Somewhat embarrassing question.

[LMan1967]

Um....how does one go test-drive various tractors...when you've never driven one before? :ashamed: I don't want to embarrass myself at the dealership.

I'm new to my area and don't know anyone here to ask to 'practice' on their tractor.

It's embarrassing to admit this, but I'm afraid of pulling the wrong lever or backing over something in the parking lot at the dealer. Any ideas? :ashamed:

 

[jenkinsph]

Simple answer to your problem, go to a dealer farther away and get a demo, make sure you tell the salesperson you have no experience. Not the way I would do it but in short this would work for you.


Now about your signature line, if we help you once I guess this means you are going to be coming back for more help?:laughing:

 

[massey990]

IMO,"driving" a tractor is not much different than driving anything on four wheels.
They have steering wheels, throttles and brakes etc. What is more important when "test driving" a tractor is all the other functions like the 3ph, gear range selectors, PTO, loader controls etc. etc.

Have the salesmen demonstrate all these things and then see which configurations you are most comfortable with for the things you will be needing or using the most.

 

[stevess]

you will also find which dealer is actually good. if they point you in the direction of the tractor or take you to the tractor and show you how it's done. thats the place i would want to buy from.
steve

 

[rekees4300]

Just tell the dealer you have no experience and perhaps he will have an open field in which you can test drive without any risk of collisions. Most modern tractors have a key like a car so if anything goes wrong just turn the key.

 

[EddieWalker]

Since you are wanting to buy a tractor, do you have land out in the country? A really good way to get to know your neighbors is to go ask them about their tractors. My guess is that if you ask to drive it and a lesson on how it works, they will be more then willing to teach you.

As for knowing what everything does, most are the same on every tractor, but it's not uncommon to get into a tractor and not have a clue what does what. Just take it slow and easy when trying everything out. Dealers get newbies all the time, and it's part of the job to explain to you what everything does, and to teach you how to run it.

Eddie

 

[aebsmithcreek]

i had run some tractors and equipment when i bought mine but knew nothing about picking one out. i started out by talking to folks i know who use tractors and telling them what i expected to do with one, i then took that info and went to atleast a dozen dealers via email/phone and got quotes on new and used equipment in the HP class i was interested in, almost without exception i was offered a at home demo from the dealers within 40 miles of the city i work in so that could be your out. one thing that surprised me with the guys i know who operate equipment every day was the lack of brand loyalty like you see with trucks, as a result im a ford man with a JD.

i cant be speakin for LMan Steve but i'll sure be back, best knowledge base on the net i bet!!!! i sure hope he comes back, i wanna know what he buys and how he likes it overtime.


Now about your signature line, if we help you once I guess this means you are going to be coming back for more help?
__________________
Steve

 

[aebsmithcreek]

Since you are wanting to buy a tractor, do you have land out in the country? A really good way to get to know your neighbors is to go ask them about their tractors. My guess is that if you ask to drive it and a lesson on how it works, they will be more then willing to teach you.

As for knowing what everything does, most are the same on every tractor, but it's not uncommon to get into a tractor and not have a clue what does what. Just take it slow and easy when trying everything out. Dealers get newbies all the time, and it's part of the job to explain to you what everything does, and to teach you how to run it.

Eddie

Excellent point Eddie. one of my neighbors had a tractor when i moved here, he stopped by before i was even moved in and told me to come get his ford anytime i needed it and when another moved into the community a few years later he stopped in to introduce hisself and offered his JD. i used the JD twice to mow. i made sure when i got my tractor to make sure to let them and my other close neighbors know the key is under the rags in the cup holder and to come get it when they need it wheather i'm home or not. thats one of the advantages of livin in dog patch..... the neighbors.

earl

 

[creekbend]

I don't know what part of the Country you live in. If approached by your request, most farmers would be "PLUM HAPPY" to show you their tractors and help assist you in driving and operational skills or at least help guide you through the steps. That is, if they are not too busy. Here in my part of NC, I and most of my neighbors, would be happy to oblige.The majority will understand that they, themselves, were beginners once. You shouldn't fear possible ridicule. Good Luck and Happy Tractoring.:tractor:

 

[Alan L.]

Every single tractor owner was a rookie at one time and had never driven a tractor before the first time.

 

[milkman636]

Don't sweat it man. My wife even drives my tractors now, and she never got anywhere near a tractor before meeting me. The newer tractors are easy to drive.

It's a great time of year to drive around your new neighborhood and stop in to meet your neighbors. Start with the ones you see putzing around with their tractors on the weekends.

It would be beneficial to establish a relationship with someone who can help you learn how to use a tractor, and guide you through the dos and don'ts. Offering to lend a hand to someone you see out working a project could go a long way toward builidng a reciprocal relationship with one of your neighbors. Keep your eyes open for opportunity.

 

[bilrus61]

Tell the dealer your a top executive with John Deere/Kubota/CHN. That way the salesmen won't expect you to know how to operate a tractor........

 

[TripleR]

Every single tractor owner was a rookie at one time and had never driven a tractor before the first time.

Excellent point; nothing about which to be embarrassed. Just tell the salesman and if he is any good, he will help you and if not, you will know where you don't want to buy.

I grew up farming with Ford 600s and similar tractors and will never forget the first time I crawled up into a cabbed modern tractor, it was like starting from scratch with all the knobs, dials and levers.

You can begin by simply going in and picking some sales brochures. They will show you were the basics are such as gear shift/range selector, PTO lever/button, 3PH lift, 4WD/MFWD lever, draft control id equipped, parking brake etc. You may want to take this with you some Sunday and spend a little time familiarizing yourself without interruption before actually speaking with a salesman.

Again, we were all newbies once and there is nothing about which to be embarrassed.

Good luck and enjoy.:thumbsup:

 

[RoyJackson]

There is absolutely nothing embarrassing about asking the sales person what the controls are and how to operate a tractor.
Everyone who operates a tractor has to start somewhere. If you were raised on a farm, it would have been your father, grandfather...older brother. But for most folks, those days are gone.
So, don't be embarrassed...just ask your questions and listen to his answers...you're the student here.

Heck, I'm on my third Deere and I had to ask my salesguy some questions since I'd never operated a reverser transmission before.

 

[brin]

Even someone who has driven a tractor for years will need to be checked out on a different brand...Say someone like me has operated an old JD 3020 and a NH tc-29....and I go to a dealer to look at a new Mahindra or Kubota...the first thing I would do is ask the salesman some questions about the location of the various controls...transmissions , speed selectors etc. are all different...

All you would have to do is tell the salesman you are not familiar with that brand tractor and he would be happy to show you the various features and how it operates ...so you don't even need to say you have never operated one...not really.

 

[jml755]

U.......

It's embarrassing to admit this, but I'm afraid of pulling the wrong lever or backing over something in the parking lot at the dealer. :ashamed:

No need to be embarrassed. That's just good common sense to be cautious when operating any equipment you're unfamiliar with. I've seen people jump on tractors and think that it's "just like driving a car", with the loader on the ground, parking brake engaged (probably most common occurrence) or an implement dragging behind them. As others said, a good dealer will relish teaching you the features of their product and be happy to create a "new" customer.

However, a parking lot test drive probably won't give you the feel for a machine that running it in the fields will. Plus, a lot of the decision making will depend on what your intended use is, how big your property is, what implements you plan to attach, etc. For example, a bigger tractor may seem nice at the dealer, but it might have too large of a turning radius to be comfortable operating in your yard.

 

[radioman]

telling the salesperson you never set a foot on one and steers you in the right direction that feels good to you is the right salesman. :thumbsup:

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Another avenue would be to rent the same or similar brand and model for a day. You really don't get the feel for a piece of machinery until you have used it for several hours and tried different things.

 

[flusher]

Start with new tractors with hydrostatic transmission--these are easy to drive, like an automatic transmission in a car. Then if you want, try out tractors with gear shift transmissions. I figure it'll take you about a minute to figure out how to operate any tractor, less if the sales guy helps. Remember, tractors are pretty much the same from the driver's viewpoint.