We’re old fogies, so we really don’t feel like pushing ourselves too hard with the move. Basically, on weeknights we move one truckload, or a truckload plus a trailerload. Typically, I get stuff packed and/or ready for loading when my other half gets home from work. Sometimes, I go over and unpack some things during the day, but it’s been rainy on and off, which throws a monkey wrench into it. Clear days are great for moving furniture, but if it’s rainy, then it means moving boxes. Can’t always unpack something if the furniture in which it belongs isn’t there yet (the good china, without the giant china hutch, for example). Also, try hitching and unhitching a trailer after dark. Sure, I can flip on the exterior lights by the house or barn, but a very bright flashlight really is required.
Wednesday was Rosh Hashana, so my other half got it off (although he had to work on Columbus Day, like most people do). Instead of moving two or three loads, we moved one, and went tractor shopping. Hubby did the legwork online ahead of time, comparing new and used models, plus the attachments we needed, and narrowed it down to two options, one each at different dealers. We visited both dealers, and ended up with a used Kubota in fantastic shape that had less than 300 miles on it, for about half the price of a new version. Sure, the attachments we ordered for it, plus a set of real tractor tires on their own rims (as opposed to the landscape type ones it comes with), had to be ordered as brand new items, but we got the mulch kit, the three point hitch rear-mount 51″ wide snowblower, and the new wheels/tires for the cost of a new version of that model w/o the accessories. The nifty thing is that if we ever decided we want to add a front end loader attachment, a post hole digger/auger, or a small-ish backhoe, we can, for only the cost of the attachment. The tractor can handle that.
We like that dealer. That’s where we bought our riding mower a few years ago. They’re fair, pricewise, and absolutely know their shit when it comes to repairing something we can’t take care of on our own (oil changes, basic maintenance, etc.). Even if they have to come pick up and deliver a vehicle, they don’t charge much for the time and effort. Plus, they’re never pushy when it comes to selling a piece of equipment, whether it’s a stand alone snowblower, a riding mower, a leaf blower, a ZTR, or something bigger, like a real tractor. They will never sell a used riding mower, ATV, or tractor w/o servicing it themselves, pretty much up to factory refurbished standards, before even offering it for resale.
We got to test drive it. Indeed, it does drive like a tractor, with a bit of a jolt if you shift directly from turtle to rabbit, without pausing on neutral (figuratively speaking). It has a real drive shaft, so we don’t have to worry about it breaking a belt halfway through the work we’re going to make it do. I’m sure I’ll get used to it, but for now, I think I’ll stick to driving our riding mower, and using our self-powered walk-behind snowblower, because I’m comfortable with those.
This might have been the easiest sale the guy ever got, or maybe not. They do get a lot of business from professional landscaping crews. We didn’t waste his time, because we told him right off the bat what we were after, what we needed to supplement it, for what purpose, and just made sure that if we found a need later to add another attachment, it wouldn’t be a problem. You’ve got to love a place that has a Briggs and Stratton bar stool for patrons to use while they’re waiting
I think we’ll get a call next week saying that most of what we ordered for it is there, and they’re ready to release it to us, to cart home in our trailer, and let us come pick up the other accessories later, which is fine with us.
Sure, I get it that most people aren’t jazzed about buying a tractor, but I did buy a farm, and it’s got a little too much open land to take care of with the equipment we currently have. I knew damn well before I even put in an offer on the place that we were going to have to either get a ZTR and hire someone to plow most of the driveway, or get the equipment to do it ourselves. Anyway, this excites me. It’s a really sweet tractor.
I want everything moved out of here by the end of this weekend. It is possible, but it involves me not re-wrecking my ankle, so that I have limited ability to lift my end of heavy furniture.
Being in limbo is weird. Can’t even figure out when to call Verizon to cut off service here, and turn it on there.
It’s also strange ordering some stuff for our new house. Depending on where I order it from, it has to be delivered here, and carted over there, or can be delivered there. Chasing after packages isn’t what I want to have to do, but … deal with it, because it’s so much better if the ones that weigh 75+ lbs. get delivered there.
Anyway, I’m rambling, but I am sooooooo happy about the real tractor. It’s going to make a huge difference.
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