5 Things to Consider When Buying a Used Tractor
It seems like everybody in the Midwest, or the entire country for that matter knows that used equipment values are on the rise in 2022. Many factors attribute to this – mainly new equipment shortages, strong demand, supply chain issues, strong crop prices, you get the point. Because of this, we see almost stronger demand for used equipment. This market is unprecedented, and we’ve never seen anything like it before!
In times like these, many people will make very quick decisions on buying equipment. While we are all for selling equipment over pictures alone, we here at Prairie State Tractor still want to convey the value of how we appraise and recondition our used machines – to show you we WANT to take the steps to make sure we’re moving good quality used farm equipment. The things we look for, the things we take into consideration when establishing trade values, and how we decide to recondition that used piece for the secondary market. Today, let's explore five key items to look for when buying a used farm tractor.
#1. Tire Condition
First take we get on any used tractor is where the rubber meets the road… literally! Tire condition. It’s one of the first things you see when you approach anything. Are they chewed up? Bald? Flat?? Rubber condition (or track condition if it’s a track machine) is a significant expendable item on farm equipment. Responsible for putting power to the dirt, they see a tough life with tough conditions. It’s just the nature of it. We want to make sure that the integrity is there to stay reliable in the field.
#2. Fluid Leaks
Next is another big one – leaks. How unsightly is it to see something dripping on the ground from underneath the machine? Gives you a bit of concern, doesn’t it? Whether it’s coolant, engine oil, or hydraulic oil, leaks of any kind can be concerning. Now we get it – a 10,000 original hour John Deere 4430 with a few leaks is about standard anymore unless it’s freshly restored, right? However, on late model row crop tractors, we need to make sure we’re monitoring for leaks. They can cause exponentially worse issues down the road if not addressed today.
#3. Body Damage
Body damage is another thing we look at. Now obviously, if something has been rolled over into a ditch it’s going to be pretty easy to spot. Although 95% of the time body damages won’t affect the performance of any given self-propelled machine, it’s still something to consider. Rock chips, paint chips, you name it come from time and age, and we’re not talking brand new equipment here. Keeping things looking cherry around the farm definitely involves taking this into account!
#4. High vs Low Specs
The number 4 item on our list is one of my favorites – high content specs versus lower content spec’d units (tractors in this instance). In today’s world, it seems like a lot of our demand is driven around the creature comforts and abilities our machines are packed with to help us operate quicker and more efficiently. Straight up – SPECS AND OPTIONS AFFECT RESALE! Obviously a guy with a dual hi-flow hydraulic pump and 6 remotes can be more versatile than a guy with 3 remotes and a 40 GPM pump on the same frame size tractor, right? This versatility commands more resale dollars. In the video, I mentioned that the person who orders and pays for the new unit paid up to get those features. Those will obviously follow in that value of the unit through the rest of its life. I think this mostly comes into play when looking at multiple different options to purchase for your operation – make sure you’re talking apples-to-apples, specs-for-specs.
#5. Fit for Operation
One final thing to consider might be the most important and why we’re closing with it. I’ll pose it as a question: Does this machine you’re looking at work and fit your operation for what YOU need it to do? If you’re needing to pull a complex 33’ vertical tillage tool at 10 mph, a nice John Deere 8270R tractor with front duals and an e23 transmission is probably not the answer. Don't get me wrong, an 8270R is a great tractor, but in this instance, it does not have enough horsepower to pull that width and style of tool correctly. This is one way we excel at here at Prairie State Tractor – finding the RIGHT solutions for your operation. And that takes all 4 previous items into the fold to make that decision. It’s all about bringing more value to the operation – not underselling anything just because it’s available now, cheaper, or whatever the cause. Make sure you’ve got what you need!
While these are just a few of many items on the inspection checklist when buying a used farm tractor, we hope this article helped you gain insight as to what a dealership is looking for when evaluating used tractor trades. When buying a tractor from Prairie State Tractor, you can rest assured we have taken the proper steps to evaluate the unit and can help you through the process.
Who is Prairie State Tractor?
Prairie State Tractor is a certified full-service John Deere dealership in Illinois. With locations in Dixon, Freeport, Geneseo, Lacon, Mendota, Pontiac, Princeton, and Streator, we are equipped to assist you with all your John Deere equipment, parts, service, and precision agriculture needs.