help me pick out a tractor

[brin]

A good tractor will last you a long time.I think you should wait till you get home and check out the dealers that are in your area.A good dealer can be more important to you than what color the tractor is. Sit on a few,ask lots of questions,and take your time. The cheep financing is not free. It may even get cheeper.

I have seen many posts suggesting that a good dealer is the most important consideration but I offer a different view. When I bought my NH tC -29 in 2000 the dealer was only 15 miles from my house and was a great dealer but in 2002 they changed from New Holland to Deer and Kubota so there goes the importance of a dealer...Now the next closest on to me is 40 miles away and I do not trust them due to a previous experience I had with them a few years back with a ford jubilee I owned at that time. So just remember the only thing certain in life is Things Change, so don't count on a dealer always being there especially in this economy. There may be an independent tractor dealer or diesel mechanic near you and he may or may not be capable of working on a tractor. I am fortunate to have one close to me and have used him for some minor work.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have seen many posts suggesting that a good dealer is the most important consideration but I offer a different view. When I bought my NH tC -29 in 2000 the dealer was only 15 miles from my house and was a great dealer but in 2002 they changed from New Holland to Deer and Kubota so there goes the importance of a dealer...Now the next closest on to me is 40 miles away and I do not trust them due to a previous experience I had with them a few years back with a ford jubilee I owned at that time. So just remember the only thing certain in life is Things Change, so don't count on a dealer always being there especially in this economy. There may be an independent tractor dealer or diesel mechanic near you and he may or may not be capable of working on a tractor. I am fortunate to have one close to me and have used him for some minor work.

Very good point. Think of all the people who bought GM products. Many in my home town did. We now lost all the dealers in our area. There is not on single GM dealer within a 50 minute drive. I own one but its out of warranty so it does not really matter for me but I know for a fact its killing sales. My cousin was a GM man and lost his truck last month in a wreck and will not go back.

Chris

 

[Ken45101]

True, dealers (or manufacturers) may not always remain in business.

So far, I've been lucky, the only maintenance I've needed (on newer equipment) beyond warranty service was a leaky hydraulic cylinder seal on my B21. I've had two Kubota tractors for ten years and the B21 for six years.

OTOH, before my first Kubota, an old Farmall came with some land I bought. The 3pt didn't work. The IH/Farmall dealer had it for 3 months and couldn't fix it. I gave the tractor away to a friend of my son. Turned out the problem was an incorrect hydraulic filter!!!!!

Oh, BTW, that dealer is also now a Kubota & MF dealer. They are still an incompetent bunch of yokels and the only Kubota dealer that I won't deal with. Fortunately, there are plenty of other better dealers within reasonable distance.

Ken

 

[TheGoose]

My vote goes for the Kubota, but not the L2800. Get the L3400. With the L2800 your PTO HP is kinda low. The L3400 has 29 PTO HP (gear tractor), and you need that extra HP when running a PHD, mower, etc. Also, you can push posts with the L3400, not sure about what the L2800 can do, I don't know if is lighter.

If you're in Snook (your location isn't exactly clear if it's snook or SC) check these guys out.

NormangeeTractor.com

New Kubota L3400DT-1F Package


Includes:

Kubota L3400DT-1F 35HP 4WD Tractor
Kubota LA463 Loader W/Skid Steer Quick Attach
Armstrong Ag 5' Box Blade
Howse 5' Shredder
AG Tires

ALL FOR ONLY:

$18,649
-$500 Rebate

-$1000 Cash Rebate



$17,149.00

 

[TheGoose]

Also, I don't even think the JD 3005 is in the same category as the other ones you listed. I don't think it even has a shuttle shift.

 

[quackaddict]

i think i'm pretty set on the kubota. I'm in Snook, and looking pretty hard at Normangee. Russell is the guy that I'm tying to work out the deal with.

it's slightly ridiculous that the JD is more expensive than all of them, yet a LOT less tractor

 

[TheGoose]

Russ is who i spoke with. Ended up buying more local to me but I made my dealer match their price. He also keyed me into armstrong ag, which is in brenham. I got a 5' disc about $400 cheaper than the one the dealer was pushing.

I have not looked hard at the L2800, but my understanding is they are same as the L3400 with a smaller engine. I just bought a L3400 hydro with FEL, clamp on bucket forks, 5' disc. Why not get the bigger L3400 and have more HP? I think you'll be happier in the end. More HP= bigger implements. You lose about 5 HP from engine to PTO.

Definitely get the clamp on forks for the bucket, you'll be glad you did. I did not get the Kubota made ones b/c they put me over budget. I got my tractor with ag tires and saved $400 and I'm glad I did. The ag tires give more traction and that's what I needed. They are definitely not for lawns etc. PM me for more info.

 

[quackaddict]

what location are you in?

I don't think that i can swing the 2k price jump in the 3400. I'm going geared too...the couple of hydros that i have driven, i just didn't like whole lot. i felt more like i was driving a a lawn mower than a tractor. i thought about adding the clamp on forks eventually. getting AG tires and dropping the finish mower from the list. i decided that was a little overkill, and i can get a pretty decent lawn mower for the lawn part of my place for 1k less than the finishing mower...that and it puts my payments where i need them.

 

[TheGoose]

Near houston but in the country. I was just at A&M Yesterday for the Baylor game.

I was not aware there was a 2K price differential. I have the hydro. The whine takes getting used to but the control is awesome. The forks were $400, you'll be glad you got them. You can get the tractor a little cheaper if you axe the quick attach front bucket. It's for putting different attachements on the loader arms meant for skid-steer. If you're not getting the quick attach pallet forks then you won't need the quick attach.

And it is ridiculous what the Deere prices are for that class tractor. Stay away from the 3005, it is not in the same class. The closest tractor is the 303xE series, they don't have cruise control, temp/fuel gauge, or drawbar. You'll really like the kubota and armstrong makes great attachments.


I would defintely get a dedicated lawn mower instead of the finishing mower, 5 acres ain't that much mowing. Get a nice ZTR for around $3K and you'll be set. My parents had 5 acres growing up and you don't need a full tractor to mow. I would even cut down on the mowing area by either putting some livestock in the area or using it as a hayfield.

what location are you in?

I don't think that i can swing the 2k price jump in the 3400. I'm going geared too...the couple of hydros that i have driven, i just didn't like whole lot. i felt more like i was driving a a lawn mower than a tractor. i thought about adding the clamp on forks eventually. getting AG tires and dropping the finish mower from the list. i decided that was a little overkill, and i can get a pretty decent lawn mower for the lawn part of my place for 1k less than the finishing mower...that and it puts my payments where i need them.

 

[TheGoose]

There website is showing 17149 for the L3400 and 15749 for the L2800. That's a $1400 difference. I think you'll be happy in the long run for getting that extra HP.