You’re in the market to buy a tractor. But what do you need to know? What time of year is best for purchasing a tractor? What model will best fit your needs? What if you want to buy tractor equipment or attachments?
Let’s take a look at some factors to consider, and get you started on making the right tractor purchase in 2020 and beyond.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Tractor
Consider these helpful aspects so you can make the best purchase, whether you are looking to buy a new tractor, thinking about purchasing a used tractor, or interested in a tractor lease.
- Purpose: What do you plan to do with your tractor? Till, plow, move snow, bailing hay… These are some of the important things that tractors can do, but prioritize what you will be doing the most as you start shopping around. You may be attracted by a tractor that has 10 functionalities, but if you will only be using it for 1 to 3 purposes, you may be over-buying.
- Location: Where will you be driving your tractor? If you need to move it from point A to point B, and there is a fence or gate in the way, consider whether it’s more important to widen the gate or get a smaller tractor.
- Comfort: Do you want climate control in your cab? It will probably cost more for heating and/or air conditioning, but you or your employees may be able to work longer if the tractor is more comfortable.
- Safety features: For instance, some tractors come with roll-over bars, to protect the driver in case the tractor rolls over. Ask your dealer about the safety features that are important to you.
When is the Best Time to Buy a Tractor
Generally speaking, tractor sales are like car sales, in that you’ll find more discounts and better deals when it’s the end of a fiscal year or when manufacturers and deals have a backlog of equipment they want to get off their hands.
There is not really a best time of year to buy a tractor.
- Small- to medium-sized tractors: You may find good deals on these any time of the year. However, if you have to rent a tractor to get you through until you can save $500 in a sale, you will probably be losing money. If you need a small- to medium-sized tractor (or if you know you will need one in the near future), go ahead and buy one. Waiting to try to catch sales doesn’t always save you money in the long run.
- Large tractors: You are likely to find the best discounts on these at the end of the dealer’s fiscal year, because that’s when the manufacturers are offering discounts to the dealers—which results in savings to you. To find out when your dealer’s fiscal year ends, simply give them a call!
The Best Model for Your Needs
Okay, so you’ve figured out what you want your tractor to do for you. You’ve determined that it’s time to start shopping. What is the best tractor to buy? Here are some common models and features to consider:
- Compact Utility Tractor: Many small farmers (and even some avid gardeners and home/landowners) find compact utility tractors (CUTs) to be eential to their lives. These small farm tractors can handle routine tasks like mowing, general landscaping, and material handling. They are usually a lot of power in a little package, making them perfect for attaching and reattaching the right tools and equipment for whatever job you are trying to do.
- Backhoe Loader: A backhoe loader can be really useful because it is 3 things in 1: tractor, loader, and backhoe. As a tractor, it can do all the things a normal tractor does. As a loader, it picks up and moves things, smooths dirt or other surfaces, and pushes things from one place to another. As a backhoe, it digs up soil or places heavy objects. It can usually be stabilized with two legs that take the brunt of the weight (thus saving your tires and wheels).
- Garden Tractor: Think “grown up lawn tractor.” This is the equipment that will till, furrow, tow, and even plow dirt or snow on small farms or big gardens. Garden tractors usually come with big wheels in the back for stabilization over small inclines and rough land.
- Utility Tractor: This is a mid-sized tractor that is like a compact utility tractor, but bigger. If you have quite a bit of land, and your CUT isn’t doing the job anymore, consider up-sizing to a utility tractor. It’s going to have more power, move more soil, do bigger jobs, and cover more ground in a faster time.
Conclusion
If you still have questions or want to talk to a knowledgeable tractor representative, start a conversation with us today. We can help you with buying a used tractor or a new one.
Whether you know what you want or need to know how to choose a tractor, our extensive inventory of new and used tractors is sure to include exactly what you’re looking for at a price that is up your alley.
