and can't say I had a bad experience with any of them. Usually got all my money back after using them a couple years up to 5 years.

I think it isn't a bad way to get into the tractor experience because if you end up buying it and not using it or liking it, you won't lose too much money to resell.

You just need to be patent and ready with cash.

As for selling, I try to price it right and get it sold. I don't have the time for tire kickers who don't have money but have nothing to do but yak. My last tractor sold it the first guy who messaged me within a half hour of listing.

I might have gotten a couple hundred more dollars by pricing higher waiting but it was nice to unload it.

 

[scootr]

I think if you know what you need and you can look at a tool for a job and know what will work.. if you can a couple of compromises and you love to bargain hunt you can find a deal. A lot of people here need the security of a warranty or the buying power of a loan. SO new is the only option. I have both new and used cars as well. My wife's car and truck are dealer new. Mine are all used now although the FORD was new to me in 2016. But I don't need a new one every couple a yrs either. What's that? YEs dear, no dear, yes dear....

 

[m1garand762]

The last few years with the shortages the used market became overinflated. I personally took advantage of this and sold a piece of junk Kioti for premium money and didn’t feel bad about it. On tue other side I bought a new tractor to not get raped for basically the same money on a used tractor. I typically buy used cars to save on the initial depreciation but right now if I needed a vehicle I would buy new for tue same reason I bought a new tractor

 

[/pine]

A lot of used tractors get sold via word of mouth...many get sold to neighbors etc...
Most dealers keep ISO lists for trade ins and those machines never see the lot...
A lot of folks just keep their current tractors and buy another and maybe even another...!
I probably know more people that own two or more tractors than just one...!

 

[Paystar]

I buy antique tractor for play toys, but when it comes to tractors I have to depend on daily and that cost a good amount (this also includes atv's, motorcycles etc) I prefer new.
Just because there are lots of ways people can screw things up with poor maintenance and abuse.

I'd always rather start new and do my maintenance from day one. I don't even bring my new vehicles to the dealer any more for oil changes or stuff like that. I've had to fix too many "other peoples mistakes" so may as well just do it myself. I hate that that sounds arrogant......it's really not. It's just that every dealer around me has been incompetent. Pretty sad when you bring your wife's new car to the dealer for an oil change and they put the hoist through the floor then try and tell you "your wife ran something over."

 

[Hay Dude]

I only buy used. New Ag tractors way out of affordability range.

 

[Paystar]

I only buy used. New Ag tractors way out of affordability range.

Compacts are getting almost as bad. LOL

 

[Johndeere3720]

In terms of my excavation equipment that I depend on every day, I generally buy new. But for stuff around the house, I've had a number of used tractors. Personally, having mechanical knowledge, the used tractors to me can be great. My current tractor is a John Deere 4100 with over 5500 hrs but it's been absolutely solid. Sure, it's not perfect but I just needed it to mow brush and cut the lawn, it's hard for me to justify spending tens of thousands for that alone.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I bought used and a cheap brand (mahindra 485) because it was 50hp with loader for $5000 vs $50,000 for a new green or orange.

 

[scaredychicken]

i bought new only because there was nothing available that suited my needs (and the warranty was a nice factor) - i would have bought an old used tractor, but needed an open deck, 4wd. etc.
i have always bought and kept other used / old machines ... garden tractor (Jacobsen, vintage), lawn tractor (John Deere) and Zero Turn (cub cadet)
supply / shipping / availability of machines, and of parts, may be a current factor.
I tend to buy things that I find locally

 

[rScotty]

I read a lot through the buying/pricing/comparison forums and see that almost everyone recommends new over used. I also see where most folks on here end up buying new. I know it is not everyone but it seems more common. I agree that used tractors are very expensive.

1. Is it because it is harder to finance and folks don't have the cash?
I don't think so, financing has never before been so easy, or new things so much preferred over used.

2. Is it because folks don't want to pay that much for used?
Maybe. Or it might be that they don't feel comfortable with mechanical things or would rather do something other than fix things. Either way, they prefer the mechanical responsibility be on someone else.

3. If the used market is so expensive and no one wants to pay, why does the price stay high? Or are they selling for a lot less than listing price?
Could be there are enough guys - it wouldn't take many - who value a proven owner-maintained low hour tractor more than a new one backed up by an unknown mechanic and warranty by same.
I feel that way, and know others who do too.

4. Are the used tractors even selling or do they just sit forever and not sell?
That's a good question.... If it is like anything else, the good ones get sold by word of mouth and never are advertised. Just needing to be advertised in order to sell automatically moves the value down a notch in my book.

5. I read a lot of statements about certain brands having higher resale value. Does this even matter if no one wants to pay for it because the resale value is so high?
I'm thinking that the answer is the same as #4 above..

6. This might not relate but I see a lot if used chainsaws for sale that are way overpriced as well. I guess folks pay for it and folks selling think they are worth near new prices.
I don't think it relates either. Chainsaws are more use-it-up items. Tractors can last a lifetime and still have useful life and value.

Whenever I am ready to get rid off something, I usually put a decent price on it and it sells quickly. Maybe I need to up my price when selling and be willing to wait 6 months.
To each his own. I put a decent price on it and ask around. If it needs fixing, I fix it first. If I can't fix it, I make sure the buyer understands what that means, and price it accordingly.
rScotty

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I bought new for a couple reasons.

1. Warranty
2. Older tier 4 units are worse than the newer models
3. Price was not that much less for used
4. Have you seen how the average CUT owner abuses their tractor? I do not want a newbies learning device.

 

[scootr]

I bought my last used tractor from the local dealers rental fleet. It was 3 yrs old with 1k hours on it. Looked like somebody had gone over it with a baseball bat a couple of times but low hours and everything worked. I kept that used tractor 15 yrs - I put a starter and a cylinder on it both my fault.
Why buy new?

 

[jyoutz]

I bought my last used tractor from the local dealers rental fleet. It was 3 yrs old with 1k hours on it. Looked like somebody had gone over it with a baseball bat a couple of times but low hours and everything worked. I kept that used tractor 15 yrs - I put a starter and a cylinder on it both my fault.
Why buy new?

Why? Because it’s hard to find a decent used machine that can be bought for a significant discount price over new. And finding the model you want equipped the way you want is even more difficult.

 

[deserteagle71]

Both my tractors were bought used. No way could I justify buying new...I'm not farming/ranching and a tractor is not essential for me. But I grew up on a tractor...those were good days and good memories so nostalgia I guess is why I wanted one. Plus, I do have quite a few acres and enjoy keeping the place cleaned up and neatly maintained. Hard to do without a tractor.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve always bought used equipment, usually very used equipment. There’s no way I could have build my business using new equipment.

 

[mikester]

These days why buy used when new is often the same price or cheaper?

Case in point - used 8 ton running gear - $800. Tires cracked. Frame bent. Rusty everything. Steering all FU. Bearings likely toast. New tires would cost $200/ea so I'm in for $1600 and still have to worry about losing a load towing down the road.

Brand new 8 ton running gear $1600. With warranty. No worries. Why would I buy someone's POS headaches that will end up wasting me a lot of time? I want to get a job done, not screw around fixing old worn tools to try and do the job to "save money".

When it comes to expensive equipment you often are better off renting than buying. Write off 100% of the rental expense in the year you do the job. Let someone else worry about maintenance and repairs and depreciation.