My cost per hour.

[dodge man]

I recently traded in my BX 2350. I owned it about 10 years and had 760 hours on it. I had a rear blade, midmount mower and rear blade on it.

Without going through the math but considering the residual value, fuel, and maintance on it I put my hourly cost at between $13 and $15 per hour.

 

[diesel85]

My BX2200 is only costing me ~$6.50/hr.

Doesn't owe me anything from day one.

It was truly the best investment -- hands down -- my family has ever made. It's truly a "labor saving" device.

Even if I only owned 1 acre of land, I'd still own a "real" tractor, albeit appropriately sized.

I am planning on getting most likely a L series soon. Hate to get rid of it, since it's served my family well.

Though, I am still thinking about keeping it.

 

[bunyip]

Never thought about it but it certainly speeds up projects and I am not sore and exhausted after a few hours gardening etc.
That has to be worth something.

 

[john reeder]

Do these costs factor in the original purchase prices? I just bought a new BX2380 and if I had 760 hours on it my cost per hour considering purchase price alone would be $21.44. Regardless of costs I already wish I'd bought one fifteen years ago.

 

[dodge man]

I figured a purchase price and the deducted what my trade in value was, which came out to about $7000.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Do these costs factor in the original purchase prices? I just bought a new BX2380 and if I had 760 hours on it my cost per hour considering purchase price alone would be $21.44. Regardless of costs I already wish I'd bought one fifteen years ago.

Can't really figure true operating cost until the machine is disposed of to add back in sell price/return of dollars. The total operating costs of fuel and maintenance can be figured but that to would require starting with empty fuel tank and running it till empty fuel tank and then could/would also require operating it long enough to do engine and hyd fluids and filter changes and even after about 10 or 15 years a battery and maybe some tires being changed. Any way can only be accurate at time of disposal with all expenditures added and purchase price added and sale price deducted.
I've seen here where some sale after 20 or more years and get their entire purchase price back. One can also always call a local rental company and ask their hourly/daily/weekly rate and add pick up and return fees and hours spent and assume one is/is not always available when one wants one to see the un countable value of personal ownership.
I bought my raw land 15+ years ago and first project was to build a 20'x12' concrete pad for my two story tractor building to house my first tractor, a BX2200 MMM FEL. I then proceeded to build my home and later other buildings. I'm now 71 and can't imagine ever being without my Kubotas over the past 15 years.

 

[dodge man]

I just traded mine in for 7k. I figured $6500 actual trade in value figuring they gave a little more than it was really worth since I was buying new.

I didn稚 track actual costs while I owned the tractor but estimated. Such as $2 an hour for fuel. I feel the numbers are pretty good. The lower number of $13 per hour I think is pretty good. I just threw these numbers out in case any body was curious.

 

[mcfarmall]

No matter how you calculate it, even if you bought the tractor as a plaything, $20/hr is cheap fun.

 

[diesel85]

No matter how you calculate it, even if you bought the tractor as a plaything, $20/hr is cheap fun.

You ain't kiddin.

I love operating heavy machinery...

It's kind of interesting, operating the BX is actually harder and less forgiving than operating bigger equipment. At least my BX's controls are so touchy, it takes eager precision to do certain tasks. Compared to operating like a JD 310J for instance.

 

[dodge man]

I traded for a JD 2025r and found the controls of the BX less touchy. It could be I just got used to it.

 

[Thomas]

"Without going through the math but considering the residual value, fuel, and maintance on it I put my hourly cost at between $13 and $15 per hour. "
..................................
On the other side of coin BX doing projects also ground care lot easier on muscles and bones.

 

[dodge man]

I guess one thing I should add is it was worth every penny. No regrets. I have just seen people ask this question before and thought I would throw some numbers around.

 

[The Fred]

I let mine idle day and night to keep the cost down.

 

[shooterdon]

I am a numbers guy, so evaluate things that way. I am shopping for a new tractor ($35-45k) and have estimated a worst case cost of $26k over 10 years. About $26/hr based on 100 hr/year of usage.

Quantifiable savings are $18k for snow removal and road maintenance; and about $6k in heating costs by being able to process and use firewood easily and effectively. Just about break even. Of course there are other tasks that become easier and doable when there is a tractor sitting there. Food plots, brush removal, moving stones, etc etc.

Only looking at cost does not mean much unless it is a toy. If you are doing meaningful work that would need to be paid for, there are savings to factor in.

Labor savings and reduced fatigue are more difficult to quantity but still add "value". Then there is the ability (especially for an older person like I) to be able to live longer in a rural area and not be dependent on others.

In the end, I doubt my tractor will cost very much after only 10 years. It will add to my quality of life., And the longer I keep it, the more I will save. YMMV.

 

[dodge man]

I am also a number guy. I bought a bicycle maybe 15 years ago. It was around $400. If I ride the thing 4 times, and don't use it, it was $100 a ride, not a smart purchase. If I ride it 400 times, its only $1 a ride. I haven't kept track but I'm sure I've ridden it a few hundred times.

Same with a tractor. Is it really worth the money or would I be better off with a cheap riding mower? Its always nice to put a dollar figure to it if you can.