What if....?

[4570Man]

If everyone was really frugal we'd all rent a cheap room, eat canned soup and ride the bus.
I wouldn't have 40 or even 4 acres without some kind of tractor.
I'm looking at four toolboxes packed completely full, garage full of equipment, etc which is nutty but it's nice to be able to have what I need to fix something. $Thousands tied up in things I could have paid someone else to do.
I sure hope I never have to go to a nursing home some day. If I do they better have a padded cell.

And I’d only have to work 1 day a week if I was doing that. Why have money if you don’t do something with it?

 

[Cougsfan]

Is this a question of strictly money? Is it a question of you'd rather not do the work? Is it a question of you aren't capable of doing the work? Is it a question of something else like a lack of a storage spot or afraid of the tractor breaking down. People will answer your question all over the board based on their own perspective, not yours. Only you can answer from your perspective.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Is this a question of strictly money? Is it a question of you'd rather not do the work? Is it a question of you aren't capable of doing the work? Is it a question of something else like a lack of a storage spot or afraid of the tractor breaking down. People will answer your question all over the board based on their own perspective, not yours. Only you can answer from your perspective.

I was in my shop yesterday and checked the hour meter on my mini ex; 132.7 hours... on a machine I bought 5 1/2 years ago. I'm frankly embarrassed by that. Sure I used it to do a lot of things, but never apparently for very long... I'm starting to think I can't justify that.

 

[Big Blue Florida]

Interesting, this question turned out to be more self examination. Are we one w/ our tractor of choice ?

For me I saw tens of thousands (in dollars) of work, my place needed. So this LS GX3025H w/ hoe has paid for itself.
We still put the manual labor in but learned a lot too. Now it waits for the next thing to happen around here or at a friends place. Our tractor cost very little now, totally paid off. Have had offers for it but uninterested . It is like a tool box on giant wheels. If only for this place, it's worth keeping. I trust it, I have learned more on its seat than watching others work away at the same task.

What it cannot lift I try to drag it out, so far, it works. Chain saw also makes for lighter loads.

I will share an embarrassing find. . . found a bird nest in the back hoe & a raccoon was using the extended boom to go back & forth to sleep over one of the covered shipping containers. There may be a message here but I just am not listening. But am waiting for the next task.

Best of luck to the OP in what ever direction you take.

 

[ranger danger]

I would not hire the work done on either FB or CL. If they get hurt on your property, its on you law suit and all. Its cheaper to keep her! Also, the tractor is like money in the bank. If times get tough, you can sell it then.

 

[sea2summit]

I was in my shop yesterday and checked the hour meter on my mini ex; 132.7 hours... on a machine I bought 5 1/2 years ago. I'm frankly embarrassed by that. Sure I used it to do a lot of things, but never apparently for very long... I'm starting to think I can't justify that.

How many and what type of things will decide that for you. I bought my BX when I had 1 acre that was totally useless, landscaped for nearly a year in my free time and I enjoyed it. Sold that house for more than 30k above what we paid mostly because of the improvements I'd done with that BX. Next house was six acres of previously logged planted forest (aka 300 million stumps and straight line berms) but the MX took care of that and again made a nice profit on the home but the market changed significantly on that one so couldn't give you an exact figure for how much the tractor work did. Both of those jobs were less than 100 tach hours but they sure paid for themselves!

 

[hube2]

If you go by how much land I have and what I use it for or the number of hours a year without looking at specifics then most people would probably think that my purchase was unjustified. I have just 1.5 acres and I just mow in the summer and move snow in the winter. In the first year I put about 80 hours on it.

But you have to look at those 80 hours. Maybe 20 of those are mowing and 60 of them are moving snow. Snow was the reason that I bought the tractor.

If I had my driveway cleared by someone else they would just clear the driveway. Banks would build up and then once that happens they'd have to be here every hour when the wind was blowing to keep the driveway clear. Either that or they would have to clear my entire front yard of snow in a path at least 100 feet wide to keep it from blowing shut to quickly. Or they would need to bring in heavier equipment on a regular basis. Over the years I've had several people give me estimates and I could not afford them, I'd go broke quickly. 2 winters ago a neighbor, who has since moved out because they could not manage their own snow removal, had to have someone come in with a loader to dig him out. Cost him $1200 for that single storm.

I use a blower, there are no banks. I never pile up snow. If I have to use my bucket I carry the snow all the way to the border of my property 100 feet from my driveway. I clear a path 50 feet wide so that I usually only need to go out once a day. I usually have to go out every day even when it has not snowed, I may get 1 or 2 days off each week during snow season. The average breeze here is 15MPH. I rarely see a day without a breeze. During the winter months it is not out of the ordinary to see 30 - 50+ MPH winds most of the time.

And, don't tell my wife this, with the new tractor, except for the fact that I have to be up a 4AM to get her out for work, moving snow is actually something that I now enjoy doing now. It is no longer the chore that it once was. This alone makes my purchase and anything I spend on it worth every penny.

 

[stevem5215]

I too love "playing in the snow". But I also have a snowmobile so that's a different angle on it. But, my favorite thing is using the AWD Steiner with the brush on the snow. Clearing it down to the pavement and what little is left after a snowfall makes the driveway perfectly clear on even a cloudy day since the small amount of light will melt or evaporate the snow and leave it clear as a day in the summer. That's awesome in my book and you gotta love snow clearing when it happens without the need for salt or sand.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Great Post!!! MAN WE LOVE OUR TRACTORS DON'T WE??? Not that I needed justification to keep my tractor but y'all brought up MANY good points I hadn't thought about. At 46 with only 2 years to pay it off (less if I just chunk some change at it) that thing will be free money in no time, for the rest of my life. And while I have rented, it is a hassle. So nice to just jump on the tractor and go. I have LOTS of projects to go at the property so it is a no brainer for me. Now I just need more time to get them done!!

 

[hosspuller]

I have a full sized backhoe (along with two tractors), Deere 310C ... It sits mostly. Waiting for something I need it to do. I could rent a machine or hire someone. BUT Having the machine here allows the small jobs to be done... Pulling up a ground rod, moving some gravel (a few wheelbarrows worth) etc. that cost prohibits rentals or hiring. Or time demands "right now !" like the large tree that blocked the driveway, our only access. Cleared in minutes... no chain -sawing needed.

Being prepared... is having the tools for the job.