Trying to find a good used Tractor

[Paul Campanis]

What advice do you have for choosing one of these two tractors I am considering buying?

We have 16 acres and do a lot of mowing, box blading and tilling.

We would also use it to assist in our sawmill and moving siltation from wet weather pond (dry in the summer but muddy).


1999 JOHN DEERE 790 $12,250
https://www.tractortown.com/invento...&accountcrmid=12741707&settingscrmid=12741709

2003 JOHN DEERE 990 $22,900
https://www.tractortown.com/invento...&accountcrmid=12741707&settingscrmid=12741709

Would I be better off with a newer one like this?
2021 John Deere 3043D $25,000
Used 2021 John Deere 3043D

I like working on the older machines and doing TLC along with light mechanical work.

Do you think the prices are fair?

Please tell me what I maybe don’t know.

Ideally, I would like something that could mature into a collectible in the future as well as be usable in the near term.

This is all fairly new to me.
Please just say what hits you and comes to mind.
Much Appreciated.

 

[dodge man]

If I’m spending your money, I’d get the 990. It’s low hours and looks like a solid tractor.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Unless you're stuck on green? How about a Branson 2515h, good heavy stout and simple tractor with good lift capacities for the money. And an old fashion IDI diesel engine with no frills.

2515H – Branson Tractors

bransontractors.com

 

[oldnslo]

The 3043 would be the better decision financially since 18 years newer for $2000 more. What I don’t know about 3043 is what it has for emissions equipment, electronics, etc. Vs the 990.

Prices today are insane so very hard to say what is fair..

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

The 3043 would be the better decision financially since 18 years newer for $2000 more. What I don’t know about 3043 is what it has for emissions equipment, electronics, etc. Vs the 990.

Prices today are insane so very hard to say what is fair..

He doesn't want the 3043D. That tractor has a transmission driven PTO.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Poster, JD has fallen out of favor with the majority of folks around here including myself due to bad dealers and the general way that JD does business these days. JD is not the company it used to be. The compact tractor market is like a side hustle to them and it seems they couldn't care less about it. Unless you want to be railroaded by the parts and service department when it comes time to fix something, I would advise you to stay away from JD. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[jeff9366]

Unless you're stuck on green? How about a Branson 2515h, good heavy stout and simple tractor with good lift capacities for the money. And an old fashion IDI diesel engine with no frills.

2515H – Branson Tractors

bransontractors.com

We have 16 acres and do a lot of mowing, box blading and tilling.

In my opinion Branson 2515h is a little short on horsepower for mowing a property of 16 acres.

Branson, of course, makes models with 35 horsepower (42 horsepower optimal), which would be ample for powering a 60" Rotary Cutter through high, thick grass or light brush at a mowing rate of 2 to 2-1/2 acres per hour.

Mowing Calcuator | How many acres can I mow in an hour

www.landscapecalculator.com

Branson Web Site: 3015h – Branson Tractors

The up and coming compact tractor brands are Korean: Kioti, LS and Branson. There are other Korean brands. You have to critically assess dealer stability while shopping minor brands.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR​

 

[dieselscout80]

We have 16 acres and do a lot of mowing, box blading and tilling.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR​

We have 14 acres and lots of mowing and I would highly recommend more HP.

Also, consider a transmission that can be shifted on the move.

I went from a IH 424 to a NH TC45 with a hydrostatic drive and mowing is much nicer.

 

[dodge man]

Poster, JD has fallen out of favor with the majority of folks around here including myself due to bad dealers and the general way that JD does business these days. JD is not the company it used to be. The compact tractor market is like a side hustle to them and it seems they couldn't care less about it. Unless you want to be railroaded by the parts and service department when it comes time to fix something, I would advise you to stay away from JD. That's just my 2 cents.

Says you. Plenty of happy JD owners in the world with good dealers. I have no idea where your statement “side hustle” comes from.

 

[Hay Dude]

I think Deere builds really good tractors. I don’t know if they are “ripping people off” since people do buy them in droves and if they hold their value, the buyer is “repaid” when he sells for ”overpaying” when he buys.

The Deere 990 is an excellent small tractor-almost a collectors tractor.

Here’s a few small examples I have personal experience with:

1. When I first got married, my FIL gave me a “Murray” brand lawn tractor to cut my little lawn at my first time home back in the 90’s. It ran ok for about 2 years, then began to fall apart.
I replaced it with a John Deere GT245. I owned that tractor for the next 10 years. It never broke and I sold it for more than I paid for it. Paint & plastics and mechanicals were still all good when sold. I actually felt good selling it to the next guy.

2. I currently have a Deere CX-15 rotary mower. It replaced a Woods 15’ rotary mower. The Wood mower started losing paint and looking bad after just a few years. I’[ve had the Deere CX-15 for about 10 years and it’s still fully painted and looking good despite being used to cut down saplings and stickers that would rip your skin off.

My feelings about Deere is they make their machines at or somewhat above the level of competitors, but they go the extra step of painting them so they will look better than the competition years down the road.