NEW New Guy

[Golfgar4]

Hi guys! I started checking out TBN about a week ago, and am I IMPRESSED /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. I'm starting my search for my toy, and I think I've seen every question I've ever had about tractors answered through these threads. You guys really know your stuff. And it's great the way everybody shares info. I hope I'll be able to contribute as time goes by.

I'll be looking for a 30 - 40 hp tractor. At this point in time, I haven't developed any prejudices one way or the other, but I'm open to suggestions! Within a 20 minute drive, I have a JD, NH, and Kubota dealer. I've visited all of them at least once, but since I really didn't know what to ask, I can't really say whether one is better than another. But like most of you have said, visiting and talking is half the fun/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. I'll keep reading and visiting TBN. I look forward to getting to know you all a whole lot better!

 

[LilRhody]

Welcome..........

 

[Bird]

Welcome to the forum, Garry. You haven't given enough information about the size of your property, type of terrain (hilly, level, rocky, sandy, etc.), and most importantly exactly what chores you plan to do with a tractor for other members to help you decide which tractor (and you may not need such help anyway), but you're on the right track. Visit all the dealers, test drive tractors, and find out which tractor brand is most comfortable for you, and which dealer(s) you're most comfortable working with. Have fun shopping.

 

[Golfgar4]

Yeah, I know I didn't have much info. yet. It's kind of a long story, but to shorten it up - ever since I was a kid I've loved tractors. My grandfather owned an area IH dealership for years, and I remember going to visit and they couldn't get me off the tractors. Anyway, college came and went, a few years in the Navy, and then a family that needed supporting kept me away from ever getting a tractor. Now I'm about 3 years from retiring, and I've decided it's time! I don't have any property larger than your shed, Bird, but the wife and I are planning on selling the City house and moving out to the country after I retire. I'm also going to start up a part time business mowing empty lots and fields, drilling post holes, hauling mulch, dirt, sand, etc. and anything else that will be fun with a tractor! That's the important thing - have fun /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. There seems to be a real need for that kind of work around here. I've been talking it up to some developers I know, and they all said that they could use a service like that. Initially, I'm looking at getting the tractor with a FEL, post hole digger, and back hoe. I'm also going to pick me up one of those small single axle dump trucks. Going to start out slow and let it grow, I hope! So, the bottom line is - I'm a tractor owner wannabe with no reason to own a tractor right now. Even if the part time business doesn't work out, I'll still need it for the country estate we're gonna buy. (She's a home designer and she's calling the country estate The Compound. It will include the house, a storage shed for my toy (her idea), and an art gallery that we also operate. We're hoping for 5 - 10 wooded acres.

Well, that's a quick explanation. Hope I didn't bore you too much. Thanks for writing back, and I'll keep checking in.

 

[Muhammad]

Sounds great Garry! Hope you find the answers to your questions along the way, and keep us posted with the progress of not just your tractor purchase, but of your "compound" ... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Welcome aboard!

 

[frank_f15]

GARY; WELCOME TO THE FORUM. as bird said a little more infor on type of property and your intended uses may help to make a decision. set down what u think u want in a tractor, hp, gear? hst? loader? etc. then test drive them all a few times. JD, NH , KUBOTA ALL MAKE FINE MACHINES pick the one that u like best. and shopping is half the fun/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif keep us informed of your search.
FRANK

 

[s1120]

Yes welcome! You will find a lot of guys that know a TON of stuff here. Eaven if you don't have a tractor, you will find a lot of stuff to help you out.

 

[Golfgar4]

Thanks guys! I've already figured out that this is the place to be! I've purchased Muhammed's book and have read it 3 times already! A guy can't help but get excited /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif about this stuff when he reads all the great stuff on TBN. Why, it's almost as good as.......I'll let each of YOU fill in the blank! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[njrqs]

Wow it does sound like you have things pretty well planned out. And a great plan it sounds like indeed.

Good luck with the purchase and the compound !

Cheers

 

[Bird]

Sounds great, Garry. I'd like to have a business like you're planning myself, but I'm so far out in the sticks that nearly everyone around here has their own tractor, so there's not much of that kind of business to be had./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>You will find a lot of guys that know a TON of stuff here</font color=blue>

What Paul says is true, Garry, but you will also find a bunch of us who know a whole lot less than that. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif So don't hesitate to ask lots of questions -- we'll all be hanging on every word of all the answers.

I think your "plan" would be a dream come true for many on this board, and we're all anxious for you to succeed. Please keep us posted.

By the way -- what exactly is a "Risk Manager"? Sounds like handy credentials for a tractor guy.

 

[Golfgar4]

I hear that, Bird. Actually, that was one of my concerns when I started thinking about this. It seems like everyone is getting them. But what seems even funnier, though, is that the people who are getting them don't seem to know what to do with them! At least around here they don't. I've even talked with our Parks director. Because of budget crunches, we're looking at ways to dramatically reduce spending. They're probably going to reduce the park mowing by half, which means every 14 - 16 days /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. And we live in a city that calls itself the City of Parks. Within a 22 square mile radius, we have 39 parks! In talking with the Park Director, he told me that he figures it costs his department $37.00/hr. for each mower to be working. Now I don't have any hard numbers yet, but from I've seen and read, I gotta believe that a conscientious fellow could probably get in to park mowing for somewhere around $20.00 to $25.00/hr. Point is, he's not been contacted by any mowing service to see about providing any services. You'd think they'd be jumping at a chance like that /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif. Anyway, those are the kinds of jobs I'll be looking for. Sometimes, you just gotta make your opportunities /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

 

[CSAW]

<font color=blue>I haven't developed any prejudices one way or the other, but I'm open to suggestions!<font color=black>

You will find plenty of people here to help develope a prejudice.

The blue above just a little subliminal thought. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You do have a plan and welcome to the board but if you would like to save quite a few thousand dollars when you start purchasing pass on the dump truck and look at a EZ dumper trailer. They make one that has ramps that will easily haul a compact tractor with attachments and you don't have high insurance cost on a trailer since it is covered under your truck insurance. Also don't have to maintain it like a dump truck and it will haul more then most 1 ton dump trucks. Just some food for thought when you start buying. Have fun and enjoy.

 

[Golfgar4]

Thanks, Bob. I had thought about a trailer like that, but I figured with the dump truck, I could haul a load of whatever and pull the tractor at the same time. I know I could get a maxi-dump for a pick-up bed to do the same thing, but I like the idea of the larger payload in the dump truck. I'm going to have to give the dump trailer some serious thought. Is there a trailer large enough to hold the tractor with a FEL and rotary cutter?

 

[Golfgar4]

Did you notice the color of my signature?? I know I said that I hadn't formed any prejudices yet, but I have always been partial to blue /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif!

 

[MarkV]

Garry, I’ll throw in my Welcome, glad to have you in the group. It’s a great bunch of guys/gals with a lot of information and we have a few laughs now and then.

In my opinion you are starting your search the right way by buying Muhammad’s book. I also think you are looking at the right horse power range for what you have planned. The hard part comes when you start deciding which brand you like the best./w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif There are so many good ones out there. Get to know the local dealers and see whom you are most comfortable with. A good local dealer can be a great help. If you don’t like any of them----it happens----don’t worry. Today’s diesel compacts are remarkably reliable. For many of us, this forum is better than many of the dealers you talk to for getting information.

Keep reading past posts and asking questions. Someone here will have the answer your looking for.

MarkV

 

[CSAW]

<font color=blue>I always wondered if that worked.

 

[Golfgar4]

Mark - Thanks. If one thing has come through loud and clear on TBN, everyone agrees that you need to shop around to find that good dealer. I'm really lucky. In this area, not only do I have the big 3 within 20 minutes, but I have multiple dealers for all brands with 45 minutes to 1 hour. And I have no problems with driving for 1 hour if I know I'm going to be treated well and get good service! I did read an interesting comment the other day though. I can't remember which section it was in (is that age /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif?), but someone said that after all their shopping around, they finally settled on their tractor 'cause the seat felt better than any of the others /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif! After I thought about it, I realized that it could come down to something that simple!! Anyway, I've probably got quite a bit of time to make my decision, so I'll be asking LOTS of questions, visiting TBN regularly (I even have it bookmarked on my office computer /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif, and embarrasing myself with some really stupid questions /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif. I know, I know - there's no such thing as a stupid question. Well, I say that all the time too. But it's one thing to say it, and another thing to do it /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif!

 

[rmcess]

Golfgar4,
I don't have any advice you have not already heard but just wanted to welcome you./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif By my experience, you will know more about the tractors you are looking at <font color=orange>(from reading tbn)</font color=orange> than most of the salesmen you talk with. I know you will make the right choice.
<font color=orange>Another subliminal message.</font color=orange>/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif