Top Tips When Buying Your First Used Tractor Online

Used farm equipment is plentiful online. There's a huge amount on the market and buying previously owned machinery could potentially save you a large amount of money. In short, purchasing used farming equipment and farming machinery online can be a bargain.

However all that glistens certainly isn't gold and to save you the heartache, hassle and expense of a bad investment when it comes to buying farm equipment online (which could include using search terms such as used machinery, used equipment, farming equipment, farming machinery, used tractors and used trailers) there are a number of considerations it might be wise to bear in mind and some important tips you would be well advised to follow.

After exhaustive research, all that hunting online may have revealed to you what appears to be a great catch. You've just found a fabulous looking piece of farm machinery in an online auction or classified ad. Of course, you want it to do the job it's intended for and so here are some top tips that will enable you to best know whether this piece farming equipment - a tractor for example is worth your time trouble and most importantly - your cash. In fact let's use buying a used tractor by way of example.

1. What's in a name?

There are familiar brand names that you've heard before and unfamiliar brands new to you. Whilst an unfamiliar brand won't necessarily be poor quality or unreliable, decent quality brand-name equipment with an associated good quality reputation is certainly less likely to let you down.

2. More is less.

How many hours are on the clock? Is the tractor nearing a major service or has it just had one. What's the life expectancy according to the clock?

3. One careful lady owner?

Has the tractor been half flogged to death in its previous life? Is the tractor approaching a time when it may need major repairs. Has it been treated with TLC or driven into the ground?

Unless you have plenty of time on your hands and you're mechanically inclined, customized, heavily used or abused kit will usually end up costing you more than if you had paid more.

4. Play by the book

Book values and number of hours on the clock are your best indicators of value on newer equipment, both of which you should get from the dealer manufacturer. Ask for clear evidence of age and usage.

Remember though that a book price is just that - a price in a book. When considering the value of a specific piece of farm machinery give it a thorough going over.

5. There's no fire without smoke.

Is excessive smoke appearing from the machine's exhaust system? If so this may be an indication of a damaged engine and or oil leaks. Buying used farm machinery is no different to when buying a car. Check the engine and see if you hear knocks or see smoke. Check the bearings, examine the knuckles and joints for damage or indications of wear.

You may have to pay a small premium to get hold of it but clean, good-conditioned, low-hour used farming machinery will save you time and money in the long run.