[Lanelle]

A friend is getting out of the landscape install part of business and offered the following to us:

LX885 Turbo Diesel with Super Boom,
500 hrs on engine
Winter cab with heater
Tires have about 25% tread left
Includes: forks, low bucket, metal tracks, three hydraulic augers,
and a 20K lb rated trailer, 1998 model yr.
Looking very seriously at buying it to use for snow and grading.

Is $20K a good price or too much?

[Lanelle]

We have a copy of the original bill of sale for the LX885 which is dated 12/97 so I assume that it is a '97 or '98 model. Hope that helps.

[Paul]

Not alot of hours for that old of a machine, just wonder how it was stored. Check on oil usage? Has he changed the filters enough? I'm thinking somewere in the mid 17"s to low 18's.

Is it two speed? that helps alot with plowing! Also with price increase.

Checked on 885's and they are in the low 13"s

[Lanelle]

I'm not sure about the 2-speed option yet. I do know that it was originally purchased for $25K and the first owner was a large amusement park so it was probably garaged and got seasonal use.
Good service records have been kept by the second owner who has stored it in a garage. Frank looked at it and says that it looks like a new machine it terms of wear and tear and paint.

Am I right in thinking that the trailer is too heavily rated for this use and to keep below CDL requirements?

[Paul]

Sorry but you"ll need a CDL if you carry anything more than the skidsteer without the tracks. Your at just over 7500 lbs with out the trailer weight, add the tracks and augers (easy 1000 lbs) and a 10,001 lb trailer is over the CDL rate.

[Lanelle]

Ok, so Frank was already wanting to get his CDL....now he'll have a real reason. Thank you for your insights.

[start2finish]

Lanelle,
check the pins and bushings on the loader, this is a good indication of how well the machine was maintained.

the trailer you are speaking of is overkill for this machine and much heavier that what is required.

What do you plan on pulling the trailer with?

I paid $4,300 for a 20,000 rated 28 foot long tag along like you are describing about 3 years ago

you may can find a good machine for less than $13,000. I know a few used machine dealers here, this may help

the forks will be hard to find for less than $500.00
the auger is $1,500 or so depending on the brand and condition

also check the thickness of the pads on the steel tracks as well as the pins and/or bolts, how much adjustment is left? are they worn?

we are trading a 2005 S250 wth 800 hours on it, no bucket or attachments, but the trade is low 20's 2500lb rated cap.

[Matt Kulp]

Price should be around the 12-$14,000 range for that old of New Holland. I have the exact machine and love it. By the way, It is a two speed. 885 is two speed and 865 is the single.