Ok, first I learned a nice $5000 used tractor is more likely a $10000 one

[Lelandwelds]

And, it may have some issues. Do a little research and I find that many tractors are sorely lacking factory support and dealers in my area. Limit myself to just green ones and I find almost every model was produced for just five short years. Dig into interesting models looking for teething problems and I don't find any patterns. Dig some more and find some green tractors were built in Germany, japan, India, and (Turkey?). Look at other brands and find some Mahindra are TYM, some blue ones are actually a different shade of blue, and pretty much any sporting goods retailer or hardware store can have a company I have never heard of crank out a few container loads overnight. Support may come later if they can keep selling enough.

If i up my budget to $15000 or $25000, I bump into EPA caused problems, DMCA created problems, and machines with problems too complicated for dealers but the public is denied code readers to puzzle it out.

Where are the fan sites which list and breAK down all the details like there is for classic cars? What is the equivalent Chevy Power Book ? Where do the 12 steppers for tractors hang out?

 

[nybirdman]

You have come to the right place for sure.Sounds like you have "started" your home work.Good used tractors demand a premium;that being said;many choose to purchase new from a company that builds all their own and has a good dealer net-work;hint they are "orange".

 

[Shaneard]

You couldn't give me a new one, all that emission garbage will continue to cause problems for years to come. Would rather have one pre-2000 and spend money to fix whatever goes wrong with it and have twice the tractor you can buy now. Oh and keep the plastic fenders etc. too.

 

[George2615]

I think this site is the fan site listing almost every brand of tractor. Each brand has its own pros and cons from what I read. I bought LS because they have been building tractors for many brand names for years and started marketing the LS brand in 1995 and they had the best price when I was shopping. Mine's only 4 1/2 years old but no problems yet. I've only had to do regular maintenance and closest dealer usually has filters in stock.

 

[atsah]

You couldn't give me a new one, all that emission garbage will continue to cause problems for years to come. Would rather have one pre-2000 and spend money to fix whatever goes wrong with it and have twice the tractor you can buy now. Oh and keep the plastic fenders etc. too.

I agree, luckily my little guy is under the HP range for regen.. If I was buying a bigger tractor I would be looking at used for sure. The EPA makes a mess out of most things they put there hands on, trucks, tractors whatever it might be..

 

[Shaneard]

I agree, luckily my little guy is under the HP range for regen.. If I was buying a bigger tractor I would be looking at used for sure. The EPA makes a mess out of most things they put there hands on, trucks, tractors whatever it might be..

I don't think anything should have DEF and regen on it, especially anything that is strictly off-road use only.

 

[shooterdon]

If you wound up spending $10k it would still be a good investment. I recently purchased a JD855 for $3500 and it needed work. So far, it has just under $2500 in repairs and replacement parts. So for $6k, I have a little "toy" to learn on (my first tractor) and it will have a FEL, brush hog, rototiller, MMM, back blade, landscape rake, and boom. Parts will be a challenge (the new front hub came from CA) but at least it is a JD and it should not be impossible to find them but I know I may pay a premium...so be it.

But I only have 20 acres and do not farm. So a tractor is nice to have but not a necessity. If I had to have one, I would have bought a newer and larger machine...and I may do that down the road.

There is a wide range of experience on this site and I find it helpful. Like any site, you will get those who have skewed thinking....I must be right...or everyone needs what I need...or whatever. Pretty easy to filter those out. There is no perfect machine or attachment. My advice is:

First, read as much as you can here.
Second, understand and quantify your needs.
Third, ask questions.
Lastly, but maybe the most important, make sure you have dealer support for whatever you purchase unless you are talented with mechanical things. In my case, that meant I had to buy JD, Kubota, or Mahindra. My JD dealer picked up and delivered my tractor, brush hog, tiller and MMM for repairs/inspection for $110 and I am 25 miles away....not a bad deal and saves me having a trailer all that stuff.

Good luck.

 

[Lelandwelds]

. . . a company that builds all their own and has a good dealer net-work;hint they are "orange".

I helped do the rough part on a project with a rental once. That heel and toe shuttle pedal drove me crazy. I haven't driven a gear Trans since I was a teenager. I know they have syncros and reversers now but still . . .

You couldn't give me a new one, all that emission garbage will continue to cause problems for years to come. Would rather have one pre-2000 and spend money to fix whatever goes wrong with it and have twice the tractor you can buy now. Oh and keep the plastic fenders etc. too.

cheap plastic stinks, sometimes literally. Quality plastic is a superior product. Ever handle a gen 3 glock?
Emissions stuff was sub par on cars in the 1970s and 1980s. Today? Who even mentions the stuff?

If you wound up spending $10k it would still be a good investment. I recently purchased a JD855 for $3500 and it needed work. So far, it has just under $2500 in repairs and replacement parts. So for $6k, I have a little "toy" to learn on (my first tractor) and it will have a FEL, brush hog, rototiller, MMM, back blade, landscape rake, and boom. Parts will be a challenge (the new front hub came from CA) but at least it is a JD and it should not be impossible to find them but I know I may pay a premium...so be it.

But I only have 20 acres and do not farm. So a tractor is nice to have but not a necessity. If I had to have one, I would have bought a newer and larger machine...and I may do that down the road.

There is a wide range of experience on this site and I find it helpful. Like any site, you will get those who have skewed thinking....I must be right...or everyone needs what I need...or whatever. Pretty easy to filter those out. There is no perfect machine or attachment. My advice is:

First, read as much as you can here.
Second, understand and quantify your needs.
Third, ask questions.
Lastly, but maybe the most important, make sure you have dealer support for whatever you purchase unless you are talented with mechanical things. In my case, that meant I had to buy JD, Kubota, or Mahindra. My JD dealer picked up and delivered my tractor, brush hog, tiller and MMM for repairs/inspection for $110 and I am 25 miles away....not a bad deal and saves me having a trailer all that stuff.

Good luck.

Do any Yanmar parts fit your John Deere? Availability might be better.

I have 4 acres next to Dad's 25. Neither of us farm. The Bobcat is a money pit. I want to drag about 1200 ft of driveway. If limestone weighs 150 lbs per foot, I often pick up about 1200 lbs. A landscape rake would be handy. Chipping trees would be a frequent chore. I need a power wheelbarrow.

If it was heavy enough and geared right, 25 hp at the pto would probably do it.

 

[Thomas]

Like the old saying goes..."Keep it simple"

 

[Shaneard]

cheap plastic stinks, sometimes literally. Quality plastic is a superior product. Ever handle a gen 3 glock?
Emissions stuff was sub par on cars in the 1970s and 1980s. Today? Who even mentions the stuff?

Ever hit a gen 3 Glock against a tree? Plastic has it's place, tractor fenders and hoods isn't one of them.

Emissions on diesels (mainly DEF & regens) just started 10 years ago give or take a couple, go talk to any diesel mechanic and ask them what the biggest problems they have these days.

These are just personal preference on my part. If you buy a smaller tractor chances are it won't have emissions on it anyway. If you don't plan on going through trees etc. then plastic is okay. Plastic fenders wouldn't last long with what I use my tractor(s) for.