equipment purchases

[rjbovine]

Just wandering how everyone justifies purchases they make for equipment . I would really like toget a tractor with frontend loader. I can make a good case to buy one . But have gotten by without one .
If I really get in a bind for a loader I rent a skidsteer from a local rental store . This question could be for any equipment or livestock purchase . Thanks rj : help:

 

[Jogeephus]

It would be a good time to buy something for sure. If I can make it pay for itself in 3 years I normally will buy it without question.

 

[Aaron]

On another cattle forum, the topic was regarding the absolutely necessary equipment to have on an operation. Interesting responses. Everyone mentioned a front-end loader tractor and a quad, as well as other things. The odd one mentioned skidloader. Some a hay processor. Some manure spreader.

While I don't need the last three items, there are some things that are crucial. But also depends on your herd size as it relates to the time saved using a piece of equipment. I know some 20 cow operations that don't have a front end loader and I understand why. But never heard of a 100 cow operation or 250 cow operation that did without one.

 

[ThreeCrossBuckaroo]

Take the cost of the tractor and divide it by the total acres you would be using the tractor on,any thing under $600 a acre is a good return on your investment its called "new paint disease". So if you got say 60 acres to use the tractor on and the tractor cost $4500/60acres=$75.00 a acres to run the tractor and that's were you want to be but if you buy a $30000/40acres=$750 and now your return is not a good investment......

 

[thendrix]

If I really get in a bind for a loader I rent a skidsteer from a local rental store .

If they're closed that bind gets a lot bigger

 

[gonzo]

Igave up smokin 3 years ago the savings payed for my tractor, and I feel alot better. thats a double ataboy. :cowboy:

 

[Brute 23]

Many people try to justify tractors and equipment as an investment. Most of the time it's not. It's a luxury. If you can rent or contract out what you need done you are far better off. Especially when trying to get started.

 

[highgrit]

Brute 23, it cost to dang much to hire folks to work around here. I have a tractor with a cab and loader, it's a JD that was a lease return and they financed it for 4 yrs. That was about 10 years ago, and I have only put fuel and did maintenance on it so far. We have cleaned up a 100 acres of cutover land so far with it on my time. The best thing I bought for it was a grapple for the front. I had a couple of bids to clean all the land up and it ranged as high as $200.00 per acre. My cab and loader tractor was the best thing I have bought since my cows.

 

[ThreeCrossBuckaroo]

Many people try to justify tractors and equipment as an investment. Most of the time it's not. It's a luxury. If you can rent or contract out what you need done you are far better off. Especially when trying to get started.

There is some truth to that but there is also holes in your statement. How does a person who feeds 4500lbs of hay a day in big 4x4 bales rent or contract out tractor usage? That there would get expensive and about a wash on over head on owning a tractor having your own is a necessary evil weather your just starting out or not its all part of the game. The formula I put up is a good tool to make sure your not going in the hole financially you don't have to have the brand newest or the best tractor,it just has to serve its purpose and old tractors will take a bunch of abuse motor wise before they finally quit maintenance goes along ways on old machines and it keeps your cost down.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Seems to me that all farms needs at least a tractor w/ front end loader - other than a place with just a couple of cows. Although, if you had all small square bales put up in a hayloft, and had it set up that you just threw the hay down into a feeder, guess you could care for a number of cows. Or, if you lived where you don't feed hay in the winter.
The tractor w/ FEL is all I have (with a CAB!!!). The only hay equipment I have is the spear on the front & rear of my tractor. I hire all my hay put up (I'm the 3rd "man" on the haycrew :banana: )
I stack the manure & rent my neighbor's spreader once every few years. Cows aren't allowed in barn very much.

 

[Brute 23]

That's why I said "many" and "most the time". You would be surprised how many bales I feed with a $2k 98 Chevy and $350 bale buggy. ;-)

 

[A.J.]

Front-end loader for the tractor was one of the best equipment purchases I have made over the years. I'd hate to be without one again. I've used it for alot more things than I initially bought it for. I'd like to have a grapple for it one of these days. Could you mount a front end loader on your existing tractor instead of having to buy another tractor?

 

[shaz]

Just wandering how everyone justifies purchases they make for equipment . I would really like toget a tractor with frontend loader. I can make a good case to buy one . But have gotten by without one .
If I really get in a bind for a loader I rent a skidsteer from a local rental store . This question could be for any equipment or livestock purchase . Thanks rj : help:

I don't think I could function without a tractor with a loader but I did years ago. I used to get by with an impact wrench too.

 

[lowellcantrell]

Feeding roll bales is just the tip of the iceberg as to the value of a front end loader on the farm. The longer you have one, the more jobs you find for it. Wouldn't have a tractor without a loader.

 

[regolith]

a loader tractor will save a few cows from untimely deaths over the years.
Or do none of you have cows stupid enough to fall down banks/into creeks/get cast in little hollows?

I couldn't be without mine, but have never tried to justify the expense. About the cheapest you can pick up a tractor with loader here is $4-8,000 and those sorts are a pain to keep going, need maintenance. But they'll feed out your hay and save your stupid cows and run a mower. Two-way crowd action and quick hitch makes your life way easier, I'd pay for that if I had the choice.

 

[TexasBred]

That's why I said "many" and "most the time". You would be surprised how many bales I feed with a $2k 98 Chevy and $350 bale buggy. ;-)

All these snappy little hay spears that are mounted on the back of 3/4-1 ton trucks has eliminated the need for a tractor or anything else for a lot of small operators. Most can be put on quickly and removed quickly. I prefer a tractor and can find hundreds of uses for it.

 

[bigbull338]

you justify the cost of something by how much you use it or how much you would save by owning said equipment.like your wanting a tractor with a fel on it.we had 1 loader tractor for 32yrs till we bought 2 4x4 an loader tractors in 3yrs.have 6ft shredder but we also have 200acs that could shredded 1 or 2 times a year.so bought a 14ft shredder last year.already shredded 150acs,so shredder is almost paid for.just bought a jd round baler in great shape to go back to baling our hay because cusom rates are getting to high.plus hay not being baled in a timely manor.

 

[dun]

That's why I said "many" and "most the time". You would be surprised how many bales I feed with a $2k 98 Chevy and $350 bale buggy. ;-)

All these snappy little hay spears that are mounted on the back of 3/4-1 ton trucks has eliminated the need for a tractor or anything else for a lot of small operators. Most can be put on quickly and removed quickly. I prefer a tractor and can find hundreds of uses for it.

Those truck mounted one work great except for putting a bale ring over a bale.

 

[backhoeboogie]

They cannot put hay in a hay cradle. Neither can the buggies.

I priced a new tractor, baler, rake, and cutter last year. That's as far as I got. My '78 Massey looked a whole lot better to me after that.

 

[bigbull338]

They cannot put hay in a hay cradle. Neither can the buggies.

I priced a new tractor, baler, rake, and cutter last year. That's as far as I got. My '78 Massey looked a whole lot better to me after that.

boogie the baler we just bought lists for $42,000 new.i can finish out with a lightly used cutter for $8000 a new 10 wheel rake for $5000 for $30,000 including the baler.