Does Anyone Buy Used Tractors?

[Torvy]

Compacts are getting almost as bad. LOL

The difference is that the used compacts are priced nearly as high as new and most don't have warranties.

 

[super55]

All I ever buy is used but I am fairly comfortable wrenching on them. Up to the mid 2000's they are pretty easy to navigate around depending on model. After that they start putting computers in them and it gets much more complicated. Most I have bought were only seen via FaceTime calls from the seller. Each one I bought has had minimal issues which most likely caused the original seller to get rid of it in the first place but nothing catastrophic.

I work my tractors and for me it doesn't make sense to have new. 1 is the cost and 2 is dealer support. I can send it in under warranty but I'm not a "big fish" buyer so the dealer will put me in the back of the line anyways. I can't have a tractor gone for months and if I do the work then I void the warranty anyways. Additionally I kind of hold a personal conviction that a new tractor will not be any more dependable then one with several thousand well maintained hours other then maybe the quality of the seals around it.

 

[Smokeydog]

I buy used. Often quite a bit less than new. Years of experience working with tractors helps. Does take some work and research to find deals. Being first to close a deal a challenge but part of the hunt. Sold used for as much or more than what I paid even after 20 years. Has allowed me try various types of equipment for the farm while on a budget. Hobby farming or rural lifestyle a rewarding journey.

 

[Spike56]

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.

USED. I am NOT qualified to judge between new and used. However, my local mechanic has told me horror stories about the cost and reliability of *some* new models. The electrical, pollution controls, plastic parts and complications of more modern designs *can* be a nightmare. Of course, others' opinions will likely say otherwise. At least around here, there are numerous yards that have old tractors. In a pinch you can cabbage / obtain parts, especially if the item you need is not weather sensitive.
Like any product of course, depends on your usage. Two cents opinion.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

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.

I hate to say it but you can not trust what these machinery dealers say. I have caught nearly all of them in a lie one time or another down here in my neck of the woods.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

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.

This ^^^ is the answer.

 

[alexpops]

Nothing recent, but all my stuff is used and bought at auction. Have to be willing (and able) to do repairs and the savings (can) be substantial. Also need to be able to walk away if the price goes over your value range. Parts availability (even for simple stuff) can still be a problem if repairs are needed.

If you need the dealer to do service, (or you need the machine working to pay for itself), then you are better off going new and having a warranty. I got my tractor, zt, and mini-ex for less than 1/2 what new would have cost, and even with initial investment in fluid belt filter changes and repairs as needed, i was way ahead of the game. I don't trust previous owners to do maintenance as needed, so treat everything as if it was neglected. Same with implements.

Deals not as easy to find these days, but some still come up, and, once the recession takes hold and stagflation starts cutting into people's standard of living, things should start to get back to normal as demand drops and supply increases.

Part of the problem is the long lead times on new. Folks are buying used, because they can't wait 6-18 months for delivery. If supply chain issues get fixed, that demand will die out.

 

[rScotty]

The difference is that the used compacts are priced nearly as high as new and most don't have warranties.

I usually buy low hour used, but will sometimes buy new. It just depends. The more complicated a piece of equipment is, the more likely I am to value the proven reliability of "low hour used" over something new.

Since I do my own work, having something original from the factory is important enough to pay the extra. The big advantage to buying new is being able to see that someone else hasn't been in there trying to fix or adjust it.

On cars & trucks I've rarely used new warranties. I'll often buy a warranty on a used one and use it. Do tractor dealers offer warranties on used machines yet like the car and truck industry does?

rScotty

 

[Hay Dude]

I usually buy low hour used, but will sometimes buy new. It just depends. The more complicated a piece of equipment is, the more likely I am to value the proven reliability of "low hour used" over something new.

Since I do my own work, having something original from the factory is important enough to pay the extra. The big advantage to buying new is being able to see that someone else hasn't been in there trying to fix or adjust it.

On cars & trucks I've rarely used new warranties. I'll often buy a warranty on a used one and use it. Do tractor dealers offer warranties on used machines yet like the car and truck industry does?

rScotty

Some will give you a 90 day or up to a 1 year warranty. I had purchased a JCB from Deere Country and they gave me a 1 year 50/50 powertrain warranty.
But your process is generally my line of thinking as well.
If I am looking at a used farm tractor, the price is usually 40-50% of the cost of new.
RN, I am looking at 130HP tractor with loader, pre Tier-4, with cab/4WD and a few other options like a CVT and global carrier. Most are in the 2006-2012 year range. New, that tractor would be $150,000 all day post covid pricing. I am looking at about 60-80K asking price range. That leaves me a heck of a lot of room to buy a 2nd tractor and still be about the same as a single new tractor.
RN, I have 3 solid tractors I like very much. I have been in the process of replacing 2. One of them is sold and replaced and the replacement exceeded my expectations. The second one is sold and almost out the door. But it’s been VERY challenging to find the second replacement tractor. Inventory on used sucks, so prices are unusually high.
In serious Ag, you need 3-4 tractors, so I can’t just settle on ONE brand new one, like a lot of guys here. You need 3-4 tractors to do serious farming.

If the used $70,000 tractor needs $5-10k in repairs, I’m still doing ok, but the key to me is buying closer to 40% of the new price. What needs to be avoided at all costs is a new transmission. They are now approaching 25k on a mid size powershift rebuild and 15-20k on a CVT replacement. Engines are pretty easy to see up front if they have problems. Everything else is pretty manageable, but can still be thousands. I put front brakes and AC system in one of mine last summer and it was 6K. That sucked. The one I just sold has a PTO issue, but the buyer was informed by me and I took off thousands. I could have hid the problem, but that’s not the way I roll. Had a few pieces of equipment sold to me with hidden defects.

 

[scootr]

I have been buying mostly used equipment all my life. Mostly out of necessity to keep costs down. And it has allowed me to buy a lot more attachments, tractors (3 used), and vehicles (uncounted) than I could have otherwise. Buy something. Barely use it and sell. I'll be a buyer