Buying Advice Need Help

[murphy1244]

Howdy Folks, My name is Murph and I am new to this Forum. I need advice on buying a New or used? Compact tractor. Any and All advice appreciated.

 

[Martian]

Murph please tell a little more of what you will be using it for. Just a little work around the house or are you going to be farming 100 acres? Big difference! Let us know a little more and well be happy to help!

 

[murphy1244]

Sorry about that. I recently bought a small horse plot about 16 acres. 11 acres of woods the rest buildings or grass. So I will use my Simplicity to cut around the house and a Compact with a 6 foot brush hog for the pasture areas. And of coarse a FEL to move horse stuff and dirt. Need something for fixing a stone drive too.

 

[Martian]

Sorry about that. I recently bought a small horse plot about 16 acres. 11 acres of woods the rest buildings or grass. So I will use my Simplicity to cut around the house and a Compact with a 6 foot brush hog for the pasture areas. And of coarse a FEL to move horse stuff and dirt. Need something for fixing a stone drive too.

No problem. How much are you willing to spend will be a major factor as well? Are you brand specific, I know you posted in the JD forums but sometimes you pay for the green paint. I'm one of them who who pays for it as I love those Deere but you can find a good used tractor as well if your not willing to rake out the money up front. Keep in mind though if you get a new one to a year or two old you can get a lot better financing on new if you buy new if you don't have cash in hand.

Are you in a cold climate where you need to plow snow - a cab is a big up front cost but is really nice to be out of the 0 degree blowing weather.

I assume you want a fel (front end loader) and the brush hog but is there anything else. Do you already have the 6' brush hog? I would recommend a back blade for grading the drive. You'll find it very useful. If you do live in a cold climate a snowblower could be useful but can be +$3000 option. I personally use a back blade and save myself $1000s.

If you want a cab I would go at about a 3320/3520, I think you could get away with a 2720 but a 6' mower could be a little large for it.

 

[murphy1244]

No I don't have a brush hog yet. No need for snowblower as I have a 46 inch one on my Simplicity Conquest.I have not posted on any forum but this one. No. Not brand specific.Just don't want to out grow the tractor I want to buy.I don't think I want a cab, Too much cash for it.

 

[Martian]

What are some main tasks? Mainly brush hogging and loader work? What are some of the bigger projects you have? What are some of the heavier things you will be lifting? Any bales or such for your farm? If you ever want to bale you will need a lot larger tractor.

I know I don't have a cab for the same reasons but some other members here will make it seem a must.

Are you looking for new or used. If you look long enough you an find a really nice used tractor for a great price but there's nothing like that new tractor.

What is your budget as it will really decide what you end up with.

 

[murphy1244]

No I won't be doing any baling. My concern is this, I have no idea what else I'll be doing with it. I am new to this style of living so What I need is a machine with room to grow. Hows that for trying to explain the unexplainable.Thanks for replying. Trying to stay under 20gs.

 

[creekbend]

In regards to your previously described tasks to be performed and the implements desired, perhaps you can check out these websites to compare makes and models of tractors and the current prices that they are selling for and the listed price? TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors and Used Tractors For Sale at TractorHouse.com: John Deere Tractors, used farm tractors and farm equipment, tractors for sale, Case IH, New Holland, Agco, Kubota Good Luck.

 

[Martian]

No I won't be doing any baling. My concern is this, I have no idea what else I'll be doing with it. I am new to this style of living so What I need is a machine with room to grow. Hows that for trying to explain the unexplainable.Thanks for replying. Trying to stay under 20gs.

If you want new I would look at a new 2720. Should keep you right at your budget. If you want to be a little lower 2520. Basically the same tractor but the 2720 has more horsepower than the 2520. Here's the link to the 2000 series page.

Base price of a 2720 is ~$18000, 2520 ~$16000 according to the build your own thing on each's page. Then expect another $2 - $3000 more for a fel and then another $1500 for a rotary cutter (actual name of a brush hog)

I would think for a 6' brush hog the 2520 would be a little smaller than what I would like in terms of horsepower. A 5" could work.

JohnDeere 2000 Series Compact Utility Tractors JohnDeere.com

Even these will be pushing your budget though. If you want a little more power you could go with a used 3000 series. I have a 3120 that I'm looking to unload right now. About the same horsepower as the 2720 but more power on a bigger frame. Only 154 hours with a loader. Just bought more land so I want something bigger. I could get you in that for less than the base of that 2720 for my 3120 and its like new and then you would only need a rotary cutter. I attached some pictures. Just some food for thought.

I would consider a larger used though. Especially if you want a 6' rotary cutter, that would be a lot for a little machine.

I'd use tractor house and you can get some ideas of how much used is. The ones with loaders add a lot of value, just as a cab. Those are some of the "BIG" attachments for a tractor and add a lot of value, so the ones without are a lot less but you loose a lot of versatility.

Tractor House 3120's
JOHN DEERE 3120, Used JOHN DEERE 3120, JOHN DEERE 3120 For Sale At TractorHouse.com - Page 1

You can get the basics of it though. John Deere's especially hold their value extremely well. So the value really holds compared to a car. But I would take a look at some used machines and use the build your own feature on John Deere's website to get an idea of how much your paying for what your going to get.

 

[dmay]

Sorry about that. I recently bought a small horse plot about 16 acres. 11 acres of woods the rest buildings or grass. So I will use my Simplicity to cut around the house and a Compact with a 6 foot brush hog for the pasture areas. And of coarse a FEL to move horse stuff and dirt. Need something for fixing a stone drive too.

Do you expect to feed your horses small square or round bales?

 

[murphy1244]

Do you expect to feed your horses small square or round bales?
Round.Says my boss.

 

[Martian]

Do you expect to feed your horses small square or round bales?
Round.Says my boss.

Round bales are heavy, the tractor you are describing is a lot more than your price range new. I would be looking at a 3x20 or a 4x20 used. If you want round bales I consider it a requirement to have parallel lift - just much safer for such a large bale and that puts you into the 4x20 series with a 400cx loader.

Here's a 4320 just outside of your budget with a 400cx loader

2008 JOHN DEERE 4320 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

I would look more at small square bales though, a lot more manageable and you could easily lift those with a 2720 and you could get a new machine.

 

[murphy1244]

Thanks, Maybe I will stick with the smaller square bails. Anyway, How does one buy a tractor from these internet ads??? Are they safe. I answered a ad from Cleveland dot com for a 3520 JD with all kinds of goodys for a price of 3400.0 Thats right thirty four hundred. The scam works when they tell you to send your CASH from a MONEYGRAM to thier GOOGLE CHECKOUT person. Now I was born late night but not last night so you know why I ask.

 

[Martian]

Thanks, Maybe I will stick with the smaller square bails. Anyway, How does one buy a tractor from these internet ads??? Are they safe. I answered a ad from Cleveland dot com for a 3520 JD with all kinds of goodys for a price of 3400.0 Thats right thirty four hundred. The scam works when they tell you to send your CASH from a MONEYGRAM to thier GOOGLE CHECKOUT person. Now I was born late night but not last night so you know why I ask.

If your buying from a dealer I would feel safe that they'd get me the tractor without personal inspection. If I was buying privately I'm going to where the tractor is and paying for it and picking it up then.

You got the right idea looking used though. Can usually find a good deal. Check your local cl adds. Can find some good deals in there as well, just be sure to go make sure the tractor is there before purchasing :thumbsup: