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Thegoodearth · 12-21-2011, 10:13 AM

I'm in my second year of running a small vegetable farm (27 total acres, 8 under production). I'm looking for a tractor between 40 and 60 HP and have a budget of no more than $10,000.

As I look at tractors it does not appear that they depreciate much, if at all. It seems a 40 year old JD or IH runs $8-10K as does a newer, say 1990's Kubota. Why don't tractors depreciate? You don't see someone driving around in a 40 year old automobile (unless it's been restored) and yet there are plenty of 40, 50,and 60 year old tractors out and about.

Is there something technically different about the engineering of a tractor that would make a 40 year old trustworthy? What don't I know? Should I be looking at a more modern machine?

Thomas · 12-21-2011, 10:46 AM

Welcome to TF.

Your asking plateful of questions...sure hope others will jump in.
There still plenty of yesterday iron out there willing to work as you know,but new models may have more plastic also whistles and bells which cost more.

Example..compare 50 hp from 60's to todays date...more compact,options,more dealers to choose from,etc. etc.

"Why don't tractors depreciate?"
They do but old sooo slowly...supply and demand even yesterday iron.

**farmertim** · 12-21-2011, 08:32 PM

Welcome to the Forum Thegoodearth. old tractors are made of good old heavy duty iron and are normally very easy to maintain. they are not as technologically advanced and so therefore less prone to break down.

Take my 1967 model 306 CU inch 6 cylinder diesel, Chamberlain it will run for four days at 2000 rpm and use 25-30 gals of fuel.
yes its noisy, yes my bones ache, but my she has character,
often its not the tractor you have to trust its the salesman.

old tractors were engineered to last, I personally do not trust the quality of steel that many newer brands of tractor (or anything else for that matter) is made from my opinion only but there you have it.
hope this answers your questions somewhat.

Cheers

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