Re: city boy looking for tractor advice

Posted by John (MO) on September 14, 2004 at 08:03:13 from (198.209.172.106):

In Reply to: city boy looking for tractor advice posted by City Boy on September 13, 2004 at 12:10:21:

You've got a lot of advice below and most of it is pretty solid.

Of course the JD dealer is hoping for a sale, but a big sale... from a guy with 10 acres...? I'm sure he sells new tractors that can't be turned around on your 10 acres. So, unless he's got you pegged as a guy with more money than brains, he's not figuring on selling you a new four wheel drive tractor. He undoubtedly sees several people just like you every year. He knows the land conditions in your area and about what it takes to do the jobs you are most likely going to be doing. I would guess he telling you the HP you will need at the upper end of the range, but then he doesn't want you buying a tractor from him that you soon feel is too small. That's not going to make him look good in your eyes for future business. So stick pretty close to his HP recomendations.

Here are my other recomendations:
Look at other brands of tractors in addition to JD. JD makes good tractors and has for years and years, but they also command top dollar. To farm 10 acres you don't have to buy top dollar equipment. If you buy a 20 to 50 year old tractor in the HP range recomended, in it's younger days, that tractor likely farmed 10 to 20 times the land you are talking about. Therefore if it's in good condition, your 10 acres will be like a vacation home for it. Compare the features you need in a tractor between all the brands. You will in almost every case find the JD tractor to be the most costly. There are MANY other good brands and if they are sized right and have the features you want, (and of course in good condition) they could save you 50% or more from the price of a simular JD.

People who farm large and make their living farming often buy JD equipment new every year or two. For them a brake down could cost many thousands of dollars from the lost time. Their tradein's are in good shape and in high demand. They have the ability to take advantage of everything associated with new equipment.

On the other hand, I have to laugh everytime I see a 1960's 4020 advertized for up around $10,000. Why would a farmer who needs the size, power and features of a 4020 spend that kind of money? If they bought a simular Ford, IH, Case, AC, Oliver..., they'd still get a very good tractor and have thousands left in their pocket!

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