Approx projected hours on a compact tractor (24hp)

[GordNovo]

Hello everyone,

I'm in the process of getting a JD 2305 (very excited) with a FEL, rear blower and belly mower and am considering the lease option. (to keep the costs down, and for business write off purposes)

The JD dealer is insisting that I limit the hours in the contract and I'm trying to decide what's a reasonable amount to specify. (Is this annual hours limit normal? Apparently Kubota doesn't put this restriction in their lease contracts, or so the sales person says!)

We have 10 acres, 7 of which is pasture, 2 or so is lawn with ditches included. Here in Canada we have a good 5 months of winter and apparently we get a lot of snow blowing onto the driveway (this will be my first winter on this property). I anticipate having about 450 feet of driveway to clear with blower and bucket, on average about 20 feet wide. We'll have 5 horses and I anticipate using the tractor to cultivate the pasture (and manure) a couple of times per year. Also, I anticipate a little bit of neighborly assistance on those bad winter days when everyone is snowed in (not too often!!). We'll be doing a bit of FEL work such as landscaping in the yard, fence maintenance, etc.

Given this scenario, what is the average annual hours you'd expect to accumulate?

Also, would anyone happen to know JD's "average" hours for their 2210/2305 models? In other words, in 5 years time, how many hours would this machine have on it for it to be deemed in average/above average condition? What would the approx residual value be (*approx*) expressed as a percentage of the original cost (50%.... 60%)??. To put it into context, if I paid 21K today, how much is the tractor likely to be worth in 5 years? (I'll obviously do my darnedest to keep it looking/running/feeling young and won't abuse it).

Oh.. and does anyone know what an average cost per additional hour would be for this tractor? I know what my JD dealer has suggested, but I'd like to get a sense from others.

Thanks!

Gord

 

[bczoom]

Gord,

Based on your description, I'm going to "guess" 113.5 hours the first year, 88.7 the second year but will need more details and pictures to figure out subsequent years.

OK, kidding aside, I would say probably 120 the first year then 80 or so each year thereafter.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Oh.. and does anyone know what an average cost per additional hour would be for this tractor?)</font> I'm not the one saying this but from what I've heard, the answer would be none since it seems many accidently get the hour meter wire snagged on a branch and it gets pulled off. It was noticed/fixed the day they were washing it just before returning it.

 

[Inspector507]

Brian......now would you suggest that he........oh umm never mind /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[frank_f15]

I would not even begin to guess on the hours you will put on. I also am not sure of the hr. meter on that tractor, on my Kubota the Gr. meter clicks off 1 HR when running at PTO SPEED any thing less than PTO SPEED and it takes more than an actual HR of run time to show an HR on the meter.

 

[BubbaJr]

Just use the S.W.A.G. factor to come up with your best guesstimate, then double it. You should then be in the ballpark. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the Gr. meter clicks off 1 HR when running at PTO SPEED any thing less than PTO SPEED and it takes more than an actual HR of run time to show an HR on the meter. )</font>

Forgot to mention that. My estimate is based on the type of HR meter that is based on PTO RPM's.

 

[B8FISH]

there is another thread of 2210 owners giving number of hours used--you could check that and take an average to give yourself a good idea. (some smart person would put the link in here--maybe they will help me out?)
B8fish

 

[Farmwithjunk]

For whatever it's worth, it was once the accepted norm for a farm tractor to accumulate 400 hours per year. How that applies to homeowner use of a compact is anyones guess.

 

[pekabu]

On my TC24 I am putting about 100hours a year on it. Wish it could be more.

 

[WCarlson]

My property and tractor are about the same size as yours 10 acres, 2 of lawn, 420 feet of driveway, long winters 142 inches of snow last year, etc. My average over the last four years on my JD 4200 with BH, FEL, BB, 59' snowblower, is about 200 hours per year.
Bill

 

[BigEddy]

Depends on what your lease agreement is. If it is a monthly lease, and you have to have a limit, I'd go with 2000hrs/ year as a limit. That lets you use it full-time without penalty and basically negates the clause in the first place.

But you might be able to use this requirement to your advantage, and lease it on a per hour basis only. In other words - you pay for the hours used, not a per month fee.

Depending on your application that may be favourable. I know my neighbour had a need for an additional tractor and he arranged with the local dealer to lease one of their used units for 9 mos on an hours-used basis. It was perfect for him. He had it on his farm whenever he needed it, but only paid for actual usage. Of course he used his other tractor for most of the work, and the rental when he had extra work (or really dirty work) to do.

In terms of hours per year, I accumulate about 100 hours a year on my lawn tractor cutting 3 acres a week when the grass is growing. I accumulate about the same on my 855 doing landscaping, maple syrup, snow removal and odd jobs. I have a 300' drive and do one neighbour's as well each time -and have been known to be neighbourly when the snow really flies and do several drives on my road.

Average hours are hard to pin down. Most users on this board probably average a couple hundred hours a year but I'd be interested in what that range looks like.

In terms of residual value, once these machines hit 1000 hours, their value seems to stay pretty flat as long as they are maintained properly.

 

[Ray2210]

We purchased a 2210 last fall and with the winter we had here last year I had 50 hours on it just in snow removal. Through out the spring and summer I have accumulated another 50 hours in lawn mowing, grading the drive, rototilling gardens and around trees and moving wood mulch around trees. We live on 7 acres and I cut 3 or 4 of those including ditches. The main yard is less than an acre and is cut weekly the rest is every two or three weeks. From what you are going to do I'd say you will easily end up over a hundred a year. Out of curiosity where in Canada are you?

 

[fishman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'd go with 2000hrs/ year as a limit. )</font>

I think you meant 200 hours, didn't you BigEddy? At least that's what the rest of your post seems to indicate.

I might even get tired of tractoring if I ran one 2000 hours per year. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Gord/Novo,

I have a JD4700. I don't think it matters what tractor you have and the number of hours you put on the system. More on how much work you have to do.

I had a lot of work todo my first two years of owning the tractor. I think I put 200 hours on it each year. Now after five years I'm just shy of 600 hours. For me to get that many hours I was working EVERY Saturday. As many as 12 hours if I had the light. I also used vacation days and worked some Sundays. It was hard to put 200 hours on the tractor a year if you have a full time OTHER job.

From conversations I have seen on TBN. It seems like most people might put 100 hours a year on a tractor BUT it really depends on the person and what they have to do.

Later,
Dan