How often do you use your tractor

[KevT]

I guess I use mine a lot. Bought mine last April? and have 123 hours on it. But I am clearing and planting pastures. Once that is done I doubt the hours will remain high, but I use it for everything... post holes for fencing and shed poles, bush hogging, clearing trees and hauling them to a burn pile, running water lines, tilling garden, disking fields, spreading fertilizer and seed, keeping the driveway smooth, unloading hay, and so much more.

A lot depends on what you want to do with your 5 acres? I have 20 in what used to be a hunting camp and working to make it "Happy Hooves Farm"

 

[tman1020]

I bought a brand-new tractor in 1995 I put about 350 hours on it in the course of about 2 to 3 years. Finished all my projects with it and started thinking same as you I should maybe sell it because I wasn't using it much anymore. So I did and I put the money in bonds Lehman Brothers to be exact. Well that was great for a couple years then Lehman Brothers defaulted on their bonds. So then I didn't have the tractor and I didn't have the money and soon after I was longing for another tractor. So then only had enough to buy used junk. Took a long time to build my way back up again in order to get a new one. Now I would have much rather have my tractor then it's equal value in stocks or bonds. So in my opinion unless you really need the money for something else don't sell it unless it's to upgrade to something that would fit you better if you sell it you will miss it. Sooner or later you're going to wish you had it.

 

[IslandTractor]

I use mine about 50-75hrs/year. Not a lot of hours but given what local contractors charge for bush hogging, stump removal and general land clearing it is a good investment. At $50/hr the tractor TLB has already paid for itself in 500hrs. And contractors where I live charge much more than $50/hr for land clearing because we are on an island.

I recently spent about five or six hours clearing land for a neighbor who had been quoted $3K for the job! Got a very nice gift certificate to a nice restaurant out of that work as well as a commitment to provide me with fresh bluefish for all eternity. Lots of good reasons to have a tractor!.

 

[nybirdman]

About 150 hours per year.Food plot prep,land clearing in the summer ,snow removal in the winter.Couldn't be with-out it.
I have 100 acres to play(work) on.Winter use depends on snow fall;the last two years have been busy.

 

[newbury]

Are you sure? I think the meter reads if the key is on even with the engine off.

Yes, although I should have written

only counts a full hour when the engine is at full PTO speed. Otherwise it seems prorated.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/150221-b7610-hour-meter-tach-rpm.html

I've read other threads where some tractors only count hours if the engine is running, regardless of rpm and some like you describe.
I've read CL ads with people claiming their tractors hours were not accurate because they left the key on by mistake.

 

[4570Man]

I have never checked my meter to see if it is prorated. That concept kinda makes sense. My meter does move if the tractor is idling, but I don't know if it moves an hour in an hour. My Cub Cadet lawn mower took a boost of about 100 hours by leaving the key on.

 

[MitchellB]

I wanted a tractor and brush hog...got sick of looking at used junk...bought a 2015 brand new LS xj2025h....with a new brush hog...now I used the brush hog on my 5 acres...put about 10 hrs on it...now it sits in my garage,,,I will probably use it this winter but not a lot...wondering if I made a mistake buying it...paid 15k total....I love the tractor and its nice when I need it but.....

Like most folks say, if you can afford it and need/want it, then you are OK. Personally, I don't use a tractor enough to warrant paying for a new one. And even if I did, I'm too cheap (and poor) to buy new. But I've owned Lawn & Garden tractors/mowers for as long as I can remember, and bought our first real small farm tractor back in 1998 and couldn't imagine life without one now. Just another tool to me. As long as I own dirt, I'll need something to work it with besides a shovel and hoe. As long as the grass grows, I'll need something to cut it. If I was young man, a new tractor would come a lot closer to paying for itself by the time I'm an old man, if repair/maintenance parts are still available that long. However, I'm not young anymore, so I figure my used antique tractor will still outlast me with hopefully minor future repairs.

 

[davesl708]

I use my BX about 100 hours per year. Mowing 1 acre, clearing brush/firewood, clearing snow on 200ft of drive, roto-tilling, spraying/spreading fertilizer/weedkiller and moving large rocks.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Me: not enough. 120hrs in 3mos

My wife: WAY too much!

My 3yr old: not enough with him on it. (safety police please ignore last statement)

 

[peter3759]

Had mine just over 2 years and by the end of today I'll have about 370 hrs on her! Use her in the summer to make improvements and maintain 40 acres and snow removal in the winter. Could not imagin not having a tractor!