DonWorrell
Gold Member
If you were on a tight budget what tractor would you buy? Give me the best value for the money.
If you were on a tight budget?
- Thread starter DonWorrell
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art
Super Member
Don, the can is open and the worms should start crawling all over any time now. It really depends on you and your desires as to which one is for you. It would require knowing what you want to do and what that job is worth to you. It would require knowing what you would like to spend, or what you have to spend. Do you have any types of equipment that you have experience with? Do you have anything special in mind?
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
First...how tight a budget?
Are you mechanically inclined?
How much property do you need to maintain..what tasks do you have to do?
You can find quite a few older Deeres around...under $10K. Reckon the same applies to the Kubota (the early BX2200's are running 8 or 9 thousand now) and NH (Ford)as well. There are lesser known brands from China, Korea and Japan...others too.
However, if you don't have a clue what you need or not mechanically inclined...maybe you don't want a tractor. Better a lawn machine for around your house and hire someone for the other tasks.
When I was looking...needed something to replace an ancient Wheel Horse lawn tractor that could plow snow. First choice was a Kubota BX2200 for around $13K. Nice machine..best suited for our ~3 acres. But...wifey was dead set against spending that much.
Found a 10 year old (when I bought it) Deere 670. It's a bit bigger then we need for most jobs but has done an admirable job during a blizzard (30" plus) and clearing a heavily overgrown section of the property (about 2 acres or so including my neighbor's part of it).
This machine cost $8500 including FEL and a rear finishing mower (Befco). That price was where we wanted to be. A machine with this size and HP would be great up to 6 or 7 acres for maintenance. Maybe a 2 or 3 acre garden, but not a farmette sized area.
We'll replace this machine in a year or so, I guess...probably with a 790 or something like that.
In your circumstances...if you can't go 10 grand...maybe you'd better consider if you really need a tractor.
I see in your profile you have an Iseki. Isn't that tractor adequate for your 5 acres?
Are you mechanically inclined?
How much property do you need to maintain..what tasks do you have to do?
You can find quite a few older Deeres around...under $10K. Reckon the same applies to the Kubota (the early BX2200's are running 8 or 9 thousand now) and NH (Ford)as well. There are lesser known brands from China, Korea and Japan...others too.
However, if you don't have a clue what you need or not mechanically inclined...maybe you don't want a tractor. Better a lawn machine for around your house and hire someone for the other tasks.
When I was looking...needed something to replace an ancient Wheel Horse lawn tractor that could plow snow. First choice was a Kubota BX2200 for around $13K. Nice machine..best suited for our ~3 acres. But...wifey was dead set against spending that much.
Found a 10 year old (when I bought it) Deere 670. It's a bit bigger then we need for most jobs but has done an admirable job during a blizzard (30" plus) and clearing a heavily overgrown section of the property (about 2 acres or so including my neighbor's part of it).
This machine cost $8500 including FEL and a rear finishing mower (Befco). That price was where we wanted to be. A machine with this size and HP would be great up to 6 or 7 acres for maintenance. Maybe a 2 or 3 acre garden, but not a farmette sized area.
We'll replace this machine in a year or so, I guess...probably with a 790 or something like that.
In your circumstances...if you can't go 10 grand...maybe you'd better consider if you really need a tractor.
I see in your profile you have an Iseki. Isn't that tractor adequate for your 5 acres?
NIXON
Veteran Member
Don.
First off ,WELCOME to TBN !!
I Can't really provide an answer for two reasons :
One ; You didn't really specify what your intended use of the tractor was .
Two: you didn't say how often you'd use it ,or how much area you'd use it on .
But , You've found the right source to answer your questions .
The folks here are without a doubt very helpful and for the most part unbiased in their answers .
Enjoy your hunt for your machine. I know I did ! John
First off ,WELCOME to TBN !!
I Can't really provide an answer for two reasons :
One ; You didn't really specify what your intended use of the tractor was .
Two: you didn't say how often you'd use it ,or how much area you'd use it on .
But , You've found the right source to answer your questions .
The folks here are without a doubt very helpful and for the most part unbiased in their answers .
Enjoy your hunt for your machine. I know I did ! John
"In your circumstances...if you can't go 10 grand...maybe you'd better consider if you really need a tractor."
Why would you have to spend $10,000 on a tractor, when there are literally thousands of tractors available for $2,000 to $5,000 that will give years of reliable service? Granted, I have over $10,000 invested in my tractor, but I've also got tractors that cost $1800 (YM 1300D), $4000 (F16D), $9250 (Belarus 420AN - and yes, that's pushing that $10,000 mark), and all of them have been quite useful machines (even the Belarus, although it was more maintenance prone than some). I've even had a JD 2010 backhoe for $2,000 (and had to invest another $1000 to get it in good shape). There is no reason to reconsider the need for a tractor based soley on a "If you can't afford $10,000, you can't afford a tractor" rationale.
Why would you have to spend $10,000 on a tractor, when there are literally thousands of tractors available for $2,000 to $5,000 that will give years of reliable service? Granted, I have over $10,000 invested in my tractor, but I've also got tractors that cost $1800 (YM 1300D), $4000 (F16D), $9250 (Belarus 420AN - and yes, that's pushing that $10,000 mark), and all of them have been quite useful machines (even the Belarus, although it was more maintenance prone than some). I've even had a JD 2010 backhoe for $2,000 (and had to invest another $1000 to get it in good shape). There is no reason to reconsider the need for a tractor based soley on a "If you can't afford $10,000, you can't afford a tractor" rationale.
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
Read the entire post...not just one line...
Depends on the mechanical aptitude..
If one isn't mechanically inclined, they'd be better off with one of the better known brands. More dealer and mechanical support available...but those machines are more likely to cost more. Even my little 12 year old Deere 670 was $8500. A $10K start is reasonable, in that case.
Frankly, I wouldn't buy one of the lesser known machines. I know enough about mechanics to do the routine maintenance including bleeding the injection system..but that's pretty much where it ends for me. I'm not about to tear down the tractor or split it for a clutch job. The grey market machines or those with limited dealer support can be a real nightmare if you're not reasonably adapt at doing your own troubleshooting and work. I wonder how many of those machines are just setting due to lack of parts or someone to repair them.
I'd just cannot recomend them...but others do love 'em.
Depends on the mechanical aptitude..
If one isn't mechanically inclined, they'd be better off with one of the better known brands. More dealer and mechanical support available...but those machines are more likely to cost more. Even my little 12 year old Deere 670 was $8500. A $10K start is reasonable, in that case.
Frankly, I wouldn't buy one of the lesser known machines. I know enough about mechanics to do the routine maintenance including bleeding the injection system..but that's pretty much where it ends for me. I'm not about to tear down the tractor or split it for a clutch job. The grey market machines or those with limited dealer support can be a real nightmare if you're not reasonably adapt at doing your own troubleshooting and work. I wonder how many of those machines are just setting due to lack of parts or someone to repair them.
I'd just cannot recomend them...but others do love 'em.
I am on a tight budget, but also wanted to get work done with a tractor rather than work on a tractor, so I put $5K down on a new tractor with 0% interest on $300/month payments over 3 years. With a used tractor, you won't get attractive financing or a warranty (which further saves money). In this case, which tractor isn't really important -- as long as it will prove to be reliable, has attractive financing, has a good warranty, and has a good dealer to support it.
If you can't go new, then any used tractor at any price is better than no tractor.
If you can't go new, then any used tractor at any price is better than no tractor.
I did read the entire post...and I stand by my comments: I wouldn't rule out buying a tractor just because I can't shed $10,000. I hope you didn't take offense at my comment, it just seemed like you were negating such a large portion of the market by saying if you can't spend $10,000, you may not need a tractor.
You have stated that you wouldn't buy a grey market or lesser brand, and that is a personal choice, but that shuts off such a huge portion of the market. Without a doubt, you could've owned the Yanmar F16D that I have had for over four years, since all I have done is change the oil and filters, etc (maintenance items). I've had to replace the radiator on the YM1300, and while that was expensive ($150), it still wasn't hard (if you could change the hoses to radiator, you could replace the radiator). Of course, it is just my experience that grey markets are dollar for dollar the best value on the tractor market today.
Also, I cannot fathom why folks don't want to learn to work on their tractor. No one is born knowing how to be a mechanic; it is all learned. For under $200, you can own 90% of the tools needed to do all of you tractor maintenance and repairs (these tools may be Harbor Freight quality, not Craftsman or Proto). For $50 to $100, you can pick up parts or service manuals, even for grey market tractors, then all you have to add is a little time. I understand that lots of folks want to turn the key and work their tractor and never work on their tractor, but creates so much dependence upon dealers or mechanics who may not be available at the moments notice. But hey, I've enjoyed learning to work on tractors and other machines, but maybe it's not for everybody..just like grey markets, Chinese or other lesser known brands. Good thing there are plenty of different types of tractors around to fit all tastes and budgets.
You have stated that you wouldn't buy a grey market or lesser brand, and that is a personal choice, but that shuts off such a huge portion of the market. Without a doubt, you could've owned the Yanmar F16D that I have had for over four years, since all I have done is change the oil and filters, etc (maintenance items). I've had to replace the radiator on the YM1300, and while that was expensive ($150), it still wasn't hard (if you could change the hoses to radiator, you could replace the radiator). Of course, it is just my experience that grey markets are dollar for dollar the best value on the tractor market today.
Also, I cannot fathom why folks don't want to learn to work on their tractor. No one is born knowing how to be a mechanic; it is all learned. For under $200, you can own 90% of the tools needed to do all of you tractor maintenance and repairs (these tools may be Harbor Freight quality, not Craftsman or Proto). For $50 to $100, you can pick up parts or service manuals, even for grey market tractors, then all you have to add is a little time. I understand that lots of folks want to turn the key and work their tractor and never work on their tractor, but creates so much dependence upon dealers or mechanics who may not be available at the moments notice. But hey, I've enjoyed learning to work on tractors and other machines, but maybe it's not for everybody..just like grey markets, Chinese or other lesser known brands. Good thing there are plenty of different types of tractors around to fit all tastes and budgets.
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
"I did read the entire post...and I stand by my comments"
No offense taken...never take offense at another's opnions.
Most folks I've worked with need a machine that is reliable. Some folks love tinkering. Me..a bit of both, I guess...but the older I get, the less I want to tinker. Heck, I'm thinking about finally going to an automatic transmission in my next SUV.
I've heard or read so many horror stories of folks buying grey market machines (not just tractors...cars too) who end up getting screwed the first time something breaks. Or, a disreputable company sells the grey market machines, then skulks away leaving the owners adrift.
I'll stand by my comments as well...buy the best machine you can with solid dealer support. If that's a grey market, so be it. But I reckon for most of us, that means Deere, Kubota, NH, Massey Fergusson.
Now, as far as the Chinese equipment...I think the Chinese are really screwing the U.S. (with the help of those idiots in Washington. Personally, I won't buy Chinese or a product made with Chinese components. Since they undervalue their currency, American made products don't have a market in China. I consider China a major threat to the United States.
No offense taken...never take offense at another's opnions.
Most folks I've worked with need a machine that is reliable. Some folks love tinkering. Me..a bit of both, I guess...but the older I get, the less I want to tinker. Heck, I'm thinking about finally going to an automatic transmission in my next SUV.
I've heard or read so many horror stories of folks buying grey market machines (not just tractors...cars too) who end up getting screwed the first time something breaks. Or, a disreputable company sells the grey market machines, then skulks away leaving the owners adrift.
I'll stand by my comments as well...buy the best machine you can with solid dealer support. If that's a grey market, so be it. But I reckon for most of us, that means Deere, Kubota, NH, Massey Fergusson.
Now, as far as the Chinese equipment...I think the Chinese are really screwing the U.S. (with the help of those idiots in Washington. Personally, I won't buy Chinese or a product made with Chinese components. Since they undervalue their currency, American made products don't have a market in China. I consider China a major threat to the United States.
frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
on a tight budget? i would buy the best tractor i could find in my price range, no matter the name or age. i think most will agree here that any tractor is better than no tractor.