We have been avoiding making the big purchase, begging and borrowing from neighbors, etc. for the 7 years we have been living "in the woods." Then, today, out of the blue, wife says "we really need to buy a tractor" and " I have $XX,XXX saved up for us." After I picked my jaw up off the floor, we started game planning. Our needs include skidding lumber and firewood logs over rock terrain on the side of a gentle slope, landscaping and maintenance of 250 yds of gravel road. We absolutely do not need it for mowing or snow removal or working fields. We are looking at 30-40 h.p., 4wd, hydrostatic w/ FEL and box grader. Any thoughts? New vs. used?
Congrats sir---kinda like hitting the lottery with wife support...many options are out there and I'm certain you'll get plenty of suggestions from the crew
I would suggest you go with a minimum of 40 hp. Lots of implements require that amount of power to operate. I have John Deere tractors. Looked at a several of the high end brands when we first bought. Kubota, New Holland and John Deere are all pretty comparable (I think). The John Deere dealership is about 4 miles from our farm. All other dealerships were at least 25 miles away. Proximity to a quality dealership was what tipped it for us. Your wife is cool!
I am happy with my JD 3038e. It falls right in with the parameters you listed. It does not have any bells and whistles. It is just a basic tractor and I am glad I bought it. Once you own a tractor, you will never go without one again. Shop around at different dealers and you will know which one is right for you. With 0% financing, I felt that a new one was the best way to go.
New or used? Used, subscribe to "Lancaster Farming", $1 a week for pages and pages of (PA) tractors & dealers What did you learn from your borrowed tractors? I would take your time and look at a bunch of used machines, you can get a lot more tractor for the money and that is always a good thing (the more or bigger tractor part). Then also shop new, like Wisc Woody said, a good handy dealer is a plus. Compare the new and used and enjoy. Since your lovely and very thoughtful wife has saves the bucks, you have the advantage of looking at used. Just like new cars, they get you by offering financing right there and they know it.
Buying used takes work & time, but the money saved might cover or go a long way towards the price of a small logging winch and some driveway maint. attachments
And a nice night out or weekend spa thingy for your wife- she "earned" it Have fun shopping around mike bayerl for this much needed tractor
I wonder what she would charge for a training seminar...if she would be willing to travel, she could teach at all the GTGs!
I bet Mike didn't tell us "the rest of the story"….. Mike uses the saw, while Mrs. Mike carries the wood
Tractor shopping....yes. I agree with 40hp being a good size. I have a 30hp and although it does great, I could really use a little more umph sometimes with an hst trans and fairly steep hills. I love the hst though. For what I do its great. Are you going to get a PTO winch for skidding?
