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

[Rock Crawler]

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.

I was hard set on Kioti as well, and I ended up buying at a Kubota dealership. I started out being pretty resistant to buying into the big box brand tractors... Green or Orange.

 

[shooterdon]

Really good advice so far. For me, lift capacity and weight are primary considerations. Also, the ease/cost of adding rear remotes. Dealer performance is high on the list. BTW, longevity is not much of an issue as you will likely put less than 75 hours a year on whatever you purchase. These machines will run over 3000 hours....a lifetime for most of us. The issue I face with my 30 year old JD is parts availability and cost but it was abused for those 30 years before I acquired it.

Plus test drive them. How the pedals and controls work for YOU is important.

 

[djefferis]

Wouldnt worry about the "E" in the name - quality is a constant across the Deere line in my experience. How high that level of quality is will differ depending on who you ask and their loyalty - but they dont make the E series to a lower standard than their counterparts - just differently optioned.

Alot of good advice here - I have checked out the L2501 and the 3205e in the last couple of weeks - I was impressed with the size of the 3025 - a nice unit and definitely would handle what your looking to do. Lots of 2501 fans on here - and overall, I think I'd consider it better than a 3025 prices being equal by a hair. Its not a clear cut winner though - dealer support, price and operator preference are big factors as well - the pedals as noted above are different - if your used to Deere it might not seem like such a big thing...but from people I know who were not - it took some getting used to.

Also - look at the other options and pricing. New Holland/Massey are both also well established and have plenty of dealer support - other names might be cheaper or have nicer features that work for you. Just because your fine with "basic" does not mean more features on a non green/orange unit at the same price wont be useful going forward. Nothing like looking at what you "could have" had and how much easier it makes the job when you let brand loyalty get in the way.

 

[Geotech]

A note on New Holland..those are essentially LS clones with darker blue paint and steeper prices. Long term parts availability would probably be the same for an LS or New Holland CUT. Not trying to knock New Holland, but I looked hard to find their competitive advantage and couldn't find any - at least not in the CUT segment.

 

[Trillium Farm]

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

RIGHT ON !!

 

[Homestead360]

Thanks for all the feedback folks, it's been helpful.

I am going to ask a similar question, say these are my only 2 options, exact same price with the same implements (box blade, fel, pallet forks). If these are the only 2 options which would you chose. Kubota B2601 or JD3025e?

Thanks!

 

[jeff9366]

Not quite the comparison you are looking for, but interesting:

VIDEO: John Deere 332E VS. Kubota L331 - YouTube

 

[HillStreet]

I drive a Kubota B2650 which I bought after looking at the B2601. I never regretted it, excellent service from Kubota but I’m sure Deere is on the ball too—its all according.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Thanks for all the feedback folks, it's been helpful.

I am going to ask a similar question, say these are my only 2 options, exact same price with the same implements (box blade, fel, pallet forks). If these are the only 2 options which would you chose. Kubota B2601 or JD3025e?

Thanks!

The 3025e obviously. It's the next class up in tractor size and capability. Again, you can't compare a 3025 to a B2601, it's only comparable to a B2650/B3350 frame size. Otherwise, it's like asking if you should buy a BX vs the B2601 for the same money. Dollar for dollar the BX is a bad purchase every time if proceed equal to a larger/heavier/stronger unit.

 

[dodge man]

In your case do you really need the bigger tractor? Bigger is not always better.