Buying Advice New tractor but keep my old one?

[SARG]

I'm with the "keep both of them" crowd if you have the room. I started with a T1030 ( fel, mower deck, snow blower, 4 ft. cutter & backhoe ) and then my kidneys appreciated my getting a T1530 ( fel, 6 ft. brushcutter & backblade ) .
I figure the "fun factor" and the "why not".
I wish I'd have gotten them twenty years ago. It's fun to watch the wheelbarrows rust away.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't think we ever had less than 2 tractors on the farm. I only have 11 acres and also have two tractors. I could likely get by with one, but it sure was good to have that big tractor to pull my TLB back out of the pond when the bank caved off and left my TLB setting at a 30 degree angle into the pond. I had to drag it out sideways to keep it from tipping into the pond. If I hadn't had my second tractor the eventual settling may have put the small TLB on its side in about 4 feet of water.
Every time I think about selling one of my tractors, I get reminded of what I need the second one for.

 

[SARG]

One tractor per implement is BEST!

This reminds me of our local New Holland dealer that also has a hobby farm with the sheep & horses. You go by the dealer today and the lot is overflowing with inventory but then if you notice the lot during harvest times it's a little lean on machines. And you think Wow... he's really sold a bunch until you drive by their farm and that of the "friends" and notice that every piece of equipment has a different tractor hooked up to it.
That's why I wouldn't buy a "new" tractor from them.

 

[bspeedy]

I like having two or more tractors. I now have three. A scut is a handy size, but I would not own just that one. How about a scut with finish mower and loader only and then add a backhoe to the 1520? I see 3 point backhoes for around 3 grand all the time in my area. Lots of guys will warn you about them, but I've had a few and no issues with sensible, occasional operation.

The 1520 is a great tractor, tried and true. If your land is open field, I would rather mow with it using a 7-foot RFM than a small scut belly mower.

I think a machine with a belly mower and backhoe would always have the wrong thing attached to it. Just seems like a lot of fiddling.

 

[IslandTractor]

I couldn't reasonably afford to keep both when I upgraded my 20hp TLB to a new 40hp TLB, but boy, do I miss the little guy! So many tasks are more easily done with a small tractor that if you can afford to keep two then I'd do it. As others have pointed out, just the hassle of changing implements is nearly all the justification necessary to have at least two.

I still dream of picking up a used BX23/24/25 for all the quick odd jobs around the property but the darn things keep their value so well that bargains cannot be found. I'm convinced that if you buy a used BX23/24/25 that you could use it for five years, change the fluids a few times and then sell it for exactly what you paid.

 

[mike69440]

I couldn't reasonably afford to keep both when I upgraded my 20hp TLB to a new 40hp TLB, but boy, do I miss the little guy! So many tasks are more easily done with a small tractor that if you can afford to keep two then I'd do it. As others have pointed out, just the hassle of changing implements is nearly all the justification necessary to have at least two.

I still dream of picking up a used BX23/24/25 for all the quick odd jobs around the property but the darn things keep their value so well that bargains cannot be found. I'm convinced that if you buy a used BX23/24/25 that you could use it for five years, change the fluids a few times and then sell it for exactly what you paid.

Yup & Yup!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I use my old massey more than my New kubota when the backhoe is on the kubota.