AssetTrader Buying Guide to Tractors

Introduction

Commercial tractors are one of the biggest and most popular farming equipment on the market. They have a firm place in our history for providing food and grains and many other life giving products for billions of people all over the world. As well as their use on farms, they applications are many and varied. They can be attached with many types of accessories that help them perform a wide range of tasks.
Tractors are primarily used for mowing and land-clearing application. They are also used in construction, landscaping, livestock operations and industrial settings.
Their vital use and versatility also mean they can be an expensive purchase. Although the life span of most commercial tractors can be up to 10, 20, or 30 years or more. This also points to the importance of buying a vehicle you will be happy with.
AssetTrader has put together a buyer’s guide to help answer necessary questions to insure the right purchase. We help you answer questions such as, how much horsepower do you need? What features are most important? And how much you can expect to pay?

Functionality and Use

When you have determined that a tractor is the right piece of equipment for you, the next query is how much horsepower you need. Tractor models are generally determined by the difference in horsepower. It determines the kind of work the tractor can perform, what types of attachments can be fitted, and therefore how much you can expect to pay.
On the smaller end of the market, tractors with less that 25 hp are used for handling basic lawn work, similar to a commercial mower. A good middle ground is the 25 to 65 hp tractors, these feature capabilities suited for ranch communities, horse farms, nurseries and many commercial uses. The larger models with 65 hp are suited for tough, agricultural uses such as tilling fields and bailing hay. The top of the range in commercial farming are the tractors that feature 200 hp engines or even higher.

This should give you a clear indicator of what type of tractor you need, depending on the hp it comes equipped with. Keep in mind that productivity and costs associated with running and buying tractors fall into whether the tractor is overused and productivity falls or if you under use it and the initial costs were higher than necessary.

The other main considerations after hp are;
Four wheel drive- For most buyers 4WD is a necessity, unless you are looking at the smaller models, used for finished lawns, these can do more damage than good and are not necessary. Otherwise most, larger sized tractors will come with 4WD.
Enclosed cabs- These are a popular choice among the new models. Greatly increasing comfort and the ability to work longer in unfriendly weather conditions, they also add to the resale value. Although the initial purchase price will be higher. Tractors under 25 hp generally do not come equipped with enclosed cabs.
Transmissions- For newer models the hydrostatic transmission is the preferred choice, offering clutch-free operation in a range of speeds.
Tires- These are determined by the type of application you will be using the tractor for. Agricultural tires are used for working in loose dirt, industrial tires for heavy mowing and loader work. The dealer will be able to help with this purchase choice.