going smaller

James Loehr · May 7, 2008

I have a 2003 L3130, love the tractor but find it to large for anything but loader work and mowing about 4 acres away for the yard. I have been dealing on a B2920 with a 60 mmm,La364 loader and 51 inch front mounted snowblower. Trading the 3130 hydro,r4 tires with 157 Hrs on it and a 72 inch king cutter 3pt finish mower and 72 inch haben 3pt snowblower I was given a bid of 5775.00. How does this sound,deal or nodeal. thank you for taking time to read my first post on this forum.

rickster · May 7, 2008

I'm not to big on trading things in. I think you should try sell it yourself before you go and trade it in.

RobJ · May 7, 2008

They want to take your tractor and mower and you pay them $5775? I don't know the prices of these tractors but that doesn't sound to good to me..

Maybe if they are paying you $5775...maybe.

BTW Welcome to TBN!!

KeithInSpace · May 7, 2008

Ya. I'm confused.

You're trading in all that wonderful machinery and you still pay nearly $6,000 to get a rig back with each and every part a little smaller? Tractor's a bit smaller, mower 12" smaller and mid mount, and 21" narrower snowblower mounted to the front instead of rear...that's better, but still.

I don't know much about the value of the equipment you have now, but you paying them that much seems a little dear. Maybe not them paying you nearly $6k like Mr. RobJ suggests, but you selling on the open market should certainly get you closer to an even swap...

Tom_H · May 7, 2008

Ouch, hmmm. Are you sure you wouldn't miss the bigger machine? Trading down, and then paying out instead of paying in....

If I were in your shoes, I'd think about trying out something, anything, in the size range you are considering, just to get a good feel for the difference. You might decide that the bigger machine was closer to what you really wanted. If I then did decide to trade down, I'd do two things, trying to avoid the dealer in both cases, because as a middleman, he takes a slice of the $$ in both directions. I'd try to get as much as I could for the bigger tractor on Craig's List, and I'd look for a used tractor of the size you desire-first on the open market (Craig's and the like), and then keep checking with every dealer within 200 miles every week or so to see if he gets in a good used unit.

Hopefully, that way this trade down will net you some cash rather than cost you some cash.

Will_C · May 7, 2008

I don't know what you are trying to do with a smaller machine, but $6000 gives you a good start toward adding a L/G tractor, a zero turn mower, or even a BX, especially if you consider used equipment. Then you have your L series tractor and a smaller one!
Will

Tom_H · May 7, 2008

Will_C said:
I don't know what you are trying to do with a smaller machine, but $6000 gives you a good start toward adding a L/G tractor, a zero turn mower, or even a BX, especially if you consider used equipment. Then you have your L series tractor and a smaller one!
Will

That's better advice than what I said earlier.

Ductape · May 7, 2008

Shop around !!!!! Check with other dealers..... it keeps them honest. Recently, i was looking at new machines. An area dealer offered me $4,000 in trade for my mint, low hr. B2400 (with front blower, but no loader). A couple days later i listed it on Craigslist and sold it to the first guy who came to look at it. He couldn't hand me $7,500 in cash fast enough......... nearly DOUBLE what the dealer offered me. If you are serious about downsizing, i strongly recommend selling your current tractor yourself. It will allow you more negotiating power on the new tractor anyway. It ends up being a win / win for you.

MFL · May 7, 2008

The dealer has to low ball you because he has to turn around and sell it for what you could sell it for. You're determining his profit margin. The only reason to trade instead of sell a tractor as popular as a late model 'L' series is if you have to. No time to deal with the minor hassles of selling it yourself, you have to get a new tractor RIGHT NOW for some reason, etc.

Try and sell it yourself. If no one bites, you still have the option of trading. 6K seems a lot to have to kick in when you're downsizing.

About the size thing, I can understand. I had a neighbor bring his 40HP NH Boomer down to my place a couple of years ago to give me a hand on a project. He let me try it out, but I was happy to go back to my B7800. For my place, with all the tight spots and narrow trails, I prefer my big little tractor. A lot of guys on TBN live by the bigger is better credo, but I say what's right for you is better. If an 18hp subcut fits the bill 99% of the time, why have a bigger tractor? Having bigger you can't use or are uncomfortable using is a waste!

Course, I'd hit the hook on a B3030 with cab in a heartbeat!

James Loehr · May 8, 2008

I want to thank everyone for your for your taking the time to reply. It has given me time to rethink this deal. I think everyone was thinking better than me in this situation. After reviewing the bid the dealer gave me I realized how bad it was. For example 22% of 5775.00 was transportaion,setup and state tax. Again thanks for helping an old farm boy with his tractor fever, I'm better.