Tractors are typically measured by hours of use to determine how long they will last. If you are looking at a used diesel tractor, 2,500 hours is considered a lot. Most tractors no longer feel like-new after about 500 hours of use, but once they hit 2,500 hours, the machines begin to require extra maintenance.
If you are looking for a used diesel tractor, it’s important to look into how many hours of use it has had so you can estimate how long it should last. This will help you determine whether you are getting a bargain or about to buy a tractor that will soon need to retire. Keep reading to find out how many hours is a lot for a diesel tractor.
How many hours of use on a diesel tractor is a lot?
Once a diesel tractor has seen an estimate of 2,500 hours of use, the machine begins to require extra work to continue operating in good condition. At this point, the hydraulic pumps, injectors, and clutches are usually in need of some work.
This doesn’t mean that the tractor is no longer good to use after 2,500 hours. You will still have many good years of use with the machine, however, it will just require additional maintenance and care to stay in good condition.
How long do diesel tractors last?
Most diesel tractors are designed to last for 6,000 to 8,000 hours. However, if the diesel tractor has been taken care of over the years and seen annual maintenance, it could last for 10,000 hours or more.
The average tractor user typically doesn’t keep track of the hours throughout the years. If you were to use the tractor for roughly 5 hours a week, you would like get 20 to 30 years or more out of it.
Should I buy a used diesel tractor with 2,500 hours on it?
In most cases, a tractor with 2,500 hours on it will still be in good condition and worth buying at the right price. At Home Farmer recommends not buying a tractor with 4,000 or more hours on it, as you may not get the years of use you were expecting.
Keep in mind, diesel tractors that have more hours of use will likely need more work to stay in good condition. However, if the tractor has 2,500 hours of use over a longer time period, it likely won’t need as much work because it wasn’t put through a lot of work.
How to tell if the diesel tractor has too many hours on it?
If you’re comparing two tractors with 500 hours of use on them and one has been used for 2 years and the other has been used for 4 years, they likely won’t be in the same condition. You can take the hours of use and divide it by house many years the diesel tractor has been used for.
Take the number you get and divide it by 152 to get the approximate hours of use the tractor gets each week. As you can see, a tractor with 500 hours after 4 years doesn’t get a lot of use, whereas a tractor with 500 hours over 2 years has seen a lot of action.
What should you consider before buying a tractor with 2,500 hours of use?
When you are looking at a tractor with 2,500 hours of use, you need to determine how the tractor has been used. If the tractor has been used hard, the sale might not be a good deal for you.
However, if the tractor was only used moderately over the span over several years, it could be a great bargain for you. You should also find out what kind of maintenance the previous owner did to the tractor.
Which diesel tractor will last the longest?
John Deere has a reputation for manufacturing the best-quality and longest lasting tractors. One long lasting diesel tractor worth investing in is the John Deere X750 Diesel.
All John Deere diesel engines are made by Yanmar and are known for being compact, top quality, and efficient. Like most John Deere equipment, people can generally get more years of use than they were expecting.
Do tractors hold value?
Most diesel tractors hold their value well over the years, especially if the owner has kept it in good condition. Tractors take a lot of effort to manufacture, so they are designed to retain their condition throughout the years.
This is why the value of most tractors doesn’t go down over the years. You may have a difficult time finding a low price on a used tractor because of this.
Should you buy a used tractor?
While tractors with a lot of use still have many years left to go, buyers are much better off buying a new tractor, especially if they are on a budget. Many companies will offer financing to make buying a new tractor more affordable for the customer.
This is worth considering because the diesel tractor will come with a warranty. When you purchase a new tractor, you will not have to worry about repairs and extra work.
What is the average cost of a diesel tractor?
Before you compare costs of tractors, you must determine which size of tractor you need. A compact tractor with less than 30 horsepower will range in price from $9,000 to $12,000.
Mid-sized tractors with up to 80 hp will be pricier, averaging at $25,000 to $50,000. However, if you want a large tractor with more than 100 hp, you can expect to pay $50,000 to $100,000.
How much does a tractor depreciate with hours of use?
Every hour of use can lower how much a tractor is worth by $30 to $95, depending on how the tractor has been used. If the tractor only sees a few hours of use each week, it will likely be at the lower end of that price range.
However, if the tractor gets a lot of use and has been worked hard, it may exceed the price range.
