Buying Advice New Tractor Help - Kubota B2601 or Deere 3025e

[Homestead360]

Hello,

I am buying my first tractor and enjoying and agonizing over the search. I would use it for maintaining 150' gravel driveway (snow removal in winter/grading in summer), cutting and moving firewood around our 5 ac lot and general landscaping and projects around yard. Keeping x500 for mowing.

I have both a Kubota dealer and Deere dealer close by, so will be going with either of those.

My two options based on my budget are the Kubota B2601 or the Deere 3025e. I have quotes from both dealers that are only by only a couple hundred dollars apart (Kubota actually a bit more).

I like the size of the Deere, it feels more tractor like, but I am concerned that the "e" in economy means cheap or breakdowns at some point in the future.

What do you think?

Thank you!

 

[MaineGuy1]

Hello,

I am buying my first tractor and enjoying and agonizing over the search. I would use it for maintaining 150' gravel driveway (snow removal in winter/grading in summer), cutting and moving firewood around our 5 ac lot and general landscaping and projects around yard. Keeping x500 for mowing.

I have both a Kubota dealer and Deere dealer close by, so will be going with either of those.

My two options based on my budget are the Kubota B2601 or the Deere 3025e. I have quotes from both dealers that are only by only a couple hundred dollars apart (Kubota actually a bit more).

I like the size of the Deere, it feels more tractor like, but I am concerned that the "e" in economy means cheap or breakdowns at some point in the future.

What do you think?

Thank you!

First two things I noticed is the Deere has about 400lbs more lifting capacity for the loader and it ways about 400lbs more in total weight. Both good things.
Both tractors are good tractors.

 

[Geotech]

Though commonly compared to the Kubota L2501, the Deere 3025e sits between the Kubota B2601 and L2501 in terms of weight and capability. I considered the 3025e before going with the L2501. You might also consider the B2650. I think that has higher lift capacity than the B2601 and is a little bigger. Same HP but bigger engine, so more torque.

The E series just means that there are no frills. Very basic. Not a problem as that is how the Kubota L series are. I would not take this as an indicator that it will break down in the future. In fact, there will be less things to break while the drive train and hydraulic system will be just as reliable as the higher tier models.

The Kubota B series tractors tend to have a lot of niceties/extras to them. The B2601 may cost a little more than the 3025e. I have 24 acres, so I ruled out the B-series tractors pretty quickly since they cost about the same if not slightly more than the L2501 which has a much bigger frame and more lift capacity.

Lift capacity is not the end all be all. For example, with the Deere, you will be able to lift the bucket and curl the bucket, but not both at the same time. The Kubota will lift and curl at the same time and is of the smoothest operators. Compared to an L2501, the 3025e has a shorter lift height and reach, so the L2501 probably beats it in lift capacity at lower lift heights. Plus the extra reach is nice so as not to dump dirt on your hood when you are bouncing the bucket back to seat a load of soil.

The Deere has a two range tranny while the Kubota has three. Perhaps the Deere is geared in a way that this is not a problem, but it is something that gets pointed out a lot. I prefer the plastic hood and fenders on the Deere but a lot of people think that is a detriment.

If you like the bigger frame, consider the L2501. Probably a slightly more expensive, but well worth it IMO. In any case, none of these tractors are really direct comparisons.

 

[s219]

We have an E model Deere in my family and it's a good tractor, but when you look at the specs it's really not worth it in my opinion. It's noticeably less polished and capable than my Kubota L model, which is also considered an economy tractor. The Deere E models are very basic and haven't evolved much in the last 10-15 years. You can compare it to a much older model and will see that not much has changed.

 

[cathy liebchen]

get the Kubota over John Deere for compact tractors, and consider the L2501. Go John Deere 100 hp and up only

 

[Homestead360]

Thanks everyone. I am fine with bare bones and thus fine with economy, just want to make sure that economy doesn't mean lack of quality. If the L2501 were priced the same as the B2601 or the JD 3025 then I would probably go that route. Since the price is the comparison rather than tractor series, that is what is making it a tough choice for me.

S219 - I am new to tractors, what are you looking to have changed in the last 10 years?

Thanks!

 

[aarontriton]

Thanks everyone. I am fine with bare bones and thus fine with economy, just want to make sure that economy doesn't mean lack of quality. If the L2501 were priced the same as the B2601 or the JD 3025 then I would probably go that route. Since the price is the comparison rather than tractor series, that is what is making it a tough choice for me.

S219 - I am new to tractors, what are you looking to have changed in the last 10 years?

Thanks!

I am finding in my local dealer the 2501 about $1000 less than the 3025E

 

[Rock Crawler]

The B2601 is not a fair comparator to the 3025E, instead the B2650/B3350 would be a much closer comparator.

But skip that, go look at the L2501. The L2501 is a few hundred bucks less than a B2650 and is bigger, heavier, stronger lifting and all around the next step up the butt kicking scale.

 

[Diggin It]

First step is not to focus on orange and green. Look at red, Massey Ferguson, TYM, RK and Branson if you have any of those dealers. Also check out the blues, New Holland and LS.

 

[Geotech]

I agree with Diggin It. Look at the other brands too. If anything, it will get you more fluent in the lingo of tractors. I was pretty set on Kioti from the early part of my shopping, but ended up with the Kubota. I think a lot of people start out looking at Deere and Kubota and then go the other way based on $/specs.