Used Kubota for the Long-term

[airbiscuit]

rScotty,

There is nothing magical about 2005. I have a 2001 Kubota L3010 GST, which I love. Parts are still available to a ridiculous level (my Kubota dealer had a taillight lens In Stock!). I just thought the OP would more comfortable with something a little newer than mine (if he's already worried about parts). The other reason is that there have been incremental improvements, anything newer than 2005 is pretty close to current models.

You're right though, 2005 or newer was an arbitrary marker. As I said, he will have to search to find what he's looking for.

 

[buck12]

If I were looking for a “forever” tractor I would buy the one with most steel and least plastic. My experience has been plastic does not age well. I currently own a Kubota Grand L 5460 which has less than 100 hours. I have only bought filters and fluids to date. I owned a Mahindra 2615 for years and the few apart s were always available at the dealer. My BIL bought the tractor and still owns it. I have a JD GT 235 and other than the brittle plastic it has been a good mower but the plastic has become very brittle as it has gotten older. Also the JD is the only one of the three tractors I have owned that I have had to wait for parts.

 

[RjCorazza]

rScotty,

There is nothing magical about 2005. I have a 2001 Kubota L3010 GST, which I love. Parts are still available to a ridiculous level (my Kubota dealer had a taillight lens In Stock!). I just thought the OP would more comfortable with something a little newer than mine (if he's already worried about parts). The other reason is that there have been incremental improvements, anything newer than 2005 is pretty close to current models.

You're right though, 2005 or newer was an arbitrary marker. As I said, he will have to search to find what he's looking for.

View attachment 681033

The L3010 was on my short list 18 years ago, but I ended up with the L3410. I got a lot of good service out of that machine.
What I wanted at the time was a factory cab, but back then the L3710 was the smallest cabbed Kubota. Mentally I just couldn't make the jump to the larger machine.
I finally got a cabbed tractor 4 years ago, and there's no going back!

 

[LostMy65]

Yes! The L2501 would be my first choice if I could afford $25000.
Are there any older L series to avoid?

 

[rScotty]

rScotty,

There is nothing magical about 2005. I have a 2001 Kubota L3010 GST, which I love. Parts are still available to a ridiculous level (my Kubota dealer had a taillight lens In Stock!). I just thought the OP would more comfortable with something a little newer than mine (if he's already worried about parts). The other reason is that there have been incremental improvements, anything newer than 2005 is pretty close to current models.

You're right though, 2005 or newer was an arbitrary marker. As I said, he will have to search to find what he's looking for.

Yes, it's difficult to know which model is going to end up as an icon like the Ford 8N or the JDA/B. Both Ford and JD made better tractors and more recently, too - but it's rare when one becomes an icon. I don't know of a Kubota that has that status, although some are contenders.
Speaking of contenders, I just saw an old, small 25 hp? Massey Harris go by on a trailer. It looked new.

BTW, I sure do like the Kubota GST (glideshift transmission). A large selection of direct drive gears like GST offers is a good way to make a 30 hp tractor pull like it has 45 hp.

Do you remember which model Kubota had the infamous "jumpy 3pt"? .... I always forget which model that was.
Other than having that peculiar drawback, it was a model was one that would answer all the things the OP wanted for 4 acres.

Many of the earlier Kubotas are still gaining a reputation for durability.

To the OP. Keep in mind when looking at older tractors that it is condition first, condition last, and in the center as well.....
rScotty

 

[airbiscuit]

I also like the Glide Shift Transmission. It is like magic. It is wonderful for rough cut mowing. Just slide the shifter forward or back to change gears (no clutching). My L3010 purrs like a kitten, and sips fuel. An example of subtle improvements - My L3010 has a fixed top hood, and (easily) removable side and front panels. By 2005, I think the whole hood flips up. That is a small thing, but I was just trying to put the OP in a happy place.

 

[jeff9366]

Yes! The L2501 would be my first choice if I could afford $25,000.

L2501 is Kubota's highest volume model at my local Florida dealer and one of Kubota's highest volume models in the USA.

With diligent shopping on the internet it should be possible to find a previously owned L2501 for $12,000. Used tractors are usually cheapest when snow is on the ground, highest in the Spring when the weather turns nice.

61 Kubota tractors for sale on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/b/Kubota-Industrial-Tractors/91953/bn_1511467

If you have a stable LOCAL DEALER I recommend you shop the Korean tractor brands Kioti, LS and Branson around 2,600 pounds weight, in addition to Kubota. Korean manufacturing labor is paid 20% less than Japanese manufacturing labor and this differential is evident in Kioti, LS, Branson and other Korean tractor brand MSRPs.

Are there any older L series to avoid?

With a modest four acres to work, avoid the complexity of Tier IV emission controls that phased in on >26 horsepower tractors circa 2013. The L2501 remains Tier IV exempt because of its modest horsepower, intentionally kept just below the Tier IV threshold.

VIDEO: Comparing Kubota's 26hp Compact Tractors - YouTube



If you enter your LOCATION into your T-B-N PROFILE, so LOCATION shows in every post you author, someone here may notify you of a good tractor for sale or potentially for sale for $12,000 near your home. It happens.

 

[old and tired]

Do you remember which model Kubota had the infamous "jumpy 3pt"? .... I always forget which model that was....

2004 to the early 2006 Standard L's; L2800 (mine) L3400... mid-2006 the standard L's got a[SIZE=-1] little[/SIZE] better - at least it didn't turn the tractor into a Mexican Jumping Bean (is there a politically correct way to say that? )

I got mine replaced by the dealer, some others had "work a-rounds" to the jerky hitch... it was great for knocking dirt off a post hole digger (in fact it was great at that and knocking out loose dental fillings)

 

[rScotty]

2004 to the early 2006 Standard L's; L2800 (mine) L3400... mid-2006 the standard L's got a[SIZE=-1] little[/SIZE] better - at least it didn't turn the tractor into a Mexican Jumping Bean (is there a politically correct way to say that? )

I got mine replaced by the dealer, some others had "work a-rounds" to the jerky hitch... it was great for knocking dirt off a post hole digger (in fact it was great at that and knocking out loose dental fillings)

Thanks for posting that. I remember it being a problem for some models more than others. And if I remember right it was called "quarter inching" and was supposed to be a more convenient & less expensive option to "position control"....I may have that wrong. At any rate, it wasn't a feature I'd want to end up with. Not sure how to identify it, though.

To the OP, don't give up on the mid mount mower too quickly. Lots of people like them and they do a different job than the tow behinds.

As to the L2501 size, it probably has as much useful HP as the 8N, but less weight and stance for stability. That matters a lot on hills, but way less so on level acreage.
rScotty

 

[RickB]

4wd and vastly improved brakes on the L2501 (and any other CUT discussed here) mitigate a slight track width disadvantage in most every condition. A bare L2501 is equal to or heavier than a bare 8N according to the specs I'm reading. Close enough that equipment and ballasting will determine which is heavier.