Buying Advice What should I look for?

[joschae]

Price Range: 4-6K max
Property Size: 4 acres - Flat
Primary Uses: Brushhog / Tilling / Snow Removal
Secondary Uses: Finish Mowing / Grading / Wagon Rides

I've been looking at JD 950 & Ford Powermaster Series. Any others I should be considering?

Thanks in advance.

 

[joschae]

I should mention that there is also a really low hour New Holland 1715 nearby in that price range.

 

[bspeedy]

Welcome to TBN.

Your budget will restrict you from most of the machines that are typically recommended by the folks around here. If I were looking in your price range, I'd try to find something like this Massey:

Massey ferguson 1 4x4 diesel tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Or, try to beat this guy up a little on the price:

Ford 1715 Tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Of the two, I'd rather have the Ford, but that is personal preference. Ford with the cutter is worth probably 6500 max if it is in great shape.

4wd is a must have unless your property is completely flat. I'd have 4wd no matter what especially when doing grading or snow removal. I would not even consider the older Ford 2wd tractors like the powermaster.

Items I would consider when buying:

1. Brand name - something like JD, Ford, NH, Kubota, Kioti, Massey - something you can buy parts for 20 years from now
2. Diesel engine
3. 4wd
4. overall condition - hours don't tell the whole story.
5. Price. There are certainly 4wd tractors without loaders in your price range.

I'd be looking for a 25-30 hp tractor.

If your budget includes equipment, you will be hard pressed to get a good machine with implements for that money. Focus on the tractor first and then size the implements to the machine. 5' brush hogs can be had for 300-500 dollars. Tillers for 700-800. Rear snow blades 200. A Troy Bilt Horse tiller does a great job for 4-500 bucks (used) if you are just doing your garden once a year.

 

[joschae]

I know.. I'm kinda looking for that diamond in the rough. Something I can get some work done on and not kill myself at the same time. There are some 950's near me that have low hours and appear garaged. They hit the price point, but I'm guessing from what i have read that finding parts might be on the downswing. The 950 seems like a beast to me. The 1996 Ford 1715 (780hrs) that is near me is in excellent shape, but it is a 2WD. Asking 6k, but might be able to deal down to 5.5. Would be for the Tractor only.

 

[joschae]

Welcome to TBN.

Your budget will restrict you from most of the machines that are typically recommended by the folks around here. If I were looking in your price range, I'd try to find something like this Massey:

Massey ferguson 13 4x4 diesel tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Or, try to beat this guy up a little on the price:

Ford 1715 Tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Of the two, I'd rather have the Ford, but that is personal preference. Ford with the cutter is worth probably 6500 max if it is in great shape.

4wd is a must have unless your property is completely flat. I'd have 4wd no matter what especially when doing grading or snow removal. I would not even consider the older Ford 2wd tractors like the powermaster.

Items I would consider when buying:

1. Brand name - something like JD, Ford, NH, Kubota, Kioti, Massey - something you can buy parts for 20 years from now
2. Diesel engine
3. 4wd
4. overall condition - hours don't tell the whole story.
5. Price. There are certainly 4wd tractors without loaders in your price range.

I'd be looking for a 25-30 hp tractor.

If your budget includes equipment, you will be hard pressed to get a good machine with implements for that money. Focus on the tractor first and then size the implements to the machine. 5' brush hogs can be had for 300-500 dollars. Tillers for 700-800. Rear snow blades 200. A Troy Bilt Horse tiller does a great job for 4-500 bucks (used) if you are just doing your garden once a year.

Budget is for tractor alone. 1st implement will be a used brush hog. So 500-1000 on top of budget.

 

[Tractorable]

For four acres flat ground and a $4-6K budget I would have no problem recommending a Ford 3000, 3600, 4000 series. Yea, they're 2wd but you're talkin 4000lb+ machines bare tractor, 45hp+, cheap and easy to fix. With loaded rears and a locking diff you won't have issues with traction. You can get these for $3-5K all day long and have money left over for implements. Our forefathers got the job done with them, you can too.

 

[joschae]

For four acres flat ground and a $4-6K budget I would have no problem recommending a Ford 3000, 3600, 4000 series. Yea, they're 2wd but you're talkin 4000lb+ machines bare tractor, 45hp+, cheap and easy to fix. With loaded rears and a locking diff you won't have issues with traction. You can get these for $3-5K all day long and have money left over for implements. Our forefathers got the job done with them, you can too.

Should I be looking for the diesel version of these Fords?

 

[Tractorable]

Most folks prefer the diesels for their torque but the gassers are good too and can be bought for less money. The gassers are arguably cheaper and easier to fix as well.

 

[clevalley]

Most folks prefer the diesels for their torque but the gassers are good too and can be bought for less money. The gassers are arguably cheaper and easier to fix as well.

My old neighbor has an old Ford 8n on flat 4 acres - and he can do a LOT with that tractor. It does not have a loader but his snow removal is done with a rear blade.

 

[bspeedy]

Used tractors are like used cars. You get a lot better machine for every increment in price increase up to about 12 grand. Fewer leaks, working instrumentation, more refinement.

I stand by my recommendation to get a 25-30 hp tractor with 4wd. Yes, farmers in the 50's and 60's got a lot of work done with heavy 2wd tractors. Many farmers today are using 4wd machines and there is a reason for that.

Good luck in choosing.