Yet another newbie with questions..

[roxynoodle]

I recommend 4wd for a loader for 2 reasons: 1) it sure helps you get around with all that front weight! and 2) 4wd tractors have bigger, stronger front axles to help with all that weight! I didn't look at your location but I'm on clay soil which is slippery as all heck when even slightly wet and I use my tractor to remove snow for my driveway and 4wd sure comes in handy during those times as well. I almost always need to have it when using my loader if I don't want to get stuck.

I don't buy new either on a lot of things but let me add one thing; tractors sure hold their value better than cars and sometimes new is the better deal. You may find you are only saving $1-3k for a tractor that is 3 years old. If you are financing then the 0% will be the better deal. Of course paying cash is another story.

BTW, adding a loader later will cost you at least $3k so I would buy a tractor that already has a loader on it. Once you have it you will wonder how you ever got along without it and it sure saves wear and tear on the ol' body

 

[Schneeky]

..Thanks for the insight, Roxy.. Good points.. I live about 7 miles from the southern-most NC coast so I'm flat & sandy-soiled.. Best as I can tell guessin a loader would be used for liftin & movin outboards, spreadin rock around for my driveways, mebbe some storm clean-up if the weather gets a little dicey.. It's hard ta speculate on what may really come up to do..
..If I was absolutely sure about this whole bisiness and a tractor did turn out to be a "necessity", I'd mebbe go with somethin newer.. But for the time being I'm goin with an older well maintained setup that's pretty much bottomed out concerning depreciation..
.. The models that I'm going to look at today are JD 455,655 & 755.. There's a nice lookin 655 in Shreveport with a pile of attachments for $5K asking.. Too bad that ain't a bit closer.. I'm gonna head out here inna few and see what these guys have to say today and also get my arse inna few seats..

..Things could be completely different by this evening.!! d:^) Schneeky..

 

[Gittyup]

A local guy here in Maryland has a nice JD 430 with loader on Craigslist for $2880: John Deere 430 Garden Tractor with Loader & Deck

Those X55 JD's are all nice machines. For your use, I don't think you need 4WD.

 

[Soundguy]

Are you launching the boats too? If so.. get HST and 4wd.. i'm thinking something inthe mid 20's hp will do ya.

soundguy

..Hey guys.. Thanks for this great forum.. Hat's off to ya.!!

..I'm looking for some kindof little tractor to shuffle boats and trailers around my yard plus be able to lift and move outboards (front loader?).. If I could get a mower in on the deal to replace my rider that would be nice but not really necessary.. Seems like I'd prolly be better off just keeping the mower and tractor jobs separate on this small of a place(<acre)..

..Anyways, I searched a few pages back and I think most similar newbie threads I found were concerned with heavier applications.. Buying new goes against my DNA but I don't want a klunker I hafta fight with every time either.. Since re-sale is such a big consideration I don't wanna get too off the wall with brand names.. Seems there's no end of tractor manufacturers.. I'd rather spend a little extra up front to get something useful and desirable than to go cheap and end up with something no one else wants either.. Stuff I've been seeing that was interesting was in the ~$5K and under range.. Turf tires look to be more in line with keeping the yard somewhat intact..

Any helpful info is greatly appreciated and again, Thanks for a great site.!! d:^) Schneeky..

 

[LBrown59]

..Thanks for the insight, Roxy.. Good points.. I live about 7 miles from the southern-most NC coast so I'm flat & sandy-soiled.. Best as I can tell guessin a loader would be used for liftin & movin outboards, spreadin rock around for my driveways, mebbe some storm clean-up if the weather gets a little dicey.. It's hard ta speculate on what may really come up to do..
..If I was absolutely sure about this whole bisiness and a tractor did turn out to be a "necessity", I'd mebbe go with somethin newer.. But for the time being I'm goin with an older well maintained setup that's pretty much bottomed out concerning depreciation..
.. The models that I'm going to look at today are JD 455,655 & 755.. There's a nice lookin 655 in Shreveport with a pile of attachments for $5K asking.. Too bad that ain't a bit closer.. I'm gonna head out here inna few and see what these guys have to say today and also get my arse inna few seats..

..Things could be completely different by this evening.!! d:^) Schneeky..

I was looking for a JDx455 but couldnt' see 4800 to 6000 for one with out 4 wd rear pto and 3 point hitch so I jumped on the deal flor a newer lower hour BX1500 that had all that on it for only $5250.
I'd say you couldn't beat a nice clean used BX1500 to do what you're looking for.

 

[Schneeky]

..Well fellas, I went out today and got myself a little crash course in tractor model ID & economics.. Ran into some nice folks at a couple of dealerships.. Ran into a couple of doofuses as well.. Ended up talkin boats with one lot so that cut my learning time a little short.. Ya gotta give some back sometimes.
..First thing- A very nice dealer explained to me today about what Mr Brown was referring to with new tractors being cheaper than used.. This happens when somedody finances a newer used tractor at the higher interest rates.. So I got myself one of those "Oh, I see" moments.. I generally look for squealin deals and older stuff, plus pay cash so this scenario didn't even enter my mind.. Sorry for being dense..
..To the tractors.. I found a lot of neat stuff.. Mostly bigger than I wanna keep and use around my little postage stamp.. The JD 755 & 655's were too big.. The 455 and 3xx's were about perfect.. (Goldilocks.?) Found a decent lookin older 455 with the necessary attachments but it needed work which the dealer said they'd fix and it had just under 2500 hours on it.. Seems a little long in the tooth but mebbe doable..
..Ran into my first batch of grey market tractors today.. The cat basically tried to tell me that they were "disposable tractors" and that it'd be easy to rack up a bill totalling more than the cost of a "new" unit so therefore when his tractor broke just come get another one.. Huh.?!?

.. Then I ran into a dealership which I'll name later (cause I don't want somebody swipin what I think is a decent deal, although I haven't researched it yet to confirm that it is actually a good deal).. These guys were great.. Very helpful, no pressure, patient, answered all my schtoopit questions w/o making me feel like a moron in the process, and even stayed late discussing my situation.!! HAT's OFF.!! Anyways, they had 3 deals that looked like definite possibilities..
1. Left-over 1998 Massy Furgeson 1220 diesel Hydro that was brand new with warranty for $5500.. It had almost no hours.. It's 2WD with 3pt no attachments.. The paint is faded.. The covers are still on the PTO spindles..

2. Left-over Kubota (can't remember year) BX2230 again, new with factory warranty,hydro, 3pt and no implements.. 4WD. Just sales yard time on it.. $7000

3. Kubota (mid 90's) B1700 Diesel 4WD Bi-Speed turning, Pwr steer, hydro,54" deck, 451 hrs. $6500.. I still hafta research it but this sounds like a decent deal.. I liked the way the tractor drove and everything was easy to get at.. He said the guy that traded it in just used it on his lawn..

4. A guy upstate has a nice lookin JD455 for $3500 with a deck.. 1200 hours Diesel $3500..

..These are what I found intersting in a day of roaming the countryside.. The Kubota with the 451 hours sounds like the better deal to me.. Gettin new implements for the new ones would cost an arm and a leg.. But I already have the little Craftsman rider and full factory warranties would be real nice.. The MF had plenty of clearance but I don't know if that's an issue.. The 2WD could be on resale.. I'll post pics later but what do ya think about this pile.? Of course ya did notice I ain't gettin my loader with any of these..

Gittyup- I think that's yer friendly neighborhood scammer collecting email addys.. He's been busy down here with incredible (literally) deals as well..

Soundguy- The ramp's about .5 mile from here.. The local fuzz would most likely carry a dim view of me easin down there with a boat in tow.. They're funny like that.. So it'll just be on shuffling duty for now.. d:^) Schneeky..

 

[roxynoodle]

I have a grey market Yanmar with 4wd, powershift (wonderful tranny I will add) and a loader. He isn't pretty but I got him for just under $5k and have been quite happy. Grey market isn't a bad thing if you are willing to turn a wrench once in awhile and you buy from a reputable dealer. If you decide to go that route, there are people on the Yanmar forum who would recommend a dealer for you. I will agree with Soundguy that if you are launching boats you will want 4wd for sure and HST or powershift rather than gear shift.

 

[Gittyup]

Schneeky,

That guy might be as scammer. Add smells like it. But, the price is not a scam price. It's about right for that tractor, maybe a little with the loader. Anyway, I was basically just pointing out that you have many many choices, as I think you are now finding out.

I wouldn't discount the Japanese grays completely.

Whatever you buy, I'd hold out for that loader now. Getting one after the fact will cost you a bundle and might be hard to find for the tractor you have purchased. I see little tractors all the time with loaders in your price range, especially the Kubotas and grays.

Would an Easy bucket on the JD4xx work for you? These are reasonably priced after markets. But, I don't think they have a lot of lift height.

 

[jas67]

None of the 3 have front end loaders on their tractors. But finding used tractors with front end loaders in the price range ($5k) you mentioned might be a little difficult.

I bought my first B7100 (a 1980 gear-drive model) for $4675 with a front end loader (KB219).

I would recommend something larger than a B if you are going to move boat engines with the loader. You'll want something with higher lift, and more lift capacity. I'm sure you can find and older utility, or larger CUT in that price range with a loader. It won't be anything fancy. Often, the larger, older utility (as opposed to compact-utility) tractors can be had for less money, as the typical occasional-use few-acre homeowner doesn't want anything that big, so that cuts demand for those. You will probably also find that gas-powered utilities go for a bit less than diesels, again, because of demand. If you are primarily going to run it for short periods to move trailers and engines, the fuel-economy won't really matter, as you won't run it for many hours.

 

[Schneeky]

..I dunno if it'd work or not.. Can't say as I'm familiar with the setup.. Shame of all this is that right at the moment, the only use I have for a FEL is for swappin boat motors, which I can do with my paid-for engine hoist.. And in reality, what few other jobs I can think of it'd be useful for around here could prolly be done with a wheel barrel before I could get the fool FEL attached.!! With that FEL schtuck out front it'd prolly increase the length of the tractor to the point of making it unweildy in my small yard.. I can just see myself schtickin that thing thru the hull of a consignment boat.

..I'm thinkin this is a pure and simple case of the "hot runnin' wants" that needs to be squelched.. The cost vs. use ratio just ain't workin out..

..No matter how much "circular reasoning" I try to use, I still come up with really just needing a lawn mower that can p/u boat trailers and move'm around on flat sandy soil inna small yard..

..It ain't easy bein flaky.. d:^) Schneeky..