After reading everyones replies, I wanted to disagree with most of them and offer some other advice.
If you buy a used tractor, and it doesn't matter what brand it is, you need to ask yourself a question. Who is going to work on it when it breaks down? Is the original poster able to repair the tractor when something breaks? If so, how much time does she have to find parts? or figure out what parts are needed?
I'm not much of a mechanic, but I do tend to do all my own repairs. I have three tractors and a dump truck. All of them are common, big name brands. When one of them stops working, I have to figure out why. This is allot harder then replacing a broken part. Sometimes I can figure it out on my own, other times I've posted threads on here and gotten good advice. But there are enought times that it's fairly common that I've had to go to that dealer and ask for help. I have a dealer close by for everything that I buy.
That is the very most important thing in buying a tractor. Dealer support.
It does not matter what brand you buy, what color it is or how old it is. You HAVE to have a place where you can go to and get help. Saying that you can find the parts online is fine for collectors and those who are into off brands and old stuff, but not so much if it's a tractor that you need to work for you on a regular basis. My Case dozer is one of those that is starting to get hard to find parts for it. While my dealer has been amazing at getting the parts for it that I need, I've found that going online is sometimes cheaper. I accept this as part of owning older equipment, but only if you have that dealer support to help you go online, give you part numbers, and offer suggestions on where to find those parts. Even with that help and the knowledg that I was looking elsewhere, they still put together a list of parts that I needed and what they would cost. I've also had my New Holland dealer point me towards a repair shop that specializes in hydraulic repairs that is cheaper then what they are. I go there and pay for just the parts that I need, not a whole kit where I have to through most of it away, but paid for all of those parts.
The dealer is all that matters. If she is looking at Ford, that's fine. Lots of them out there and lots of people that like them. But if she cannot get parts for it, or has to spend days trying to find those parts, they wait for them to be shipped to her and then not know if that part is brand new, reconditioned or used, and how well it will work when installed, then it's not a tractor that she should be buying.
To the original poster;
Get out the yellow pages, find out who sells tractors in your area and go visit them. Look at the place, check out the parts department, spend some time talking to the people working there and ask what models of used tractors that they recomend. By their replies and willingness to help you, it will be real easy to see if that's a company that you want to rely on to keep your tractor running. If they are rude, don't want to help and try to sell you something you don't want, that's important information on what to buy. Every brand has it's horror stories and just because it's great for somebody in one part of the country, doesn't mean it's any good where you live. Take the time to do the footwork and find out for yourself who you can work with and who you want to rely on. Once you find the dealer that you like, then figure out what model tractor will suit your needs. This is when you should come on here and ask about that tractor. I realize you did this with the Ford tractors, but you didn't mention dealer support for those tractors, so the replies are meaningless on whether you should buy Ford or not.
Another consideration is to look at a skid steer. I've seen allot of them used for barn cleaning duty. Prices on older models are way down. They are very easy to manuver around, have the ability to change buckets for other things, and parts are usually easy to get. Of course, you have to find the right dealer first and then figure out what model is best for you.
It's always about the dealer, then you can decide on what tractor you want.
Eddie
However, a lot of information on here that wasn't asked for. Not that it is bad information. I am assuming (I know what that means)
