Zac chandler
Member
As I lurk through this forum I read a lot about “should I buy a dozer for farm use and or odd jobs”
I was this guy that asked my self that question since 2017 when I bought my hobby farm or fun farm.
I just hunt the property and let kids play in the woods and not a computer.
Every weekend I dreamed about what I could do with a Dozer. I can clear this, grade that, build what ever.
Like most I started out hiring someone. They do a good a job or maybe not, but most of the time you would do it different. Nothing wrong with that.
So you look at renting next or at least I did. Then I ran numbers $4500 a month plus fuel and I’m a weekend warrior. You think you may be able to get 40 hrs out of a months rental and for that and your the same cost of just hiring someone. So back to square one.
So what do you do you look at buying. I wanted a track hoe and dozer but no budget for both. So I bought a track hoe first. I purchased a 1999 kumotsu 220. I paid $24,000 for it and ran it for about 70-80 hrs and it broke a lot. Nothing I couldn’t fix except once and had to pay $3k for some wiring gremlins and a computer to tell them what. After flushing hydraulics and parts etc I paid $7000.00 in repairs and about $1500 in fuel.
I sold it a year later when I felt like the turn table was going out for $25,500.00 the guy who bought it is still running it he said some minor repairs but a good machine. I was very happy with what I got done. All 70-80 hrs was de stumping which is hard on the machine and operator.
If your keeping count I’m minus $7000.00 for 70-100 hrs.
Now fast forward I look at about 25 dozers over the next two years. I go to auctions I talk to different dealers and operators to get a grasp of the size I need. I decide I want a older machine with lower hours.
I come across a 1998 650G. I buy it from a large dealer. I get oil samples sent off. I get the entire machine serviced. Any leaks repaired such as hydraulic lines that needed gaskets etc. Every thing checks out I’m out the door $33,000.00 not to bad for A clean machine with no droop or lag and smooth shifting.
1 hr in I blow the rear main seal. I was pushing a old farm stead and likely wrapped barb wire in it. I don’t have a shop or hoist and most importantly time to repair so there goes $2500.00
Before I hit two hrs I spring a oil leak I don’t see while running and throw a rod through the motor.
That’s a $18,000.00 mistake. This is rare but google parts dozers. There is 100’s and 100’s with blown motors.
Dealer has offered to pay half the repairs. Since I didn’t get 2 hrs. So now I’m $43,500 in a $30,000.00 machine.
Total loss $13,500.00
So my take away. First I run skidsteers and mini x’s for a living. I’ve owned them for 15 years and they break but never hurt as bad as yellow iron. They always seem easier to repair.
Second my experience is extreme but shows it can happen to anyone. I don’t know what I could have done different. I had kumotsu guy who had nothing to do with the sell tell me my track hoe should last another 1000 hrs if not more with no issues he can see.
I had a independent Johndeere guy look at this dozer not affiliated with the sell tell me it be a great farm dozer.
Saying all this after I get my feet back under me I’ll rent this year or try to hire out someone to do my urgent road repairs and try buying again because it’s suoer nice to have your own equipment and convenience is worth a lot. However it can be extremely expensive to run yellow iron.
Lastly I feel you need to be way more mechanically inclined then you think you need to be. Everything is stupid heavy and really big. A shop is almost a must when working on them.
If you agree or disagree chime in. Everyone’s situation is different.
I was this guy that asked my self that question since 2017 when I bought my hobby farm or fun farm.
I just hunt the property and let kids play in the woods and not a computer.
Every weekend I dreamed about what I could do with a Dozer. I can clear this, grade that, build what ever.
Like most I started out hiring someone. They do a good a job or maybe not, but most of the time you would do it different. Nothing wrong with that.
So you look at renting next or at least I did. Then I ran numbers $4500 a month plus fuel and I’m a weekend warrior. You think you may be able to get 40 hrs out of a months rental and for that and your the same cost of just hiring someone. So back to square one.
So what do you do you look at buying. I wanted a track hoe and dozer but no budget for both. So I bought a track hoe first. I purchased a 1999 kumotsu 220. I paid $24,000 for it and ran it for about 70-80 hrs and it broke a lot. Nothing I couldn’t fix except once and had to pay $3k for some wiring gremlins and a computer to tell them what. After flushing hydraulics and parts etc I paid $7000.00 in repairs and about $1500 in fuel.
I sold it a year later when I felt like the turn table was going out for $25,500.00 the guy who bought it is still running it he said some minor repairs but a good machine. I was very happy with what I got done. All 70-80 hrs was de stumping which is hard on the machine and operator.
If your keeping count I’m minus $7000.00 for 70-100 hrs.
Now fast forward I look at about 25 dozers over the next two years. I go to auctions I talk to different dealers and operators to get a grasp of the size I need. I decide I want a older machine with lower hours.
I come across a 1998 650G. I buy it from a large dealer. I get oil samples sent off. I get the entire machine serviced. Any leaks repaired such as hydraulic lines that needed gaskets etc. Every thing checks out I’m out the door $33,000.00 not to bad for A clean machine with no droop or lag and smooth shifting.
1 hr in I blow the rear main seal. I was pushing a old farm stead and likely wrapped barb wire in it. I don’t have a shop or hoist and most importantly time to repair so there goes $2500.00
Before I hit two hrs I spring a oil leak I don’t see while running and throw a rod through the motor.
That’s a $18,000.00 mistake. This is rare but google parts dozers. There is 100’s and 100’s with blown motors.
Dealer has offered to pay half the repairs. Since I didn’t get 2 hrs. So now I’m $43,500 in a $30,000.00 machine.
Total loss $13,500.00
So my take away. First I run skidsteers and mini x’s for a living. I’ve owned them for 15 years and they break but never hurt as bad as yellow iron. They always seem easier to repair.
Second my experience is extreme but shows it can happen to anyone. I don’t know what I could have done different. I had kumotsu guy who had nothing to do with the sell tell me my track hoe should last another 1000 hrs if not more with no issues he can see.
I had a independent Johndeere guy look at this dozer not affiliated with the sell tell me it be a great farm dozer.
Saying all this after I get my feet back under me I’ll rent this year or try to hire out someone to do my urgent road repairs and try buying again because it’s suoer nice to have your own equipment and convenience is worth a lot. However it can be extremely expensive to run yellow iron.
Lastly I feel you need to be way more mechanically inclined then you think you need to be. Everything is stupid heavy and really big. A shop is almost a must when working on them.
If you agree or disagree chime in. Everyone’s situation is different.