How far would you travel for the right tractor?

[5030]

Bought my last used one 400 miles from here but had delivery included in the deal. Found it on Tractor House btw.

 

[5030]

107 miles each way to save a couple thousand bucks and I made a second trip 5 years later for a lift valve warranty fix. This might not seem like a lot of miles, but my trucks are old and slow. I did enjoy the drive tho.

View attachment 655104

Not overly fuel efficient either, I bet.

 

[WVH1977]

Sometimes we have to travel to get what we want. It is not always dealer related either (as far as pricing/trying to save a dollar). When I bought my tractor, it was 4 hours away. None of the local dealers had this tractor at that time and the best one/deal I could find outside of local that was closest was 4 hours away. They only had 2 left. This was back when New Holland was selling like hot pancakes.

Last year, I wanted to buy a commercial Gravely mower. There was not one dealer within 2 hours of me that had these mowers. I visited all of them. I really wanted to buy local because I used one of the dealers for my first Gravely purchase. I had to go out of state to a dealer that double ordered these Gravely's. I knew what I wanted and also new there was a possibility I would not have been able to get this mower by the cutting season that is starting now. I am really glad I made that trip. Love the mower and not worried about shipping/backorders.

 

[5030]

Problem today is the cost of fuel makes transportation of any distance, an expensive proposition. Especially when specialized equipment (drop decks, detachables or extended length trailers are involved. Way back before I retired from heavy haul, the outfit I worked for charged a minimum of 3 bucks a mile and usually more, depending on the size of the payload and what permits were required. Some of the stuff was 10 bucks a mile.

 

[BigBlue1]

Just FYI, this old thread was dredged up by a spammer whose messages have been deleted. I think the OP got his answers a long time ago.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I drove 10h one way to go pick up my tractor.

 

[MossRoad]

I walked across the dining room and ordered mine by phone (back in the landline days).

 

[beowulf]

After I had narrowed down my list to the brand and size of tractor I wanted to get, I discovered there were none available - anywhere. I kept looking - for a couple of months - and then finally found one about 150 miles away. I went to see it, negotiated a package with implements (FEL, pallet forks, tooth bar, PHD, T and T, box blade and more) and then bought it with delivery thrown in and they trailered it here. It was not so much a question of the distance for me, but availability - I would have gone farther for the right tractor. If I had been more flexible regarding the kind of tractor I wanted likely there would have been some nearer to me.

 

[Reddogs]

I've looked at a number of tractors now, and my wife thinks I'm crazy for driving an hour and a half after looking at pictures to see if one might be the one. How far have you driven to inspect a potential tractor?

I go all the way to Texas who seemed to have a good selection..

 

[RalphVa]

I've looked at a number of tractors now, and my wife thinks I'm crazy for driving an hour and a half after looking at pictures to see if one might be the one. How far have you driven to inspect a potential tractor?

We drove 2 hours to Winchester, Va to the Kubota dealer there to get our tractor. None of the 3 dealers closer to Charlottesville had any loaders. Made a good deal and bought the tractor with FEL and Woods BB. They delivered to C'ville.

Back in about 2008, we drove to Winchester where we bought our current 2005 Tacoma.

Have a friend up there. He met us at both dealerships.