Tractor(s) for land purchase

Shotoif · Dec 29, 2013

Hello all Nick the New guy here! Not just to the forum but to tractors as well, and of course I have a few questions. I am considering a 9+ acre piece of property with a farm house and barn on it which will require a good amount of lawn work. About 8 acres are cleared with half being rough cut and fenced for horses the other half being finish cut. The land itself has a slight grade which helps facilitate water run off to the 1 acre pond. There is also a hard pack gravel/crush and run driveway, several hundred feet that will need to be maintained as well.

I am trying to get the current owners to throw in the Garvely 260z and the John Deere 1050 with front end loader and bush hog. While both tractors appear to be in great shape especially the JD I do not know if they run or when they where last serviced. I do have a local Gravely dealer as well Bob-Cat and Toro for the zero turn, and the usual big box stores. My nearest tractor dealer that I know of is about and hour away which is a JD dealer. Here is what little data I have on the two tractors...

JD 1050 1538 hours, front tires have some dry rot/cracking, cosmetically tracker looks new and has been barn kept. PIN# CH1050S022839*. Bush hog model ATH720, 12-04828.

Gravely 260Z 417 hours, appears to be in working condition minus the flat tire and has been barn kept. S/N 3234009241.

I have seen the JD 1050 used from as low as 4400 to 10K, and the 260Z from 2500-8k depending on year and hours.

What I am trying to research is if I can not get these items included in the sale what is a comparable like item and brand not being the driving factor. After doing some local inquiries about the zero turn while the Gravely commercial grade is awesome it doesnt need to be replaced by a commercial grade zero turn because I am not running a land scapeing business and only using the zero turn once or twice a week when the season call for it. That in turn drives down the cost considerably when purchasing new or used.

The JD is a whole other story and I wander if I actually need to replace it if I can not get it thrown into the sale. While really cool to have if I finish cut the whole 8 acres then what purpose does the tractor serve? I could buy a second zero turn or regular lawn tractor and put the wife to work, which she likes to do anyway. If I were to replace the JD 1050 as this model is no longer made what is a good used tractor for 10k or less that could replace it.

I do plan on farming some of the land later on down the road but that is 2-4 years down the line after the house and land renovations are all complete.

Thanks in advance for advice offered and if anyone has questions just ask.

jeff9366 · Dec 29, 2013

You will get more more replies and higher quality replies if you limit each thread to one topic and post in the appropriate forum.

The Deere 1050 is a Yanmar for John Deere, turbocharged, 33-horsepower diesel tractor, 4-WD and 3,500 pounds weight. This is a very nice tractor, reliable, and ample(+) size for practical tractor work on nine acres. Parts will be readily available from John Deere or on eBay. 1,500 hours is just past new for a well maintained diesel, stored inside and about right hours for a tractor of 1980s vintage. Well maintained Yanmar diesel engines commonly run 12,000 hours.

Deere 1050 has an industry standard, Category 1, three-point-hitch so a plethora of implements are available.

Almost everyone who acquires an unplanned tractor with a Front End Loader finds plenty of use for it after learning how to operate it. Do you NOT plan to use the JD1050 for your land renovation and driveway maintenance?

DEERE 1050 LINKS:

TractorData.com John Deere 1050 tractor information

https://www.google.com/search?clien...+1050+site:tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

LINK TO EVERYTHING ATTACHMENTS IN NEWTON, NORTH CAROLINA:

http://www.everythingattachments.com/Tractor-Attachments-from-EverythingAttachments-s/3000.htm

((THANKS, WOLFY.))

Wolfy · Dec 29, 2013

The John Deere 1050 is a 33hp, turbocharged version of the 950.

ovrszd · Dec 29, 2013

You'll want a tractor. Actually, I'd more concern in being able to buy the JD than the Gravely. But,,, both would be nice.

Welcome to TBN.

GManBart · Dec 29, 2013

Is the Deere 4x2, or 4x4?

Tractor Seabee · Dec 29, 2013

Try to get them as part of the deal. You may have to pay cash for them if it screws up the property financing as the appraisal or sale agreement cannot address them except that way. A side deal where they throw them in w/o any written record is the best solution on that, just pad the sale price and hope the appraisal covers it. If it doesn't happen get back here and give us as much info on your uses as possible, your target pricing and your means of purchase. Cash always works but may drain your remodel resources too much. Used tractors are almost impossible to finance except unsecured personal loan which has extremely high interest. Only established bonafide farmers have access to used equipment loans secured by the equipment and that from banks that cater to farmers. New tractors in the range of what you need are financed $0 down, 0% interest, and 60 months. Used, if you are a tractor/machinery novice can be a crap shoot and they are not that much cheaper than new, only 10-20% less for a good one.

I was where you are 3 years ago. Looked at 50 used tractors and settled on a Kubota BX25. I has been a great little machine and I now have 1000 HRs on it. They have a mid mount mower that makes them into a large riding lawn mower that works for lawns and pasture (if it is not too rough). A PTO operated 3PT bush hog works great for rough ground. You can have it all in one machine, one engine to maintain. Check all the SCUTs and CUTs out on line first. All the popular brands have competing models and the same financing options. Kubota, John Deere, New Holland, Kiota, Mihandra to name a few. They are all made in Japan but part and dealer support is excellent. I would stay away from the Chinese ones as their dealer and part support sucks in general. The closest working JINMA dealer up here is way down in Oregon, 300 miles away. I am not sure how you get support for a NORTRAC as the seller is primarily a catalog and internet supplier of industrial supplies, they do have some brick and mortar stores but none in my area. They all list their local/closest dealers. If the chosen brand dealer is a long way away like your JD plan on doing your own maintenance and repairs or plan to buy a trailer/truck combo to handle the load you settle on. Dealer transport costs can equal or exceed their shop service cost.

Lots of luck on getting your deal done, Ron

paulemar · Dec 30, 2013

I have a feeling that if you do not find a way to get both, you will certainly regret it at some point.

#1. You probably have a seller willing to deal on price to your advantage if you can't get them thrown in to seal the deal.

#2. The present owner has probably decided, over numerous years, that these 2 tractors meet the needs of the property perfectly. They probably do.

#3. If you don't manage to get them, the price of new quality equipment suitable for that property will knock your socks off and you will likely be on this forum asking which used tractor/tractors you should buy. It will probably cost you more than the 10k mentioned for equivalent machines.

#4 If they look like they are in great shape, chances are that they are as good as they look. Ask about how they run and any problems, then crank em' up and see for yourself.

Good luck

jenkinsph · Dec 30, 2013

paulemar said:
I have a feeling that if you do not find a way to get both, you will certainly regret it at some point.

#1. You probably have a seller willing to deal on price to your advantage if you can't get them thrown in to seal the deal.

#2. The present owner has probably decided, over numerous years, that these 2 tractors meet the needs of the property perfectly. They probably do.

#3. If you don't manage to get them, the price of new quality equipment suitable for that property will knock your socks off and you will likely be on this forum asking which used tractor/tractors you should buy. It will probably cost you more than the 10k mentioned for equivalent machines.

#4 If they look like they are in great shape, chances are that they are as good as they look. Ask about how they run and any problems, then crank em' up and see for yourself.

Good luck

I agree^^^^^^^^^
Try to work a deal to include them at a fair price. Sounds like good choices for your initial needs.

rsallen · Dec 30, 2013

Personal experience from here, so the grain of salt should be shaken if you take any notice of this post.
25 plus years ago when I/we bought this property we had nothing other than a lawn mower. The first winter we got a tractor to push snow, eh that didn't work.. now we get a snow blower for the tractor. All fine and good.
The tractor came with a mower. Jeez, it took forever mowing the area wanted.
Fast forward three or four years, tired of the time out of life to mow the g**d**n lawn. Major money (at the time) for a dedicated mower. But that then major expense got my life back, it cut mowing time to a third or quarter of what it took with the tractor (yeah no s**t).
Meanwhile the tractor just kept on keeping on assisting me in the various jobs needing attention.

The/a tractor is a must, and yes it can and will do all that you want.
In the end though you will want/need two different machines.

Do the deal now.
It's now or later.

ovrszd · Dec 30, 2013

rsallen said:
Personal experience from here, so the grain of salt should be shaken if you take any notice of this post.
25 plus years ago when I/we bought this property we had nothing other than a lawn mower. The first winter we got a tractor to push snow, eh that didn't work.. now we get a snow blower for the tractor. All fine and good.
The tractor came with a mower. Jeez, it took forever mowing the area wanted.
Fast forward three or four years, tired of the time out of life to mow the g**d**n lawn. Major money (at the time) for a dedicated mower. But that then major expense got my life back, it cut mowing time to a third or quarter of what it took with the tractor (yeah no s**t).
Meanwhile the tractor just kept on keeping on assisting me in the various jobs needing attention.

The/a tractor is a must, and yes it can and will do all that you want.
In the end though you will want/need two different machines.

Do the deal now.

Very good advice there, from someone that has lived your about to be existance OP.

Shotoif · Jan 1, 2014

Thanks for the tips everyone! The sellers have said they would sell them in separate deal but no further details as of yet on that. The present owners are not the original owners of the property so I am unsure if they purchased the equipment or if it came with the property. I'll have to check on the 4x4 or 4x2 next time I go by the property.

Shotoif · Feb 9, 2014

Unfortunately as this deal has progressed the seller pulled the tractors off the table. I assume they either decided they needed them or they had a better offer on them. That then puts me in the market for some equipment. There are definitely plenty around eastern NC on craigslist to choose from. It's about 7 cleared acres of finish cut. I assume they bush hogged the two fenced in pastures which are basically the entire top left quadrant and bottom left quadrant in the picture. There is a barn in the trees behind the house but it is hard to see in the picture, there is also a large pond in the bottom left quadrant tucked away in the trees. A zero will most be the preferred cutting option and has a higher priority on my list as the season approaches. Other land related chores will include: redoing all landscaping around the main structure (leveling beds, removing beds, moving landscaping bricks and rock) blading the driveway as needed, tilling for vegetable garden, moving firewood. I am sure there will be many more but those are the immediate tasks over the next 18 months. Now this could all still go south as closing isn't until late march.

Tractor Seabee · Feb 9, 2014

First decision is behind you. Now go reread those posts we all sent you. Don't tie up your cash on a used one when you can buy new for only 10-15% more and outlay no cash including implements. Whether you buy one or two units is probably determined by what your work flow and life style will be. Maintaining multiple gasoline engines can be a real pain. You may think a backhoe is a luxury until all of a sudden you find one would be real handy. Been there done all that thinking and planning.

Ron

the whispering oaks farm · Feb 9, 2014

I bought my farm, 35 acres- half woods, half pasture, seven years ago. The owner tried to sell me his old kubota that had a lot of time on it for $15k. I didn't buy it and ended up buying a Kubota Grand L 3530. I used it the first summer and thought that it was too expensive to use as a lawn mower so I sold it and bought a nice Home Depot Cub Cadet riding mower to keep the place nice. Well the riding mower was a typical HD mower and started to fall apart soon afterwards, the deck was too thin, the spindles were aluminum, just not meant to mow 20 acres a week. I then bought another Cub Cadet zero turn used to back up the rider that was always in a state of disrepair. Same company and same build quality-now I had two mowers that were always broken. Hit one rock and it would either tear up the spindle or even bend the deck. Next I bought a Ariens 60" zero turn and the quality is much better-but at 3 times the price. It works fine but I had grass growing in the 300' driveway and $40 a quart weed killer only worked for a short time. I tried dragging it with a chain link drag I made up. better but no cigar. Finally I just went out and bought a new LS xr4046hc with the backhoe, a landplane, a 6' blade, a 6' landscape rake, post hole digger , and a bunch of other stuff. I should have done that in the beginning trying to maintain a large piece of property. in the end I spend a lot of money but I should have done it right the first time and I actually would have saved a lot of money. I figure if you want a big place it takes professional grade equipment.

Shotoif · Feb 10, 2014

Thanks all for the tips. I did follow some leads during my lunch break for the zero turn. So far I have Gravely, hustler, toro, and Bob cat all available to me. I also stumbled on a JD dealer as well which I never noticed despite passing it several times. That obvioulsy has zero turn and tractors. From what I have seen most places are offering zero down and 48 months, so it looks like new will be the better option for the zero turn. I'll have to stop at the JD dealer when I have time to look at tractors.

grm61 · Feb 10, 2014

You're in Kioti country, their factory is in Wendel NC.
Find a Kioti dealer near you and take a look.
Really good heavy tractors.
I think they have the free loader program going on.
Way cheaper than a Deere.

newbury · Feb 10, 2014

I think you need to look at 25 to 35hp tractors. Big enough to move a lot of dirt. Then decrease your mowed lawn to a half acre around the house.

This American obsession with large areas of short grass

Before the invention of mowing machines in 1830, lawns were managed very differently. They were an element of wealthy estates and manor houses, and in some places were maintained by the labor-intensive methods of scything and shearing. In most situations, they were also pasture land maintained through grazing by sheep or other livestock. Areas of grass grazed regularly by rabbits, horses or sheep over a long period often form a very low, tight sward similar to a modern lawn. This was the original meaning of the word "lawn",

Graze some sheep

/edit - My Dad and Grandfather built a duplex on 30 acres in Vermont. The first few years we had about half an acre of lawn which my Dad mowed about once a week during the season. Might have taken 45 minutes with a push gas lawn mower. My Grandfather kept expanding the lawn, my Dad kept on mowing more, first with a 10hp lawn tractor and finally with a 14HP lawn tractor. And it would take him several hours a week to mow and tend about 3 acres. By then I was in the Army and couldn't help out. He sure missed his fishing time mowing lawn for several hours a week. Taught me a lesson.

Shotoif · Mar 7, 2014

Well after much research on these forums, internet, and adivce from folks I have decided on a kioti CK30HST. My quote is at $20343 minus taxes and such for the tractor with FEL, bush hog, boxblade, R4 tires, T3 engine and free delivery. Thanks Newbury for that interesting perspective I don't think I will need a zero turn after all.