The one thing that you wonder why you didn't buy sooner?

[TreePointer]

Portable battery powered inflator. Mine happens to be a "DEWALT 20V MAX* Corded/Cordless Air Inflator," and there are other good models available.

It gives you instant air when you need it for smaller projects or a quick top off (no need to wait for an air compressor to fill). It also smokes those 12V car lighter models for remote fills.

 

[Tetryegras]

I agree. If something comes loose with WD-40 it wasn't stuck to begin with.
But try a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone. That actually works.

I came across a product called Free All a few years ago. It works similarly to acetone + ATF, but having used both, I'd say the Free All has more lubricity. It's not as expensive as it used to be, and is a lot more available than it used to be as well. Free All has helped me remove bolts that just about nothing else would. I worked at a lawn mower shop for a couple years and introduced them to it, and now they can't get along without it and wonder what they did before they had it

 

[Tetryegras]

Also my Milwaukee power tools. Specifically the 3/8 stubby M12 impact wrench, and the 1/2 high torque M18. I have a few other tools, but those ones, especially the M12 3/8 are my go-to power tools

 

[dvan1966]

Bought a Kobata with FEL 18 years ago just for the FEL. Never used the mower deck, finally sold it after it sat around for 15 years. Also using the 3pt with a ball to move trailers around, not having to get off the tractor to grab the trailer.
Also, all my battery powered tools.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I may be last guy in the world to have jumped on the locking grease gun fitting. I suffered for a number of years having to put new jerk fittings on something every year or take pins out of fittings to get grease on them.
Whattadifference!

 

[Todd727]

What tools (cheap or expensive) have you purchased and thought why didn't I buy that years ago? For me two come to mind: I went years without a toolbox on my truck. I don't know why but after I bought one I couldn't believe I made it without a toolbox. And a farm jack; the jacks have so many uses.

Excavator: Yanmar SV100. Did buy a Vio80, but needed just a little more hydraulic power.

 

[Goatfarmer98]

What tools (cheap or expensive) have you purchased and thought why didn't I buy that years ago? For me two come to mind: I went years without a toolbox on my truck. I don't know why but after I bought one I couldn't believe I made it without a toolbox. And a farm jack; the jacks have so many uses.

dump trailer

 

[Hay Dude]

Ram/Cummins

Just a fantastic truck. Not a speed demon, but pulls like you wouldn’t believe.
I’d give it a 9 out of 10. Just get one.

 

[philtymps]

What tools (cheap or expensive) have you purchased and thought why didn't I buy that years ago? For me two come to mind: I went years without a toolbox on my truck. I don't know why but after I bought one I couldn't believe I made it without a toolbox. And a farm jack; the jacks have so many uses.

My Bottomless Bucket is the one implement I use every week. Instead of driving my lawn clippings all the way down to my compost pile, I dump them into my BOTTOMLESS BUCKET, and it holds all the clippings in one load that I drive down and dump once. Saves me 45 minutes a week. I also use it for mulching because I can put a full yard in it and drive it to the garden beds we’re mulching. Works so much better than my old trailer. We also use it for cleanups, collecting construction debris, manure disposal, and moving all lighter weight materials around the property.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I have two different creepers. I changed the oil in my truck today and use this pad more than the creepers by far, mainly because it’s lower to the ground. I also sit on it a lot as its padded, such as when doing brakes.
View attachment 806938

I use recycled pieces of carpet to do the same thing. I have a piece rolled up in most of my buildings and in my work truck. They keep small pieces from getting lost in the grass/dirt when working on outdoor projects. They keep me from getting dirty when working on the ground. All sorts of good uses.

 

[Snezzy]

A wife. I don't know why I didn't get one sooner ?

Selecting a good one is important. When advising young guys I recommend they find one who already owns a pickup truck. The ability to tie a bowline, to ride a horse, or to drive oxen are good indicators.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Selecting a good one is important. When advising young guys I recommend they find one who already owns a pickup truck. The ability to tie a bowline, to ride a horse, or to drive oxen are good indicators.

I tell the young guys that it's a lot happier to be single and unhappy than it is to be married and unhappy.

 

[Geunther]

About two years ago i was traveling back from a horse show, when a trailer tire let go. Late August in the mid south, it was around 95 and very humid. My trailer is very heavy, (8 tons, empty) and I use 14 ply tires. I have a 36 inch breaker bar that travels with me, but muscling that tire off, on the side of the road, was exhausting. I bought a cheapo 1/2 inch drive impact gun from Harbor Freight the next day. I charge it the day before I travel and put it in the truck. It has been the best $300 I have spent in the last decade. I haven't had to break lug nuts loose with a four way, a cheater bar or a breaker bar since. Can't believe how much easier life has become with this tool.

 

[kenhar]

Farm shop. Never felt like I could quite afford and had other higher priorities. Always a tree available. Now at 75, can afford even though cost is 10 times what it was 40+ years ago. Is it practical today?

 

[Half-a-Day Farm]

These tractorbynet threads that land in the inbox are....addicting!

A lot of good choices here. For the budget minded, how about a CALICO CAT?

We have dogs and never liked cats but somebody dumped one on us as a tiny kitten and it's been a LOT of fun having her around. All natural blood pressure reducer. Calico Charlie has gone from abandoned and starving to the queen of Half-a-Day Farm.

 

[homey53]

What tools (cheap or expensive) have you purchased and thought why didn't I buy that years ago? For me two come to mind: I went years without a toolbox on my truck. I don't know why but after I bought one I couldn't believe I made it without a toolbox. And a farm jack; the jacks have so many uses.

Nylon lifting slings in different lengths.

 

[GinNB]

Half inch impact gun, high torque version. My first Milwaukee converted me even though it was before the brushless generation. Soooo handy for so many things. It'd be the first tool I replaced if it went missing.

 

[NEEDAMAN]

What tools (cheap or expensive) have you purchased and thought why didn't I buy that years ago? For me two come to mind: I went years without a toolbox on my truck. I don't know why but after I bought one I couldn't believe I made it without a toolbox. And a farm jack; the jacks have so many uses.

Air compressor for everything. Second would be my tractor with 4x4 and loader.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm still using my old air impact... like a sucker! I have a 1/4" hex 18V impact driver that gets used endlessly for driving screws, but most of my mechanic type work happens in my shop, just feet from the air compressor. That old air impact refuses to ever die, and give me a good excuse to go cordless.

 

[Runnerman6!!]

What tools (cheap or expensive) have you purchased and thought why didn't I buy that years ago? For me two come to mind: I went years without a toolbox on my truck. I don't know why but after I bought one I couldn't believe I made it without a toolbox. And a farm jack; the jacks have so many uses.

My “wish I had bought sooner” item is a set of pallet forks that clamp onto my front end loader. Makes picking up brush and other stuff so much easier! It’s a must have, especially if you have woods that you want to keep cleaned up.