Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

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babsbag

babsbag

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When we were looking for a compact tractor Kubota, Bobcat, New Holland, Deere, and another orange one called a Kioti were all about the same price to buy; the Kioti was a little cheaper. I based my decision on size, cost of financing, and on where I had to go for service and parts if I needed it; never thought about looking at the cost of the parts. Deeres are very popular out here, especially in the commercial farming so service is quick and easy but so far we haven't needed any. *knock on wood*.
 
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Mini Horses

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The one that came & went so fast was a Branson.

Mine is named Arnie after Schwartzenager :p Mine has back & belly PTO, have never used belly one. While I sometimes think I may have gotten a larger one, it isn't really needed for what I do 98% of the time. 3 of my neighbors have larger if necessary. So right now I'm thinking this is great!

I love to set the cruise and just mow, disc, etc. Waited a long time for Arnie! One day I called the dealer and said "bring it to me".
 
Latestarter

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There's no way I'm buying ANY thing that was born the same year I was, so that '57 tractor just ain't happenin'! :lol: I'm just in the window shopping mode right now anyway... I need to get settled in down there and get the household operating before I start worrying about the rest of it. I'm sure the right "find" will be presented for me when the time is right ;) I feel I'm living with divine oversight lately. Don't know what I did to deserve it, but I'm all about rolling with it! I'm not worried about it. In the end it will happen the way it's supposed to.

As for the replacement truck, I wasn't looking for a one ton... was looking for a 3/4 ton HD. I don't want a dually. Tires on 4 rims are more than enough to replace. Yeah, I know the newer diesels are a lot more "techno" and I won't be working on it in either case. If something breaks, I don't have the knowledge or experience to work on it. So I'm stuck paying $100+/hour labor charges.

I won't touch a Ram, and really am not a Ford kinda guy. Been a GM truck guy my entire life. Yeah, I know, they aint the best either. Really, over the past 10 years, they've all become homogenized anyway... Kinda like our political system... they're all basically the same. You can't get the good things from one installed to match up with the good things on another. I love the cummins deisels, but also love the allison transmissions... Can you get them together? Not on a stock truck... I'm sure y'all get what I'm saying here. I've already rebuilt (AAmco) 2 automatic transmissions (different trucks) from GM so that's my highest concern. I've never had to replace or rebuild an engine (yet! :fl). and a nice thing with GM over ford... they have awesome AC!
 
OneFineAcre

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Latestarter said:
There's no way I'm buying ANY thing that was born the same year I was, so that '57 tractor just ain't happenin'! :lol: I'm just in the window shopping mode right now anyway... I need to get settled in down there and get the household operating before I start worrying about the rest of it. I'm sure the right "find" will be presented for me when the time is right ;) I feel I'm living with divine oversight lately. Don't know what I did to deserve it, but I'm all about rolling with it! I'm not worried about it. In the end it will happen the way it's supposed to.

As for the replacement truck, I wasn't looking for a one ton... was looking for a 3/4 ton HD. I don't want a dually. Tires on 4 rims are more than enough to replace. Yeah, I know the newer diesels are a lot more "techno" and I won't be working on it in either case. If something breaks, I don't have the knowledge or experience to work on it. So I'm stuck paying $100+/hour labor charges.

I won't touch a Ram, and really am not a Ford kinda guy. Been a GM truck guy my entire life. Yeah, I know, they aint the best either. Really, over the past 10 years, they've all become homogenized anyway... Kinda like our political system... they're all basically the same. You can't get the good things from one installed to match up with the good things on another. I love the cummins deisels, but also love the allison transmissions... Can you get them together? Not on a stock truck... I'm sure y'all get what I'm saying here. I've already rebuilt (AAmco) 2 automatic transmissions (different trucks) from GM so that's my highest concern. I've never had to replace or rebuild an engine (yet! :fl). and a nice thing with GM over ford... they have awesome AC!
Click to expand...

At least Ford didn't need a bail out like Government Motors.
 
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OneFineAcre said:
At least Ford didn't need a bail out like Government Motors.
Click to expand...

Ut-oh.... hurt someone's feelings...:hide:lol: Wasn't commenting on GM's finances or accounting/management/business practices. Auto manufacturers aren't the only businesses that have required govt bailouts... Need I point to the banking/mortgage/investment system over the past 10-15 years or so? Wasn't trying to start a "war" here... there was a time when I'm sure you can recall what "Ford" was an acronym for... Fix Or Repair Daily... :old

And as I said, they're all pretty much equal today - quality wise and have been for the past 10 years or so. My sister has an early 2000's version F150 that's approaching 300K miles, and may be well over that by now. She loves it. Good! Happy for both of you :D :clap I happen to like the GM trucks. Good for me :D :clap Most of it for me is appearance and I don't/didn't like the short, "tear drop" shaped nose on the Fords. I don't like the Ram power train reliability (bad experiences with their automatic transmissions). I've owned 3 Ford Aerostars and every one of them, the AC died at substantial cost to repair. I've never yet had to repair a GM AC unit in any truck (or car) I've owned (or been associated with) and all of them left me with high mileage. My present 2005 Chevy is right at 200K miles.

Every one of the US truck (and car) manufacturers have mechanical/electrical/etc issues associated with their vehicles... EVERY one of them. That's part of how the Asian manufacturers have been able to grow so powerful here. Ford had major issues until they adopted Japanese "quality" methods to drag them from the brink of bankruptcy, long before the govt bailouts of the other auto manufacturers. It's why they "earned" the above acronym. Now virtually all major US businesses use some form or manner of TQM/TQL. They finally got it through their heads that quality sells.

I can't afford to pay more for my truck than many pay for their homes. A new 3/4 ton diesel 4x4 truck with a powerful engine and upgraded transmission (like what I want) as well as the other accessories I want with it, is well over 60K (just priced a 2017 GMC @ ~65K and that's not for their Denali) :ep:th Personally, I don't know how they stay in business... Some one must have those kinds of $$ to throw around. I'll have to settle for someone else's throwaway and buy used. I have found several 2010-2011 with what I want for less than 30K. Maybe get 10K in trade for my present truck and it's within reach. Time will tell. not my highest priority.
 
OneFineAcre

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Latestarter said:
I've been looking at nothing less than about 35 Horse Power... From what I've been reading the general consensus is the tractor should be 1.5-2HP per acre being worked. It's not really the HP that limits the weight you can lift... it's the weight of the tractor itself... It has to be heavy enough to stay on the ground when you lift weight on the other side of the fulcrum point. Of course the hydraulic pressure has to be sufficient and metal strength of the lifting arms as well. Also, the weight differs if you measure it in the bucket or at the lynch pin. Anyway, out here in CO they have the round bales and they also have 2500+ pound square bales. I'm looking at tractors with 3000+ pound lifting capability. I also want the higher HP for the PTO(s) (would like rear & side PTO's but having that side one costs). Been looking at the package deals for new ones and it seems the limiting factor is the back hoe... If you get a back hoe, you get none of the other attachments, or you get 4-5 other attachments and no back hoe. With that stream on the property, I really want/need the back hoe for bridge building. It will also come in handy for some of the other stuff I want to do. Right now, the "included" implements I know I'd use almost immediately are the brush hog, box blade & post hole digger

Awww who am I kidding... I just "want it all!" :cool: I also have to consider weight as my present truck is really only rated to 500# tongue weight and 5000# trailer load. I know I can pull more than that for short/reasonable distances, and there's a built in safety margin so I could probably go to 6500-7000# before I'd be pushing it, really taking chances. Most of the tractors I've been considering weigh in at ~4000-4500 pounds with bucket and back hoe. Add another 1000 for trailer, and I should be fine pulling it.

I've been thinking about trading this truck (2005 K1500 extd cab) in on a newer 2012+ K2500HD extd cab diesel. But wow... 20-30K for a new(er) truck and another 20-30K for tractor and attachments... I also need a trailer to pull it all on. Most of the package deals include a 20-22 foot trailer, but they are vehicle width trailers, meaning I couldn't carry a car or truck on it... too narrow. If I'm going to get a trailer, it needs to be multi functional/capable. It needs to be wide enough that If I want to pull a full sized pickup truck on it, I'll be able to. So add some more "cost" to the purchase.

That's gonna seriously deplete my "hoping to have" bank account... I also have to pay attention to monthly costs as that's the predominant reason I'm moving... to lower my monthly cost of living. I find it very easy to spend way more than I take in... :confused: I also have a number of capitol improvements planned for the house and property... as well as new appliances to buy. Some of that stuff is highest priority and can't wait or be put off. They all need funding too. :hit Dreams can be very expensive...

Babs, sounds like you need a new bigger tractor; add to your collection... Kinda like goat sizes... Maybe a new infliction is developing? Tractor math!! :hide :gig
Click to expand...
A weight distribution hitch doubles the tongue capacity and towing weight on a 1500
I wouldn't buy a new truck for the few times you would pull the tractor and trailer
 
babsbag

babsbag

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I bought a new to me Tundra. 2010 4x4 extended cab with 36,000 miles. I love it. My old 2001 Tundra with 240,000 miles was just getting tired but she still runs. Never a day of problems with the old one, hoping the new one does as well. I am a Toyota girl through and through. The interiors hold up amazingly well and they just work. 10,000 lbs towing capacity and the only thing I own close to that is DH's fire truck.

FORD...Found on Roadside Dead...owned one, never again; but a lot of people swear by them, I'm just not one of them.
 
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