New buyer looking for advice ...

[farmerhays]

The mid-PTO can be added after-the-fact, so you don't need to worry about getting it right away. Other than your transmission choice and the cab, most everything else can be added later (such as 3rd SCV and the like).

The top-n-tilt replaces the 3pt top link and can be purchased any time, but you will need hydraulics available to operate it (which takes us back to point #1).

As far as eHydro, perhaps the most compelling reason to get this is..."Look Ma! No hands!" When you get skilled at operating the FEL, you can really build up repetitive speed with one hand steering, one hand running the hydraulic joystick and your right foot making the tractor go -- all at the same time.

Growing up on the farm, I got pretty good with Dad's IH656, but clutching and shifting always interrupted the rhythm of loader work.

3570...really nice. I almost bought a 3320, but I decided to save $4K and 1,000# weight. Perhaps I'll trade up once I can afford a dedicated lawn mower. That 448 backhoe is calling to me!

 

[JasonMac]

My advice would be do the tractor up right.... right from the start. Don't cheap out on HP, don't cheap out on small things like mid-pto etc... I would get it right up front.. it's there if you need it.... It's there when you go to sell it.... it would cost less to order with the tractor, vs... have it installed later then pay labor etc... Try to look down the road, and remember when you are making payments on something... the payments aren't going to be that much more because you chose to add a mid-pto with the tractor.. don't cheat yourself, just do it, get the machine and everything you think you may need now... because that makes it much more attractive at selling... trust me....

 

[SnoFalls]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My advice would be do the tractor up right.... right from the start. Don't cheap out on HP, don't cheap out on small things like mid-pto etc... I would get it right up front.. it's there if you need it.... It's there when you go to sell it.... it would cost less to order with the tractor, vs... have it installed later then pay labor etc... Try to look down the road, and remember when you are making payments on something... the payments aren't going to be that much more because you chose to add a mid-pto with the tractor.. don't cheat yourself, just do it, get the machine and everything you think you may need now... because that makes it much more attractive at selling... trust me.... )</font>

"trust me" ... I'm of that mindset. Build it from the start, and then pay over the 24 months (rather than kick myself later when it'll *cost* me more to eventually "do it right"). I due have to live inside limits tho ... so, the mid-PTO is probably a "just do it now" kinda thing (prcie low, and I expect in the next *20*years of ownership I'll want it). Other things like "cab" ... wow that get's tough (spendy pill to swallow, but I suspect I'll be kickin that I didn't ...)

 

[JasonMac]

You're right about the cab.. the cab is a steep upgrade in price, one upgrade that surely can take you beyond your financial limits. I personally had to have the Cab, for the type of work that I'm always doing, I can't have less than a Cab. But as far as the tractor itself goes... most of the upgrades aren't really that expensive, mid-pto etc... the cab takes you to a whole new price bracket. But the little things like the Ehydro, Mid-Pto, getting a little more HP than you really need Etc, on an open station tractor aren't that expensive when you look down the road of long term ownership, or when it comes time to sell. Like on my new tractor I just got last month... did I need the mid pto right now? No. did I need the electric divertor kit right now? No? Did I need the auxillary hydraulics for the loader arms right now? No... but they are there if and when I do need them. Because down the road, I can see myself getting a front blade for the loader. I can see myself getting a front sweeper broom. I just wanted the tractor to be ready and have more than enough HP for any decision I might make down the road.... and if I ever do sell, I have that much more to sell, which looks a lot more attractive to any buyer who might want a nice used machine....