The First Timer's Guide to Buying a Used Tractor

The economic recession has dissuaded an unprecedented number of consumers from purchasing new tractors. Compare the price of a used JCB tractor, for instance, with that of a brand new model and the savings are quite significant. It's no wonder that more and more buyers these days are looking to benefit from buying used tractors.

For rookies, the process of finding local tractors for sale can be challenging, leaving the path to used tractor ownership paved with doubt. This article will review key factors that a prospective buyer should consider before acquiring a used tractor or other used farm machinery.

How powerful should used machinery be? Stick to these rough guidelines when pricing pre-owned tractors: 25hp: Ideal for mowing grass, but not recommended for moving heavy brush 26hp-65hp: Suitable for nurseries and horse farms 66hp-200hp: Heavy agricultural uses such as bailing hay and tilling fields 200hp: Intended for strenuous commercial farming, Be mindful of the terrain.

Hilly landscapes and clay soils are tougher to plow and will require slightly more horsepower, so factor accordingly.Warranty, A legitimate dealership with tractors for sale should offer, at minimum, a 30-day warranty. If a dealer isn't confident enough to warrant his used tractors and used machinery for at least a month, then walk away and find one of the many who will.

Avoid "gray market" equipment. This type of used farm machinery was designed for applications overseas, which may make finding parts next to impossible domestically. Features Don't consider purchasing a tractor without either a three-point hitch or the Power Take-off (PTO) feature. PTO enables the tractor's engine to power attached implements at 540, 1000 or 2000 RPMs. A 540 RPM PTO is sufficient for most. One last bit of advice is to purchase a well-known brand like a used JCB, John Deere, Massey Ferguson, CaselH, etc.

Robert Tate - Region Sales Manager of Mascus UK. Mascus is an electronic marketplace for tractors for sale, used trucks and trailers for sale. Mascus makes trading in construction machinery more efficiently by collecting all information about supply and demand in one place. All dealers, producers and end users are welcome to offer their used machines and trucks for sale via the marketplace.