New Owner Questions

[MikePA]

I ordered a TC25D (FEL, 60" MMM, rear blade) yesterday which will replace a 17 year old, 16 hp Wheel Horse tractor. It is scheduled to be delivered next Friday, 10/5. I have a few questions for the experts here on TBN.

1. This tractor is about 3 times the weight of the Wheel Horse. Will there be a problem with marking the lawn?

2. Where do you park your tractors? We have a small garage (too small for any car bigger than our old MGB) that I think the TC25D will fit in (with ROPS folded).

I assume it's OK if the tractor sits outside, (with the seat tilted up)?

 

[Yukon]

Figuring the money I spent on my tractor, I park it inside out of the elements. Less rust, fading of paint freezing up in winter etc. Just MHO.

 

[Gatorboy]

I have a Kubota M8950 that has never been inside a covered area. It has sat out for nearly 10 years and has 7700 hours on it. It still runs as good as new. The sun though has faded the paint, and the canopy is pretty rusty.

What I may do is build a pole barn someday just to keep my equipment out of the rain/snow/sun.

Regards,
Dave "Gatorboy" Hoffmann
Fallston, Maryland

 

[treeboone]

It will take some time before the weathering takes a toll. The most apparent damage I got was from the sun, paint oxidation, rubber and plastic deterioration. If you dont really care, and don't plan on reselling it for top dollar, don't worry about it. Put a coat of auto wax on it twice a year and keep it out of direct sun in the hot part of summer. A tarp over it makes it alot nicer in the winter too. Maybe you don't have snow, but its no fun to try to operate a large diesel popsicle when its time to plow snow. I see Costco sells a pretty decent 10x20 foot tarp tent for 150 bucks that makes a great temporary carport. I'd say if you kept a tractor long enough, keeping it covered would save 30 percent or more of its value. I know I would be willing to pay more for a used tractor that looked like it was cared for, and I would be more likely to keep a tractor for a few more years if it did not look like a scroungy dog.

 

[Fullthrottle]

I just bought a TC45 with Industrial tires and worried about marking my lawn. It doesn't. I park mine in the garage next to the wife's car. My blue baby indoors makes me sleep better at night.

 

[banjobj]

I have a two car garage and three vehicles. A Saturn LS-2, my wifes car, a Jeep Cherokee, my vehicle and my TC 21 D. The Saturn and TC are warm and dry at night.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

1) My TC29D has industrial tires and doesn't leave marks unless I try to turn around too sharp (at or near full lock), forget that it's in 4WD and turn sharp, or if the ground is wet and soft. Even then, the marks don't stay long.

2) I spent over 14K for the tractor and 5K for my 89 Chevy pickup. The pickup sits outside and the tractor sits in the garage. The pickup has to sit outside in the parking lot all day while I'm at work anyway, so why put it inside at night and make the tractor sit outside all day and all night? The only time my tractor has gotten wet since I bought it was when I got caught in a sudden downpour and when I wash it.