Help we need to buy our first tractor!

jfcraig · Dec 8, 2004

Hi everyone, we've been lurking for the past week or so and are finally ready to post a question to the collective wisdom out there. We're in the process of purchasing about 100 acres in New York (approx 40 wooded and 60 tillable/open fields) and are in need of a tractor. We are city folk, no past experience with tractors and want to get the best bang for our buck.

There is a Long Landtrac 360 with a 5140 bucket (not sure of # hours, but it is 3 yrs old with medium workload), comes with a mower deck, post hole digger, spreader. THe seller is asking $20K for the lot.

I know we don't have the essential info (# hrs) but does this sound like a good deal for a 3yr old tractor? We need a tractor for general farm use, snow plowing, post hole digging, etc. The place is going to be used for a large animal sanctuary, so I guess we need an all purpose machine.

Any advice on makes and models would be greatly appreciated. We have JD, and Kubota dealers in the area (near Ithaca) and obviously the current property owner found the Long nearby. It would be easiest to purchase what's already on the property, but we are open to beginning the search if you guys think that would be the best way to go. We just want to pay a fair price.

Many thanks for your help!

Laura & John

Cliff_Johns · Dec 8, 2004

( The place is going to be used for a large animal sanctuary, so I guess we need an all purpose machine. )

Would that be a large - animal sanctuary, or a large animal - sanctuary? It makes a difference what type of animals you will be keeping there as to what kind of tractor and equipment you will need. Are there out buildings already in place? How large are the entrances? Do you need to clear any of the wooded areas?

I don't know about the Long tractor specifically.

Cliff

jfcraig · Dec 8, 2004

Thanks for your reply. The sanctuary will be for large animals (including smaller animals like chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc.) and there are a lot of structures on the property already. The entrances to the barns are about 8-10 feet (?) and the Long tractor that is currently being used moves in and out of the structures quite well.

If anyone has a favorite compact tractor in the 15K price range, please let us know. Thanks again!

L & J

ByronBob · Dec 8, 2004

What animals are you keeping? Will you be using pens for horses or cattle or something?

I've heard of the tractor in question and others here like them. My question to you is can someone service this machine if you need to and can you get parts locally? If JD and Kubota are available locally and the like I'd really think about that unless your tractor savy which you mention your really aren't.

As many others here have said it's the service after the sale which saves you headaches in the long run.

Welcome and congrats........

Varmintmist · Dec 8, 2004

You NEED to sit down and figure out EXACTLY what you are going to do with the tractor.

Are you going to make hay? Or just buy hay and brushhog the pasture? Or have someone make your hay on your ground and pay him in hay?

If you are going to hay or not will probably mean the difference between a AG tractor and a CUT. If you are not going to run a baler, you can do everything you want to with a 30 hp (at the engine) CUT. Fence building, snow removal, skid logs, brush hog, rake hay, kick hay, ect.

Figure out what you want to do with it and talk to the dealers. They can size the tractor to your needs. If the sizes match up with the used one then it might be a viable option.

Post hole digger or pounder will be a must. A carry all is great for carrying stuff like posts, wire, staples and makes a nice field workbench, rear blade for snow, brush hog for the thick stuff or if your pastures are pretty well taken care of, a side mower will be a lot faster.
That will get you started and you can add as needed.

Varmintmist · Dec 8, 2004

http://www.farmtrac.com/360dtc.html

Ok the Long is a 39 HP cut. That will most likely do everything you need to do. You could even pull a small pony motored square baler without trouble.

The price on a 3 year old Long?? No real idea, but 20K feels a bit salty, even with the implements. I would price new and look at their financing.
A post hole digger is 400 bucks with a auger new, a king cutter brushhog is a round 700 new, Not sure if you mean poop spreader or lime spreader, but I wouldnt put a lot of cash on that item. A JD 990 which is 40 HP and gear drive like the Long will run you 20Kish NEW. I just dont see the deal here.

rockyridgefarm · Dec 8, 2004

I paid 23K for a new JD with loader and backhoe. I am sure that with financing, you could do a lot better on a new one...

rockyridgefarm · Dec 8, 2004

I paid 23K for a new JD with loader and backhoe. I am sure that with financing, you could do a lot better on a new one...

SteveM · Dec 8, 2004

The Long tractors are getting better and better, I think the one you are looking at has a lot of Mitsubishi guts...but bottom line, it is not in the same resale league as the big three. I would also price out a new 30-40hp; also consider Mahindra - Swantak in Oneonta NY is an excellent dealer, have many farmer friends with Mahindra of various sizes, brutal work conditions, and the tractors are holding up well. Dealer service is important, if a Long dealer is local, maybe you knock down the price a bit and it is OK.

DK35vince · Dec 8, 2004

( There is a Long Landtrac 360 with a 5140 bucket (not sure of # hours, but it is 3 yrs old with medium workload), comes with a mower deck, post hole digger, spreader. THe seller is asking $20K for the lot. )

The price sounds high to me !!
My neighbor bought a new FarmTrac 360 this summer with the 5140 loader, Befco 7' rear finnish mower and a 6' FarmTrac tiller for 21 or $22,000. This was with 4 year 0% interest ( FarmTrac ran an extra year with 0% for a short period this year)