Buying Advice Looking at used tractors under 8K

[Fountainhead Farms]

Wow! I was told how great these forums are and how helpful the people were but Y'all are exceeding expectations! Thanks so much! I have as much time as I need really. When I say need in 30 days, it's probably more of a want in 30 days, but need before next spring. Just very excited to be moving from the burbs to the barn, and raise my girls more "4-H, than reality shows". I guess everyone wants to get everything done on a new homestead as soon as possible, but it is definitely prudent to do the research on tractors, and figure out what the needs of the property will actually be. Will be "in the country" so unless things have changed since I was a kid, people in the "neighborhood" will also be helpful and a wealth of knowledge. This seems to be the high tech version of good folks shooting the breeze and helping a newbie not screw up too badly. I really appreciate it.

I would have never thought of weight at all. I've been looking at the wrong sorts of stats. I've been looking more at HP and gallons per hour. Taking a look at tires last night it seems that new AG tires are about 500+ each, and a few of the machines I thought were good deals really weren't especially if they had turf tires, which would necessitate not only new tires but new rims too. That would be at least $1800-2000 on top of the tractor. Whew! Bullet missed I think.

Side question- Finish mowers? Rotary cutters? If i just have a 1/4 acre of "lawn" for the girls to play what will a rotary cutter or bushog do to that? Is it that they dont cut as low? or hurt the grass? Not sure why people go this route unless they have a fairway to cut.

 

[sd455dan]

in my case the rotary cutters are used for cutting the larger fields down for weed control and are really for rough cutting like this

I would not use a rotary 3 point cutter on an actual lawn, finish mowers on tractors will give a nice manicured cut - but generally you won't want a heavy tractor with ag tires for finish mowing... We use riding mowers for the lawns. As in many things- there are some trade offs depending on what the jobs are

 

[AaronS]

Since you like fords -I would keep an eye out for a 3000 or 4000 8 speed with a loader, power steering and loaded tires and a good heavy attachment on back.- This way a good amount of loader work can be done

I agree. I used this 4000 in the past to pull a 10 foot disk and 12 foot cultipacker and it did it with ease. The owner bought the tractor with loader used for around $8k, but I've seen them listed for less.

 

[newbury]

<snip>When I say need in 30 days, it's probably more of a want in 30 days, but need before next spring<snip> Will be "in the country" so unless things have changed since I was a kid, people in the "neighborhood" will also be helpful and a wealth of knowledge. <snip>

That's the best way. You may find out that the dealer you thought was friendly never gets warrantee work done. Also it seams tractors get cheaper over the fall and winter.

Side question- Finish mowers? Rotary cutters? If i just have a 1/4 acre of "lawn" for the girls to play what will a rotary cutter or bushog do to that? Is it that they dont cut as low? or hurt the grass? Not sure why people go this route unless they have a fairway to cut.

It will cut it but for ONLY 1/4 acre (nice size) I'd put it in the category of hardly worth it. I've one lot of 1/4 acre in Virginia and the entire process takes less than one hour about every two weeks in the summer with a $200 21" walk behind self propelled mower. And it never tears up the lawn.

A rotary cutter/bush hog will give a much rougher cut.

 

[davrow]

... it seems from many ads I see that these under 30 hp 4x4 tractors many times sell for more than a full sized machine -even used ...

SD Dan brings up a good point. Many folks who are in the market for a subcompact NEED the small size, to fit in horse stalls, or put in their garage... just not enough land, whatever. They are paying (and are willing to pay) a premium for the small size. If you can use a bigger tractor, get one. They are almost always less $ to acquire and perform more work.

(I'm talking older used of course)

 

[Fountainhead Farms]

THATS IT!!! I was wondering what the heck was going on. These little tractors that to me seem like really fancy riding lawnmowers are really expensive. Not that they wont do the jobs, but when I think of "tractor" I think of a machine that if need be can pull a car out of a ditch. I just dont see one of these smaller machines doing something like that. The barn is pretty big (compared to a regular garage, not compared to some horse barns of my more "affluent" friends.) and I figure that is where the tractor would be kept.

So size wise- I'm thinking of between pull a car out of a ditch, and still able to go on a regular double axle trailer. Might want to take it to my folks about 15 miles down the road to help them out with stuff occasionally.

I wish there was a 'Carmax" for tractors so one could go and look at a bunch of different brands, sizes, power. There ya go. someone make a billion putting up a "tractormax".

 

[davrow]

What there is are farm & garden shows, or out here 'World Ag Expo', a three day 'fair' that exists to show off tractors and equipment. They tend to be earlier in the year - so equipment can be purchased and 'broken-in' before the heavy duty farm season begins. See also: Sunbelt Ag Expo (in Georgia).

There just isn't enough trading volume in tractors and equipment to have a standardized book like Kelley Blue Book, and cost of transport is lots higher for tractors than cars, so trading is much more regional.

Dang! Jeff9366 beat me to it!

 

[jeff9366]

I wish there was a 'Carmax" for tractors so one could go and look at a bunch of different brands, sizes, power.

Attend the 2014 SE Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, October 14-15-16 and you can do just that. (New tractors only.)

 

[sd455dan]

What there is are farm & garden shows, or out here 'World Ag Expo', a three day 'fair' that exists to show off tractors and equipment. They tend to be earlier in the year - so equipment can be purchased and 'broken-in' before the heavy duty farm season begins. See also: Sunbelt Ag Expo (in Georgia).

There just isn't enough trading volume in tractors and equipment to have a standardized book like Kelley Blue Book, and cost of transport is lots higher for tractors than cars, so trading is much more regional.

Dang! Jeff9366 beat me to it!

Hey guys- wasn't there a price guide of actual sale prices- available from Machinery Pete on RFDTV ?

 

[Sportsman762]

The small budget dictates an older tractor. Ideally you would want a compact 30hp tractor with a hydrostatic transmission. However with your budget that is out of question. For requirements I would require the following:
Live or independent PTO.
5+ speeds (gear)
Differential lock
Loader.

Because I live on some hilly land I also wanted ROPS.

I would buy a tractor that there are a large amount of aftermarket parts for. OEM parts are expensive, and anything that is cheap and in good shape is going to be older.
I would buy a Massey or a Ford, some Internationals are well supported and others are not. They have the best support for aftermarket parts. There are also plenty in salvage yards should something go bad.
I would not buy Long, Belarus, older Massey compacts, older Allis Chalmers compacts, or any other older imported tractors. Parts are a pain to find for them and they are expensive. It would be a pity to sideline a several thousand dollar tractor because you can not get a replacement manifold or brakes.

I would also steer clear of some of the John Deere's that use a sleeve deck that has all the cylinders in one unit. These engines cost a mint to rebuild. Also JD is not as well supported in the aftermarket as the MF and Ford.

Most of the tractors out there by the major OEM's are good machines. Every OEM has had "duds" such as the Massey 235, the 135 that proceeded it was great as was the 245 that replaced it. However the 235 had a steering system was was high maintenance, especially if equipped with a loader.

Ford industrial tractors often have different pistons and injection systems then their agricultural brethren, however they share many other parts with the ag versions making them cheap to repair.

With patience and careful hunting you could find a older 70-80's 30-60 hp tractor with a loader for 4-7K.