What if....?

[Smokeydog]

Good luck finding good paid help when you need it. The best help is free between us and our neighbors.

It’s more than just money. It’s a lifestyle and maybe some religion that keeps us going. I need the struggles, strength and accomplishments to appreciate the good. It’s about value. Some of the most valuable things cannot be purchased.

 

[tradosaurus]

Nobody else seems to want to go down this route...

Why do you not simply buy an older tractor of about the same size/older for a few thousand rather than the 500x12x6=$36,000 you locked yourself into?

It is not a question of IF you need a tractor; it is more a question of return on investment.

If I used a tractor only 20 hours a year, there is little question for me if I would have it or not (some people solely have a tractor to plow their driveway in winter, and need a large FEL if it is deep enough).

Would I spend $20k+ on it for a few hours a year? No.

Would I spend $2-5k, Yes. That price range means something older (and you can find medium/medium-small tractors in that range all the time).

Now the salesmen will chime in and say old are worn out and you will be repairing it all the time. Think about your situation and how many others did the same thing .... these tractors come up at estate sales/auctions all the time and lived their lives in a garage - many go for a fraction of their cost. They have the same amount of maintenance as an older tractor that was maintained... the paint is usually not as shiny and the only ones you impress are others that use their tractors.

However, if the Jones's are important to you, new is your only option!

Too late on buying used. And used tractor prices right now for decent machines are outrageous which is why I bought new.
Using the 20% Equine discount got the price down to a manageable level.
Why would you assume I am keeping up with the "Jones's"?
I just turned 56 so if it gets to the point that I'm too old I think I can recover most of my investment.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Too late on buying used. And used tractor prices right now for decent machines are outrageous which is why I bought new.
Using the 20% Equine discount got the price down to a manageable level.
Why would you assume I am keeping up with the "Jones's"?
I just turned 56 so if it gets to the point that I'm too old I think I can recover most of my investment.

Not assuming anything, was just a comment. Know lots of people who buy new tractor's for 1 of 2 reasons:

1- tax write off against farm capital gains
2- shiney new tractor in the yard

 

[tradosaurus]

Not assuming anything, was just a comment. Know lots of people who buy new tractor's for 1 of 2 reasons:

1- tax write off against farm capital gains
2- shiney new tractor in the yard

or:
3 - new tractor price wasn't far off a used tractor price and I would have no idea how the used tractor was taken care of. I also used farm exemption to pay no taxes.

I vote for option 1 for most of the people you know.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I mulled over the possibility of selling my tractor and maybe implements and just hire out jobs as I need. I bought a L3301 back in 2019 and in two years after I sold it I put 100 hrs on it. Most of that 100 hrs was making a walking trail through my woods.

I then upgraded to an MX5400 and have 11 hrs on it since I bought it in late May of 2021. I bought it new and have 6 yr note that I pay $500/mo. I also have a heavy duty rotary cutter, box blade and grapple (from EA) that is paid off.

Most of the low hrs was due to a lot of rain during May and part of June.

However I started thinking of why I need this tractor. I used it for grading the driveway once a year. I used it to pick up a downed tree every now and then. I use it to mow in certain areas of my property and thin out scrub around the trees.

I did have a few very large branches that blocked the driveway that I was easily able to lift with the tractor and bring to the burn pile. That was nice although I could have used a chainsaw to cut the branches into manageable pieces to haul off with my side by side.

I could hire someone once a year to grade the driveway. I know there are people on Craigslist that will hire out themselves with a tractor for $75/hr.

What's your opinion?

Interesting question. I have a Kubota mini ex that has 190 hours on it after 5 years. I'm kind of tired of pulling it in and out of the shop all of the time. I can see where you are coming from. I recently sold my 9 year old MX 5100 with 210 hours on it for the same reason.

 

[sea2summit]

I have a Kubota mini ex that has 190 hours on it after 5 years. I'm kind of tired of pulling it in and out of the shop all of the time.

Have trailer, will travel.

 

[DieselBound]

If someone has no issue with money then that aspect [financials] can be tossed to the side. I bought new and paid cash- DONE. No further outlays, but I know that that doesn't mean that that was the best choice: in retrospect I have to say yes, but upon initial purchase I couldn't say for sure. Oh, and I also bought used and paid cash...

Unless it's a cash flow issue I don't see any real benefit from getting an older machine to replace the newer one. When you're done it's about how much resale you get: if you're really DONE, as in dead, then it don't matter at all (as long as you're not saddling surviving kin with debt). I needed a larger machine and decided to go new because I didn't want to have to worry about repairs (I have enough older stuff that requires attention- I didn't want to add to the heap): I'm finding that my Kubota, which is stored under cover (Kioti is not), is starting to spring leaks- several hoses needing replacing the last couple of years; not the case with the Kioti.

My preference is to only have tools that I use. Small stuff is easier to kind of let slide on this "policy," whereas big tools, such as tractors, are a bit harder. I've got a dump trailer that I'd bought for a fencing project and I'm only using it on occasion; I'm starting to wonder whether I should sell it (which, of course, just after doing so I'll find that I need one!). Stuff that sets tends to require more maintenance than would seem the case.

I'm still putting over 100 hrs per ryear on my NX5510: I don't think I'll ever drop below 50 hrs as I have a fair amount of mowing that is required. Hours per year on my B7800 is dropping off quite a bit, but I always find jobs here and there that it is the better tool to use: maintenance costs are pretty low, so no monetary concerns here.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Have trailer, will travel.

Sweet... bring a wad of cash with you!

 

[sea2summit]

Sweet... bring a wad of cash with you!

How about a bucket full? So long as you don't mind $1s I think we've got a deal!

 

[BackRoad]

Consider the value of good used tractors. Some sell for more than their original price.

And the Kubota MX is a solid, desirable series tractor.

You should be able to continue to own and operate the tractor over an extended period, and most likely sell it for not much less than you paid for it as long as you take care of it.

A good tractor and good quality implements are more like an investment than expense.

They typically continue to hold material resale value after you pay them off.

They are a working asset, which has a relatively low depreciation (at least much less depreciation than most other consumer goods), which also happen to add substantial leverage to your "1 man-power" capability.

Time on the tractor keeps me going, keeps me in the outdoors, keeps me moving and limber, enables me to do more than I could without it, and gives me something "to do" in retirement.

It provides way more value than just a tractor.

...//TJ