Home / Guides / Tractor Buying & Selection
Tractor Buying & SelectionTractor Package Deals: What to Include
A package deal can save money and hassle, or it can bundle in things you do not need. The trick is knowing what a sensible package contains and how to price it against buying piece by piece.
Key points
- List the work you need to do, then match the package to that list.
- Verify hitch, PTO and loader compatibility in writing.
- Price items separately to compare.
- Ask who services the add-on equipment.
What is a tractor package deal?
A package usually bundles a tractor with attachments, such as a loader, bucket, rotary cutter or box blade, sometimes with delivery and setup. It may be advertised as a single price.
Packages vary by dealer and season. I will not quote any prices here. Your job is to find out exactly what is in the box and whether it matches your work.
Seasonal timing may affect what dealers offer, and many offer packages at different times of the year. Ask what is included right now, and whether the same terms might be available later if you need to wait.
What should a useful package include?
Think about the first month on your place. If you have a pasture to mow, you need a mower. If you move bales, you need a loader and a way to carry them. If you grade a lane, a blade matters.
Make a list of required items and compare the package to it. Extra items you will not use are not a bargain.
Think about what you can store and use. A 10-acre place with a small shed may not have room for several large implements, and an unused implement just rusts.
- Loader and bucket if you do loader work
- At least one implement that matches your main job
- Delivery and setup
- Fluids, filters and a first service
- Operator's manuals for every item
How do you check that the pieces actually fit together?
Confirm that the implements match the tractor's hitch category, PTO speed and hydraulic capability. Confirm that the loader suits the tractor's frame and that any counterweight needed for loader work is included.
Ask the dealer to confirm the match in writing. A package assembled for a sales sheet may include a mismatched item.
Ask to see the machines assembled and running together before delivery, and look at every connection point. A mismatched fit is far easier to fix at the dealer than at your gate.
How should you compare a package with buying separately?
Price each item on its own from at least one other source and add them up. Include delivery and setup. Then compare that total to the package.
Be careful to compare equal quality and equal terms. A cheaper implement in the package may be lighter or smaller than the one you would choose yourself.
Ask about financing on bundles. Some lenders treat attachments differently from the tractor, and a lender can explain how that affects your terms.
- Compare the weight and size of each implement with the tractor's rated capacity
- Ask whether the implements are the same quality you would buy separately
- Ask for each item's price listed individually
What about warranties and service on the extras?
Ask whether the implements and loader have their own warranty or fall under the tractor's. Ask what happens if one piece fails and who handles the claim.
If the extras are made by other companies, ask where to get parts and service.
Request copies of every manual and warranty document, and write the serial numbers on a card you keep in the shop.
What should you leave out or add?
Do not accept implements you cannot use or store. If a package includes a large implement your shed cannot hold, ask for a swap or a different bundle. Consider adding safety items such as a work light, a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit.
A hay farm may want a different set from a market garden. Tailor the package, and ask the dealer how flexible they are.
- A work light for early and late chores
- A fire extinguisher kept within reach
- A basic first-aid kit for the shop
How do you finish the deal?
Get a written list with serial numbers, a delivery date and all terms. Ask whether financing covers the full package. A lender or accountant can help you plan, and this is not financial advice.
Keep every receipt and the written package list in one folder, and take photos at delivery so that any missing or damaged item is noted on the spot.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.