Finding used tractors?

[Jay4200]

I'm looking for a used lawn/garden tractor (hoping for a good vintage one), and also would like to find a small ('B' sized) TLB.

Are there any other avenues to the used tractor market besides Ebay and Craigslist? I've been watching both for a while - ebay is a joke for a no-can-ship item, and I have yet to find a fair deal on Craigslist. Either it turns out to be some kind of scam, or I'm sending e-mails into the ether and never hearing back from the alleged seller. There are only two tractor dealers in the area, and they never have anything worthwhile that isn't priced ridiculously.

JayC

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Jay I came close a time or two on ebay (did get F700 16' flat dump there) but got both equipment trailers and backhoe from Craigslistings. The BH was about 125 miles away and that cost me $400 since I did not have a trailer yet.

Ebay was good of a lot of info about options out there. Craigslist was better locating regional stuff. Found the MH in a Penny Shopper type paper 100 miles away after almost buying one 1100 miles away on Ebay.

You will find several options the first two weeks after you buy.

All I know is to keep working these sources and your eyes on stuff parked in yards. :thumbsup:

It seems many TLB units are bought for a project then are sold. We never sell anything after it gets to the place which can be a problem over time.

 

[Thomas]

Gray's Auction located in Fairlee,VT. once month has equipment etc. auction...from rakes and chains to lawn tractors dump trucks and hoes....its just like Christmas.

 

[DAY]

You will find several options the first two weeks after you buy.

Paying yourself minimum wage, the amount of time you "waste" looking far and wide, you are ahead of the game if you just go to the dealer and pay full sticker price:laughing:
And that's only part way a joke!

 

[ljellio]

Gotta love grays auction I drive by there twice a day Monday through Friday

 

[Wolfy]

I sure miss the Want Ad, best deal finder ever.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Paying yourself minimum wage, the amount of time you "waste" looking far and wide, you are ahead of the game if you just go to the dealer and pay full sticker price:laughing:
And that's only part way a joke!

I tend to agree BUT that cuts out all the fun. :B

The kids and I enjoy going places and seeing things.

 

[Jay4200]

Paying yourself minimum wage, the amount of time you "waste" looking far and wide, you are ahead of the game if you just go to the dealer and pay full sticker price:laughing:
And that's only part way a joke!

Well, the good news is as long as I'm perusing on-line, usually I'm BEING paid for it . Gives me something to do when I need a break. OTOH, it's getting to be a PITA when everything that looks even remotely interesting evaporates one way or another...

JayC

 

[Jay4200]

I sure miss the Want Ad, best deal finder ever.

I agree. I was just thinking the same thing earlier today.

JayC

 

[deereman75]

Two words: Ritchie Brothers

 

[Jay4200]

Gray's Auction located in Fairlee,VT. once month has equipment etc. auction...from rakes and chains to lawn tractors dump trucks and hoes....its just like Christmas.

Yeesh - that's a haul and a half...

OTOH, they DO have one of these:

JayC

 

[deereman75]

That dumper is the sort of thing I would buy even though I dont have the money for it, or the need. (I am 14 so both are true)

 

[RoyJackson]

I've seen some nice deals on Craigslist and bought a very nice Woods 5000 Chipper/Shredder...but you really must move quickly. Good stuff sells very quickly...

 

[Jay4200]

I've seen some nice deals on Craigslist and bought a very nice Woods 5000 Chipper/Shredder...but you really must move quickly. Good stuff sells very quickly...

I've done OK in the past myself - I bought my 80-something fairly mint Snapper LT16 w/ snowblower (which is still running like a top) a couple of years ago for $400, and got my 6' Econor snowblower w/ 6' Woods grading blade for $1350. Both deals were relaxed and smooth. OTOH, I did get porked out of a 7' Lorenz blower by an unscrupulous seller shortly before I found the Econor. Lately, however, it seems that most things that look decent are either a scam of some sort, or I never get a reply from the seller (which happens a lot).

I just missed a '90 Kubota F2400 with 6' mower deck AND front-mount blower (air, not snow) for $1700 earlier this week. Grrrr.... THAT I really wanted. I got a reply from that seller, at least, but was just a hair too slow on the draw.

JayC

 

[om21braz]

Jay,
Does the N.H. Dept. of Agriculture publish a paper as the North Carolina one I have a link to below? If not maybe one of your ajoining states does.

http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/AgReview/pdf/May11AgReview.pdf

Lots of farm equipment and related classified ads in it.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I've seen some nice deals on Craigslist and bought a very nice Woods 5000 Chipper/Shredder...but you really must move quickly. Good stuff sells very quickly...

I have started trying to have cash with me before go to see something. Now I do not going running around to strange places with $10K in $100 bills. :thumbsup:

If it is a doable deal and not over $1000 I just pay them even if I have to come back and get it. If it is like a tractor I will make about the same amount cash deposit. Having a bank now that is all over the mid south is nice so I can just get the cash I need to do the deal and if a the last minute something stops the deal I can just take the money back to the bank.

Like Roy states you have to be ready to pull the trigger and pay fast.

We were the first to call/show up about the ad for the MH we have. The kids and I showed up just before dark on a Saturday night (8:30 PM in July) and left him a down payment by personal check at 10 PM.

The ad had a take it or leave it price that was 15% below low NADA retail price but it had the transmission replaced (at Chevy dealership) and all new tires five years before with new shocks too. The 454 sounded awesome, genset ran, all three AC sources worked as well as the frig.

An old leak still leaked we found out when it rained but that we fixed with Eternabond and it has been dry for the past four years with on secondary damage.

I did show up Monday AM with a cashier's check for the full amount (he returned my personal check) and when he went to get the title notarized I had him deposit the check while we were prepping for the 100 mile trip home.

It turned out his wife had pasted three years before from cancer and his current girl friend was more into staying in condos than an old MH. The real driver of the low price was in two weeks he was to start chemo himself.

He wanted a fast clean sale so the MH was not parked in his yard when he started chemo knowing what he knew from his late wife's experiences. He did seem excited that I knew vehicles and that the kids were really getting into getting his MH.

Go with the dough because the first to show the money gets the deal.

 

[Whitey]

Tractorhouse.com has a lawn and garden section located on the main page down low.

 

[Thomas]

Jay.
Yet to see track dump but other models close to it tho..4 men on tracks plus Army weasel.

Yep sure would be haul from your back yard,but Fairlee Diner has A+ breakfast if you can get thru the door.

 

[SandburRanch]

Jay.
Yet to see track dump but other models close to it tho..4 men on tracks plus Army weasel.

Yep sure would be haul from your back yard,but Fairlee Diner has A+ breakfast if you can get thru the door.

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I was feeling fairly well today until I saw that pic and then read the words - "Army weasel" - and now I'm sick and gonna go puke. After 50 years I can still recall the smell of that dammed Studebaker flat head that sat beside me.

 

[Soundguy]

check any local for sale sites and lil for sale papers you might have in your area too.. don't forget farm store billboards too.. have found many that way..

soundguy