Where to buy used ?

[DaKing]

I'm looking to buy my first tractor. I prefer used, and I'm trying to find good sites to shop and buy.

Issue seems many of the tractor listing sites are full of one to three major vendors.


This site has bad search tools, hard to narrow down what I'm looking for.
TractorHouse.com | Used Tractors For Sale: John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Kubota.

This site seems okay, but some older listings.
Equipment Trader | new and used Equipment for Sale |

I've found other selling sites, but many had listings older then 5 yr. And many selling sites only have 1 or 3 sellers, all stores.

So I'm here asking for good sites or stores to buy a tractor.

Thanks

 

[rademamj1]

There are lots of online sites selling new and used tractors. My favorites are machinery pete and fast line.

Farm Equipment - Construction Equipment - Tractors | Fastline

Used Farm Equipment for Sale | Machinery Pete

 

[spitter]

The prices on TH and ET are ridicously over priced some things you would need a gun and a mask to get that kind of money for what they are asking . buyer be ware . Do your research their prices are around 30% over blue book value . FBMP and CL are more down to earth . Still it's best to know prices and shop around.:drink:

 

[chim]

I don't know about your area, but when I was shopping there were enough tractors to be seen an hour or less away. I didn't need to attempt to evaluate the tractor from a few pictures on line. While the tractor sites mentioned were helpful, most of the equipment was too distant. Since building here about 30 years ago I bought 3 used and two new tractors.

Craigslist and FaceBook Marketplace were the two resources I used for serious shopping. We went to look at many used tractors at dealerships and privately owned. I wanted a clean pre-Tire IV. Took nearly a year to find the current used tractor. So many look a lot better in pictures than they do in person up close. The one we purchased was from a guy who deals in used equipment a little over an hour away. 977 hours on it and it looked like new. Coincidence rather than planned that way, but my BIL bought a used tractor at the same place.

We have quite a few dealers of different brands of new / used tractors nearby. At the start of the search for the last tractor I stopped at the nearest dealer to look around. There was one very used tractor in the size range I was looking for. When I asked the salesman to let me know when they have something interesting come in he told me I should keep an eye on Craigslist.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You will almost always pay top dollar for used equipment at a dealership. But, at least you have some place to go back and complain if it turns out to be a lemon.

 

[jeff9366]

EBay has 273 tractors for sale at this moment.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...c=1&_salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=200&_fosrp=1


You can create a continuing search for a tractor with the parameters you desire, within distance you specify from your property.

I have both bought and sold tractor implements on eBay with satisfaction.

Cheap transportation is available via U-SHIP, an electronic shipping service that matches those with loads to carriers with open space.

 

[EddieWalker]

go to Craigslist, click on Farm + Garden, and scan through the listings. You will find a lot of old junk and over priced hail marry prices, but you will also come across some deals too. I look at Craigslist almost every day and I've found several dealers in my area that put a few tractors on there a few times a month. They don't do it every day, so you have to keep watching, but when they do, they also provide links back to where they are located. Some are on main roads, others are just retired people that go to the auctions and sell them on their property. Probably the best place for used tractors and implements in my area is a auction house that lists what they have for sale between auctions. Their website is great, and they always have new stuff coming in. The post on Craigslist, which is how I found them. One of these days I'm going to buy a cabbed tractor, so I'm always watching for something that I can afford. Same thing with round bales, that's a never ending challenge!!!

 

[George2615]

I didn't see it mentioned in the previous posts but make sure when buying used that the tractor doesn't have a lien on it. Too many times I've seen on tractor forums that a tractor was bought from a private individual and when sold he stopped making his payments and failed to pay it off. This leads the lender (tractor finance company) to seek out and repossess the tractor. The lender doesn't care what you paid the previous owner and will repossess if he finds it. If the previous owner financed and paid it off he will have a lien release from the finance company to go with the tractor.

 

[Thomas]

Watch for farm etc. going out of business and if you see what you like make and offer before auction.

 

[kthompson]

I have bought two used and each from a dealership of the brand the tractor was. Would do it again. At same time would not be afraid to buy for an individual IF IT WAS HIS TRACTOR. Too much scams on used tractors for me to be comfortable buying from someone who is flipping them to suit me. Knew a guy who worked for a dealership but was running a theft ring and reselling low hour machine not very old.

 

[DaKing]

Thanks everyone for replying.

Personally I don't like CL, FB or EBay.

FB is full of scams.


CL and FB is full of scams, lots of fake ads. You can tell because one, the price is way too good. Two, the phone numbers only text, and if you call, it'll say its a computer based texting service. Three, the scammers speak other language because they are overseas. Other issue is many "legit" ads by businesses are mis leading. They post a $30,000 tractor and show a $20,000 price. It's basically a bait n switch type deal. However, many seem like just laziness. They post a good looking loaded tractor picture for all the ads in that type / brand class.

The issue I have with Ebay, is most postings are auction, not buy it now. Although one can obtain good leads. Example, if I see a tractor at a good price, I can contact the seller, and see if they have other tractors.

I'll admit, I just found what seems like a good legit deal for a Branson 47XX loader / backhoe. Seller claims I just need to pay off the bank. ~$24,000 or so. The model tractor is being sold for ~$35,000 to $40,000 on other sites. I'm going to make a verbal call tomorrow. I'll call the bank and confirm its legit.

Admittedly I'm still skeptical on the whole thing. I mean, if he has a lien for $XX,XXX.XX, than why not just ask for more than what is owed? then pay it off. He seems to be telling me that I can pay the lien off at the bank and pick up the tractor. Fishy if you ask me. But if it is legit, I'll do wire transfer as the tractor is being loaded on my trailer. Or, I'll just bring cash plus a few buck and advice him to pay off the loan.

 

[chim]

If I PM my address to you, you could send me the $24K. I don't have a Branson for you either, but I did try to help you earlier in the thread. That should count for something

 

[fried1765]

Thanks everyone for replying.

Personally I don't like CL, FB or EBay.

FB is full of scams.


CL and FB is full of scams, lots of fake ads. You can tell because one, the price is way too good. Two, the phone numbers only text, and if you call, it'll say its a computer based texting service. Three, the scammers speak other language because they are overseas. Other issue is many "legit" ads by businesses are mis leading. They post a $30,000 tractor and show a $20,000 price. It's basically a bait n switch type deal. However, many seem like just laziness. They post a good looking loaded tractor picture for all the ads in that type / brand class.

The issue I have with Ebay, is most postings are auction, not buy it now. Although one can obtain good leads. Example, if I see a tractor at a good price, I can contact the seller, and see if they have other tractors.

I'll admit, I just found what seems like a good legit deal for a Branson 47XX loader / backhoe. Seller claims I just need to pay off the bank. ~$24,000 or so. The model tractor is being sold for ~$35,000 to $40,000 on other sites. I'm going to make a verbal call tomorrow. I'll call the bank and confirm its legit.

Admittedly I'm still skeptical on the whole thing. I mean, if he has a lien for $XX,XXX.XX, than why not just ask for more than what is owed? then pay it off. He seems to be telling me that I can pay the lien off at the bank and pick up the tractor. Fishy if you ask me. But if it is legit, I'll do wire transfer as the tractor is being loaded on my trailer. Or, I'll just bring cash plus a few buck and advice him to pay off the loan.

"deal for a Branson 47XX loader/backhoe"
That "$24,000 or so" has a rather stinky aroma to me, when comparables are selling for "$35,000 to $40,000 on other sites".
I would be VERY WARY of THAT deal, and would absolutely NOT use cash under any circumstances!
It took me 9 months to find it, but I bought a great L48TLB from a private owner who listed on CL.
You may need to kiss a few toads, before falling in tractor love!
If a deal seems to be too good to be true....it probably is !!!

 

[Jchonline]

Absolutely do not pay off the loan for him. The agreement is between he bank and him for the tractor. The bank owns it. If you give him money and he doesnt pay the loan off, the bank can just repo the tractor. He keeps your money.

Walk away.

It is really, really hard these days to buy used. Hard to find local with all of the muck on CL/eBay/FB as you mentioned. Your best bet is the traditional method. You might try dealers for used machines, local farm bureau, find out where folks with land hang out (church, etc) and start making friends. One will turn up eventually. It might take MONTHS...but you will find one. Sure you can check LOCAL online sources (CL in your area, etc) as you are doing this, you might also get a hit.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I spent a few months following all the above mentioned places daily to find used tractors.
Anything that turned up with the specs I wanted, I immediately checked it out, which is how I found my M.
It had just been traded in to a dealer and had not even been cleaned up for sale. I called the dealer and made an appointment that day to see it.
Salesman gave me the keys, said have at it and walked away. I gave it a short operating run down, offered him $1k less than asking and that was that.
He delivered it for free 2 days later.
Be patient but ready to act if and when your tractor shows up.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That is the key. Looked for tractors for friends, but they never jumped on anything. Have the money hidden in your underware drawer, truck fueled up and pointed in the right direction.

 

[5030]

The prices on TH and ET are ridicously over priced some things you would need a gun and a mask to get that kind of money for what they are asking . buyer be ware . Do your research their prices are around 30% over blue book value . FBMP and CL are more down to earth . Still it's best to know prices and shop around.:drink:

I'm a registered bidder on Tractor House and I'll bid but I set my max bid ahead of time and when it exceeds that, I'm done. Real simple and foolproof. Some of the stuff on there, sellers think it's gold... It ain't.

 

[tradosaurus]

You will almost always pay top dollar for used equipment at a dealership. But, at least you have some place to go back and complain if it turns out to be a lemon.

This!

I've heard of horror stories of someone buying a stolen tractor.

 

[Industrial Toys]

As for E-Bay. That happens to me too. So many listing are Buy It NOW, but you forget to check and see something at a really good price, only to realize it is an auction with undoubtedly a HIGH reserve! People want their cake and eat it too. Why don't they just list it at their asking price already?

 

[airbiscuit]

That is the key. Looked for tractors for friends, but they never jumped on anything. Have the money hidden in your underware drawer, truck fueled up and pointed in the right direction.

It takes patience and a lot of looking to find a good deal. Once you find it, you have to be decisive and act NOW. I've missed deals because I hesitated by a day or two, and the deals I got were when I looked and decided quickly.

• I have had the best luck with Craigslist and TractorHouse. I personally like the search tools at TractorHouse.
• I set geography by selecting two states or distance from my zip code
• I select either under 40hp tractors or 40hp to 99hp
• I select Min/Max prices I am looking foI select listed within the last XX Days
• I save it as a bookmark
• Hit Search and check daily

This search may be more broad than you think you want, but if you select # of says listed, the list isn't all that long. The process is educational as it will guide you to recognize a good deal when you see one.