Schmoopette
New member
Hi all. "Need" is a strong word, regardless I don't know how much tractor I need. This post is thorough to avoid the need for more information from me later.
We have recently bought 5 acres in northern Illinois. The property is 5 all mowed except a small area of trees. The yard is fairly nice around the house. Beyond the outbuilding, it's bumpy weedy and has some small inclines. We currently mow with an exmark zrt mower which does a fine job. We will likely not use the tractor for mowing.
The potential jobs we would like the tractor for are:
-planting trees
-creating a garden space for blueberries and raspberries
-creating a large garden space that will require ground leveling, as the same space will serve as a winter ice rink
-digging fence posts for said rink garden
-it will serve as long asphalt driveway maintenance (moving snow, but not via snowblower implement)
-keeping gravel drive to outbuilding maintained
-maybe making jumps for dirt bikes
-another pipe dream is making a duck pond if we get the permission to do so.
I realize some of these jobs will take a while. We do not need to rush anything but are fairly screwed if we get a major snowfall before we get the tractor. We have a walk behind snowblower only.
I tried winning some auctions and it's not working out. So maybe we are buying new. Closest dealer is Kubota. Owner seemed nice and professional. My uncle owns Kubota and recommends it. The two models the owner showed us were:
1) theBX25D-1 because it comes with the backhoe and loader. We could purchase the mower deck for half price($1k) if we wanted to have two of us mowing simultaneously. 0% for 60 months less $500 rebate. $18000.
2) the L2501 with loader only. Same financing less $1300. Or Less $1500, cash. $18150. The backhoe implement is $7000. So it's more like $25000 to make even on the implements.
I get these are two different animals. The power of the L2501 loader was impressive. I always think bigger is better and uncle said you buy little and trade in on big anyway as you find more uses for the tractor.
They retain value well. Uncle said he wouldn't buy used for this reason especially if you can't see the tractor in person. Said 1000 hours mowing flat versus lifting boulders is completely different wear and tear. Finding local used isn't easy because they go quickly from the dealer and craigslist doesn't have much. If I found one on auction used, I would need delivery and that savings could be eaten in freight. Local dealer delivers free.
What would you do if you were me? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
We have recently bought 5 acres in northern Illinois. The property is 5 all mowed except a small area of trees. The yard is fairly nice around the house. Beyond the outbuilding, it's bumpy weedy and has some small inclines. We currently mow with an exmark zrt mower which does a fine job. We will likely not use the tractor for mowing.
The potential jobs we would like the tractor for are:
-planting trees
-creating a garden space for blueberries and raspberries
-creating a large garden space that will require ground leveling, as the same space will serve as a winter ice rink
-digging fence posts for said rink garden
-it will serve as long asphalt driveway maintenance (moving snow, but not via snowblower implement)
-keeping gravel drive to outbuilding maintained
-maybe making jumps for dirt bikes
-another pipe dream is making a duck pond if we get the permission to do so.
I realize some of these jobs will take a while. We do not need to rush anything but are fairly screwed if we get a major snowfall before we get the tractor. We have a walk behind snowblower only.
I tried winning some auctions and it's not working out. So maybe we are buying new. Closest dealer is Kubota. Owner seemed nice and professional. My uncle owns Kubota and recommends it. The two models the owner showed us were:
1) theBX25D-1 because it comes with the backhoe and loader. We could purchase the mower deck for half price($1k) if we wanted to have two of us mowing simultaneously. 0% for 60 months less $500 rebate. $18000.
2) the L2501 with loader only. Same financing less $1300. Or Less $1500, cash. $18150. The backhoe implement is $7000. So it's more like $25000 to make even on the implements.
I get these are two different animals. The power of the L2501 loader was impressive. I always think bigger is better and uncle said you buy little and trade in on big anyway as you find more uses for the tractor.
They retain value well. Uncle said he wouldn't buy used for this reason especially if you can't see the tractor in person. Said 1000 hours mowing flat versus lifting boulders is completely different wear and tear. Finding local used isn't easy because they go quickly from the dealer and craigslist doesn't have much. If I found one on auction used, I would need delivery and that savings could be eaten in freight. Local dealer delivers free.
What would you do if you were me? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
