Rental Fleet Tractors

[crashz]

I'm shopping for a new tractor. The old 770 is a great machine, but a stick shift with loader work is getting old. And I'm thinking the clutch doesn't appreciate it. Plus the loader is weak (its rated at about 600lbs) , I would like a wider bucket, forks, etc.

So my general use will be brush hogging, and earth work at home and my new piece of property. I need forks, a quick attach, and would like a backhoe. I would like trade the 770, and only spend another $10K tops.

So the local John Deere dealer has a JD 3203 on the lot with a hydro trans and 300 series loader with about 250 hrs. Its clean, paint is in good shape, 1 yr old and tires look hardly worn. They only want $13.5K. The catch is that its part of their rental fleet. I didn't ask about warranty, but I will. What do you guys think of that?

BTW- I'm color blind, but I started with the Deere because I thought they'd give me the best trade. From talking to the dealer, that may not be the case.
All tractor suggestions are welcomed!

 

[AchingBack]

I'm shopping for a new tractor. The old 770 is a great machine, but a stick shift with loader work is getting old. And I'm thinking the clutch doesn't appreciate it. Plus the loader is weak (its rated at about 600lbs) , I would like a wider bucket, forks, etc.

So my general use will be brush hogging, and earth work at home and my new piece of property. I need forks, a quick attach, and would like a backhoe. I would like trade the 770, and only spend another $10K tops.

So the local John Deere dealer has a JD 3203 on the lot with a hydro trans and 300 series loader with about 250 hrs. Its clean, paint is in good shape, 1 yr old and tires look hardly worn. They only want $13.5K. The catch is that its part of their rental fleet. I didn't ask about warranty, but I will. What do you guys think of that?

BTW- I'm color blind, but I started with the Deere because I thought they'd give me the best trade. From talking to the dealer, that may not be the case.
All tractor suggestions are welcomed!

chrashz, I'd sooner buy a hydro than a gear tractor from a rental fleet, any day. Many rental yards no longer carry gear tractors due to ruined clutches. To my knowledge, it is hard to abuse a hydro trans.

 

[dirtworksequip]

crashz, you can look at the overall condition of the machine and usually tell if it has been abused. Check it over to make sure all the sheet meta and grille are straight. Also check all the fluid levels. Pull the air cleaner out and see if it is clean or dirty. Check the tires for cuts or signs that they have been spun alot. All this will clue you into how it was treated when it was out on rent. Give it a really good inspection. With only 250 hours on it, it should not be hurt too bad,but don't take that for granted. I've seen skidsteers that were totally trashed.

Sincerely,Dirt

 

[bkuhn]

I'm not sure how I'd feel about a rental fleet tractor. I know talking to the guys at the local rental company their equipment definitely gets a lot of abuse. That said, if it were me, I would want to make sure that I had at least 1 year or 500 hours of warranty in any deal like that. I would think that would be plenty of time for any issues to come up.

I know this is not exactly what you'd asked but i wanted to throw this in also. I have a 4410 which is similar to the tractor you're looking at. I initially tried the 300x loader but quickly swapped out (I was luck and the dealer was great, swapped it out for just the difference in price) for the 300cx. I'd strongly suggest that you see if that's an option since one of your complaints about your current tractor is lift capacity. Not sure what all you may be doing but the factory does not recommend many of the attachments for the 300x, however the 300cx is compatible with many and has a higher overall rating. Just my 2cents.

 

[MrJimi]

And consider that most people that rent these have no idea about how they run or operate.
If it looks good to you and you can get some kind of warranty, Go for it

 

[john_bud]

There are also some long term rentals or lease tractors that are used for a year and traded in.

Look at the repair history on the units you like and see how much shop time they have had. May be the deal of the century. (or not, so be careful!)

jb

 

[gamble77]

We do a lot with rental tractors. Keep in mind dealerships tend to take much better care of their rentals because they usually have to sell them in six months or so unlike a rental yard that can keep them for years and years. The tractor should have warranty left on it so how can you go wrong?!?!

 

[crashz]

Thanks guys,

I'll call them and see what kind of warranty they will honor. I'm not sure which loader it is, 300x or 300cx so I'll check on that too.

Thanks for the advise. I still want to try out a few machines first. BTW- how much do you guys think I can get on a trade for my 770 with 900 hrs, loader and faded rusty, paint? It runs great, but looks old.

 

[john_bud]

A few years ago a buddy was looking for tractors. He searched out a few 770's as that's the size he wanted. They were all dern near the same price as a new one. You may do well selling it out right. Around here 770's and 790's are only a couple thousand less than new and tend to sell quick. Your area may be different. Check the for sale areas, e-scam-bay and craigslist for comparable sales.

jb

 

[Builder]

There are also some long term rentals or lease tractors that are used for a year and traded in.

Look at the repair history on the units you like and see how much shop time they have had. May be the deal of the century. (or not, so be careful!)

jb

That's how I bought my CASE 580. It was a 1000HR rent to one company, then they turned it in. I now have 1180 on it. Good so far with only some paint issues on the hood.

 

[crashz]

Being unfamiliar with the 3203, I've read a few threads here and it appears to be the red-headed step child of the 3000 series. I guess with the 300 loader, its lift capacity, hydraulics and 3pt hitch capacity is in the same realm as my 770. There are some issues with backhoe compatibility as well. From what I can tell, the 3120 is the next step up and is leaps and bounds ahead in features and capacities.

Its only the first machine I've seen, so I'll keep looking. Hopefully Friday I'll go out looking again.

 

[jklingel]

FWIW, I bought a JD skid-steer rental two yrs ago, and it is doing fine. You can, though, see that it has had more "use" than if a careful owner had used it the first 1200 hrs. I was watching an individual clear his driveway with another rental loader while I was doing his neighbor; I've never seen a guy beat on a machine as hard as this guy was. He'd back up 20', slam it into forward so hard the wheels spun while still going backwards, then charge ahead into his hard pack w/ the bucket down. Bam! The back tires of the loader came off the ground, then he'd repeat ad nauseum. It made me sick. The loader LOOKED in excellent health; you just never know, but most people are pretty reasonable.... I like to think so, anyway.

 

[davitk]

, but most people are pretty reasonable.... I like to think so, anyway.

Don't count on it, I watched my neighbor do the same thing while building his house - beat it like a rented mule. Glad you've had good luck with yours!

 

[art]

People will do things with a rental that they would never do with their own equipment. More on this, you might find someone using it that would not be allowed on a piece owned by the renter.

There are long term renters that rent for a certain period of time like six months or more that do know how to properly operate it and will operate it within the paramiters of proper operation.

I'm always a little cautious with purchasing rentals as I know what I do when I have a rental car.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I have a friend who bought a rental tractor.
1000 hours on a hydro JD 990

Didn't find out it was a rental return til after.
What a hunk.
totally new front gears, engine mount, lots of hydralic problems.
He could have bought brand new for what he has in that now.

No, I wouldn't buy a rental.

 

[LBrown59]

I'm afraid that stuff gets rode hard and put away wet.

No, I wouldn't buy a rental.

 

[Whitey]

I am in the same boat. If I pull the trigger on more property I need a bigger tractor. JD does not reccomend a BH for the 3203... I have seen after markets on them but why chance a warranty issue. I am looking for a 3120 too but have not ruled out a 4310 or 4300 with a BH. I have bought two used tractors with no problems and if do your homework there are plenty of deals out there! Check the JD site for used, fastline.com, tractorhouse, etc. If I buy a diffrent tractor I will sell my tractor outright... I do not believe I would get a good deal from a dealer for an older tractor.

JD 770 / 7 FEL / 7 BH - 425 AWS / 54" MMM / 54" FMP

 

[Yankee Clipper]

There is nothing wrong with Harvest Rental tractors - usually they have only a few hundred hours on them and a good price reduction. They come with balance of new equipment warranty and can be financed through the respective manufacturers credit companies.

Yes, it does depend on who had it but the rental customer is responsible to return the tractor as it went out with only minor wear and tear allowed. If they damage it, they pay for the damage.

Some companies limit their use to drawbar work only - no three point or PTO use allowed. In central California, they are used to harvest fruit and grapes pulling gondola trailers.

If I was in the market for a new tractor, I would look for the equivalent HP Harvest Rental return at major make dealerships.

 

[JerryG]

I have a friend who bought a rental tractor. 1000 hours on a hydro JD 990

Can you get a hydro on a JD 990? I thought all you could get with that model was a standard transmission.

 

[flusher]

I'm shopping for a new tractor. The old 770 is a great machine, but a stick shift with loader work is getting old. And I'm thinking the clutch doesn't appreciate it. Plus the loader is weak (its rated at about 600lbs) , I would like a wider bucket, forks, etc.

So my general use will be brush hogging, and earth work at home and my new piece of property. I need forks, a quick attach, and would like a backhoe. I would like trade the 770, and only spend another $10K tops.

So the local John Deere dealer has a JD 3203 on the lot with a hydro trans and 300 series loader with about 250 hrs. Its clean, paint is in good shape, 1 yr old and tires look hardly worn. They only want $13.5K. The catch is that its part of their rental fleet. I didn't ask about warranty, but I will. What do you guys think of that?

BTW- I'm color blind, but I started with the Deere because I thought they'd give me the best trade. From talking to the dealer, that may not be the case.
All tractor suggestions are welcomed!

There are different types of tractor rentals.

The tractors rented by a pure equipment rental outfit (not a new tractor dealer) might suffer abuse at the hands of inexperiened renters.

Tractors rented by a tractor dealer for use by professional farmers to harvest crops for a single season may be a lower risk proposition since these folks, presumably, know how to use the equipment properly.

You need to ask the seller for more info about who rented the tractor and how it was used.