Buying Advice Too many hours?

[Dragonpharm]

I'd like to purchase a tractor in the near future and it will probably have to be new because everything used near me seems to sell for new prices unless it is really old or high hours. That brings me to my question. How many hours would be considered too many on a CUT? Specifically wondering about two for sale now. First is a Case DX35 with 3,000 hours asking $14K 2004 model. Second is a NH TC29 with 2000 hours asking $11,500 2000 model. Obviously they would need to be checked out but would you consider buying with that many hours?

The 35 horse tractor is about the size I'm looking at new. The 29 is smaller than I think I want. My neighbor has a 25hp LS and he said he would prefer a bit larger tractor. I'm not going to have a lot of time to work on a tractor. I'd definitely prefer to just use it and not have to constantly fiddle with the tractor.

Thanks in advance for the opinions.
Mark

 

[Tinhack]

Why do you need a tractor? :confused3:

"Fiddling with a tractor" is part of the normal ownership--You have to maintain it. Perhaps you should consider renting one when you need it. I did that for about the first 5 years of property ownership. I've rented tractors for mowing, backhoes, skid steers and ditch-witches. Even a road grader. All I had to do was return it full of fuel.

 

[Roadworthy]

Obviously less hours is better but of a greater concern to me personally is parts availability as things will break sooner or later. You give no clue of your purpose for a tractor other than 35 horse is about the size you're looking at new. You should probably be prepared to state how big your place is and what you plan to do with a tractor. Generally you don't have to fiddle with a tractor. They work or they don't. If they don't work you fix them.

 

[shooterdon]

If you do not want to wrench on a tractor, you need to have a servicing dealer you can depend on. Tractors last a long time if they are not abused. But plan on any machine breaking at some point.

I bought a "beater" JD tractor and took it to the dealer for evaluation. I wound up spending $2500 to get it working well. If I had done the work myself, it would have cost about half of that.

 

[Dragonpharm]

Maybe fiddle wasn't the right term. I would prefer to not have to fix something every time I go to use the tractor. I had an older Ford at our last house that looked nice but had something fail nearly every time we used it. It had been "thoroughly rebuilt" by a friend of my in-laws. I don't mind maintenance, it's outright repairs I'd like to avoid. I'm also concerned about the lifespan of the engine, loader etc.

Intended usage: maintenance of 1/4 mile gravel drive, clearing out woods/trails, possibly some mowing (not lawn), loader work moving garden materials and general maintenance. Property is 19 acres, roughly half wooded, rolling hills, creek at back of property. Would really like a grapple for clearing in the woods and a backhoe with thumb. Backhoes can be rented but I have a very long project list that it would be the right tool for the job. Could probably get by with a smaller tractor but I've always preferred to have more than enough power instead of working around limitations. Also I'm a bigger guy and a sub-compact won't work.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

What size 25 hp tractor does your neighbor have? Is it a SCUT? My LS is a small CUT, the same size as it's 30, 35, and 40 hp brothers in the same series. My LS runs circles around my neighbors Kubota 32hp. My loader lifts more, has a bigger bucket, and 3 point is stronger. You have to compare apples to apples. My other neighbor bought a JD 55 hp tractor... his thinking was get as big as he could.... he hardly uses it. It is way too big to do anything around his buildings, horse stalls, or landscaping around his house. It has become a big green yard ornament. He has gone and rented a smaller tractor for some projects.

You are very vague about your projects. You mentioned getting a BH. After having one on my SCUT, now one on my CUT, I would not get another tractor without one. With the work that I have done with the BH over the past few years, it has paid for itself. If I ever sell my current tractor, I will recoup even more of the cost. If you decide to buy new, get the BH with the tractor, it saves about 40% over buying it later.

You don't mention your general location in your profile. Doing so can help others understand what you need to do with your tractor. I don't have a single rock in our dirt... but it is rock hard clay. Much different digging all over the country. Do you get snow? Or do you get feet of rain? It all makes a difference. Also, tractor prices vary significantly in different regions.

At the prices you were quoting for the used ones, not much more will get you a new one... maybe finance just a portion of the cost?
I know you have a bunch to thing about.... take your time, evaluate what you really need vs what would just be nice...Go out and sit on as many as you can. See what "fits" you and which you are most comfortable on.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Professor Marvel]

my opinion if you care is that 2000 hours is way too many for it to start it's life with me. i am not saying you won't get lucky.
as far as the price goes about 5 years ago i bought a NH T45D with 1150 hours for 15,500 in great shape (i looked for a few months)
good luck

 

[Thomas]

Also consider what the owner used it for.

 

[skipperbrown]

It depends on your budget, your ability and time to fix stuff (or your proximity to a good service department), and the care of the tractor up to the point when you get it. There are a lot of good tractors out there with 2000+ hours on them and a few junkers.

 

[jwstewar]

Just a comparison, I sold my 2003 New Holland TC24D back in July with 2500+ hours for 10k w/ FEL & 60" MMM. I had put a clutch in it 2 or 3 years ago at about 2200 hours as the old one broke - yes, broke, not worn out Ran great and wasn't beat up other than the seat had a couple of tears in it. To be quite honest, had we not need more lift capacity on the FEL and 3PH, I would probably still have it. I liked it better than I do my new Kubota. Even though the Kubota has more lift capacity, the bucket on the New Holland would hold more - even though it was a 54" vs. the current 66". If money weren't an object, the New Holland would still be here and we would have added the Kubota to the fleet.

 

[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.