Talk me into buying

[SmallChange]

I bought a Kubota B6200 about 25 years ago, when it was already kind of old and in rough shape and the hour meter (which only had digits to go up to 999) was said to be probably not on its first time around. It had a dozer blade on it which I used for snow removal on my gravel driveway. I also used the tractor for many other things. Though I bought it with a credit card, I was always happy starting it up and running it, and never once regretted buying it! Though I did have a few problems over the years, for example stripping the splines in the clutch (which the dealer had to repair), killing the water pump (which I replaced), and blowing white oil smoke (which gradually increased though I never fixed it).

When a generator bracket broke right at the moment we really needed it for moving something, my spouse speculated that, what with the more and more frequent breakdowns, and my advancing age (which made the brute force methods of moving things less realistic), I ought to consider replacing it. So I did that moving job the hard way, and fixed the generator after getting the replacement part (which took quite a while and involved some dealer and factory part number errors). Regrettably, the Kubota dealer always treated me like an annoyance, and that made a genuine negative difference.

But the seed soon sprouted. I went back to the Kubota dealer, and when I could finally get their attention, asked about upgrading. They said "Phthpt!" about the idea of taking a trade-in, saying it was practically worthless, and kind of answered a few of my questions while taking care of apparently more important customers and phone calls.

Soon I explored a New Holland dealership, and they were completely great. I was asking about a better, newer, used tractor. They didn't have anything that fit the bill, but the salesman went online to several used tractor sites and found a number of items that fit my description, and commented about some of them that they looked like good deals, printing out some of the ads for me. This kind of dealer kindness made such a difference!!

Soon I was online myself researching things, and concluding that 1. tractors hold value pretty well so used isn't necessarily that great a savings, and 2. I can actually afford something nice new.

I went back to the New Holland dealer, as well as a John Deere, another Kubota, and a couple others I forget. At the New Holland dealer we looked at a WM25 with FEL, a gearbox (as opposed to HST), and 4WD. No cab. So, a tidy CUT, in the heavier frame lineup that suited my dreams of ground engagement work. The price was $18,500 and they gave me $2500 trade on my "worthless" Kubota. After all was said and done and delivered, my check to them was $16,163.

I have been VERY happy with this machine, and having almost endless fun since. I added a canopy, pallet forks, a ballast box, and a few other niceties. I already had an auger, a landscape rake, a ripper, a boom pole, and various other items. No regrets in the least!

Though -- I drove past the New Holland dealer a couple times soon after this purchase, and saw my Kubota in the used lot. I have to say, I missed it, even though the new tractor is superior in every way. I guess that's a sign that it has all been good.

 

[Omega Woods]

Good questions. Land is slightly rolling. I live in southern Indiana where snow normally isn't a big issue. I'm 26, I could buy a new tractor out right, but Im planning to build a pole barn in the near future so would probably finance a new one if I go that route.

If I were in your position, I'd buy a L3901 Kubota and finance it for 84 months at 0% interest. I regret not doing that when I bought my tractor in 2016. I would not get a BX size tractor for your place. I have a BX and it's too small for my needs which are not as extensive as yours. I also have a Branson 45 HP which is another great choice but you can't get the 0% financing as far as I know. KTAC insurance is also a great thing.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I don't mean to be the fly in the ointment, but when I was 26 my main concern was to be debt free and plan for my retirement, saving and investing. Would I have enjoyed a new car, truck or tractor? Of course, but I had to be rational.
I have a new tractor now, retired 7 years ago, but today I'll use Granddad's old 14hp Economy tractor and a trailer, cutting trees.
Amazing what it will do.

 

[Geunther]

Seems like I have been on tractors that were too small, my entire life. The only time I was on one that was too large was when going through a narrow gate. With that being said, I would look at used, keep the frills out. Stay with a known company, Kubota, Deere, New Holland, etc. Yes, you will pay more, but there is a reason for the extra cost. The first time you need parts or service, you will understand why it was worth the extra cost. In So. Indiana the climate is not much colder than here in central KY. so you don't really need a cab, IMO. With 500 feet of driveway, you will want a box or even a land plane. Make sure to get a FWD. I like my TC33, but as usual, I could use another 10 hp. If I were replacing mine, I would look at a 40~50 hp.


This is what my list would look like if I was thinking about tractor purchase.

• Make sure you get a tractor with a set of rear remotes, since you may want it for ground engagement, or potentially a log splitter (Southern Indiana can be timber country)
• Make sure to get a FWD, especially if you are in the compact/sub compact size range. This is a safety issue to me.
• Get a gearbox, not HST.
• Plan on a block heater, if your potential purchase doesn't have one.

Best of luck

 

[ljjhouser]

I shopped for more than a year for a GOOD used tractor. By good, I meant one that did not have clutch problems requiring the tractor be split. I saved $15K and thought I could I used tractor for that. I was looking for 40-50 horse. The only one that came close had faded paint, severly cracked up tires and probable clutch problems. It was 16 years old and looked like it spent all 16 setting in the field and the hour meter was broken. The cost was 15K - after all that, I bought a new tractor at 0 interest with theft and rollover insurance included. No regrets, love that tractor. SO, if you happen to find a GOOD tractor used (meaning reasonably late model, clean, pins look like they have been well greased, and low hour) I certainly would buy used. It seems to me that if you buy a tractor for 25K new, use it for 5-6 year or more, it still might sell on the used market for maybe 19 -20K AFTER all the inflation we seem to have. I also learned that the money on parts and labor on a used tractor will not increase its value UNLESS you purchased it with the understanding that is cheap because of the money needed to use it.
I think a used tractor at a fair price is good. A new tractor also has obvious advantages also. Best wishes

 

[sunandsand]

I went with a new Kubota 2601 with a FEL, bush hog and belly mower. Financed at 0%, also bought their insurance for about $20 a month extra. "If I get stuck on the railroad track and a train hits it, am I covered? "Yes."

I didn't want "a tractor", I wanted 70 acres of cleared and mowed land. Just like nobody really wants a camera, they want photographs. I wanted something new with a warranty because I have *more* than enough other things to do to occupy my time without having to constantly be fixing yet another something else mechanical. Buying a new tractor was the most cost-effective way to do it.

I've since bought a grade box, an incredibly sharp and vicious looking Piranha tooth bar, bucket hooks, a set of pallet forks, a quick hitch kit and a three point towing hitch adaptor. There's more to come as I find this tractor to be incredibly useful. I find new uses for it every day.

All that said, I also enjoy the heck out of using it, it is very therapeutic to attack overgrown brush, small trees, vines, mounds of dirt, and utterly, quickly and totally demolish all that dares stand in your way - and this is with a small tractor, I think I'd be downright dangerous on a really big one! I remember taking half a day to dig up a couple of bushes, working with a shovel in the hot summer sun. The tractor effortlessly blasts through this kind of stuff in less than a minute and doesn't even slow down.

I never in my life thought "buy a tractor" would be on my bucket list, but I am SO glad I did!

And this site, TBN, is *endlessly* useful! It is a precious resource indeed.

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

 

[SoInLineman]

Seems like I have been on tractors that were too small, my entire life. The only time I was on one that was too large was when going through a narrow gate. With that being said, I would look at used, keep the frills out. Stay with a known company, Kubota, Deere, New Holland, etc. Yes, you will pay more, but there is a reason for the extra cost. The first time you need parts or service, you will understand why it was worth the extra cost. In So. Indiana the climate is not much colder than here in central KY. so you don't really need a cab, IMO. With 500 feet of driveway, you will want a box or even a land plane. Make sure to get a FWD. I like my TC33, but as usual, I could use another 10 hp. If I were replacing mine, I would look at a 40~50 hp.


This is what my list would look like if I was thinking about tractor purchase.

• Make sure you get a tractor with a set of rear remotes, since you may want it for ground engagement, or potentially a log splitter (Southern Indiana can be timber country)
• Make sure to get a FWD, especially if you are in the compact/sub compact size range. This is a safety issue to me.
• Get a gearbox, not HST.
• Plan on a block heater, if your potential purchase doesn't have one.

Best of luck

Do you believe that gears are more reliable than hst?

 

[rScotty]

Do you believe that gears are more reliable than hst?

OK, first some background. I was raised as a mechanic and worked with mechanical things most of my life. I still think of myself as a mechanic... although along the way did a lot of welding, machinist work, and eventually a degree in mechanical engineering at an age when most are retiring.

To answer your question on gears vs HST transmission reliability, it helps to look back at cars and pickup trucks - both of these are light to medium duty vehicles just as compact and utility tractors are lighter duty compared to their full size brethern. And if you remember so far back, there was a definite period of time ....say from about 1950 to the early or mid '70s.... when a standard transmission was definitely more reliable than an automatic.
But I wouldn't say that is still true. In fact, I'd say automatics are now more reliable. Definitely so in light to moderate duty applications.

Now to tractors. There was a time when gears were more reliable than HST. But in the under-60 hp size I would now say that HST has the edge in reliability. Read through old TBN posts and you might agree.

Saying HST wins sort of pains me, because somehow my favorite transmission got overlooked in the popular change from unsyncronized manual shift to everyone having HST.

That overlooked favorite is the power-shift; also known as a shuttle shift or glide-shift. You can get it on most model tractors - even compacts - and save a few thousand bucks doing so. Not for everyone, but reliabiility it is king. Shuttle shift is basically a syncronized manual shift with a torque converter and an automatic clutch that hydraulically engages as you move the lever. This is the most popular transmission in larger size tractors and commercial machines.
enjoy the search,
rScotty

 

[Bobctat2035]

Similar situation. Lots of gravel. Lots to mow. Lots of trees. Didn't 'need' a tractor used or otherwise but renting stuff was getting old.
Bought a new Bobcat 2035 in September and love it. 210 hours on it. 100 of which were the first 45 days. I built a new 1200 sq ft metal building just for it, and all the implements I have for it....and a few other toys.

Personally I wouldn't buy used unless I were a mechanic that enjoyed mechanic-ing. Why? Because I've seen how I've treated my tractor. lol

 

[DieselBound]

B7800 bought used with 748 hours on it. It was used commercially, and used hard: it was four years old when I bought it and it came with a new bucket (read "original bucket got worn out"). I've put about 1,100 more hours on it. What I've done with it would scare the heck out of anyone. I keep up with maintenance (I've never taken it to a shop/dealer), yet I push the holy heck out of it. My Kioti is my main workhorse now, but the B7800 will be with me until the day I die.

Went new with the larger and fancier tractor (Kioti). It's been to the dealer for repairs (covered by warranty). All seems pretty much settled down now (650 hours on it) and I find that it is very reliable in doing all I ask.

So, is it necessarily problematic buying a used tractor? No, not in my experience. Are new tractors more reliable than used? Again, not necessarily: and this is where a warranty matters (you are first to work out any bugs, whereas with a used tractor someone else has already been through that).