Most economical way to move tractor to dealer

[johneking]

I have a 55 hp tractor and got ride of not only my dual axle trailer but my F250 diesel truck. Just didn't use it that often and my local Kubota will pick up and drop off.

Craigslist and post it -- people all over with trailers looking for extra money -- get a copy of their insurance!

 

[jacric2005]

Ok. This might be a little odd. I don't own a pickup or trailer yet and I need to get my tractor to the dealer. They used to pick it up and drop it off for $200 but they informed me they've been losing a bunch of money and have bumped up the fee to $450. Besides 'knowing someone' that I can bribe with a steak dinner what other options are there? I've found truck rentals for $90/day and a trailer rental for $75/day. That comes out cheaper but there is the time picking up both, at two different locations for both the tow there and back, and the drive time to and from the dealer.

I found a mobile repair guy that works on equipment up through a compact tractor - tractors, lawn mowers, generator tuneups, etc. He worked with his father in his business doing this from the time he was a teenager. He is very good and the price is very reasonable. You might try finding someone like this. I have also had the local John Deere dealer technician out to my place - seemed very spendy, but he fixed it. They also have a deal that they transport it at no charge when things are slow in the winter but I think that is mainly for the "check up", which can also be spendy. Neither one does tires, so my local tire dealer can send a truck out. My tractor is very sturdy and reliable but when it's shooting up a stream of hydraulic fluid I are out of commission. I see now how much my dad saved when he had the tractor, as he could do all the maintenance himself. Me, not so much.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Craigslist and post it -- people all over with trailers looking for extra money -- get a copy of their insurance!

Craigslist? Good chance that might be the last time that you saw your tractor?

 

[MossRoad]

FWIW, From the OP's little profile under his avatar in the sidebar next to his posts, his tractor is a Kioti DK6010SE HSA, which apparently (just ask google...) weighs on the order of 4500 to 5000 pounds...

Mine weighed 8000#. Wasn't a problem.

 

[hube2]

I'd pay the dealer, maybe more expensive, but I'd trust my dealer more that some rando. And how much more expensive is it. really? I'd expect to pay nearly half of what your dealer is asking for a 1 way trip around here.

 

[CH4Ohio]

See picture in post #44. Another example of why it's best to do it yourself and know that it's done right.

 

[walnutman]

Don’t forget the 5th chain & binder for the loader.
From start to finish, it takes me 45 minutes to hook up the gooseneck and chain a tractor down.
In 45 minutes, I’m 25 miles down the road in the tractor.

Anything over an hour’s drive and I’ll load it on the trailer.

There isn’t a road in MY area where you run 60MPH pulling a trailer. I trailer 75 loads of hay a year and I average about 40MPH.

I live in hilly & old school “coastal” PA, where driving is misery. You live in the flatlands of Florida, where the driving is actually a pleasure.

Depending on where you live most don't drive their tractors that distance because you are a nuisance on the road and could cause an accident.

Now before you lay into me for saying that... since it's just the truth, I've seen here in Texas where people are passing slow moving farm equipment all the time and you will never convince me its the right thing to do to drive it 25 miles. Every time someone passes there is a much greater chance of something happening. Not the greatest for the tires either. These guys are just going from field to barn which is normal.

I used to live in SE PA... actually our whole life. Brother lives in Quarryville... Amish country.... and the buggies... yep.

I would go with a rolloff.

 

[Fields_mj]

Sounds like a local tow company might end up being your best bet. Depending on what that cost ends up being, it might be worth while to start looking on fb market place for a used trailer that would fit your machine. Id be surprised if you couldn't eventually find one for a few grand. At least then you'd only need to find someone to pull the trailer, or rent a truck to do so. Using a toe company will still probably be more cost effective though.

 

[walnutman]

The side, slide.... is not a method I recommend. Actually, I think this tractor was LEAVING the dealer. Got about a mile away. I don't know what happened but my wife passed it before me and warned me (so I had my camera ready)

There was truck/trailer in the median, facing almost the opposite direction. Don't know if this was new or being serviced. Probably some yahoo with a 4' spoiler on the back of their honda and a 'fart can' exhaust got impatient and whipped through traffic. (again, I don't know)

The apparent driver of the truck was standing in the median.

Just a bad day for someone.


View attachment 4133600

Looks like me and my Harley

 

[walnutman]

I had a John Deere 310SE Backhoe delivered on a rollback. 17k lbs.