Buying Advice Noob Buying First Compact 4WD

[Lumberdink]

Hi all. Noob here, short-time lurker. That annoying popup finally got the best of me so I signed up.
I've been thinking about a 4WD compact tractor for a while and with everything I have to do around my hilly 14 wooded acres, I'm finally getting serious and doing some research. Since service is a huge consideration, I've narrowed the brands down to Kubota, Mahindra, and Cub/Yanmar. These brands all have dealers within 15 miles. I have a long driveway (1/3 mile) and last winter (my 3rd here) made me realize the limitations of snow removal with an ATV. It handles with first 2 snows well and then I run out of room to push the snow. I end up painting myself into a corner.
I will use my tractor to maintain my gravel driveway including grading, snow removal, and digging/cleaning out the existing ditch which is filling up with stones, brush removal/clearing, skidding logs for firewood, landscaping (digging holes in clay/shale to plant some trees), trail making, etc. I don't really have a yard to mow but a bush hog would be nice for brushy areas on down the road.
I wish the manufacturers listed MSRP on their websites and pricing on the net is sketchy. I did get a price on a Kubota BX25 for $17,550 and I have a call in to the Mahindra dealer on a 1816 and 2516. From the brief research I've done on the Cub (Sc2400), they seem to be marketing it more as a Yanmar than MTD. The Mahindra seems like good value from what I've read, but again, I don't have a firm price. Will the 1816 handle my needs? Enough power for the BH?
I will need a FEL and BH for starters. I know I want HST too. I'm just wondering how good a 48" FEL "plows." A snowblower would probably be ideal, but an added expense. Perhaps a push plow would be a better snow removal tool since I would be able to push the snow higher than the ATV.
Financing is a consideration and at least Kubota is offering 0% for 60 months but they require insurance ($600) plus an ap fee of $218. I think my homeowners would cover the tractor as long as I use it to maintain my premises only, so there may be a workaround on the insurance requirement. I live on a mountain, so I don't need flood insurance.
Looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly anyone can provide on these brands/models. I'm looking for value and "everything I need but nothing more" since I will be maneuvering around in the woods and I don't want a monster tractor (or monster tractor payment).
Thanks for any help!!! :thumbsup:

 

[Grandad4]

Welcome, Lumberdink, good to have you here. You'll get lots of replies with good advice, but let me start with a suggestion about the kind of machine would work best for you. The BX-size tractor (a sub-compact), whether from Kubota, Deere, CubCadet or others, is a great little machine - I have one - but it's got small tires and lower ground clearance, so it's not the best choice for going into the woods or pulling logs. You can find a whole range of other machines that are not much more expensive that are built with larger tires and larger frames that would handle that kind of work better. Kubota has a bunch of models to choose from, but the other companies also have very good choices as well. I think that Mahindra you've identified is actually one of those slightly larger models.

I'd also suggest you think about that backhoe, at least initially, because it costs so much. If you could hold off on it, you'd have enough to get a front or rear mounted snowblower, rear blade(s), a post hole digger (great for planting), and maybe other attachments. You will be able to do a lot with those basic implements and also resolve your snow issues, if the BH is not critical from the git go.

Good luck with your shopping!

 

[jenkinsph]

My lawnmower is about the size of the tlb's you are looking at and I personally wouldn't buy something that small and expect it to work well as a tlb.

I recommend you consider a larger compact with more ground clearance, larger tires and more size frankly. Look at some tlb's in the 30 to 40 hp range both new and used. Looking at Kubota for instance I would much rather have a ten year old L39 than a shiny new BX for the tasks you have in mind.

 

[bp fick]

Welcome!!

There are guys posting here, almost every week, going ahead and selling their very, very low hour, late model machines. We're talking $5000+ off what they paid. Keep your eyes open and you'd be able to pick up a small TLB and pocket thousands.

Of course, one cannot finance those as easily as going down to a dealership.

Any of the top brands you mentioned would serve you very well. Deere, Kubota, Yanmar just don't make bad machines. But, try them all on for size. See what suits you best.

 

[Martian]

Want to buy my JD 3120, have a front end loader and a back blade - perfect for plowing snow. Only 138 hours and a 2008.

Also should add that I plow snow with it and it works great for my mid Michigan home.

 

[TripleR]

Can't beat the advice given so far. Read some of the active threads on buying and you will find there are a great many ways to accomplish your tasks. Some cost less and take longer while others cost more and are quicker, some involve buying one machine for the initial phases then trading for a smaller one for ongoing maintenance. Some, including me recommend hiring out the big stuff or renting a big machine rather than buying one.

Years ago, we bought a well used backhoe for septic systems, ditching etc., we could do this because my brother is a mechanic. Now we just rent one as it is easier than spending time to get our old back hoe up and running. Some use one enough to justify the cost, but we don't; only you can determine that and there has been a lot of spirited "discussion" on this.

We love our BX, but have bigger tractors; otherwise we would have gone with something else, I sure wouldn't recommend it for your needs. Something along the lines of a Kubota B Series, but my preference would be something in the order of a L or Grand L or equivalent in one of the other brands. As mentioned none of them make a bad tractor, just crawl around on them a bit to see which fits you.

For new operators, I recommend renting a tractor if you can't get an on site demo to at least get a baseline for comparison. Advice from others is helpful, but nothing beats hands on experience.

 

[Lumberdink]

Hey, thanks you guys! I will continue to research and test drive this week. I don't have an outbuilding and was hoping for something that would fit between the cars in the garage. The 18hp Mahindra looks like it has the biggest tires (and clearance?) in its class, or at least among the other subcompacts on its website comparison.
I did look at some used stuff but for the money, there doesn't seem to be enough savings to take a chance on something used. These things seem to hold their value!

 

[jenkinsph]

Hi all. Noob here, short-time lurker. That annoying popup finally got the best of me so I signed up.
I've been thinking about a 4WD compact tractor for a while and with everything I have to do around my hilly 14 wooded acres, I'm finally getting serious and doing some research. Since service is a huge consideration, I've narrowed the brands down to Kubota, Mahindra, and Cub/Yanmar. These brands all have dealers within 15 miles. I have a long driveway (1/3 mile) and last winter (my 3rd here) made me realize the limitations of snow removal with an ATV. It handles with first 2 snows well and then I run out of room to push the snow. I end up painting myself into a corner.
I will use my tractor to maintain my gravel driveway including grading, snow removal, and digging/cleaning out the existing ditch which is filling up with stones, brush removal/clearing, skidding logs for firewood, landscaping (digging holes in clay/shale to plant some trees), trail making, etc. I don't really have a yard to mow but a bush hog would be nice for brushy areas on down the road.

Thanks for any help!!! :thumbsup:

Those are some pretty large jobs for a garden tractor/subcompact utility tractor imo. Buy any of those listed in the comparision page and you will be a good candidate for an upgrade thread in a year or so. The size machines you are looking at are great for mowing lawns and doing minor fix ups, yet you mention that mowing is not a prime concern.

My x749 Deere is very similar in size to what you are considering and I must say I have been very satisfied with what I can do with it. Understand though that I bought if after a larger tlb and compact tractor and these larger machines do 90% of the real clean up work first.

There are several posters in this thread who have many years of experience undertaking the tasks you have outlined, we have all BTDT. I also see countless threads where a newbie buys a new tiny tractor and then needs to upgrade to a larger model only to find that he will loose lots of money on the trade up. Seriously, just trying to help you out here.

 

[Travelover]

I'd look for a used B series Kubota with a FEL and power steering. I'd rent a backhoe for the occasional odd job that you need it for. A back blade on the 3 point hitch will move a 6" snowfall.

You should be able to get one for around $7 - $8K. Check out Search Tempest to look at Craigslist in a radius from your home.

 

[MrWinkey]

I was in your same boat. When I was looking for tractors in my size HP range everyone either wanted new prices because they had a 3 year old tractor w/ 30 hours on it or the extreme other end....1000 hour plus 20 year old beasties that needed work.

I looked at the Mahindra 2516 as it would suit my needs. Summer brush hogging and winter snow removal mostly.

Everyone reported to buy 1 size bigger and my dealer had a holdover 2816. I found the 5' implements are more common where I live. That bigger size had live PTO. Bigger bucket/lift.

Long story short I'm very happy I got the bigger tractor. If I find an extra 20k in my couch I'll go back for the 3316 turbo w/ a cab!

Good luck