Forks Kubota forks or Bobcat quick release FEL attachment and aftermarket forks for B3200HS

[Nanook]

I finally purchased my Kubota tractor. Considering all of the many suggestions, I decided on the B3200HSD. I also ordered it with FEL, BH, and forks. But, when discussing the forks option with the dealer, he told me that they could sell me a FEL with the quick-attach Bobcat style 2 handle attachment mechanism rather than the standard quick attach Kubota bucket. If I went with the Bobcat style FEL attachment, they would have to sell me a different bucket, but then I would have the option of using any standard Bobcat style attachment, like pallet forks, plow blade, brush rakes, etc. I ordered the standard Kubota forks, even though it would cost me a little more than having the Bobcat style 2 handle attachment and an after-market fork set because the only fork set I knew of at the time was a 42 inch 4000 pound capacity. Of course, the B3200HSD cannot lift much more than 1100 pounds, at the most, so 4000 pound forks would be useless. More important, they weigh almost 350 pounds by themselves, vs the 120 pounds or so for the Kubota 1000 forks, so I would actually loose 200 pounds of lifting capacity with the aftermarket forks. But, I have found other lighter aftermarket forks that would only cause me to loos 100 pounds of lifting capacity.

So, now I am wondering, overall, would I be better off getting my B3200HSD with the Bobcat style attachments and a 60 inch FEL bucket that works with that attachment, or should I just stay with the standard Kubota FEL and attachment, which would preclude my use of other attachments in the future that use the Bobcat skidsteer type attachment. (Apparently all of the Kubotas larger than the B3200 now come standard with the Bobcat style attachment.

Overall, the Bobcat style attachment will cost me an additional $285 for the TLB with a 60 inch bucket that is set up for the Bobcat style 2 handle attachment. I can buy an aftermarket set of Bobcat style forks for about $700 or so. The end price is about the same either way, except that they Kubota forks are about 100 pounds lighter than any aftermarket forks that I have found. I need to make my decision by tomorrow, 3/31.

 

[k0ua]

In my opinion, you will never regret going to the SSQA (Bobtach) standard.. on the B3200, it is at that size that is a little marginal, but even so I would still go with the SSQA standard instead of the proprietary kubota hitch.. each to his own, but the whole world is open to you with SSQA, plus you can find and buy SSQA plates to build your own front attachments, to do what every your fertile mind can envision.. I would SSQA and never look back.

 

[94BULLITT]

Is your dealer using the ATI adapter? I thought I read on here that the ATI Skid steer quick attach adapter for the B3200 took away some of the digging depth. Maybe somebody that has one can confirm this. You will lose a little lift capacity with the SSQA but I doubt you will regret it with the ease of changing attachments.

 

[puckgrinder85]

Once you have the bob-tach I doubt you'll want to use anything else. Every attachment from here on out will be cheaper, easier to find and easier to sell if you want to get rid of it later on down the road. You can also buy the adaptor plates pretty cheap and make just about anything you want off of that plate. As far as lifting capacity I converted my tractor over from pin on style to the bob-tach (SSQA) and didn't really notice a lack of power or digging. Im sure there is some difference, that's physics, but not enough to make me worry. If you're constantly at your loaders capacity, you need a larger tractor to be honest.

 

[94BULLITT]

I wonder if the B50 SSQA will fit it?

 

[DK35vince]

Once you have the bob-tach I doubt you'll want to use anything else. Every attachment from here on out will be cheaper, easier to find and easier to sell if you want to get rid of it later on down the road. You can also buy the adaptor plates pretty cheap and make just about anything you want off of that plate. As far as lifting capacity I converted my tractor over from pin on style to the bob-tach (SSQA) and didn't really notice a lack of power or digging. Im sure there is some difference, that's physics, but not enough to make me worry. If you're constantly at your loaders capacity, you need a larger tractor to be honest.

All that + if you ever change tractors, or ever brands in the future your SSQA attachments will still fit.

 

[Nanook]

Is your dealer using the ATI adapter? I thought I read on here that the ATI Skid steer quick attach adapter for the B3200 took away some of the digging depth. Maybe somebody that has one can confirm this. You will lose a little lift capacity with the SSQA but I doubt you will regret it with the ease of changing attachments.

I am not sure what adapter they are using. They said I would need a different fel bucket. They showed me the setup on a larger tractor and said mine would be just like that. I think all of their larger tractors now come standard with the SSQA attachment. I don't think it is an adapter, but I could be wrong. I think they are just fitting one of them onto the B3200 and giving me a 60 inch bucket that normally goes with a larger tractor. That was the impression that I got. It was a few hundred dollars more, but the cost of an aftermarket pallet fork is less, so the SSQA with aftermarket forks was only about $100 less than the regular Kubota mounts and the Kubota forks. The big difference, at the time I was at the dealer, was that the aftermarket forks were several hundred pounds heavier, thus giving me less total lifting power. But, I have found other aftermarket forks that are lighter (because they are only rated to 1500 pounds rather than 4000 pounds.) But, the B3200 is never going to be able to lift more than 1000 pounds (which is the rating of the Kubota forks) any way.

 

[k0ua]

All that + if you ever change tractors, or ever brands in the future your SSQA attachments will still fit.

I hadn't even thought of that, but that alone is enough to justify going to SSQA.

 

[Tompet]

I recently traded some emails with member Jim Wilson, he has a B3200, on this topic to confirm Kubota's new skid steer style qa for the Kubota B FEL LA 534 that will also fit the B3200 and B3300 FEL 504 loader. I believe it is Kubota part number B2366. You will need to ask your dealer on this and to see if they are dealers for the following attachment company.

I was thinking of switching over to this vs the Kubota pin on style qa I currently own. I would also suggest looking at the lightweight forks made by constructioattachments.com , what is nice on these are they are lightweight with a sliding bar for the tines but they do not fall forward when tilting the FEL. They were much less $ than Kubota OEM forks. Enjoy the new 3200!

 

[94BULLITT]

I am not sure what adapter they are using. They said I would need a different fel bucket. They showed me the setup on a larger tractor and said mine would be just like that. I think all of their larger tractors now come standard with the SSQA attachment. I don't think it is an adapter, but I could be wrong. I think they are just fitting one of them onto the B3200 and giving me a 60 inch bucket that normally goes with a larger tractor. That was the impression that I got. It was a few hundred dollars more, but the cost of an aftermarket pallet fork is less, so the SSQA with aftermarket forks was only about $100 less than the regular Kubota mounts and the Kubota forks. The big difference, at the time I was at the dealer, was that the aftermarket forks were several hundred pounds heavier, thus giving me less total lifting power. But, I have found other aftermarket forks that are lighter (because they are only rated to 1500 pounds rather than 4000 pounds.) But, the B3200 is never going to be able to lift more than 1000 pounds (which is the rating of the Kubota forks) any way.

When I said adapter (for lack of better terminology) I was talking about one of these

ATI Tach-All Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach Hitch for tractor loaders

That is how all tractors are with SSQA.

I think the best way to go would be a B3350 "adapter" and bucket.