Lotts_Valley - 12/7/2018 06:24

not sure which forum to put this in, marketing forum has the most finance minded posts so here is where its going. Small operation here, but that shouldnt matter. I have an older 25 year old bareback 4wd and a 19 year old MFWD (both case IH). I am putting 300+ hours on the 19 year old MFWD. I added hauling swine manure to that tractors list of duties 4 years ago and has increased that tractors usage. Cost of operation has been cheap so far maybe 2k in repairs a year or less. Just went to 6100 hrs this fall. Nothing major yet. However, I feel like that tractor is taking the load and its only a matter of time before a major repair. Tires are getting worn too. 7 years ago i purchased the bareback 4wd for spring and fall tillage. I am finding that i am putting 50-75 hours a year on it MAX. Also, my MFWD is my only PTO/3 point tractor. So I rely on it 100% planting, grain cart, and manure hauling. If that tractor is down, I am down. Also, i cant perform any of those operations that require 3pt pto simultaneously (haul manure while planting/grain cart and haul manure) with only one tractor. I dont feel i am utilizing my equipment dollars most efficiently owning the big 4wd, also the 4wd runs the risk of having big repairs even on its light usage. I hate to put a repair in a 25 year old machine that is equal to a large percentage of the value of the tractor. So the scenario is : I can lease a used 340 horse mfwd for 3 years/ 300 hours for 14k a year with full warranty. (can even add hours to lease and cheapen dollars per hour). My 4wd on trade would essentially cover the 3 years of lease payments. I would have no repairs for those 3 years and would retire the MFWD that i own to light duty/ back up status for the 3 years. Or: would you trade the 4wd off on another similar houred and aged MFWD like the one i currently have and run the risk of repairs downtime etc. I would also still fight depreciation over the 3 years buying an older depreciated out MFD (probably 10k in 3 years i'm estimating) OR: would you sit on your hands and keep the old underutilized 4wd sitting parked most of the year depreciating a little bit and keep grinding 300+ hours on the MFD and repair when it needs it.