Trying to decide Kubota BX25 or 1025R

[hurricanoday]

If you can't decide which you like more, then it really doesn't matter. To me, the price difference would buy lots of nice implements.


Analysis paralysis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Analysis paralysis or paralysis by analysis is the state of over-analyzing (or over-thinking) a situation so that a decision or action is never taken, in effect paralyzing the outcome. A decision can be treated as over-complicated, with too many detailed options, so that a choice is never made, rather than try something and change if a major problem arises. A person might be seeking the optimal or "perfect" solution upfront, and fear making any decision which could lead to erroneous results, while on the way to a better solution.

this is totally me. My wife made a joke about putting both tractor fliers down and letting the dog pick or asking the kids (5 and 7) which one to pick. Of course the 5 year old said the one with the deere on it. I also read on a deere forum a guy joked he bought green because it matched his eyes haha. Which it does match my eyes btw.....

Also one thing I didn't like was getting in the right side of the kubota the loader control really sticks out and me being 300lb round that could be a big factor (or I'm the big factor). Maybe I should start a thread for pics of fat guys on their kubotas, but I asked the wife which one I looked less fat on lol. She said green. The kubota sales man made a joke about the tractors being like horses and are suppose to mount from the left.

Grandad4 and nikerrett (and everyone else) thanks again for the detailed posts. I especially liked the comment about this being a tool not a status symbol.

Another part of the story is the house (5 acres) is a short sale we had been living in and finally just got the closing disclosure so it will be ours when we close. That has been the main reason I haven't made a decision yet, can't spend 20k on a tractor for a property I don't own yet. (been living in it since May)

So it seems next week I will have to finally decide. I think if I go back to the deere dealer and they try to say no we are deere and won't work with you it then it will be kubota.

 

[check]

As I said before, you have a very pleasant choice. For what it's worth, my decision was the Kubota BX25, as it apparently is built for construction, and very tough. Also, I have been very impressed with the number of different goodies and add-ons that you can get from bxpanded.com. And, after some seven years and 700 hours or so of ownership, I have not been disappointed at all, and I've had no problems other than leaky front tires.

 

[nikerret]

Here's the thread on my mowing and moving concrete steps, today:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ts-thickest-crap-youve-mowed.html#post4544036

A couple of teaser pics:

 

[nikerret]

The JD definitely wins for entry and egress, from the right side. The Kubota isn't very good, from the right. Would I like ot get on the right side? Sometimes. Whenever I have to go around, I tell myself, "That's part of the $5,000 and I'm fat, should be glad for the exercise!" It is what it is. With my MMM on, and the chute up, I couldn't get ont the right side, anyway. At least, they are both on the same side.

 

[Tompet]

this is totally me. My wife made a joke about putting both tractor fliers down and letting the dog pick or asking the kids (5 and 7) which one to pick. Of course the 5 year old said the one with the deere on it. I also read on a deere forum a guy joked he bought green because it matched his eyes haha. Which it does match my eyes btw.....

Also one thing I didn't like was getting in the ride side of the kubota the loader control really sticks out and me being 300lb round that could be a big factor (or I'm the big factor). Maybe I should start a thread for pics of fat guys on their kubotas, but I asked the wife which one I looked less fat on lol. She said green. The kubota sales man made a joke about the tractors being like horses and are suppose to mount from the left.

Grandad4 and nikerrett (and everyone else) thanks again for the detailed posts. I especially liked the comment about this being a tool not a status symbol.

Another part of the story is the house (5 acres) is a short sale we had been living in and finally just got the closing disclosure so it will be ours when we close. That has been the main reason I haven't made a decision yet, can't spend 20k on a tractor for a property I don't own yet. (been living in it since May)

So it seems next week I will have to finally decide. I think if I go back to the deere dealer and they try to say no we are deere and won't work with you it then it will be kubota.

Read your thread, at least you're taking it all in good humor! I was just over at a friends house and he bought a Deere 1025r with all the bells and whistles. It does seem like a nice setup. The JD does appear a little bigger than a bx25, but for $4k to $5k more...not that much bigger.


Before I would spend that much more money for same size tractor, I would at least get a quote on a Kubota 2301 with same setup and its improved features over previous model. Should be about same money as your current Deere quote. It might fit your "big" size a little better!


After having experience around old two wheel drive tractors and three point attachments, buying a "modern" tractor with FEL and BH was quite a process. I started with the Massey scut in 2005 (excellent BH for its size btw) then a kubota b2920 with bh65 (now replaced with a new version BH70 for the 2301 and 2601). Then I moved to a B3300 with bh77. I'm pretty happy with this setup for my uses, but even thinking about a B26! I recently purchased a used Massey 1540 with FEL for a super price I couldn't pass up. Tractor addiction, but I do work them and enjoy it!

I traded up primarily each time for BH capability while still keeping compact size.

Anyway, point is, I sympathize with your decision having gone through it myself, but ultimately as others have said you will be thrilled (wife relieved) once you choose. But before going green at that price (unless JD dealer will deal) quote a B2301 setup. In any event, Enjoy!

 

[hurricanoday]

Read your thread, at least you're taking it all in good humor! I was just over at a friends house and he bought a Deere 1025r with all the bells and whistles. It does seem like a nice setup. The JD does appear a little bigger than a bx25, but for $4k to $5k more...not that much bigger.


Before I would spend that much more money for same size tractor, I would at least get a quote on a Kubota 2301 with same setup and its improved features over previous model. Should be about same money as your current Deere quote. It might fit your "big" size a little better

I think this is really what it will come down to. If the john deere dealer will make a deal or not. I know some have said it shouldn't be that big of a factor, but the kubota dealer with the best price is the farthest away (even than the local kobuta) and they are willing to deliver with a 2 hour setup/training. That just seems great to me and I really feel like they wanted to sell me a tractor. I will also look into the B2301.

I have a nice craftsman rider for mowing so I don't think I will get a MMM for either the tractor. I will just be using the tractor to hog the field and then mow around the house with the rider and push mower. So the drive on deck doesn't seem like a big plus, at least right now. Could be different when the rider dies.

 

[nikerret]

If the MMM isn't in the equation, that means you will most likely be leaving the FEL and BH on, or at least, the FEL, most of the time. What other attachments/implememnts are you looking at?

Unless you're getting a front plow, brush, or snowblower, you'll almost never take the FEL off. This means the better release system on the JD is no longer an advantage, for you. Do you plan to buy a grapple or other loader arm mounted tool? If so, the JD has a better system. The Kubota QA is an extra piece that adds 50+ pounds to the end of the loader arms and moves the load about six inches further out. This means you can now lift that much less and with less advantageous leverage, using this system.

You'll have to do some checking to see which system offers more accessories, but I doubt JD has more. There are several companies that make stuff for Kubotas, then, they make stuff for the JD. If you're just going to leave the bucket on, skip the QA on the Kubota.

If you're not planning to take the FEL off and you're going to do a lot of loader work, the JD has the advantages of a more comfortable loader control position, stronger lifting specs, and the side-by-side pedals (most people believe this is an advantage). However, the Kubota offers the ability to do multiple functions, at once, on a sufficient platform. Personally, the pedal placements was fine, either way.

The BH's both come off the same, or close enough to, not to matter. What else do you plan to have for the back?

I like the Kubota BH better, but they are even closer than the rest of the tractor; except, that pesky one control at a time, thing.

I couldn't find a JD dealer that would deal, in the Kubota price realm. Others have found the JD cheaper than the Kubota, in their area. If the JD had been cheaper, I would have received a green hat. I have a JD dealer less than five miles away and a Massey Ferguson dealer slightly closer. The JD dealer wanted $50 to deliver the tractor to my house and didn't have any plans to help outside their shop, in regard to warranty repairs. The Kubota dealer I used, which is around 80 miles away, sends a tech out, with ta trailer, if you have an issue. If it can't be fixed, on-site, they take it to their shop, fix it, then return it. This was a dealer policy and it was the only dealer, of any color that offered that service. When I asked more about it, they said they didn't have issues, and no one could remember having to back it up. This could just be sales talk, but I doubt they would keep offering it, if it kept costing them money. As the owner of the dealership said, "If we had problems with them, we would sell a different brand."

Just curious, and I probably forgot or missed it, but why aren't you interested in the MF GC series? On paper, it looks like a nice blend of the Kubota and the JD.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Hold on. The Deere backhoe can only perform one function at a time?! That would bug me on the loader but would be a game-changer running a hoe. In my mind efficiency and control would be a real problem.

 

[nikerret]

The one I used only could do one function at a time on the backhoe and the FEL. Watching Youtube, I'm lead to believe it is that way, on all the 260's. I haven't seen any video where someone was able to move it two functions, at once. Perhaps, someone with one can chime in.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Does this seem like a HUGE limitation to anyone else? Maybe it's just me.