first time buyer

JDgreen227 · Feb 1, 2004

About the missing brain cells joke, anyone who spends as much time on TBN as ME is obviously not one of the sharper tools on the rack. Good advice about how a HST operates in your post...that is a lot clearer than I could have described how they operate. IMO, a first time tractor owner would be much better off with the HST as those give the operator one less thing to worry about. I grew up with Ford 8N's and NAA's and could operate a gear transmission when I was 10 years old. But for a new owner with his first tractor, I advise the hydro drive.

Bill

ezzy · Feb 1, 2004

thanks for the advice

MossRoad · Feb 2, 2004

<font color="blue"> I am a greenhorne and i need help I know next to nothing about tractors </font>

You may want to take a look at this book, as well /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

SteveM · Feb 2, 2004

Have you established a budget? Money is everything - to do the job you briefy describe, you will get close to $20,000 new. Since you mention the shib.....I am thinking you want to spend less....

what is your range?

ezzy · Feb 3, 2004

if my wife wins 3 or 4 thounsand 5 tops. she hates spending , unless itfs for herself ha ha

ezzy · Feb 3, 2004

thanks i will try later this week

fivestring · Feb 4, 2004

<font color="red">"she hates spending , unless itfs for herself ha ha " </font>

Now you have a plan!

1. Get her on some tractors: moving dirt, plowing, cutting grass, etc.
2. Tell her that if she's gonna use it, too, then she can help pick out the tractor.
3. Let her name the tractor.
4. Buy her a TBN t-shirt to wear while on the tractor!

DAP · Feb 4, 2004

Ezzy ... three or four thousand for someone new to compact utility tractors, and based on your stated need, well ...

You're post is a little vague. Do you have 5 acres to mow? Bucket clean up? Are you gonna move snow around? When you see what a loader can do, you will have more to do than you know. But man does not live by loader alone. Loader's like 4 wheel drive. Slopes like 4 wheel drive. Once you find out what HST is and how perfect they are for compact tractor specifications, well .. Lookie there! ....safe to say we're way outta the 4 thousand dollar range unless you're willing to buy a much older, high hour tractor and can handle the maintenance and upkeep. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

what noone has yet said and what I'm alluding to is ... be prepared for some biting sticker shock. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Also keep in mind that unless you buy a machine of dubious reputation (and that's getting harder and harder to ascertain), you will also have this machine for the next 25 years if you treat it nice.

grandad · Feb 4, 2004

Ezzy, I have to second what Doug says about sticker shock. $4-5k is not even at the top end of the garden tractor league, unfortunately for all of us consumers. When you start into the "real tractors" - even the compact and subcompact sizes - you are making a big leap upward in capability and complexity, and the costs go up to match. Maybe the good news is this equipment holds its value much better than a garden tractor, but both the checkbook and the CFO need to be ready for more $$$ if you're going in this direction. But this equipment is unbeatable if you really have the need. Good luck with your decision!