help me justify a tractor

s1120 · Apr 20, 2003

I am hoping within the next year to get an older, smaller tractor. [8n, Ferggie to-20 to-30 etc.] but I kind of need to justify having one. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifI know a FEL is pretty much out of the question because of week hydro and front ends, but what other attachments will they work? Will they run a post hole digger? How useful is a rear dirt scoop? Anything else that they can do, that the garden tractors I all ready have cant?

Gary_in_Indiana · Apr 20, 2003

"I kind of need to justify having one." 

Wanting to have one is 'justification' enough. You like tractors. You want one. You'll enjoy having one. Get yourself one. That's all there is to it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Caretaker · Apr 20, 2003

I think Gary has pretty well made the point. I'll elaborate and say that having a tractor is like having a pickup truck - once you have one, you very quickly start to wonder how you ever got along without one. Also, try to get as many implements / attachments as you can, either with the tractor or later on - and don't forget that a lot of implements can be rented, which is very cost-effective for limited usage. It's the implements that give you the capability to do different things - the tractor is just the platform for utilizing the implements. Think carefully about all that you currently do with your garden tractor, and think about what you can do with a larger tractor - you'll likely be able to replace the garden tractor functions with your new tractor, so you can sell the garden tractor and recoup some of the cost of purchasing a new tractor.

Good Luck, and happy tractoring !

Caretaker

kcbarnes · Apr 20, 2003

testosterone- need I say more! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

grandad · Apr 20, 2003

With your 4.3 acres, it's probably more desire and preference than pure necessity. You could just mow some of it with a lawn mower and hire out anything beyond the mowing. But that's probably not how you want to live your life, so a tractor becomes part of your decision to work on your property yourself.

So, consider the investment in a tractor part of seeking fulfillment in your psychic well-being. Think of it as an alternative to therapy, even.

I better stop before this baloney gets more than ankle deep! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Do it because you want to!

Soundguy · Apr 20, 2003

I have to agree with the others...If ya want it, and can afford it, get it.. no justification needed... good ol'e US of A.

One sugestion I would like to make. the ford N's and fergies don't have live pto or Hyds. dirt scoops and post hole diggers will be better with at least live hyd's.. and even better with live pto.

If you moved up a few years to a NAA or jubilee you would have the live hyds.... Live hyds let you move the 3pt lift with the clutch in or out.. will make using that dirt scoop much easier... on the N's and fergies.. as you cack into the pile, and start to spin, and hit the clutch.. you loos the lift... not great for digging. not knocking the N's as mowing machines though... ( I've got an 8n and a NAA.. love em both... ).

Tractors can be a source for happiness.. think of it like that.. and every time they save your back.. smile..

Soundguy

cchoate · Apr 20, 2003

I use a dirt scoop, rear blade and brush hog. They've done everything I tried with no trouble. Keep front weight to keep from doing wheelies. I'm not sure what the tractors go for your looking at, but you might try ebay for a more recent tracor.
Justifacation? You don't need no stinkin' justifacation!

knucklehead · Apr 20, 2003

I agree with Soundguy on the Fords. If you are going to stick with them, get this book for a good overview on Fords. I like the format of this book series for a number of trucks, cars, and motorcycles I am interested in. It will help you wade through models and what they have for engines, transmissions and PTOs. I did not find hydraulic info or specs like lift capacity as we've come to expect from modern brochures. I'm sure that info can be found once you narrow the search to a model or a range of models.

Ditto on the reasoning - with so many people buying snow sleds, 4 wheelers, and $$ pickups, I can't imagine 3-6 grand for an old tractor being that much of an extravagance. Long as the boss agrees.

John_Mc · Apr 20, 2003

My 2 cents worth:

Unless you've picked your particular models out of nostalgia (or easy & cheap availability?) you may be going about it backwards. Figure out what you want to do with it first, then find a tractor that fits your needs and budget. If you describe for us your land and what you intend to do with it, there are a lot of folks here who can be a big help in helping to figure out what models you should be considering.

John Mc

frank_f15 · Apr 20, 2003

PAUL: u evidently love tractors or u would not have stayed around long enough to become a vertran member.. i fu want one and it is not a majior drain on your finances THEN JUST BUY ONE no justification needed.just make sure u don't go and get a 200hp monster. that u would need to justify! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. get what you can afford and remember any tractor is better than no tractor.

frank_f15 · Apr 20, 2003

forgot to mention. I LOVE TRACTORS ALSO

Will_C · Apr 20, 2003

Paul; One thing any of the tractors you mentioned will do better than a garden tractor is plow snow. I don't know where exactly in N.Y. you are, but if it is like the Southern Tier, the snow plowing alone could justify a tractor /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Will

jinman · Apr 20, 2003

Paul, I'd echo Soundguy's suggestion about a slight upgrade to the NAA or later Ford like the 600 or 800 series. However, you can be sure that the Ferguson or 8N will handle the dirt scoop and posthole digger just fine. You can also use implements like a row cultivator and one-way disk to till up your garden like you will never do with a smaller garden tractor. Another use is the boom pole for lifting up to 700 lb and rear forks for moving pallets or large objects like barrels with ease. Put a box blade on the back of the tractor and you can move dirt or snow. I personally like the Fords because there are so many folks making aftermarket parts for them and your NH dealer will carry loads of parts for them too. If all you can afford is the 8N or Fergie, by all means buy one of them, but if you can afford $500 to $1000 more and move into the range of $3,500, you can find a lot more tractor. Everytime you add $1,000 to your buying price, you will probably be able to step up a notch in features and functionality or maybe get a more recent overhaul. Try to get a tractor that you can use without always having to "tinker" with it. Project tractors are no fun when you need them to be working for you on other projects. Good luck! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Trev · Apr 20, 2003

It's easy to justify.. just till your wife's garden, mow the lawn, move some big rocks, power your house during an extended power outage, pull your wife's car out of the mud when she gets stuck.. soon she will be in love with the thing! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

RichZ · Apr 21, 2003

Howdy, Paul!!

Yes an "N" or a Fergie will run a post hole digger.

I use my Fregie for the following: brush hoging, finish mowing, plowing snow with a backblade, maintaining my driveways with a landscape rake, spreading manure with a manure spreader (spent most of the weekend doing that!), pulling hay wagons (real big ones), cutting hay with a sicklebar mower, and probably more stuff I can't think of.

Go for it, Paul!!! You won't be sorry!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Apr 21, 2003

make sure u don't go and get a 200hp monster. that u would need to justify! 

Frank,

A friend of mine just bought a 150 HP International tractor with very good rubber and fresh paint for $5,000! I think you could "justify" something like that based on price alone. Kind of makes one wonder about the relative values, doesn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've seen and heard this machine running and it's definitely a good one. I'm not saying I'd trade mine (Deere 4200) for his or anything, but it sure doesn't look like mine would be worth 2-3 times the money when they're parked side by side. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif On the other hand, I have to admit the idea of mowing with a 15'-18' batwing mower does have some appeal. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm not at all sure that the bigger ones aren't a heck of a lot better buy than the compacts are in this market. From what I understand, used implements for these monsters aren't much if any more money than used implements for compacts, either. It's a classic example from Econ 101, the supply and demand curve. There are one heck of a lot more buyers/potential buyers for a used 30-35 HP machine than there are for a used 150-200 HP machine effectively bidding the prices up on the smaller machines.

s1120 · Apr 21, 2003

Well Rich, You know my story. But the post hole thing, is the biggy. A plow I don't need, becouse I have the big old Dodge power wagon, And I have all the mowers, and tillers I would ever want. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif A box blade would realy come in handy, so that would roule out the early N's becouse of no position control. Do the Ferggie to20, or 30 have position control?

RichZ · Apr 21, 2003

No, the Fergies don't have position control, but that can be added with something called the Zang Thang, which sells for about $75. I can get you the details on that if you want. It's supposed to be easy to install, so it would be a snap for you!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

But, though, I never have used a box blade, I use a back blade and landscape rake all the time, and I've never needed position control.