just a general observation about new tractors

[TripleR]

I dunno. I'm one of those people that DO expect to get long life out of their vehicles.

1 got a 98 dodge ram, a 99 ford f450 and a 2000 gmc yukon. thems all 10+ ys old and running...

I would for sure not want to plunk down 50K$ and 'hope' a vehicle makes it 5ys...

soundguy

Same here, we generally keep our cars and trucks a minimum of ten years-200,000 miles and longer if the repair bills don't get too high and/or they become unreliable. Our GMC van is a 99, but low mileage.

My brothers are mechanics and keep theirs even longer.

 

[DAY]

Several people have noted that cars/trucks get used a lot more hours per year than a CUT, so a comparison is not much use.

How many of you carried a Barlow knife as a kid? It had two blades. Like tractors of that vintage, that had a three point hitch and a PTO! They were built for farming, and did a few jobs well, hour after hour, year after year.

Now you can buy a Swiss Army knife with 15 (or more!) 'tools', including a knife and a fork and nail clippers. Or a CUT with a loader and a backhoe, MMM, and 4WD, yada yada yada.

My 40+ year old Ford 4500 TLB can pick up a Kub or JD TLB with the six foot bucket, but it can't mow the lawn.

 

[buck12]

I think cars and trucks as a whole last longer than they did 25 years ago. I have never owned an auto less than five years except the one that was stolen. I plan for my little red tractor to last a long time as well. I think length of owner ship depends on an owners willingness to turn wrenches. An example is my 1998 deere lawnmower. Last summer I made two repairs, starter solenoid and drive pulley. Less than a $100 in parts. I know people that would have traded for new $5000 plus mower.

 

[RSKY]

If your tractor breaks it sits in the yard/field until you can find time to repair it.

On the other hand if your car/truck breaks your wife or daughter may be driving thru an area you really don't want her stopped in. Or you may miss work and loose money or a job.

In todays world automobiles are a necessity, the non agricultural tractors we use are more tools or toys.

That is the difference!

 

[RSKY]

Another point I want to make.

I read all the posts about how great the old tractors were and I laugh. Most of the people posting that have never spent twelve to sixteen hours a day for a week driving a 641 Ford across plowed ground pulling a disk WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I still have trouble with my wrists from having the steering wheel jerked out of my hands. And that was more than forty years ago.

The older tractors were meant for one thing, pulling a farm implement in a straight line. They required constant maintanance to keep them running. And every house you passed in the country had a Ford, Deere, or Farmall in the field or parked beside it. There were many thousands of those tractors built. Only a small fraction survive.

 

[rtimgray]

Another point I want to make.

I read all the posts about how great the old tractors were and I laugh. Most of the people posting that have never spent twelve to sixteen hours a day for a week driving a 641 Ford across plowed ground pulling a disk WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I still have trouble with my wrists from having the steering wheel jerked out of my hands. And that was more than forty years ago.

The older tractors were meant for one thing, pulling a farm implement in a straight line. They required constant maintanance to keep them running. And every house you passed in the country had a Ford, Deere, or Farmall in the field or parked beside it. There were many thousands of those tractors built. Only a small fraction survive.

I think that is a point that is very much worth making, as we often look back with such fondness on the tractors of yesteryear.

Good comment.

 

[Soundguy]

BTW, I expect AT LEAST 10 years from a car/truck, preferably 15.
For what I am doing right now "appearances matter", so my '03 truck may have to be replaced before 2018 for the sake of mere appearances - not happy about that, but the "recent and decent" policy dictates.
Not that it is a rolling pile of junk, just that model years portray something (-:.

I think it may be use more than age...for appearances.

I use my dodge on the farm.. I run it hard and put it away wet. it's only 1 yr older than my f450.. which.. still looks almost new.. unfortunately.. the dodge don't!

soundguy

 

[grsthegreat]

Another point I want to make.

I read all the posts about how great the old tractors were and I laugh. Most of the people posting that have never spent twelve to sixteen hours a day for a week driving a 641 Ford across plowed ground pulling a disk WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I still have trouble with my wrists from having the steering wheel jerked out of my hands. And that was more than forty years ago.

The older tractors were meant for one thing, pulling a farm implement in a straight line. They required constant maintanance to keep them running. And every house you passed in the country had a Ford, Deere, or Farmall in the field or parked beside it. There were many thousands of those tractors built. Only a small fraction survive.

aint that the truth... i used some of these old farm tractors in the past. they were definitely no frills. no loaders. no power steering. sometimes no starting when your out in the middle of the field. the ones i operated were indeed heavy metal units....mostly heavy bailing wire..but metal none the least.

but they were still fun to operate.

 

[jenkinsph]

My comments about tractors in general was to express a concern for parts availability in the future. I wonder if the needed parts will be there for a 2011 model in 2031? If you can get parts then we shouldn't have a problem. When I think about how fast everything is obsoleted in todays' world it makes me doubtful. This may be a big problem with parts no matter what brand you choose today.

 

[Soundguy]

parts will likely depend on numbers sold. if a part fits a million machines.. plan on it being available. if it fits 20000 machines.. plan on it not being available..

soundguy