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Would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler.

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KURT (mi)

05-05-2003 02:34:51




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I need some educated opinions here. I have a neighbor who has a 4-wheeler, he bought it new with a snow blade, 4 wheel drive. He paid about $6000 for it. I however would like a new tractor the model I am looking at would be $12K. The tractor I am looking at has a rear 3pt, weighs 3 times that of a 4wheeler and has a diesel engine and will last for decades. A 4-wheeler, in my opinion is used for speed, not torque which a tractor has to grade dirt, gravel, push heavy snow and use farm implements with it. And a 4 wheeler is more dangerous in my opinion because of the high speeds that can be reached. Give me your thoughts and ideas. Thanks.

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Don LC

05-06-2003 08:29:19




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
Buy a good used tractor for $6000..... Maybe the 4 wheeler also.....



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Nolan

05-06-2003 03:42:29




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
There's a whole lot of "depends" in any answer given.

On my place, an ATV with a hitch would make more sense than a conventional tractor. I've got 4 acres, all hilly, nothing in row crops, lots of wet land, a little bit of orchard crops and some small livestock. An ATV of the proper design could handle all my needs, and satisfy the wants of fun.

My only regret is that I didn't realize that before I bought the tractor.

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Bernhard

05-05-2003 23:21:22




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
I see the ATV as an expensive Toy. All the Equipment must be bought only for this, I believe.
For Tractors it maybe is easier to find used Equipment at lower Prices. My Intention: I would buy a Tractor. US-made, japanes, german, chinese, whatever You are able to pay for it.

Bernhard, Derichsweiler, Germany



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Max in Mattawan

05-05-2003 20:31:12




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
Kurt
Why do you need a "new" anything. New tractors and certainly new 4 wheelers will not last for decades. Since your question is either/or, and this is a tractor talk discussion forum, the answer to your question should be clear. This is my way of hinting that antique tractors are affordable,last for decades,and are the wave of the future.
Good luck with your dilema.



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Slofr8

05-05-2003 15:57:09




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
I never thought I had a use for a four wheeler but after looking at this web site
www.novajack.com
I must admit I'm considering it.



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Robert in W. Mi

05-05-2003 20:47:15




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to Slofr8, 05-05-2003 15:57:09  
What about this one? Robert



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BigRed

05-05-2003 13:24:03




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
How about a skid steer. It depends on what you want to do with it, but if you want to grade dirt, move gravel, push snow, nothing works better. These aren't high speed equipment, but they are very handy. Have a hitch that bolts on the front of the bucket, and makes backing wagons a cinch. If you are using it to check cattle, then not a good idea, but if you are using it to feed cattle, then it works great. You can buy then big or small, with heated cabs or without. They are four wheel drive, and most of the time, you can push yourself out with your own bucket. Oh yeah, works great for an engine hoist, and other similar items. Just a thought.

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b

01-09-2004 13:15:32




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-whe in reply to BigRed, 05-05-2003 13:24:03  
What is the best model of skidsteer? Has anyone used a post pounder with one?

B



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KURT (mi)

05-06-2003 02:46:52




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to BigRed, 05-05-2003 13:24:03  
You got $30K you want to give me.



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BigRed

05-06-2003 08:05:31




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 Re: Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-06-2003 02:46:52  
Why does everything have to be new to you? If you are buying a new tractor for 12K, it probably won't last as long as a used tractor for half that price. New is not always better. I know of plenty good used skid steers for less than ten grand.



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wvhogleg

05-05-2003 07:35:39




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
i agree with many of the comments in here. one big one is not to buy a new tractor, there is no need. there are plenty of good used tractors under $6k. the real question is what will you need it for. if it is for carrying small loads (500 lbs) and checking on the cows etc, then a 4 wheeler may be nice to have, although you can do that with a tractor with diff gas consumption. another thought is not to get a typical 4 wheeler. you might look at the polaris ranger or i think the mule (honda?). these carry two people and have a bed with a 500-800 lbs capacity, and are also 4x4 or 6x6 for some models. these things new are <$10k. i have a jd gator, which is a 4x2 with locking rear differential. this is no speed demon, but has a nice hydraulic bed with a good capacity. not much for climbing hills though, but is pretty safe since it wont go over 15mph. if you want to push snow, i think a true tractor would be your bet, but with buying used you should be able to get both for the $ of a brand new tractor. my $.02.

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G Taylor

05-05-2003 07:12:26




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
Tough choice not knowing the exact particulars. A tractor such as a "cheap" 955 Deere with a loader from Canada will go anywhere you can walk with short boots on. Heavy lifting, pto,drawbar, three point hitch tax write off yet hold sit's value. The Link can swim, carry four or six people plus cargo and costs no more than a ATV. Made in North America too. The US built "Pug" is a beefy little work horse with attachments Link

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John in SD

05-05-2003 07:04:34




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
I would be more inclined to buy a new 4 wheeler than a used one simply because so many of the used 4 wheelers and the nature of which they are used so many of them are trashed.

I would buy a 4 wheeler for the jobs it is suited to and a tractor for heavy jobs like plowing snow. I want a heated cab for that job! I don't think it would take a new $12K tractor to move snow.

I saw a IH 966 with loader sell the other day for $5K. A lot of iron for the $$$. One of the larger 4x4 4 wheelers would cost more than that. Kind of a no-brainer to decide which can move more snow for the money!

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Steven@nd

05-05-2003 06:47:07




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
We bought a 4-wheeler about 13 years ago. It is priceless for many jobs around the farm. It does replace a horse easily - maybe even 2 horses. However, there are still some jobs that require a horse (roping, sorting, etc.).

As for the comment about air cooled engines being trashed when used for low speed work - we've used ours for everything imaginable for the last 13 years and haven't had a problem. My brother and I used it to pull a drag through the tree rows the first few years - in low range. When using it for checking cattle, it rarely gets out of 1st gear.

Tractors are nice to have and have their place also. I wouldn't use a 4-wheeler for plowing snow on a long driveway or anything like that - but short driveway and sidewalks it would be hard to beat.

I'd buy both, you can get a good used four-wheeler for around $2500, and a really good used tractor for around $7500, which would still be less than just a new tractor.

Just my rambling thoughts and opinions...

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KURT (mi)

05-05-2003 06:53:54




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to Steven@nd, 05-05-2003 06:47:07  
Question, with a four wheeler how do you do any kind of heavy work. Because the 4-wheeler only weighs 500 lbs. Will a four wheeler pull a york rake on a gravel driveway?



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TimV

05-05-2003 08:16:08




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 Re: Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 06:53:54  
Kurt: A 4-wheeler will easily pull a york rake on a gravel driveway--I know several people who do this on a regular basis. We've used ours to pull empty (and occasionally loaded) hay wagons, my Trenchman backhoe, dump carts, a siderake, and many other things too numerous to mention. As has been noted by others, a 4-wheeler is an incredibly versatile machine, capable of doing many things that a small tractor is capable of and many other things such as trail riding that a tractor is not capable of.

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NCJohn

05-05-2003 06:19:46




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
Buy good used, and you can have both.



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david

05-05-2003 05:44:42




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
Kurt,

An ATV is absolutely the most versitile piece of equipment I have (and no, I do not recreationally ride). It is not a replacement for a tractor. It does do some jobs better than a tractor but it is more accurately (for me) a replacement for a horse and a pickup. I did sell my 2 cattle horses but obviously I kept the pickup. What it has done is saved me a lot of time and expense on the truck. Now I spend 30 mins checking cattle and do a better job where with my truck it took me 30 mins off road to get to the cattle. Got stuck in the mud 34 days in a row with the pickup (it is a 4x4) last winter, with ATV I have not been stuck yet. Saves 8 gallons of diesel fuel per week to the cost of less than 2 gallons of gas, saves carrying around 1000 pounds of tools and fence gear. Never dreamed how useful it would be. But, as I origionally said, all it actually replaced was a horse.

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Frank M.

05-05-2003 18:28:04




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to david, 05-05-2003 05:44:42  
Don't try to rope off of one. LOL



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david

05-05-2003 19:01:51




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 Re: Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to Frank M., 05-05-2003 18:28:04  
I'd say that would be difficult. Course around here we just use them (horses or 4 wheelers) for sorting and herding. This part of the country not many people rope anything except for fun. Been in the business for 20 years and never even owned a rope.



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ah so . . . Japanese quarterhorse

05-05-2003 06:26:23




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to david, 05-05-2003 05:44:42  
gotta lov'em for the "right job" and not to go blasting around the pasture, or down the trail, but then I can't remember the last time I got a horse stuck in the mud (grin)..... ...Dell



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C Kulig

05-05-2003 04:04:56




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
I agree with F14 except for one thing. Not all 4-wheelers are air cooled, mine is liquid cooled. That being said, it still can't compare to a tractor.



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F14

05-05-2003 03:53:07




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 Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to KURT (mi), 05-05-2003 02:34:51  
The major disadvantage of a 4 wheeler is that it is air cooled. If you use it for low-speed, high-load conditions like plowing snow, you WILL trash the motor sooner or later. Also, compared to a tractor, it's much lighter, therefore you push less snow per pass and it takes longer.

Two entirely different implements. If you don't need (or want) a four wheeler for hunting or other recreational purposes, go with the tractor.

This from a person who has both...

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Robert in W. Mi

05-05-2003 07:11:18




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to F14, 05-05-2003 03:53:07  
I don't agree. Maybe your old Briggs & Scrap iron was an air cooled piece of junk, but air cooled Honda's and Yamaha's sure aren't!!

I've owned ATV's since the 70's when they first came out, and i've yet to burn up an engine in one.

Today i still own that "first" honda ATC 3 wheeler, a Honda Big Red, a Yamaha Kodiak, and a Yamaha Grizzly. All of these are air cooled and i've pulled some huge loads of rocks with the Kodiak and Grizzly even in very hot weather. I've used both of these 4 wheelers to do serous work, and it's amazeing the places these can go and loads you can pull with them. I don't use them to replace my tractor, i use them to do things i can't do with a tractor.

I think it's the quality of the engine, NOT wether it's water or air cooled that counts. At least if the owner does proper maintance.

BTW, i also own about a dozen tractors, and some of them are air cooled too.

Robert

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KURT (mi)

05-05-2003 06:42:31




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 Re: Re: would you buy a new tractor or a new 4-wheeler. in reply to F14, 05-05-2003 03:53:07  
I here ya, I will not be using it to ride around on trails and stuff, it would be used in place of a tractor. I have 2+ acres and the back half is all wooded and it is a mess, and I need a tractor to push dirt, move brush and rake out small trees 2" diameter and smaller, + snow, gravel and grading my 800+' driveway. A tractor is probably what I need, a four wheeler is too light weight for what I need.

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