If you see some for $13,000 that are trashed, and you could get the nice one for maybe $15-16,000, it would be worth it. I believe the B21s were quite expensive new.
That is my thinking also, I would love to buy it in that range, but not sure if he will move that much right now. I am afraid that if and when it drops in that range someone will beat me to it??
Have you looked at the
B1700,
B2100,
B2400 series? IMO they are comparable to the
B21 etc and can be found with low hours at reasonable prices...most have FELs but not often a BH...
Good Luck...
I have been looking a little at everything that I stumble across. I have seen a couple of good deals come up but have sold before I could go check them out. The
B21 has position control on the 3 pt where as the others you mention do not, as far as I know, and also around here the small Kubotas usually fetch a pretty good price and then you still do not have the BH.
I'm definitely not one of those "experts" you mentioned, so take my advice for what it's worth. Normally, I'd question why someone would need a construction grade machine like a
B21 for a couple of acres, considering that they'll cost more than a similar size and horsepower CUT + backhoe and loader that would do essentially the same job in most situations. But your profile says you've had quite a range of other equipment, so you most likely know better than anyone what you want and need.
If the condition of the machine corresponds with the hour meter (tires, seat, seals, hoses, paint, etc.), $17850 is not a bad price.
Yes, you are correct that someone with a couple of acres probably does not need a construction grade machine. I guess I have always been drawn to commercial/ industrial grade equipment, as I assume many people are as well. I grew up having my father's Case 580B TLB around and you get spoiled with how heavy duty and almost indestructible it is. Also, had a couple pieces of JD industrial equipment and it served me well. My demented thinking tells me it will not bother me too much to let the
B21 live outdoors, or under my barn porch, since that is where most of that style equipment lives. When I bought my
L3800 new, I felt it always had to be kept indoors and chews up a pretty good footprint in my barn.
17-18k for a real real nice one is probably what it will sell for at a dealer. The size of the
B21 makes it a very useful machine. If you had to sell it I 4-5 years and still had "low" hours and it was still in good condition, I imagine it would still be worth 14-15k.
Yes, the size is what attracts me to the
B21 and the fact of how beefy these little things were built. The
B26 is really nice, but almost seems to be getting a little too big for what I want right now. My thoughts on resale as well, but hoping if I buy this to keep it until the wheels fall off.
Having owned one now for a few years, I would highly recommend one. In fact, I have a web page documenting my experiences with it.
I do stuff with this tractor that folks with a lighter grade machine (non-commercial) would wince at, like slamming the FEL with tooth bar at an angle into rocky hillsides, then curl the bucket to break up the boulders and then haul them away. This tractor does not care. There's a reason it costs more.
If you get bored:
B21
I have looked at your thread before and is a big part of what makes me want a
B21. I will go back and re-read it again for fun. Being built as construction grade is really a huge draw. Skid plates and the routing of hydraulic lines along with the overall build quality I like.
I really appreciate everyone's advice and thoughts. Thought I should have posted a link to the one I am looking at to give you a better idea. I know it is more of a want than a need.
http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=8589757
