2015-The Red, Green and Orange struggle.

[wallace]

I think the 60 inch cutter is to big for that tractor unless it is an economy cutter.
If you have a lot of forward and backward motion needed to cut you may want to get the hydro.

 

[driver444]

Wallace is right about the 5-foot brush hog. While the tractor has enough power to run it, the extra weight makes the tractor kinda unstable, and light in the front end. I have run one on mine a couple times, (a Howse light duty) but I do prefer the 4-footer.

Check around. I've read on TBN that there is a 54" cutter available. Can't remember the make. That would be ideal because the 2015 with r-4 tires is 53 or 54 inches wide.

 

[boxygen]

As Dave has stated the 2415HST is an impressive machine. Its almost identical in footprint size to the 2015, has many "asthetic refinements" and a handful more ponies, and can be had for about $1000-$1500 more dollars when I was looking. That pricing is gear vs gear and HST vs HST. THe live PTO for bushogging in tight areas is so incredibly helpful, and if bushogging is part of your tasks definitely consider it. Also, where the 5' (very common size) implements on the 2015 can be borderline, the 2415 will definitely handle them. I know its easy for everyone else to spend your money, but consider the marginal cost vs the marginal benefit. I was in your situation a few months ago and definitely glad I spent the extra few dollars. Goodluck, keep us posted.

 

[RedRiver]

In my opinion both the 2015 and 2415 are better off with a 4' cutter. Weight being the main factor in this, the 2415 is not going to handle a 5' any better than the 2015 seeing how they are both the same weight on the gear driven models and the 2415HST is actually about 100 lbs. lighter than the 2015HST.

In the past we've added some old 00 Series weights to the front of the 20 and 2415's for customers who were cutting in and around hills.

 

[DavesTractor]

In my opinion both the 2015 and 2415 are better off with a 4' cutter. Weight being the main factor in this, the 2415 is not going to handle a 5' any better than the 2015 seeing how they are both the same weight on the gear driven models and the 2415HST is actually about 100 lbs. lighter than the 2015HST.

In the past we've added some old 00 Series weights to the front of the 20 and 2415's for customers who were cutting in and around hills.

We've never sold a 2415HST without a front loader. The front loader seems to provide adequate ballast for a standard duty 5' cutter. Without a loader might be a different matter!

 

[flusher]

Hello all,
I have been reading this and many forums over the last few months in the hopes of purchasing a tractor for our new plot of land. I have never driven a tractor, but the wife grew up on dairy farm. Her family still in dairy busines.
First, the wife and I have 1.5 acres of land, most level ground. The front 1/4 has about 20 trees on it, and the back half no trees. The wife and I love to work in the yard. Lots of landscaping to do!
I have done extensive searches on all the SCUTs. I first looked at JD, the 2305 seemed nice, and our state fair (Texas) are running an AWESOME sale on them. But when I measured the ROPS, found that I couldn't get it in the garage- was told from wife's family JD is not what it used to be. So I had to cross that one out, unless I was going to build a shed and lots of expensive parts.
Next I looked at the Kubota 2350 (have 2 dealers in the area- one I didn't like and the other was quoting me 15,880 for everything and 0 percent financing). Sweet deal!
One day two weeks ago, my wife find a nice deal on a 20 ft magnolia tree. When I got the shovel out, and started digging the hole, I found out quickly- I was out of shape, and the soil was pretty darn hard. It took me almost 4 hours to dig a 4 foot/4 foot hole for the tree.
I scratched the BX2350, and started to look at the BX24/25 - backhoe was going to be needed- especially if we were going to be putting in another 10 trees. The kubota dealer gave me a quote of 18,820. Not too bad.

To make the long story short, I was talking with one of my brother-in-laws, and he said that you should look at a Mahindra's. The local dealer can't keep these tractors in stock and talked with a mechanic and says he really hasn't seen many problems with them over the last couple of years.

The wife and I looked at a 2015 4wd gear drive yesterday. I was pretty impressed with the all metal tractor. We got a quote 18,909. This included the following:
2015 gear- 11,300 (includes FEL)
60 " Bush hog finish mower- 1,659
Bush hog 665H 5,950
Includes free delivery- about 30 miles from the house.

Since there isn't many places on the net that talk about this tractor, and I see that there are a few dealers on the board. I have a few questions:
1. Is this price about right?
2. Any serious problems with this tractor?
3. What else would I need with this tractor before I take the plunge? ie: cover?
4. Without the HST, do you think that I am doing the right thing?

Thanks.

Hmmm--1.5 acres, 11 holes to dig, and you want to spent nearly $6K on a backhoe. You can hire someone with a backhoe to dig those holes way lot cheaper and spend that $6K on implements you'll likely use more frequently (e.g. rototiller, box blade).

As far as tractor recommendations, my first tractor was a new Kubota B7510HST with the LA302 FEL (4WD, hydrostatic tranny, power steering, 21 hp engine, 17 hp pto, 4-ft wide FEL bucket)--$12,600. Used it on my 10 acres of flat pasture land (mowing, landscaping, toting materials in the FEL bucket, etc). Something like this is small and powerful enough to handle most any chore on 1.5 acres.

I traded that in after three years for a new Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, power steering) with the ML250 FEL (6 ft bucket). Mahindra makes good stuff.

 

[RedRiver]

Dave, agreed.....we've sold very few without loader too. I was just responding to boxygen's previous post, maybe I misread though thinking we weren't talking about units with loaders since previous posters mentioned the tractors being light on the front end.

 

[cl604]

flusher,
WE have a few holes to dig now, but the wife wants a garden, and we will have a rather large area of landscaping. Also within a year, we will need a tractor that can move a small plane in and out of a hangar.
I know that the backhoe is one of those things that is really a lot of money for something that probably wont get used. But I have learned before if I don't get something now, I will be kicking myself in the butt the day that I need it.
I think a BH is a big expense. Right now I have 11 LARGE trees that have been cut down and need to sawed up. So I know that the BH will help to move them around to help get them cut. BTW, I got a quote for bigging the holes for the trees- 2,100 dollars! YEP, that 's right! Gotta love fuel charges in the DFW area.

I looked a kubota's and I really like them. But the wife's family is in the dairy business, and they have all told me to stay away from them as well as JD series- LOTS of plastics, and a lot of things fall off due to vibrations. The father in law says- spend the extra money and you will be very pleased! That is what I was told. So Kubota was pulled, and besides the Kubota dealer in the area wasn't all that friendly to someone that doesn't know tractors either.
I know that I wont be using it like a farmer would, I just want to make sure that I am buying something that is going to last me 20+ years! I don't have a problem spending the extra bucks, as long as I have something that will last, and won't be a hangar queen.

 

[AchingBack]

In today's economy, an investment in stuff, is a good place to park your cash. Now look at the advantage of acquiring stuff, using the banks money. cl604, by the time you have put in 200 or so hours on your tractor, you should have the acquired the skills to make money by working for others with it.

 

[LBrown59]

I looked a kubota's and I really like them. But the wife's family is in the dairy business, and they have all told me to stay away from them as well as JD series- LOTS of plastics, and a lot of things fall off due to vibrations. The father in law says- spend the extra money and you will be very pleased!

One thing about this board is it makes hogwash like this really stand out for what it really is.