Buying Advice Is the Front End Loader worth it?

[cdondanville]

I am getting ready to purchase a sub-compact for mowing and tilling on my 5 acre plot and I am torn on the FEL. I have a couple of uses for it right off the bat (move some gravel, haul wood and dirt) but none of them are complete necessities and I have no long term plans for material handling. So, I am torn on the purchase. The dealers all want you to have one as there is not an SC tractor on any lot without the FEL already installed. I know it is one of those things I will never regret having, but is the extra $3k worth the investment? I am interested in your stories of why/why not the FEL is worth having or uses you never thought of when you got one.

For the record the front runners now are the Kubota BX2670 and the JD 1025R.

Chris

 

[George2615]

Welcome to TBN..............................

IMO a loader is a big asset when buying a tractor. I wouldn't buy one without a loader. I'd also say on a resale value later that more people would want a tractor with a loader. If its only 3K more for a loader then go for it. You'll find many uses for a loader. I use mine for gravel, dirt, snow, lifting, hanging deer, and many other uses and if you get a quick attach loader you can swap the bucket out for a set of forks or other QA implements.

 

[DK35vince]

Get the loader. It is one of the most used attachments on the tractor.
I would be very surprised if a single member here would recommend skipping the loader.

 

[Garycw]

The other low cost option for just what you've mentioned is a rear 3pt dirt scoop. Most are reversible to push or pull. They are very handy, although not as much as fel.

 

[jeff9366]

There is a 'hot' thread on this subject, with 40 replies:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/347979-do-i-need-fel-2.html#post4289315



Many new tractor owners end up buying a heavier, more-powerful tractor within two years.

If you buy the FEL now you will get a good portion of your purchase price back at time of sale.

Tractors sold used, without FELs, tend to go for low prices, because prospective buyers calculate the cost of adding an FEL before making an offer, and FELs are MUCH more expensive ($5,000 - $6,000) purchased stand-alone. ((So you end up paying for an FEL, whether you get one or not.))

My local Kubota dealer has a no-loader Kubota L3240 on his lot in this situation. He would only accept the L3240 as a consignment.



Take a look at the new Kubota L2501 before committing to a BX. With an L2501 you can pull 5' implements, rather than 4' implements and mounting implements is easier because there is more open space around the Three Point Hitch.

 

[varmint]

George hit the loader question dead on- get it! Get it with SSQA, and you will find yourself using it, or enjoying the value when you sell the tractor. Trying to add it later is a costly headache. I have seen guys buy tractors without loaders, for mowing "only", and then ante up later to install one. If you are tending to 5 acres, you will use it!

 

[4570Man]

I wouldn't be without a loader. IMO a compact or subcompact tractor is nearly worthless without a loader. I do have a B7100 without a loader that I use only for mowing. SSQA is extremely nice. I wouldn't own a tractor without it, but I haven't seen it offered on subcompacts.,

 

[Grandad4]

Welcome to TBN, Chris. Mine is another voice strongly suggesting you get the loader for your new tractor. Unless you hire all your property maintenance out, you absolutely will find many uses for a FEL, many of which you haven't even imagined yet. It will lift and carry everything from rocks to flower pots, push snow, tear down brush, and even dig and haul dirt.

This morning I made a tour of my property with the tractor and either moved aside or took to the burn pile more than a dozen down trees in a little over an hour's time thanks to the FEL on the tractor. At the time, I didn't give it a second thought, but reading your message reminded me that without the FEL, this kind of task would easily have required several hours of backbreaking work with a chainsaw and hand loading wood onto the trailer. That is pretty typical of the kind of everyday utility chores many people do with their tractor/FEL setup. Sure, you can do many of those chores using other means, but you simply won't find a more handy, versatile and backsaving tool than a front end loader.

Good luck with your shopping.

 

[newbury]

I am getting ready to purchase a sub-compact for mowing and tilling on my 5 acre plot and I am torn on the FEL. I have a couple of uses for it right off the bat (move some gravel, haul wood and dirt) but none of them are complete necessities and I have no long term plans for material handling. So, I am torn on the purchase. The dealers all want you to have one as there is not an SC tractor on any lot without the FEL already installed. I know it is one of those things I will never regret having, but is the extra $3k worth the investment? I am interested in your stories of why/why not the FEL is worth having or uses you never thought of when you got one.

For the record the front runners now are the Kubota BX2670 and the JD 1025R.

Chris

5 acres? What's it like to move a wheelbarrow of gravel from one corner to the other?
But I digress.
As others wrote get a FEL.
However - consider what a Front End Loader really is - it's not the bucket but the mechanism on the front of the tractor for picking things up. Be it a bale spear, grapple, pallet forks or whatever you need those arms and hydraulics to pick things up in front of the tractor.
A lot of times the same stuff can be picked up with the back of the tractor if you've got the 3 point lift but it's a lot easier with the front..

What will you be tilling for? What will you do after you till? Will you have to move hundreds of pounds of fertilizer, mulch, etc.?

Look at the options when you add a FEL, pallet forks, grapple, tree spade etc.

Also look at going "bigger", say a B series for increased ground clearance if you ever plan on getting more land.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Fel, yes. I wish I had the SSQA and I plan on converting mine but even with a pin on fel, you increase the utility and value and save your back a lot of work.

 

[batwing]

I think having a loader is best thing about having a tractor, without a loader I would get a good mower.
Ron

 

[Mike9]

The B6200 I acquired recently doesn't have a FEL, but I plan to remedy that next year. For what I paid for the tractor, rototiller and brush hog I'd be foolish not to. Now - to buy ready made, or fab one up - that is the question.

 

[Got2BTru]

I thought the same thing initially Chris...do I *really* need the $6,000 option on my 2555HST Cab tractor, or can I go without it and save the money. I ended up going with it, and don't regret it at ALL. I am REALLY surprised how much I have used it in less than 6 months and would definitely recommend you go with it.

 

[Will_C]

My father owned an excavating company. There was always a loader of some sort around the house-backhoe, track loader. When my brother took over the business, he kept the equipment at my mothers house where I lived-I took care of the property.

I bought my house in 1998. I made it until spring 2000 until I bought my first Kubota BX with a FEL. It was the longest 15 months of my life! I couldn't imagine taking care of any property more than an acre without a FEL

Will

 

[/pine]

Just something to consider...

If you price used tractors (similar to K_ubota B series etc.,etc...)... a front end loader generally increases the value by about $2K...
Personally, I would not want to be without mine...If I had a lot of mowing to do on a regular basis...SSQA is a plus...IMO.

 

[newbury]

With the size tractor the OP is considering is a Skid Steer Quick Attach (SSQA) worth it? I assume the Kubota LA364 is good for about 700 lbs. About the capacity of the LA352 on my B7610. When I was looking for an SSQA I was told by my dealer it wasn't worth it because I'd lose too much capacity because the SSQA weighed about 150 to 200 lbs, a significant proportion of the carrying capacity.

 

[4570Man]

Maybe not true SSQA, but QA is definitely worth it. Does nobody make a lighter duty SSQA for these light duty tractors? After all they are lifting 1/2 or less what a cut can lift. A SSQA that weighs 80 pounds should be strong enough.

 

[bumperm]

As others have said, get the FEL. You will find enumerable uses for it. I lifted a new generator to assemble the wheels etc. just so I wouldn't have to bend over (bad back). I use the bucket as a tool shelf, when working away from the house and shop. Put a pallet on the pallet forks (SSQA) and lift the wife up into the apple trees to pick the fruit (really). It's just amazingly handy to have an FEL. If you have one, you'll marvel at all the uses and labor savings it brings.

If you don't have one, sometimes you will wish you did. Other times you may not even think about it, you'll just have to work a bit harder or with less convenience.

 

[the old grind]

With only a std FEL bucket on my first tractor & <25hp I moved gun safes, mills, lathes, & a piano, and loaded/unloaded many an implement. Oh, and I loaded/moved/spread 300yd of bank run w/clay (2 driveways) and done all of my snow clearing for 12yrs with that and a Box Blade. (IMO, blades and blowers are for clearing paved surfaces) Great way to lift the front wheels (w/jack stands) for wheel/tire or spindle service.

I have a money pit brutish UT for no other reason than as a 2.5k+ lb cap 'heavy lifter' (vs loader much). ~$4500 to add a FEL and make a $11k tractor into a $12.5 one. (Could replace it for less after the effort...)

Someone suggested going to a larger Kubo. :thumbsup: I suggest getting more tractor/hp (CUT) than hp/tractor (SCUT) as finances permit. btw, I'd bet that as often as not the 'shoulda bought bigger' regret results from learning what a FEL can do and what someone's own can't. tog

 

[TomSeller]

Maybe not true SSQA, but QA is definitely worth it. Does nobody make a lighter duty SSQA for these light duty tractors? After all they are lifting 1/2 or less what a cut can lift. A SSQA that weighs 80 pounds should be strong enough.

These guys make adapters for tractors mostly made before SSQA became popular. Your 80 lbs is about right. I am not seeing your loader listed but would not expect that model is a target for them since SSQA was available as factory issue? You might give them a call to see if other models fit yours. Other than that, WR Long makes 750 different models, but they list a weight of 130 lbs. Also, you can buy the lever mechanisms and cut the ears off of your bucket to re-use and do a little welding.

Tach-All Quick Attach, Loader Attachments, ATI Corporation