Comparison L3301 or B26, which is a better buy?

[rxdad2012]

The L45 TLB I have is the B26's mid-sized brother. I have never had to remove the FEL. The FEL bucket on my machine is SSQA but I have never dropped the bucket for maneuvering. In tight spots I have raised the FEL bucket to its max height to reduce the length of the tractor. If I were to face a spot so tight the L45, let alone a B26, would not fit, I would probably be thinking hand labor.

I do not know if the B26 has an easily removable FEL bucket; I do not know if your "tight quarters" would preclude raising the bucket.

Thanks, Captain!

Can anyone else think of reasons one might need to fully remove a FEL?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a similar year B26 and it is plenty capable of mowing with a 5 or even 6 foot bush hog. As has been said, it is a commercial grade machine weighing in at 4001 pounds with the hoe and FEL. It does have QA FEL but the arms are semi-permanently attached. You would have to remove the entire subframe to remove the FEL. The tractor is so short that you can do just about anything in any place without removing even the FEL bucket but it is quickly removed if needed.
If you go to the Kubota build your own and do a comparison between a B26 and your other option, (new tractors) I think you will quickly see which one is a bargain. The B26 is going to be in the $40K range. That "canopy" is not just a sunshade on it. That is a 4 post full roll over, fall protection system. The one drawback is that it doesnt fold down like a ROPS would on a homeowner grade of tractor.

I use my B26 all the time for pushing trash, digging holes, trenching, hauling dirt, cleaning up storm damage, lots of other stuff. I never take the back hoe off since I have zero turn for mowing and a larger tractor for bush hogging. The previous owner of my B26 pulled a 5 foot bush hog with it easily.
I just did a Kubota build your own B26 based on what my has, (QA FEL bucket, QA backhoe bucket, hydraulic thumb-this accessory is highly recommended, industrial tires, drawbar, 3 point hitch. Price came out to just under $42K.

 

[rScotty]

Thanks, Captain!

Can anyone else think of reasons one might need to fully remove a FEL?

My experience is that I never did remove any of my QA FELs - but I swap SSQA buckets all the time.

All the B26s come stock with a 2 lever manual SSQA type FEL bucket attachment. The L3301 has SSQA optional ($500) on their little loader and std. on the larger one. SSQA is real handy and getting to be standard on lots of equipment. Get it if you can. There is an option for a hydraulic SSQA on the B26 with front accessory hydraulics but I just have the manual 2 lever type and it's easy enough to work.

Right now I manually swap between three different front buckets when working down by our creek. Since the TLB has front accessory hydraulics I do keep dreaming of a 4n1 bucket - but so far it's just a "someday maybeso".

The last three tractors we've had before the Kubota TLB have all had quick change FELs but not SSQA. That's nice in theory, but taking off even a QA FEL is just enough more work to do than just removing an SSQA bucket that I never actually did remove any of my QA FELs. Even when I might have appreciated not having the loader in the way. Compare that with changing aSSQA bucket which takes about two minutes total, and I think that's the way to go - probably because I do it all the time.

 

[rxdad2012]

I have a similar year B26 and it is plenty capable of mowing with a 5 or even 6 foot bush hog. As has been said, it is a commercial grade machine weighing in at 4001 pounds with the hoe and FEL. It does have QA FEL but the arms are semi-permanently attached. You would have to remove the entire subframe to remove the FEL. The tractor is so short that you can do just about anything in any place without removing even the FEL bucket but it is quickly removed if needed.
If you go to the Kubota build your own and do a comparison between a B26 and your other option, (new tractors) I think you will quickly see which one is a bargain. The B26 is going to be in the $40K range. That "canopy" is not just a sunshade on it. That is a 4 post full roll over, fall protection system. The one drawback is that it doesnt fold down like a ROPS would on a homeowner grade of tractor.

I use my B26 all the time for pushing trash, digging holes, trenching, hauling dirt, cleaning up storm damage, lots of other stuff. I never take the back hoe off since I have zero turn for mowing and a larger tractor for bush hogging. The previous owner of my B26 pulled a 5 foot bush hog with it easily.
I just did a Kubota build your own B26 based on what my has, (QA FEL bucket, QA backhoe bucket, hydraulic thumb-this accessory is highly recommended, industrial tires, drawbar, 3 point hitch. Price came out to just under $42K.

Great info, Gary! Much appreciated. Ive noticed that the B26 is usually significantly higher in price, likely meaning higher durability and longevity.

It seems most user on the forum lean toward the B26 vs the other options Ive presented. Since I have way less experience with tractors, I am definitely taking notes!

 

[rxdad2012]

My experience is that I never did remove any of my QA FELs - but I swap SSQA buckets all the time.

All the B26s come stock with a 2 lever manual SSQA type FEL bucket attachment. The L3301 has SSQA optional ($500) on their little loader and std. on the larger one. SSQA is real handy and getting to be standard on lots of equipment. Get it if you can. There is an option for a hydraulic SSQA on the B26 with front accessory hydraulics but I just have the manual 2 lever type and it's easy enough to work.

Right now I manually swap between three different front buckets when working down by our creek. Since the TLB has front accessory hydraulics I do keep dreaming of a 4n1 bucket - but so far it's just a "someday maybeso".

The last three tractors we've had before the Kubota TLB have all had quick change FELs but not SSQA. That's nice in theory, but taking off even a QA FEL is just enough more work to do than just removing an SSQA bucket that I never actually did remove any of my QA FELs. Even when I might have appreciated not having the loader in the way. Compare that with changing aSSQA bucket which takes about two minutes total, and I think that's the way to go - probably because I do it all the time.

Thanks, Scotty! Your insight has been great during all these conversations!

 

[Tomtint]

I have a L3700SU which is about the same size as the L you are looking at..I have never removed the loader arms and have had the tractor 8 or so years.. It has the ssqa on the front so I just drop the bucket if I'm in tight areas. And that may have only been a few times in all this time. If I had to choose between my tractor and a B26..I would take the B26.. Its more powerful and built like a tank

 

[rxdad2012]

I have a L3700SU which is about the same size as the L you are looking at..I have never removed the loader arms and have had the tractor 8 or so years.. It has the ssqa on the front so I just drop the bucket if I'm in tight areas. And that may have only been a few times in all this time. If I had to choose between my tractor and a B26..I would take the B26.. Its more powerful and built like a tank

Thanks for the info, Tom!