Flipping tractors?

[olivedrabflorida]

So I've got an idea I thought I'd run by you guys to see if anyone does this and if it's a good idea. Still working out the numbers to see how profitable it would be, so here it is: buying rusty, non running 8n's off craigslist, restoring them, then selling the freshly restored 8n's on craigslist. Seems like a fun way to make money on the side. What do you guys think?

 

[brokenknee]

It's like anything you are going to flip, need to figure out what it will sell for in repaired fixed up condition, the amount of work and cost to get it there and the initial cost of the item.

Almost forgot, what you expect to make on the job.

 

[vtsnowedin]

There are a lot more hobbyist that want to find an old tractor and lovingly restore it then there are guys that want to buy somebody else's restoration efforts and just look at it or drive it in parades.

 

[newbury]

There are a lot more hobbyist that want to find an old tractor and lovingly restore it then there are guys that want to buy somebody else's restoration efforts and just look at it or drive it in parades.

And I can remember seeing the same 8N for sale on CL for about a year, at a fairly low price.

 

[Code54]

Often by the time you do all the repairs you are over the value of the machine. You really need to watch the costs and often depending on the amount of work you need to put into it you are not making much or anything for your labor.

 

[olivedrabflorida]

There are a lot more hobbyist that want to find an old tractor and lovingly restore it then there are guys that want to buy somebody else's restoration efforts and just look at it or drive it in parades.

Good point, didn't really think about that.

 

[murphy1244]

You will need to sell them for 2500 or less here.

 

[olivedrabflorida]

Often by the time you do all the repairs you are over the value of the machine. You really need to watch the costs and often depending on the amount of work you need to put into it you are not making much or anything for your labor.

That's what I'm worried about, most machines on craigslist in my area need a full tune up, fresh paint and new seat. Everything going well that would take me about 4 hours and about $250. I get that that's not a "restoration", but it's the stuff a lot of people don't want to do.

 

[olivedrabflorida]

You will need to sell them for 2500 or less here.

The going rate for a beat up 8n here in Tampa is around $1400-$2000

 

[vtsnowedin]

It would be better to become the expert at doing the hard rebuilds of engines trannys and rear ends that are beyond the ability of the hobbyist that has bit off more then he can chew. Hard part is knowing the difference between what can be rebuilt and what is beyond hope or your capabilities and also sizing up the owners willingness to pay for having the job done right.

 

[Jim Timber]

Cherry 8N's with rustoleum restorations sell for under $2500-3K here. If there's that much demand for clean ones, get a volume rate worked out with the railroads and start moving them south.

 

[Piston]

I think there can be money made in flipping tractors, but not tractors like 8N's.

I think you'd really need to concentrate on buying the newer tractors like compacts and subcompacts that people buy, never use, and then want to get rid of. I think there are many times where you can find "deals" on these, and then just wash them, wax them, and resell for more.

 

[GManBart]

Unless you're getting them for free, you're not going to make money flipping 8Ns. Around here a really nice 8N goes for $2500, and beaters are still $1000-1500. Sure, you might make a couple hundred bucks per flip, but it's going to mean working for peanuts when you add up the hours.

 

[Rock knocker]

Make sure to get a TV deal too

 

[pmsmechanic]

I have a friend in Medicine Hat Alberta that does this for the fun of it. He buys mostly 80 - 150 hp John Deere's and has a lot of fun doing it. He buys tractors all over western Canada and his reputation is such that he has standing orders all the time. Standing orders = "If you find such and such a tractor in this $ range I'll buy it."

 

[Tx Jim]

With all the newer compact tractors available for sale with ""live hyd's and live pto(or built in over-running clutch)"" it continually amazes me that anyone would want an 8N(non live pto/hyd's) thats over 63 yrs old.

 

[Gary Fowler]

With all the newer compact tractors available for sale with ""live hyd's and live pto(or built in over-running clutch)"" it continually amazes me that anyone would want an 8N(non live pto/hyd's) thats over 63 yrs old.

I agree. My BIL bought one recently( $250) in hopes of fixing it up because he always wanted one. I usually help him with projects, but I don't want anything to do with this one. It needs a starter, new tires, new paint, likely some hydraulic work as the reservoir was full of water as was the air cleaner, block has been welded up in one spot likely due to a freeze of coolant, radiator has been leaking and likely needs repair and of course paint and new gauges and that is just from a casual observation. $2500 might break him even on parts when it is restored but his labor will still be free.

 

[GManBart]

With all the newer compact tractors available for sale with ""live hyd's and live pto(or built in over-running clutch)"" it continually amazes me that anyone would want an 8N(non live pto/hyd's) thats over 63 yrs old.

Around here they are very common (maybe because they were built about 40mi away) but most seem to be used by people with small, level lots for brush hogging. When I sold mine that's what it was going to be used for...something like a 2 acre lot that gets cleared a couple of times a year. When you consider how cheap they are, it makes sense....and they'll handle that sort of work for a long time without much trouble.

 

[Jim Timber]

It's hard to beat the capabilities of the old tractors for the money they cost around me. You can't buy an atv or truck worth owning around here for under 2K, but you can buy a tractor that's been cleaned up and is operational.

 

[flusher]

So I've got an idea I thought I'd run by you guys to see if anyone does this and if it's a good idea. Still working out the numbers to see how profitable it would be, so here it is: buying rusty, non running 8n's off craigslist, restoring them, then selling the freshly restored 8n's on craigslist. Seems like a fun way to make money on the side. What do you guys think?

Most 8Ns that sell below $1K have nearly worn out engines, clutches and transmissions. Not worth restoring and flipping. You might do a rattle can restoration and see if you can find a tractor newby who will pay $2K or more.

Good luck