In General Attachments - What to rent vs. buy and New vs Used?

[MossflowerWoods]

I'm buying a tractor, I just don't yet know which one...

I have ~42 acres of Timber to manage, I plan 5+ acres of horse pasture, I have 3 acres of yard, I have extensive fire road (horse/bike/hunting) trails, deer food plots, ponds, creeks, extensive gravel drive, hills, etc...

That said, I know I need a bush hog (looking for a 6'). I just got offeres a decent used PHD for $500 (is that good?). The dealer suggested I get pallet forks instead of a grapple for moving logs, posts, etc. (made sense to me).

So the gist of my question is WHAT attachments MUST I buy, and what can I just rent when needed? A sub question is, when buying, what MUST be NEW vs. used?

Thanks in advance, all o y'all TBN folk have been giving me an AMAZING edjamacshun to this newbie farmer wannabe...:thumbsup:

 

[MESSMAKER]

Don't have that many options for rental around here. I would buy a rotay cutter,grader or box blade and forks. I would buy these new, unless you can find used in very good shape. Nothing wrong with used. Just don't buy another mans problems. I would rent a post hole digger( they are dangerous,hard to hook up and a bit hard to store) or hire it done. It seems to be one of those tools you use a lot, then it sits forever. If you are not in a hurry, you can buy a trailer load of attachments for $2,000-3,000. You may have to buy something you don't need but you can always sell it or scrap it.

 

[Bigfoot62]

CountyLine Post Hole Digger - 2100220 | Tractor Supply Company

Rules of thumb:

1. Only buy used equipment that is (A) in "like new" condition, and (B) cheaper than buying new. (don't think your $500 PHD would qualify - see link above)

2. If you really need a piece of equipment, and that would require renting it often, then it's probably time to buy.

I've never had a grapple or pallet forks. For occasional use, these are very handy: Wingfield Loader Bucket Forks - These high quality loader bucket forks are an excellent attachment for any bucket. Unlike most forks that attach with a set screw that puts all the weight on the bottom of the bucket, we use a high-test chain that wrap
I've had a pair, similar to these, for about 30 years. Really good for picking up limbs. Small pieces go in the bucket, and you can stack bigger stuff on the forks.

JMHO

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

Logging winch would be on my list. I have one and they work great.

 

[RoyJackson]

It really depends on how much and how often you'd use an implement and return on investment (ROI) if you bought one.

For example, let's consider a chipper. With 42 acres of wooded land, you could probably use one. Unless your tractor produces a lot of PTO HP, you might be better off buying a self powered unit. If your typical chipping consists of smaller branches (5" on less), then a PTO driven chipper might be a better choice.
A new PTO driven chipper with a 5" or 6" capacity would set you back $3000-$6000 depending on brand (unless you buy chinese junk). Rental of a self powered chipper (I've never seen a PTO chipper for rent) will cost you $200-$250 a day around here. Now, if you plan your work and have the wood piled close at hand, you can do a lot of chipping in a day.
If you use a chipper 3 times a year, that's $750. Your ROI would be 6-7 years.
That's really simplifying things though.
In my case, I found a nice used Woods 5000 for $1000. Since I do clean up chipping 2-3 times a year, it was a worthwhile purchase. I couldn't justify one for $3000-$5000.

As far as a rotary cutter...these are too cheap to consider renting (plus the hassles of loading and transporting a rather awkward piece of equipment). I bought mine new (60" unit) 10 years ago for just over $1000.

For other implements (Rear Finishing Mower, rear blade, box blade), if you need one, buy 'em used. Good stuff around if you look on Craigslist.

BTW, with the acreage you have, you'll probably want at least 40 PTO HP. Maybe you should consider that purchase first, then see what your budget is like after that.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

If you are not in a hurry, you can buy a trailer load of attachments for $2,000-3,000. You may have to buy something you don't need but you can always sell it or scrap it.

Messmaker,

Tell me more? I can just buy a random trailer full of used attachments? Really?Where?

Thanks,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

JMHO

BLESS YOU BIGFOOT62!

You so rock. That is VERY VALUABLE info!

David

 

[sweep]

I'm buying a tractor, I just don't yet know which one...

I have ~42 acres of Timber to manage, I plan 5+ acres of horse pasture, I have 3 acres of yard, I have extensive fire road (horse/bike/hunting) trails, deer food plots, ponds, creeks, extensive gravel drive, hills, etc...

That said, I know I need a bush hog (looking for a 6'). I just got offeres a decent used PHD for $500 (is that good?). The dealer suggested I get pallet forks instead of a grapple for moving logs, posts, etc. (made sense to me).

So the gist of my question is WHAT attachments MUST I buy, and what can I just rent when needed? A sub question is, when buying, what MUST be NEW vs. used?

Thanks in advance, all o y'all TBN folk have been giving me an AMAZING edjamacshun to this newbie farmer wannabe...:thumbsup:

We had a professional fence company come in and pound in treated fence post-it was very inexpensive and they are straight as an arrow and plumb. Fenced in about 5 acres. Pounded in post are better in my opinion. Stronger-many of the post my neighbors put in fence with post hole diggers are now leaning. Sometimes it's better just to pay someone to do some work.

After the fence company put in the post my wife and I put up 3 rows of Ramm flex rail over about 3 weeks time period-it was very easy. Every night we would work on it for a couple hours.

As for equipment buy it as you need it. Don't buy a bunch of stuff you may never use. Someone mentioned a $$$ chipper. You have 42 acres of mostly woods. 4-5 piles of branches and a match and some old paper and a few hours of your time is about as cheap as you can get. Or you can leave the branches where they fall in the woods just like nature does and it creates an eco system.

As other said buy a new brush hog and blade and rent or borrow the other stuff.

 

[cowski]

depends on the brand of phd $500 would be cheap for some.do not like renting .if you destroy a piece of equipment you will have to replace it.it can happen very easily.i hope you decided to get at least a 50 pto horse tractor.

 

[bigbull338]

from what i see you need 3 peices of equipment,that if it was me id buy new.1 is a 6ft bushhogg brand shredder.2 is a bushhog brand PH digger with a 9in an 12in auger with bearclaws.3 a boxblade to maintain your roads.4 if your going to plant a garden a 3pt bushhogg tiller.