Suggestions to narrow the hunt - 25hp, 4x4, HST - Branson, Mahindra, Kioti, JD, Ford?

[ChrisintheMojave]

Okay first post so be gentle.
I'm on 2.5 Acres with about 300 yards of road to take care of and I'll be doing landscaping too.

I had a chance to use a "25hp" Kioti for a few days on my property 8 years ago...time flies. So now we're going to landscape and I've got some other projects. Part of the property is sandy and uneven.

From what I remember from what I liked and didn't like from the Kioti and reading here, I've got a starter list of requirements:
Compact tractor but not "Sub compact" - I need some ground clearance and I'll NEVER need a belly mower.
About 25hp - That's what the other had and it was enough :thumbsup:
4x4
HST or some sort of Hydro drive. The Kioti was a regular gear shift and that was a pain for some of the tasks plus I'd like my 9yo and wife to be able to run it. I think HST drive would make it "friendlier" for them.
60" Loader with float - smoothing the road - the Kioti bucket had a "Float" control for the loader that I remember using a lot.

3 point and PTO to run an auger for planting trees and setting fence posts. Able to turn a 9" to 12" auger in sandy soil down 3 or 4 feet.

I like it to be small enough to park in in a 20ft "sea van" to keep it out of the sun.

From looking around there seems to be a BEWILDERING array of choices.
Budget is 12K "ish" - no idea if that's enough to get it done? Not opposed to low time used. I've seen prices all over the map for the same tractor! and for some reason used small tractors are pricey here in California! I've had two friends drive out of state to buy!

Only dealer within 150 miles is Mahindra... 150 miles from me there's Bakersfield, Ca and I think EVERY maker has a dealership there.

I'm used to just getting stuff mail order...
I'm willing to drive to get the best deal on a tractor and I already have a trailer to haul it.
Sort of thinking Mahindra, Kioti, Kubota... but just starting the hunt.

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[varmint]

Greetings! This is a great website to learn, investigate, waste time, etc. I took a quick look at tractorhouse.com, a good clearing house for whats on sale around the country, but just at Kubota L2800's, the smaller engined version of my L3400. Here's one in OK that you might be able to deal down to $12000 +. I would definitely be thinking used, likely private party- no sales tax. http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=8657911
I'd be watching Craig's list, and the classifieds here, as well.

Something like the L2800 should be a great tractor for you. Figure on $5-700 for your auger. A 12" auger in sandy soil will be a piece of cake. Loader float is standard. If you can find something with the SSQA bucket, that might prove very useful down the road if you get a grapple, forks ?? Lastly, if you can haul it, you should have no trouble finding something within a couple hundred miles that is just right for your price range- it just may take a while.

 

[Olympus]

You're doing yourself a disservice my not considering LS in your search. J2023 or XJ2025 would meet your criteria. I bought a new 2023 at the beginning of last year and paid $12,200. Comes with the best warranty in the business, 3 year bumper to bumper, 5 year powertrain. I live on 6 acres and it's plenty of tractor for my needs. Has more loader lift capacity than direct competitors and larger gpm hydro pumps. Easily the best bang for your buck in the CUT market.

I was in your same boat and what I learned was that Mahindra looked and felt cheap and did not have near the fit and finish of other brands and they were expensive, more $15-$16k for a 25hp model. Kioti was very close in quality to the LS I bought, made in South Korea just like LS, but didn't have the same warranty and was about $1500 higher. Kioti would have been my second choice. Kubota was way outside my budget for CUT, their SCUT was even outside my budget. Same with JD, their SCUT was way outside my budget. Had no Branson or TYM dealers in my area so I didn't consider them.

 

[HCJtractor]

I too like the Kubota L 2800 of similar. A nice used one should be relatively common. I'm not sure what transmissions were available. My bigger Bota has standard shifting. But it's really easy. Unless you do a lot of FEL work, I would think its easy to learn. It's not like a car when you have to run through gears to build speed.

 

[varmint]

I hadn't seen, or thought about the LS tractors. I looked up used ones, and ran across Bruno's tractors in Arkansas- "free shipping in the lower 48" - might be something to look at? Seems like a lot of machine for the money. There would be tradeoffs, of course, but still...

 

[HCJtractor]

You're doing yourself a disservice my not considering LS in your search. J2023 or XJ2025 would meet your criteria. I bought a new 2023 at the beginning of last year and paid $12,200. Comes with the best warranty in the business, 3 year bumper to bumper, 5 year powertrain. I live on 6 acres and it's plenty of tractor for my needs. Has more loader lift capacity than direct competitors and larger gpm hydro pumps. Easily the best bang for your buck in the CUT market. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/buying-pricing-comparisons/410138-suggestions-narrow-hunt-25hp-4x4-forumrunner_20150204_132804-png"/>

That does look nice. I'm not familiar with LS. But realistically, there are lots of good tractors in this size. Many would serve his needs. I would advise to shop around. See which one is comfortable. Make sure it has rear remotes. And skid steer quick attachment on the FEL. And I think 4 wd is worth the extra cost. To me, it just depends on what he can find in his area and the price. As long as you stick with a reputable brand, you should be fine.

 

[Olympus]

Go to the LS website and use their dealer locator. It's kind of wonky, but you enter your zip and it will find a dealer in your area. It does not have a "radius" setting, so if it doesn't pull up any info, enter a zip for a city a little further away. Eventually you'll get results.

LS is building their dealer network and it may be patchy in certain parts of the country. In my area, I have 3 LS dealers all within about an hour drive. Other places are more spread out. I can vouch that they stand behind their product 100%.

 

[Olympus]

Here is a video I took of my LS shortly after buying it since there was not a lot of info available at the time.

http://youtu.be/VRpGDcxu-MU

 

[antlers125]

Definitely listen to this. He is correct in every word.

You're doing yourself a disservice my not considering LS in your search. J2023 or XJ2025 would meet your criteria. I bought a new 2023 at the beginning of last year and paid $12,200. Comes with the best warranty in the business, 3 year bumper to bumper, 5 year powertrain. I live on 6 acres and it's plenty of tractor for my needs. Has more loader lift capacity than direct competitors and larger gpm hydro pumps. Easily the best bang for your buck in the CUT market.

I was in your same boat and what I learned was that Mahindra looked and felt cheap and did not have near the fit and finish of other brands and they were expensive, more $15-$16k for a 25hp model. Kioti was very close in quality to the LS I bought, made in South Korea just like LS, but didn't have the same warranty and was about $1500 higher. Kioti would have been my second choice. Kubota was way outside my budget for CUT, their SCUT was even outside my budget. Same with JD, their SCUT was way outside my budget. Had no Branson or TYM dealers in my area so I didn't consider them.



View attachment 410138