Buying Advice Too many hours?

[duffer]

I would not be afraid to buy the $14k tractor with 2000 hours on it, IF you could isolate what it was used for, and have an inspection done by a certified mechanic. I have almost 1500 hours on mine, and it's only 4 years old. I work it hard, but I also maintain it religiously. Tractors last a long time if you take care of them. Mine still runs like the day I got it.

I think there is a way to check the history of a tractor by its serial number with a dealer. Won't include what previous owner did himself, but might give you some insight to major issues.

I'd also take the 35 hp tractor over the 29. I've got 10 acres and my 38 hp is a bare minimum for me. Wish I'd gone for a 40-45, especially for clearing trees/trails, etc.

 

[Dragonpharm]

I appreciate all the input. To answer a few of the issues raised: I do get snow, not much and I plow with a Kawasaki ATV, some of my biggest projects will involve rebuilding some decorative landscaping done with boulders (a few fairly large ones initially placed with a skid steer), lots of brush that I'd like to pull out with a backhoe. Have rented equipment before but would prefer to have my own to be able to work whenever time is available. My neighbor's LS is a larger frame CUT not a sub-compact. Always seem to be a lot of heavy things to move around the property so that is why I'm aiming for a bit larger tractor.

Will be checking out more new ones as the local dealers get them in. Leaning towards LS or Kioti. Bobcat could be a option but, the rebranding makes me want to just buy the original. Not seriously considering Kubota because of the local dealer. My last Exmark ZTR is from them and the experience hasn't been pleasant. Really wouldn't mind a used one. The amount of hours and age of the two available at the moment are putting me off a bit. Most used sell in a matter of a few days locally and for nearly new prices. I've been shopping for a while now.

 

[spitter]

I bought my tc 29d 7 years ago for 11,500 $ It had 950 hrs. 7308 loader . Great little tractor , but you are limited to 900 lbs. lift capacity . If you were trying to trade that tractor in the dealer would would give you about $7,000 trade in . $11,500 is probabally top dollar for that tractor . The DX 35 is alot more tractor and will give you 1,600 lbs. lift capacity . Are you shure they are not D,s or DA,s . ? 3,000 hrs. wouldn't bother me as long as you get service history.14,000 $ sounds like they lowerd price for the amount of hrs.:drink:

 

[fruitcakesa]

I sold my cabbed L4630 with FEL, 2 remotes and 3200 hrs for $14k.
While fluid service was up to date it needed tires and some TLC but for the mechanically inclined I feel it was a good deal

 

[Dragonpharm]

The Case sold before I even got to take a good look at it. The NH has been for sale forever and feels like too much money. The search will continue. Finding a good used tractor seems like finding the holy grail. Most sell within a few days at most.

 

[dodge man]

I just noticed you are from Pekin, not to far away, I live near Macomb, Illinois. One problem is we live on the middle of farm country. I own a JD2025r. The smaller stuff does not interest the farmers but the size you are looking at is the smaller size a lot of farmers use as a utility tractor. I was looking at used also but bought new since the prices on lower hour used seemed high.

 

[Dragonpharm]

It is ironic that I live in farm county and still lack any close dealers. Closest LS dealer is 63 miles. Most other dealers don't have any inventory. This is JD territory and even those dealers don't stock much outside of large farm tractors. I am always amazed when out of the are to see huge dealerships full of inventory. There are big dealers with inventory in Chicago of all places. Would prefer to buy local so I could have a servicing dealer.

 

[likable1905]

repairs really require a lot of effort and time.

 

[dodge man]

In Macomb if you are after a smaller tractor it is either JD or Kubota. Both carry smaller stuff and normally keep a decent inventory. You might take a look in the Galesburg area, I know the JD dealer is the same as the Macomb one and I thought there was a blue dealer there but I知 not sure.

I just looked, there is an LS dealer in Galesburg, not exactly close but it would be mostly 4 lane to get there.

 

[ptsg]

Too many hours? Well, what about 12,000 hours?

I just found this ad on our "Craigslist".

2006 John Deere 4520 with PowerReverser transmission and self leveling loader with 12,636 hours for €13,000 or $15,300.

Personally, I wouldn't pay that much money for a 12,000 hour tractor but it still looks very nice. JD compact tractors are not very common here as the smallest JD tractor is the 5E and 5G series with 55 HP but it the buyer really wants to, the dealer can special order a compact tractor, although with an higher price.



Sorry, if this is off topic.