Almost Ashamed.......

[weeble]

Been lurking the forum for a long time and need tractor of my own. Rented a Kubota and got a lot done, but with the rain over night, trashed the yad pertty well (but still well).......Largest issue in me getting a machine is the WIFE! There have been some great finace rates over the winter, etc, and all she see is the cost. I am looking at JD and Kubota around 18K financed over X years.......

After renting a machine, I need one more than ever. I kow my neighbor lurks out here and has a wonderful JD, much larger than I can ever use... but that is off topic other than is a 3pt attachment compatible to all make and model of machine?

Anyone want to trade tractor for wife>

 

[laen64]

That's a Low Blow. and I bet NO takers on that one. Sorry!

 

[dodge man]

Got any pictures? Just kidding. I bought a Kubota BX2350 about a year ago. The only thing that bothers me is I didn't buy one earlier. You will be amazed at how much you can do with a small tractor and how many projects you can get done. It also saves alot of wear and tear on your body.

One problem, its tough to know when to quit when buying implements. I bought mine as a mower, then bought a end loader and rear blade. Then a mulch kit, work lights, bucket forks. I'd still like to get brush hog and box blade.

Good luck with the purchase, once its in your blood, you will have to have one.

 

[Smalljobs]

I've gone through the same process and have had to "make do" with an old Cub Cadet and plenty of manual labor to take care of 4 acres. Sure, a JD or Kioti really appealed to me, especially with all the attractive financing (buy now pay later cycle) but financial restraints and bad economy play a part as well. I did a lot of homework and just bought a new Jinma 284LE at a VERY competitive price.

 

[jimmyj]

Welcome!

I feel your pain weeble. It took me over 12 years to finally pull the trigger on a "real" CT. Even then I had to finance part of it and the Kioti 0% plan was a great opportunity that allowed me to act now vs waiting another 2 years. I had previously made do with my little Allis until then.

Don't buy if you can't afford it (not a shot at you, I don't know your situation - it's just that I hate the darned credit sharks - they are so darned easy to fall victim too).

If you can get one, you will NEVER regret it. You will need to really think about your essential uses to make sure you buy right (not too big, not too small). Good luck and keep us posted!!!!

 

[phyxer]

NO DEAL! I would love to have more than one tractor but no way in heck I'd want more than one wife!

Troy

 

[bruceatlam]

Well, I'll second the advice to steer clear of financing if at all possible. I faced the same dilemma that you're facing when I went looking for my first real tractor. Only in my case it was clear that there was absolutely no way that we were making a payment on anything as silly as a tractor. So, I resigned myself to looking on the used market. Looked for a good long time until I found a nice used B20 on E-Bay no less. After some phone conversations with the owner, I bought it and then found a U-Ship carrier to deliver it.

I've been very happy with that decision. Yes, it's 15 years old but it's tough as nails and has more hours left in it's life than I do in mine. It was about 1/2 the cost of a new one. Just another alterantive for you to think about --- it doesn't have to be new. In a lot of respects "old" is better in my eyes --- my hood is 1/8" steel -- not plastic and I don't have any of the nannies that annoy folks to no end.

 

[Smalljobs]

Going "used" is good advice, especially if you are mechanically handy. When I bought the Cub Cadet 128 around 25 years ago, it was in a field at the Kubota dealer and there was grass up to your knees around it. It was taken in trade and fitted with a new Kohler engine but they said the clutch was no good. All they wanted to do was get rid of it. Five hundred dollars and 30 minutes later, I had a tractor that only needed a roll pin on the drive shaft coupling. It's still as strong as ever after 25 years!

I've watched ebay for 6 mos within 250 miles and could not really find what I want and don't think I could repair a hydro tractor anyway if I had problems. Keep looking - you might get lucky!

 

[Scotty370]

Welcolme aboard Weeb! For what it's worth, here was my thought process: Unlike buying a car, I approached my decision on the JD, more as an investment! Most of my car purchases are in the 6-8K range, and after using them for 5-7years, there're used up, and I start over again with a new 'used-car' and new used car payments! With the tractor, I 'bought-right' from the front lawn of the previous owner, and yes, spent more money on a Backhoe attachment, Loader, and am building more toys for it! Point is, in an all out, 'press-for-cash', I feel confident that I could sell it for what I've got invested! Financing is some times a 'necessary evil', but be smart! Don't over look Home Eq loans that you can write off interst, 401k's that you pay intrest back into your own account, credit unions etc. Credit-Card? NO WAY! Just my 2/100 of a dollar! ~Scotty
PS: Unlike wives, you'll find that when you turn off the key in the evening, the tractor will remain absolutely 'silent', until it's next use! ~S

 

[kebo]

Been lurking the forum for a long time and need tractor of my own. Rented a Kubota and got a lot done, but with the rain over night, trashed the yad pertty well (but still well).......Largest issue in me getting a machine is the WIFE! There have been some great finace rates over the winter, etc, and all she see is the cost. I am looking at JD and Kubota around 18K financed over X years.......

After renting a machine, I need one more than ever. I kow my neighbor lurks out here and has a wonderful JD, much larger than I can ever use... but that is off topic other than is a 3pt attachment compatible to all make and model of machine?

Anyone want to trade tractor for wife>

I prefer the green colored machines and have bought 3 / sold 2 of them (all used). I've found that if you get one that's in good mechanical condition, has reasonable hours, and looks good you can probably use it for a few years and sell it and get most (if not all) of your money back. However, that may not be quite so true now with the economy still in the down mode. The problem buying used is you have to come up with all the cash when you buy it, hardly any bank will finance used tractors.


As for the question regarding attachments, there are differences among them. They start out at Cat 0 and go up to Cat 3, with 0 the smallest and 3 the largest. There is a website somewhere that lists the dimensions of the different hitch sizes. The majority of implements are Cat 1. Not sure when size Cat 2 comes into play, but usually up around 70hp or more maybe?? Someone here should be able to tell us.

Good luck.

 

[zzvyb6]

Buy a used piece of crap that can do the jobs but keeps breaking down and needs lots of parts. Bandaid it up and sell it when she tells You to buy a new one.

 

[SouthernConservative]

Go to several live tractor auctions - take the wife...eat at the local cafe and after you get a good understanding on what a "good" tractor costs buy your wife a weekend away and when she comes back you make sure have created a new patio area with the tractor you bought while she was gone...I did this and got a great Kubota L4310 with FEL and Rhino Shredder.

Go to auctions - you will see what the tractors are worth - DON'T buy brand new..unless you have the extra cash.

 

[Scotty370]

Man! Some of you guy are shrewd! (ZZV, SC....) I'm 'tuned in' to see if I can get an excuse to buy an old 'Johnny-Popper' (50's-60's vintage) just 'cause I like how they sound, and bring back my youthful farm day memories........ . ~Scotty

 

[RRILEY]

Weeble, I am a new member (first post) and have also looked for a couple years and finally found a 2520 with 200CX FEL and MMM for about 2 to 4 grand less than the (for new) quotes I received in Feb. I traveled a couple hundred miles but it was well worth it. The tractor is a 2006 (October) with 32 hours. The guys on here are a wealth of information as I have read these post constantly and have fixed inherent problems ,with this model, before I have tore something up. The wife finally understood, really did not take long, and life only gets better.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Anyone want to trade tractor for wife>

Maybe - what brand, model, hours on the tractor?

But seriously - a well taken care of tractor has the greatest loss of it's value upon first delivery, and then goes down very slowly.

I justified one by adding up the jobs I KNOW I've got to do, the amount of time I'd expect it would take to do and the cost of a rental or having someone else do it. If you figure $400 a weekend for a rental it adds up.
example - http://www.rodiotractor.com/rentals_20081023155555.pdf
The costs really mount if when you tackle a project you are usually interrupted by something, causing that project to be put on hold for a while.

For instance I've got some roads to repair/rebuild. I figure given good weather someone who does it for a living could do it in a week, labor/equipment cost about $4,000. I might be able to do it in two to three weeks with no interruption if the weather held. So figure I'd have to rent one for a month, I'm looking at at about $2,000. I added up a few projects and easily got to the cost of a good used tractor w/ backhoe, which with moderate care will only lose a little value each year.

The tractor/trailer combo I bought will probably lose less than $1,000 a year in value.

So now I'll have the convenience of doing it when I want to, not trying to get it done before the rental period is up.

 

[Ductape]

I can only tell you what has worked for me.

First, when there is a project being done, get your wife involved. Digging up rocks, planting, yard clean-up. Tell her its just a little more than you can get done today by yourself, and if she'd just give you a hand it will be done and over with today. Once she sees how much physical work that stuff is, she'll soften up. Then...... for the clincher (hopefully you live somewhere cold in winter), get her out there to help you shovel snow !! Having my wife out in winter shoveling not only got me a newer tractor, it got me a tractor with a cab and heat !!

Second, show her the value in tractors and implements. I realize this is difficult if you don't already own one, but once my wife saw what a good investment (money-wise) it was...... there was suddenly no problem getting that next implement for that next project. Granted, I generally buy nice used stuff, and not new....... but well kept tractor stuff holds its value. With my first tractor (bought used), I had it three years and used it to clear our overgrown lot. I then leveled a large area behind our barn, removed stumps, and cleared the driveway of snow in winter. When it was time for a little more horsepower........ I sold it and made a $1500 profit. My second tractor came as a package with a couple attachments I didn't need. By the time I got around to wanting to upgrade the tractor again, I sold the tractor and attachments seperately and made $3000. Thats $4500 in profit by buying, USING, and selling (to upgrade) my first two tractors. This doesn't even include the work around here those tractors did while I owned them. With all this in mind, when I decided I wanted (needed?) a few more horses and a cab with heat...... I got ZERO grief over it. If only my wife could get a return like that on the 200 pairs of shoes she has in her closet !!!!

Third, you will find fifty upgrades to your property you'd never imagine tackling without a tractor. I have a few projects coming up...... like replacing some ratty looking concrete steps with reclaimed granite, 'planting' a vintage hitching post in the yard, etc. Things that will go a long way toward giving the house more 'curb appeal', which wifey really likes. We would never be able to afford contractors to do things like this, and the return in equity will be great.

Do plenty of reading here, and one thing you will hear repeatedly from new tractor owners is.... 'i should have bought a tractor years ago!'. I assure you its true! Once you have one, you won't be able to live without one!

 

[JiminGa]

as long as the money is in the bank, it's most often easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. LOL course almost 2 years later my wife still thinks I spent too much $$$

 

[laen64]

Take your wife out to the dealers and have her test drive them. she'll fall in love and you'll spend much more than you thought possible.

 

[thatguy]

Does the wife come with any sort of warranty or a 30 day return guaranty??

brian

 

[newbury]

Take your wife out to the dealers <snip>

See what they offer for a trade