New to me John Deere

[Ridgefarmer63]

Big farms are fading in New England. Therefore getting a good selection of used utility tractors is rare. What this means is a road trip. I have 15 head of cattle (Angus) and feed about 3 or so 4 x 4 rounds of balage a week. I am a hobby farmer, I guess. I make squares with my own equipment. My question is, I am looking at a JD 5105, 5205, 5200, 5210 or 5220. Any body care to weigh in on those models? ( I have an old 40 series 50hp 2wd with 7200 hrs I love. Wish I could get a new one of those)

Any one with experience with buying sight unseen from some of these dealers advertising in the Fastline, Tractor house etc. ? I seem to be able to find a better selection of what I am needing from upstate NY to Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia etc...

Wanted to stay with a local dealer but the product selection just isn't here.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[J&D Cattle]

I would probably through the 5105 out due to size. The other 52XX series are all going to be about the same with minor changes. Might search around and see if either of those models have any common defects. Do you have a Deere dealer close to you that you could call and see what they service the most of?

I look a lot on Tractor House but would have to make the drive before I could allow myself to make an offer.

 

[Ridgefarmer63]

I have decent dealers nearby that I believe can service whatever I get. The closest one is a non-ag but there are ag dealers a little farther out.

I tend to agree on the sight unseen thing. Don't want to get the old bait and switch. Some of these pics from Machine Finder etc. make the tractor look awesome. Don't want to find a leaky pos when I get there.

If I am going to look, might as well drag a trailer with me.

 

[shaz]

I have a 5205 bought new. It's 4WD & FEL. Probably the main workhorse on the farm. Engine and transmission are solid. Most problems have been fuel related.

 

[Ridgefarmer63]

Shaz,

I looked at a 5205 a while back. Fella wanted 25K for it, 4wd, 650hrs, pretty good shape. Only problem was the price at the time and he had used both rear remotes for the fel.

Wish I could find someone in PA to look at tractors for me. Dealer just wants to sell new. 50K please.....

 

[jltrent]

I have a 5210 with around 2000 hrs and so far been good. The 10 and 20 series will have a heavier rear end and housing between the legs.

 

[littletom]

No comment on those tractors. But, I bought site unseen one time. I am guessing the last. A few years ago I was looking for a really nice 18' case ih 496 disk. The size makes it kinda hard to find. Found one on tractor house 5 hours a way made deal said field ready. Well a new axle and a 800$ cylinder later it was. I learned my lesson. But folks do all the time. I think you will be happy with up through a 30 series deere, good luck the search can be fun if you let it.

 

[dun]

I have decent dealers nearby that I believe can service whatever I get. The closest one is a non-ag but there are ag dealers a little farther out.

I tend to agree on the sight unseen thing. Don't want to get the old bait and switch. Some of these pics from Machine Finder etc. make the tractor look awesome. Don't want to find a leaky pos when I get there.

If I am going to look, might as well drag a trailer with me.

Good idea and I would haul the trailer with me to the seller. Makes them know you are actually serious and maybe get you a better deal.

 

[highgrit]

I hauled a trailer on my last tractor buying adventure. Had 3 tractors picked out that I was interested in buying. Stopped a the closest place first, and the tractor had a wore out engine. Made a offer and headed for Montgomery, got a hour out and the guy decided to take my offer. I'm sure the trailer helped me with making the deal. And after spending $2k rebuilding the engine an AC, it's the best tractor that we own.

 

[dun]

I hauled a trailer on my last tractor buying adventure. Had 3 tractors picked out that I was interested in buying. Stopped a the closest place first, and the tractor had a wore out engine. Made a offer and headed for Montgomery, got a hour out and the guy decided to take my offer. I'm sure the trailer helped me with making the deal. And after spending $2k rebuilding the engine an AC, it's the best tractor that we own.

That's the key to hauling the trailer and them seeing it, being willing to walk away if the deal isn;t right

 

[Black and Good]

I owned a JD 5205 for 3 years it was a good little tractor. Only thing I found when I was looking at them is their digital hour meter is prone to stop working almost all that I looked at the hour meter was not working. B&G

 

[shaz]

Shaz,

I looked at a 5205 a while back. Fella wanted 25K for it, 4wd, 650hrs, pretty good shape. Only problem was the price at the time and he had used both rear remotes for the fel.

Wish I could find someone in PA to look at tractors for me. Dealer just wants to sell new. 50K please.....

That tractor was 26K new with mid mount control valve. Unreal!

 

[Nesikep]

NEVER sight-unseen!

We made that mistake... ONCE.. we bought a Universal 65hp 4wd with loader from Saskatchewan, we asked all the questions, but this was before everyone was on the internet, so we had just been mailed a couple pictures.
3pt hitch didn't work
it smoked like willie nelson
clutch was about done
seat was falling apart, and falling off
U joints and tie rods about to fall off
Rims were totally rusted out
"Low hours".. because the hour meter got smashed at 350 hours! (seriously that must have been deliberate)
ON and ON with the defects, and we had asked the specific questions about each item. It took a lawyer and a LOT of sweat to get them to take it back.. they were absolute crooks

 

[Brentp]

I buy vehicles and equipment sight unseen fairly regularly from all over the country. I've got a few things that weren't as nice as promised but it's pretty rare and the savings on the rest far outweighs the repair cost on a couple of items. Quite a few times I've got on a plane with a one way ticket and a cashiers check to pick up a vehicle I've never seen.

 

[Ridgefarmer63]

Thanks for all the words of wisdom/experience. Sight unseen is a no no.

Looking at two 5320's, 4wd, cab, one with pr (32K) one without (30K). roughly 900 hrs on both. One is local (pr) the other is in pa. (7 hour ride). Any comments on the 5320?

Thanks, Mike

 

[highgrit]

A cab is hard to beat, and it doesn't matter what season.

 

[Ridgefarmer63]

Boy, that's what everyone who does this for a living seems to say. They seem borderline claustiphobic? to me. Fresh air and sunshine, aside from the diesel exhaust that is.

Big thing is there is a lot you could get done/need to get done when it's raining or snowing. It's got to increase the longevity of the tractor too.

 

[Ridgefarmer63]

Update. Pulled the trigger on a 2002 JD 5320. 4wd, 541 loader, Power reverser tranny, 900 hrs. Cab. Seems to be in excellent shape. Time will tell I suppose. 31K.

 

[J&D Cattle]

You'll love it. Buddy just bought one but his was 2WD. I mowed a little hay with it and moved some round bales from the field to the farm, real nice tractor.

 

[Ridgefarmer63]

I think you're right. First time with a PR tranny. I still push the clutch in to stop and change direction. Habit I guess. New tractor (22 years newer than my other) was a little awkward at first, but I am warming up to it quickly. Biggest thing was the cab lights. I could work it the whole night thru. Critters thought it was a spaceship coming out of the pasture first time at night.