FEL, 4 WD, and farm tires are important.
Also make sure to have the dealer fill the rear tires with the antfreeze stuff. That will keep you from getting all wadded up under the thing if you flip it over. That's spooky stuff and you have to learn how not to do that.
Want to feel really dumb? Try using a FEL for the first time. Heck, try using it for the first year. Then, one day, you get the feel for it.
Todd, I see no way to cost justify a fully rigged tractor. I have owned an old Ford 8N for about 20 years. It did a lot of the things I wanted to do but I kept thinking I need a FEL. So about 5 or 6 years ago I bought a 39 HP John Deere with 4wd and Fel. I only use either of them about 10 times a year but have absolutely no regret. I don't have 300 hrs yet on the JD but it is indispensable to me for things like hauling a deer to the house, hoisting a deer to be gutted, letting my Wife lift me up to trim trees, planting wheat for wildlife, etc. I probably have about $30,000 invested in just the tractor and another couple of thousand in implements and a 16 ft trailer. No way it can be cost justified unless you factor in Chiropractic expenses and back pain.
BTW, don't ever try to cost justify owning rural property with a pond or 2. If I didn't own my very own deer lease and fishing holes, I could take a safari to Africa every year and hire a fishing guide every month.
Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 03/02/10 08:38 AM.
