The one thing that you wonder why you didn't buy sooner?

[hosspuller]

Like several others... A set of ramps. For 40 years, I reached under the vehicle to wrench the drain plug.

Last year for the new SUV with the underbody air flow cover, secured with a dozen & half bolts, I bought the ramps. As an aside, when I purchased the SUV, dealership convinced me to prepay for 10 oil changes. Never again, as long as I physically can DIY. After 5 years of dealership oil changes, I did the 11th change. I found several missing bolts from the underbody. Either they fell out or dealership misplaced them over the 5 years. I expect the dealer tech to replace the bolts. Doing the oil changes allows me to do an underside inspection of the vehicle while I'm there.

 

[TractorReliefTool.com]

Make hooking up your implements a breeze with The Original Tractor Relief Tool. Best tool for your tractor toolbox!

 

[Budweiser John]

Hypertherm 45XP plazma cutter.
Ox/acetylene is still around for heating and bending but mostly retired now

 

[Yander]

Farm shop. Never felt like I could quite afford and had other higher priorities. Always a tree available. Now at 75, can afford even though cost is 10 times what it was 40+ years ago. Is it practical today?

It all depends on your health. If you are still a healthy 75 you may have a lot of years left to enjoy it. But even if you only use it a few more years it would be worth it to enjoy some of that $$ that you can't take with you.

 

[Budweiser John]

It all depends on your health. If you are still a healthy 75 you may have a lot of years left to enjoy it. But even if you only use it a few more years it would be worth it to enjoy some of that $$ that you can't take with you.

If you can afford it build it.
I’m now 80 and although I built my first shop in 1972 and expanded it about 30 years ago it is my daily activity to spend 4 to 6 hours a day building, restoring, or tinkering. Beats the hell out of daytime TV and it’s my senior safe space.
B. John

 

[dodge man]

Like several others... A set of ramps. For 40 years, I reached under the vehicle to wrench the drain plug.

Last year for the new SUV with the underbody air flow cover, secured with a dozen & half bolts, I bought the ramps. As an aside, when I purchased the SUV, dealership convinced me to prepay for 10 oil changes. Never again, as long as I physically can DIY. After 5 years of dealership oil changes, I did the 11th change. I found several missing bolts from the underbody. Either they fell out or dealership misplaced them over the 5 years. I expect the dealer tech to replace the bolts. Doing the oil changes allows me to do an underside inspection of the vehicle while I'm there.

I bet it’s a Ford. My daughters Ford Fusion has the underbody pan and it also has a bunch of bolts. They go into a plastic insert that goes bad then they fall out or wont go back in. Several of hers are missing.

 

[Cougsfan]

I have to list the flat bed for my '96 Dodge dually. For years I put up with a beat up bed. Finally when the tailgate started falling off whenever I hit a big pot hole, I decided it was time to replace the bed. The flatbed is so much handier I wish I had done it 20 years ago when I first bought the truck.

 

[scaredychicken]

Moved to this property / acreage in March 2001, bought my Kubota BX23S TLB and implements in September 2018 ... that's 17.5 yrs waiting on and dreaming about a tractor.

Much of the challenge was simply needing to be able to budget for it. I sure like it now though.

 

[JasperFrank]

Buying a 2 1/2 ton hydraulic floor jack. I seems silly, but up till then, I used the screw jacks that came with the cars.

 

[CalG]

My most recent "how did I live without this" tool is a cheap 100' tape measure. I used to grab a long cord and count lengths, which really sucks for accuracy and tangling etc.

Worst thing is I suffered in my own ignorance for years over a $13 (NOW! - how cheap was it twenty years ago???) tool.

I've got a GPS on my phone that hit's within 2 feet over 200'.

Close enough for most of what I need.

I do "double check" so it takes a bit more time....