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There are as many tractor options as there are uses for this versatile machine.
From hauling to hoeing, plowing to shoveling snow, each tractor offers a different
use profile. Given the variety of tractors for sale, it pays to do a bit of homework
before heading to the dealers. The following guide covers the basics of purchasing
a tractor.
Self-Assessment: Defining Requirements
Before venturing into the wide, wide world of tractors, tractor buyers should
take a moment to assess their needs. Between an agricultural plow and a simple
lawn tractor lie infinite equipment options. Tractors for sale today serve
the following functions:
Mowing a lawn and other landscaping operations
Shoveling or blowing snow
Excavating and clearing land
Grading
Weeding, spreading manure, and spraying insecticide
Plowing, planting, irrigating, and other crop operations
Fluffing and raking hay
Hauling and transporting materials
Demolition operations, such as breaking asphalt
Tractor Assessment: Shopping Around
The process of shopping for a tractor becomes much more straightforward once
the intended uses have been defined. At this point, the decision of which
tractor to purchase involves the following considerations:
1. Tractor Tools
Tractors are designed for versatility, accommodating a range of removable
tool components. A hitch or hydraulic hookup allows for multiple tool attachments.
All-around use calls for a three-point hitch, the most broadly adaptable
type.
Attachments that rely on lifting, such as front-end loaders, use a hydraulic
hookup. Some of the most common tractor attachments include:
Box blades to scrape or push earth, for grading, bulldozing, and leveling
Mowers
Plows, tillers, harrows for agricultural field work
Plows and blowers for snow removal
Backhoes for heavy-duty digging
Hay bailers
Spreaders for distributing manure, etc.
Forklifts for transporting materials
2. Tractor Power
Necessary attachments will help determine how powerful the tractor needs
to be. Since a tractors price is closely related to its horsepower, it makes
sense to choose the minimum horsepower needed to accomplish the intended
tasks.
Smaller tractors also have certain advantages, such as a smaller turning
radius and a lighter impact on the ground.
Tractor options range from 25-horsepower lawn care tractors to the 200-HP
machines used in commercial farming. Most tractors for sale fall in the midrange
of twenty-five to sixty-five horsepower. Tractors of this size accommodate
basic agricultural, ranch, and landscaping functions. Farming operations that
involve tilling fields and baling hay may call for a tractor with an engine
horsepower over sixty-five.
3. Tractor Features
The following safety and performance features will factor into a tractor sale:
Tractor Cab. An enclosed cab offers protection from the elements and comfort.
In addition, enclosed cabs can prevent injury in the event of a rollover accident.
Transmission. Tractors are available in manual or hydrostatic transmission.
Manual offers added power and is more affordable, but hydrostatic is easier
to operate.
Safety features include Rollover Protection Structures (ROPS,) operator presence
switches, and vehicle lights.
Tires determine the tractors traction and damage to the ground. Options include
agricultural, industrial, and turf tires.
Since a tractor is a major investment, lining up all the variables allows
buyers to realize the full value of their purchase for years to come.
Sources
EBay Guides
BuyerZone
Agrability Project
Canada Agriculture Museum
EquiSearch
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