Green Horn

[Appygirl]

Z you have yesterday right! We also had about 5 minutes of rain,thunder and then hail late in the afternoon; then the sun came out for a bit. Yep we live in Michigan! When the weather cooperates that is a beautiful drive. Heck you were no more then a half hour from me!

Spiveyman I'll be sure to send you pictures this winter so you can cool off
I hear its suppose to be a good one! How much are tooth bars? I wouldn't think it would be too much for one.

I will be revisiting the MF and Kubota dealers this week. This is the first time I haven't been able to make up my mind on buying something!!

 

[Spiveyman]

I don't remember exactly what the toothbar cost, it was thrown in the deal when I got mine, I think about $390, but not sure. They are not cheap but I've been told they are well worth it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I think everyone here has tortured themselves over the purchase of their tractor. It took me a year, and I went odd-ball at the last moment but do not regret it in the least for my application.

If you have limited seat time, I highly recommend that you spend some money and rent a tractor (preferably one you are considering) for a weekend. We rented a Kubota and borrowed a Deere for a week, and it really opened our eyes to the advantages and problems a normal tractor would have on our property. This will give you a chance to really get a feel for the limitations and handling and will help make you a much stronger decision maker when you go for your purchase. I found after we borrowed a Deere and rented a Kubota I would have gone with Deere just because I like the foot control design better. THIS IS TOTALLY PERSONAL for anyone who feels it was an attack. In no way am I endorsing either as I purchased something entirely different. But it was only after 8 hours on each tractor that I realized this difference meant something to me.

Also, in my opinion, all the major names will give you the same reliability. It really comes down to a small amount of luck and having a dealer who's service levels are great. Don't be afraid to ask him for a list of customers who have brought there tractors in for repair to find out how the shop does. The key is not in the sale but in the support.

Anyway, my .2

Carl

 

[Appygirl]

You have a good point Carl. I made a call to MF about wanting to demo their tractor, not just drive it but use it. I was suprizes when he offered to come out to my place for an hour or so with the tractor so I could get the feel and work with it a bit. I had not been offered this before and am excited.
I'm thinking about calling the Kubota dealer and see if they are willing as well.
I'm not convinced in just driving down a dirt road and manuver the bucket as I did with the Kubota. Could have used an experience person there coaching me a bit. I will also want an implement to use like a back blade to attach, use and unattach.

Have any of you heard of such an offer before? Maybe this is a good sign of service as well. It won't be next week as I'm am off for what might be my last trail ride for the year; so the following week is when I will schedule.

Thanks again
Laurie

 

[woodlandfarms]

Not uncommon. There is a hope by the dealer he will not have to return with the tractor on his trailer...

But even one hour may not be enough.... But it is better than 10 minutes in a paved parking lot (which is what I got initially).

Again, it is about the service, not the sale. Especially in your case when you are not as interested in getting greasy as some of the other people here.

Take a few pictures, let us know how it all goes.

Carl

 

[Z-Michigan]

Not uncommon. There is a hope by the dealer he will not have to return with the tractor on his trailer...

But even one hour may not be enough.... But it is better than 10 minutes in a paved parking lot (which is what I got initially).

Again, it is about the service, not the sale. Especially in your case when you are not as interested in getting greasy as some of the other people here.

+1

I only drove in dealer parking lots; in hindsight I would have liked to ask for on-property demo. I do think I got a reasonable idea of the differences from using on dealer lots, especially doing lots of FEL work moving snow piles around, but on property would have been better.

Dealer service is hugely important to me, and fortunately mine continued to be good after the sale. I would definitely give the Kubota dealer the same opportunity though.

 

[Appygirl]

Went out to dinner last night and hubby through a loop at me; something to think about he said.
Here's what he is thinking. Rent a tractor instead of buying. UGG! I will do the math Monday since everything is closed for rental info. I don't know if I can find a tractor here with right hp to rent plus attachments?
I know I'll need a tractor/bobcat to clean up in spring and I'll need at least 3 days. Then he's talking about a self propelled brush hog for the ATV. BLAH, blah, blah. Running out of time here posting. I will do the math for him and for myself to see what the outcome is. Has anyone previously to owning a tractor done this? Doing my best to keep an opening mind and not stomping my feet.....yet!

 

[EdC]

We compared rent vs own before we bought our little 2320. We estimated 250 hrs of use the first year and about 50 hours every year thereafter. It turned out that it made sense to buy the tractor even if we did not figure the convenience factor in. Rental was $280 per 8 hr day and a delivery pickup charge of $100.

The estimates are turning out to be conservative. We keep finding new uses for the tractor that we did not think about when we added up the original estimate. Our main use was to clear brush from our land and we were not even going to start until the winter rains get here. We already have 90 hrs or so on the tractor since March.

The convenience is a big plus. Instead of saving up tasks so that you can keep the tractor for a few days and then work yourself into a state of exhaustion so you can get your money's worth owning a tractor means you can spend an few hours here and there and get the job done in a week or two.

Good Luck

 

[Z-Michigan]

I don't think renting would make sense for your uses. Compare it to renting a horse trailer! I think the cost is one factor, and the big chance you won't be able to rent what you need when you need it is another factor. Also, I doubt that the ATV tow-behind mowers will work nearly as well as something pulled by a tractor, and they won't be that cheap either. I would much sooner look used or at a smaller size tractor before renting.

 

[Spiveyman]

Appygirl, you've read Dave Ramsey, right? Well, he says renting is a good short term solution to provide patience, but it is not a good long term plan. If you just couldn't decide what you wanted to buy, or couldn't find what you wanted buy, but HAD to get the seat time in because the fields needed it, then OK rent something and buy yourself some time to make a good decision or be able to find exactly what you want. However, I wouldn't recommend renting as a long term solution for all of the reasons already mentioned. To me the convenience factor would be huge! If you have the money, and you know what you want, and you can find it - then buy. If you are lacking on any of the three, rent once, then figure it out so you can buy.

As for finances, one great thing about a used tractor is that they hold their value (assuming you get a good one, decent brand, decent price). I've talked to several folks who've bought a decent tractor, used it for a year or two, cleaned it up better than it looked when they bought it and sold it for a profit. If you get a tractor that would be easy in turn to sell, then you can always get your money back out of it later if you want something else. Seems like this would be much better then renting.

Good luck.