cj11363
New member
I'm going to buy a tractor with loader in the next week or so ( perhaps in the next few days if I find the right price ). I need something to fill in my swimming pool with, and a few other "heavy lifting" type chores, and have recently concluded that a tractor is probably a tool that I should have purchased years ago. Been sorting through an information overload for the last month or so, from this site, other sites, dealers, input from friends with tractors, etc...; and think that I've managed to narrow it down to a Mahindra Max 28 HST or a Kubota B2920 ( gave up on John Deere, primarily because their product line and website are to confusing for me to make heads or tails of ).
For a tractor and loader, the Max 28 and the B2920 are priced pretty close. All other things being equal, I'd probably choose the Kubota over the Max 28 for resale value, and because the Kubota has 3 ranges on the HST and the Mahindra has only 2. So my first question to any Max owners is "do you wish that you had a 3rd speed range on the HST ?" I really have no idea how important the number of speed ranges is.
This gets a little more complicated because I've almost convinced myself to get a backhoe with the tractor. Got a price of about $19K ( before tax ) for a MAX 28, loader and hoe. I've read arguments for and against getting a backhoe, and I agree that for as often as I'll probably wind up using the hoe, it could be cheaper to rent. It really boils down to (a) convenience and (b) not having to pick up a shovel. With respect to "(a) convenience"; there are numerous little things in the yard that I could use a hoe for, but aren't important enough to warrant going to the hassle of renting something. As for "(b) not having to pick up a shovel"; in my youth I spent a fair amount of time on the end of a shovel, and none of that turned out to be what I would call "quality time" ( never did find one of those jobs where they pay you just to "lean" on the shovel...). I'm at a point in my life where I can afford the $4.5K that Mahindra wants for the MB63 hoe, but for some reason the $6.5K that Kubota wants to put a hoe on the B2920 gives me a little heartburn. ( but did I mention how much I really dislike shovels... )
I *thought* that a mechanical thumb was available as an option for the Max 28 backhoe ( aka MB63 ) , but my dealer says that he can't find the thumb in his price book. I recently found a parts diagram at OEM Parts that shows the mechanical thumb, so I think that this thing may actually exist, but can't figure out how to buy a Mahindra Max 28 TLB with the thumb.
Whilst I'm kinda leaning towards the Max 28 TLB right now, I'm still considering a Kubota 2920 without a hoe. In addition to filling in the pool, other uses for the tractor would be light gardening, landscaping and occasional loader work. Might get a pull behind finish mower for it down the road, but for now I've got a Toro commercial walk-behind mower that more than meets my needs. All insights welcomed!
thanks,
--Charlie Jordan
Brenwood, TN
For a tractor and loader, the Max 28 and the B2920 are priced pretty close. All other things being equal, I'd probably choose the Kubota over the Max 28 for resale value, and because the Kubota has 3 ranges on the HST and the Mahindra has only 2. So my first question to any Max owners is "do you wish that you had a 3rd speed range on the HST ?" I really have no idea how important the number of speed ranges is.
This gets a little more complicated because I've almost convinced myself to get a backhoe with the tractor. Got a price of about $19K ( before tax ) for a MAX 28, loader and hoe. I've read arguments for and against getting a backhoe, and I agree that for as often as I'll probably wind up using the hoe, it could be cheaper to rent. It really boils down to (a) convenience and (b) not having to pick up a shovel. With respect to "(a) convenience"; there are numerous little things in the yard that I could use a hoe for, but aren't important enough to warrant going to the hassle of renting something. As for "(b) not having to pick up a shovel"; in my youth I spent a fair amount of time on the end of a shovel, and none of that turned out to be what I would call "quality time" ( never did find one of those jobs where they pay you just to "lean" on the shovel...). I'm at a point in my life where I can afford the $4.5K that Mahindra wants for the MB63 hoe, but for some reason the $6.5K that Kubota wants to put a hoe on the B2920 gives me a little heartburn. ( but did I mention how much I really dislike shovels... )
I *thought* that a mechanical thumb was available as an option for the Max 28 backhoe ( aka MB63 ) , but my dealer says that he can't find the thumb in his price book. I recently found a parts diagram at OEM Parts that shows the mechanical thumb, so I think that this thing may actually exist, but can't figure out how to buy a Mahindra Max 28 TLB with the thumb.
Whilst I'm kinda leaning towards the Max 28 TLB right now, I'm still considering a Kubota 2920 without a hoe. In addition to filling in the pool, other uses for the tractor would be light gardening, landscaping and occasional loader work. Might get a pull behind finish mower for it down the road, but for now I've got a Toro commercial walk-behind mower that more than meets my needs. All insights welcomed!
thanks,
--Charlie Jordan
Brenwood, TN