Tractor sitting outside prior to purchase...

[TripleR]

I mentioned in another thread that I had driven around our area and observed millions of dollars worth of equipment sitting on farm lots exposed to the elements and you would be lucky to find one under 100k with most much more. I imagine we would all like to have ours under cover and I am lucky we can, but there was a time when ours sat out in the weather year round and for a lot of people who must make a living with their tractors sheds big enough to cover everything really cuts into or eliminates the profit.

We let our renters keep some tractors and equipment in our barn, but a lot of his stuff including big no till planters just set out in a corner of our property.

Waxing a tractor may be a totally alien concept to some just as leaving one exposed to the elements is to others. We all have our way of doing things that work for us and that's all that counts or so it seems to me.

 

[Gator6x4]

Your darn right I spell use as USE.

I bought mine to use, not wax. Not to be a lawn ornament either. $50k, well sorry, in the world of real equipment thats a mere drop in the bucket. Ive worked on equipment were a rebuilt transmission alone was $50.000 Tractors are made to be worked. They should have finishes to be able to take not only wear and tear from normal use, but outside storage.

My opinions on quipment generally differ from many yuppie tractor owners here on TBN. Many treat them as status symbols, not tools. Much like $60,000 Harley Powerstroke F250s that never have anything in their bed.

I do agree that generally speaking, loaning a tractor is much like loaning your wife... not a good idea.

Never considered myself a "Yuppie". Then of course I am not in the financial class either where I consider $50,000 dollars a "Mere Drop In The Bucket". If an individual wants to purchase a $60,000 Harley Powerstroke F250 and never haul anything but air in the bed, that is okay with me, his money let him spend it his way.

I, an a lot of other people are of the opinion it is our "Money" we made it and we will spend it on what we want to. The fact someone has a piece of equipment that has been exposed to the elements and the individual is asking some outrageous price for it and is unable to grasp that when some of us purchase "New Equipment" and pay for "New Equipment" that is exactly what we expect to receive.

Equipment that requires a $50,000 plus transmission rebuild is built and designed to absorb a lot of abuse without suffering major damage. If I had an employee that damaged a piece of equipment requiring that kind of capital outlay to repair I am afraid he would have an EX in front of his name.

 

[Scooby074]

Threads like these make me glad im no longer in customer service, or have to work with homeowners.

People who actually use their expensive equipment, think $200,000+, park their stuff outside, expect it to be stored outside prior to delivery and dont fret about a scratch or two when new.

 

[Gator6x4]

Threads like these make me glad im no longer in customer service, or have to work with homeowners.

People who actually use their expensive equipment, think $200,000+, park their stuff outside, expect it to be stored outside prior to delivery and dont fret about a scratch or two when new.

I have never seen a piece of Commercial Earth moving equipment stored inside. It would be hard to place dozers, large track hoes, etc under a shelter. Now combines, tractors, etc will fit under a shelter. There is a difference in commercial earth moving equipment, farm tractors, combines and small tractors purchased by a homeowner.

I shudder to thing what a shelter would cost for one of the HUGE-HUGE dump trucks used in pit mining would cost. The tires on the thing are the size of a house. Those things are so huge they have to be built on site. Yet when the owner pays the millions for it upon accepting the keys they are in "New Pristine Condition". They are not scratched, dinged or dented.

 

[compact]

Most of our new cars spend several months out in the sun when new - and then mine spend the next 10 years outside. Same with a tractor - I'd buy it and not worry, it won't do any damage. Mine live under a tarp, I probably average about 50% of the time covered and 50% out in the open. Most of the things that go wrong are not related to sitting, they are related to misfortunes the machines encountered when working.

 

[PapaPerk]

If you are spending your money and want a factory fresh tractor then get one. Sun damages everything and I don't blame you for being concerned. I would order a new machine as well.

My Kubota was stored inside when at the dealer. One of the reasons I bought from them.

 

[Shamus M]

Threads like these make me glad im no longer in customer service, or have to work with homeowners.

People who actually use their expensive equipment, think $200,000+, park their stuff outside, expect it to be stored outside prior to delivery and dont fret about a scratch or two when new.

 

[PapaPerk]

Threads like these make me glad im no longer in customer service, or have to work with homeowners.

People who actually use their expensive equipment, think $200,000+, park their stuff outside, expect it to be stored outside prior to delivery and dont fret about a scratch or two when new.

Guys I know store their $200,000 plus equipment in barns and sheds when not in use.

Guys that trade them in every year leave em outside and beat the **** out of them.

It's a pride in ownership thing I guess. The 'ol saying goes if you don't have a barn for it you shouldn't own it.

 

[Scooby074]

Guys I know store their $200,000 plus equipment in barns and sheds when not in use.

Guys that trade them in every year leave em outside and beat the **** out of them.

It's a pride in ownership thing I guess. The 'ol saying goes if you don't have a barn for it you shouldn't own it.

Nothing really about pride. Not about abuse either. Its about using the tool as the designers expected.

Take a $300,000 deere sprayer. Sits outside at the dealer until its sold. Farmer may have room for it in a machinery shed.. may not, although a sprayer is more likely to have barn precious space due to its limited use and high cost.

A large utility tractor? The main tractor the farmer uses, likely lives outside, usually at the farmer's house. Thats been the experience on farms Ive worked at. Most farmers do not skimp on maintenance but dont sweat the small stuff either. They know where the bread and butter is, its not in wax, but grease.

 

[Scooby074]

your an employers worst nightmare. Drive it like you stole it

Not so. Maintain it and work it like it is supposed to be. Ned