Your Recommendations, Please - Novice Tractor Buyer

[jeff9366]

Jeff, great deals, I've not bought anything on eBay, however. Condition of merchandise is stated, or is it a gamble? Sorry, I just don't know.

I have been satisfied with most of my 600 transactions on eBay, both as a buyer and a seller of tractor implements and a buyer of tractor parts.

E-commerce is a major part of the US economy, whether it is eBay, Amazon or Tractorhouse.com. As you have not established an eBay account, you are in the minority of US adults. Ag equipment, boats and cars used to be sold in newspaper classified ads. Today, sellers demand national exposure.

Tractors listed on eBay will turnover about once every ten days, replaced by newly listed equipment.

The cabbed, 95 horsepower Kubota seems in-the-ballpark for what you are seeking.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The older I get I am learning how some of the things I wanted at 44 and still want today just does not make as much sense for me to own at 64.

When I was younger I never understood by older people hung on to old tractors instead of trading up. In hindsight if it was doing the job they bought it for long ago then why trade.

We have the 1976 265 MF because it has been in the family since new and still does a good job. We added the 1983 JD 310B backhoe for $7200 about 6 years ago and other than a few hoses and some welding on buckets it has be one of the best things we own but we can work on it if needed. Hands down it is so handy and a lot if its usage is under 5 minutes even.

With that being said most often the newer stuff and especially that with enclosed cabs can offer more safety features that can be life savers as we age. Often it just comes down to $$$ management. Growing up riding tractors since the late 50's makes the old iron seem fine to me. Others getting their first tractor old iron seems like old iron.

If old tractors will start and run most often they can still do about the same amount of work when new.

 

[Andrewsalas]

Thanks Jeff, I guess I will have to join the 21st century! I did enjoy reviewing what was on sale there. I will take a second look at the Kubota, and if that's not the one I will begin to track what is posted. Not really in a grand hurry so if I don't get the Kubota I think I will start keeping a log to help me track all the key variables - tractor make and model, condition of tractor, hours on it, age perhaps, etc.

 

[Andrewsalas]

Zero slope, you are right - irrigation land on the valley, but am attempting to reclaim the land. We've leveled it, but it is extremely high in alkali and clay content - we are adding gypsum to begin with. The levees are a result of leveling (we had to cut down the land to accommodate the high water level of the ditch. Funny about your comment on pistachio tres, I've been wondering how they would do in my area. My problem with auctions (yes, Tumbleweed right up the road from us) is I would need an expert with me since I am no mechanic or farmer. Thanks for your help.

 

[Andrewsalas]

Right you are Gale, I am up in years too, and part of my motivation (apart from having a reliable and safer, more comfortable situation for my wife - who loves to be on the tractor), is to leave the kids with something they can rely on for years to come.

I think it's awesome you still have the MF, and am jealous about that backhoe!

 

[jenkinsph]

Zero slope, you are right - irrigation land on the valley, but am attempting to reclaim the land. We've leveled it, but it is extremely high in alkali and clay content - we are adding gypsum to begin with. The levees are a result of leveling (we had to cut down the land to accommodate the high water level of the ditch. Funny about your comment on pistachio tres, I've been wondering how they would do in my area. My problem with auctions (yes, Tumbleweed right up the road from us) is I would need an expert with me since I am no mechanic or farmer. Thanks for your help.

Pistachio trees grow well in the Alamogordo/Tularosa area and can handle the salts in the soil. If you have already had the land leveled you should be able to use a smaller tractor for this work. Once pipe lines, alfalfa valves, diversion box and laser leveling are complete a smaller 40 to 60 hp tlb should be a good choice for you.

I have a Deere 110tlb which is a good size for this work and would also suggest a Kubota L45 or M59 too. Buying new I would lean towards a M59 with 60 hp and a good fel with 12' hoe. When you drop the hoe and put the 3pt on you have a good tractor for the other things you will need.

 

[jeff9366]

Not really in a hurry so I will start keeping a log to help me track all the key variables - tractor make and model, condition of tractor, hours on it, age perhaps, etc.

Tracking eBay and Tractorhouse.com is a convenient way to learn today's market prices for used equipment.

 

[Andrewsalas]

That's helpful, thanks! Sounds like you favor Deeres and Kubotas - that says something to me.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

2008 Kubota M59 4x4 Tractor Loader Backhoe Front Aux Hyd Priced to Sell | eBay

Here is a 7 year old nice looking M59 loaded on both ends for $37K.

 

[Andrewsalas]

Wow, I like it !

 

[AxleHub]

check what local farmers have. the best tractor deal comes from the best dealer. not brand or price but how well the dealer will support you.

greg

While a good dealer is important, today's issues are much larger than the dealer imo. I've highlighted 4 scenarios below:

1. In our area numerous good dealers were bought out individually by a dealership franchise. 15 dealers became 15 locations for a centralized operation. Pricing and servicing were "standardized".

2. In Minnesota a few years ago a number of small but very capable dealerships (about 10) were forced (by the manufacturer) to close so a franchicing chain could gain more territory than they already had. No buyouts, just forced out . . and those "good dealers" were history for their customers.

3. Recently health issues (death on one and health on the other) caused a couple good dealers to sell. The new owners were not the same quality and customers were left disappointed (a gentle description).

4. In the last 12 months a really great dealer with decades of history with a manufacturer was forced to choose a different brand because they did not want to change to yet a still higher inventory and quota requirements. The dealer is still great but they no longer have access to parts or service training for that brand.

Over and over I see posts that hinge on a certain dealer as the issue. But the "quality" of the manufacturer in product and administration/management imo can alter a customer's situation rapidly.

I claim you find a good manufacturer and then find their best dealer in your area (not judged by distance alone).

 

[Gale Hawkins]

AxleHub I do not like the sound of your take on dealership relationship value but do agree with you. We are living in changing times. Since I can do my own work or can find an independent shop these changes do not really impact me. I buy based to price and find most of my parts faster and at a better price by going online.

Now buying new one will be 'more' married to a dealership.

 

[flusher]

Thanks Richard and bdog - front end loader necessary to periodically move dirt from levees that surround our property - rain causes dirt to wash from the levees down to the property. The reason for the HP range is primarily tied to that. Also, the cab is for my wife - who loves to operate a tractor and yes, I do want to pamper her from the elements.

We have terrible (high alkali and high clay) soil, so we want to plant trees, but must dig out a big hole to put in better soil or the trees do not survive.

I will take the paint color advice to heart!

So you want to plant an orchard?
Clay soil usually means hardpan--like we have here in the Central Valley of CA
Many orchards here (almond, walnut, pistachio, olive, plum (prunes), mandarin orange).
Orchard growers don't dig holes to plant the trees.
The first step is to rip the soil with a D8 Cat that has two or three shank rippers (aka subsoilers) that work down to 3-4 feet deep to break up the hardpan.
If you skip this initial step you probably are wasting time and money trying to establish an orchard in your soil.
Here are a couple of photos of my neighbor Juan ripping his 8-acre hayfield to prepare for a walnut orchard a few years ago.



Good luck

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Wow that is a heavy machine. The ripper attachment must weigh over a ton and the blade is so massive.

 

[jeff9366]

For vineyard preparation in the Central Valley a single shank ripper pulled by a Cat D9 is used to rip to a depth of nine feet.

 

[Andrewsalas]

AxleHub and Gale,

I understand both the benefits and pitfalls of basing a buying decision solely on local dealer reputation or availability. It seems to me that the novice buyer is well served by buying a tractor with proven reliability and parts availability - and some local area expertise to some degree or another. My originall post on another thread involved a question on Chinese tractors (they seem less expensive to buy with comparable popular makes like Deere and Kubota, etc), but what happens when something goes wrong (beyond the obvious) was the countervailing argument.

 

[Andrewsalas]

Thanks for your input Flusher, and pretty impressive ripper. I need a backhoe to replace the high-alkaline soil - otherwise nothing would grow - salt content is that toxic. Some fruit trees would go in along with shade and windbreak. For the purpose of planting the rest of the property in permanent pasture or forage grass we are bringing in gypsum, and lots of it, to amend the soil.

 

[flusher]

For vineyard preparation in the Central Valley a single shank ripper is used to rip to a depth of nine feet.

You're right down between Fresno and Bakersfield. Up here in the North Sacramento Valley, the clay hardpan is closer to the surface.

 

[flusher]

Wow that is a heavy machine. The ripper attachment must weigh over a ton and the blade is so massive.

Yep. It's a beast.
Historically, the Catepiller Corp traces it's origin to two CA companies (Holt and Best) that developed the prototype Catepiller track layer design in the early 1920s specifically to rip the hardpan in the Central Valley between Bakersfield and Fresno. Catepiller relocated to Peoria IL in the late 1920s to tap the huge heavy farm and industrial equipment markets in the Midwest.

 

[jeff9366]

The epicenter of 18-60 horsepower tractor production/importation today is Georgia.

The epicenter for implement manufacture for 18-60 horsepower tractors is Alabama.