Another confused first timer

[alexpops]

How "mechanically inclined" are you? If the answer is "I can find the fuel fill" then new with close dealer support is probably your best option, but it will cost up front. If the answer is "fairly proficient & don't mind getting my hands dirty", I would echo LouNY. Unless you are planning on making a living with your tractor, I wouldn't pay much attention to resale value since anything you buy now (assuming it does everything you want fairly efficiently) will probably be the first & last tractor purchase of your life. I've bought used at auctions for all my equipment & got it for less than half of "New" and my LS even transferred the warranty since it came from an "Estate" auction as opposed to a regular equipment auction. The money saved allows for more implements faster, & since a tractor is essentially only a portable power source, implements are your key to productivity. I would also look older if you want to avoid computer controlled & proprietary diagnostic equipment. The beauty of older mechanically controlled diesels is they are fairly easy to work on if you understand the systems & parts are still available/interchangeable. Full disclosure ... I was a gas station mechanic & amateur hot rodder in the 70's so I am comfortable around engines & most mechanical systems -- I only quit cranking wrenches for a living when I got tired of dealing with customers & working for the Snap-on truck because back then, every three years required a new diagnostic analyzer for each of Ford, GM and Chrysler products at 5-10k a pop. If your land is flat, 2WD is a viable option that saves money & 4WD would only really come into play for ground engagement & snow traction. In terms of mowing ... check out flail mowers. I find they can handle more abuse than rotaries, they leave a better finish than bush hogs, and they are safer in terms of not turning rocks into ballistic missiles that could impact your insurance costs, (Vet bills?) & general finances. Just my opinions ... accept/ignore as you see fit.

 

[Mudfarmer]

I think the advice to get a "heavy" tractor for 5 acres is a bit overblown. You don't need weight or power to adequately take care of five acres. I used an older Kubota B7100 (16HP, 1080 pounds) for years to mow pastures with a four foot bush hog (the most common and cheapest size). I currently use two Kubotas a B2710 and a B2650 which are both "light" according to the above discussion, but have the advantage that I can haul them around pretty easily with my old pickup and cheap trailer. If you intend to have your dealer service the machine recognize that dealer charges to pick up and drop off a machine quickly add up to the cost of a trailer. "Heavy" tractors may bounce a bit less on rough ground (like my JD 3005), but they don't get the jobs done any faster on five acres, and they are indeed more expensive. I suspect you will be using your tractor most as a motorized wheelbarrow, you don't need size for that, in fact maneuverability is a virtue.
Mudfarmer

 

[WRG1]

Hoodoo,

I am not sure what my opinion is worth but here it is. I can relate to the "just retired and on a budget" as I am not quite there, but closely monitoring my expenditures in order to facilitate early retirement for myself and my wife and regardless what others say, "time value of money" is everything to me on all purchases now. I have used a 1956 Ferguson 35 on our farm to do most anything we ever wanted to do since we stopped doing it with a team of horses. They make 3pt scoops and utility lifts to use instead of the loader, chains and ballast instead of 4wd, and various other methods of getting around many of the more modern conveniences the newer tractors offer. I also went from two wheel drive 35 hp to two wheel drive 67 hp in the 90s when we purchased a Long. My particular Long (model 2610) is the same exact tractor as the 70-79 Oliver model? and the 80-89 Allis Chalmers model? and then Long sold it under their name. It is nearly impossible to find parts for, I can get parts for my 1956 Ferguson much easier. So, when I went to look for a newer 4wd more convenient tractor I was more interested in the compact/sub compact market and also availability of support in the future. I looked at Kioti, Kubota, JD and a few others. Kubota has the most history with the sub compact/compact market in my opinion and all I have read. But, there are articles and numbers to support any brand you want if you search long enough and without getting into specs, this is my opinion only. I have a Kubota dealer within an hour drive and they were super helpful before the sale. I have JD, MF, NH, and Kioti dealers around but I have dealt with them in the past and know who to call for what. The JD dealer has been sold 3 times in the past 10 yrs so I just didn't have much faith there, nor the wallet to chase green. My brother runs a JD on his farm next door and I have some JD equipment. I like the open source of Kubota and how easy it is to find support openly and not "dealer only". Kioti seemed like an option but the resale and the support is an issue for my neighboring farm owner whom has two and has been happy with their performance but admits parts, service, and availability for parts is still tough. In his opinion, Kioti is a throw away tractor, meaning it has a life span much shorter than the larger brands. That is his exact words not mine. So, I started looking on FB marketplace and found tons of Kubota sub compact and compact tractors. I wanted a wide stance for I am on steep hills but I also wanted more of a basic tractor rather than a lot of bells and whistles I may not need. I found a 2016 Kubota 25hp (any tractor 26hp and above must have regen on it, the 25hp does not) L2501, fitted with a pin on bucket, frame mounted backhoe with only 22 hours on it and had been garage kept which I purchased for only $18,500. After speaking with the dealer the L2501 is actually dialed down to meet the 25hp requirement so now that it is out of warranty, if I want, I can adjust the carb and pick up a few more hp (supposedly). So, that is. plus. The SSQA adapter through Kubota was only $450 which was easy enough to put on myself and the third function control ($899) was literally a piece of cake to mount and wire two wires. So now I have a SSQA front end for my loader bucket and my grapple, plus I have my backhoe which can be attached and removed within 3-5 minutes, R4 tires loaded with ballast for additional weight, 4wd, I put a canopy on the roll bar for those sunny days for another $450. In total I have less than $21,000 in a tractor with 22 hrs on it and exactly what I was looking for. I did not buy new, but have a new tractor. Great dealer service even though I did not purchase the tractor from them they ordered the parts (canopy, third function, and adapter plate for SSQA without a problem and also have scheduled the first service for the tractor with them). Also, I found a soft sided enclosure for the Kubota which once assembled and in place can be removed in about 45 minutes and reinstalled in the same for easy change of seasons manufactured by Original Tractor Cab for less than $1,500 if I want to add that later due to the wind and snow we get here in the mountains. Just my opinion and am offering it up for what it is worth.

Brian

 

[DGBouscal]

Well here's the story....I have a 5 acre place in N Central Az. All flat, about 2 acres is horse pasture. Well not grass pasture, but dirt and rock. The other 3 acres are 'grassy' but not nice grass. Plus there are spots with rocks that need to be cleared and always DG to spread. I currently have a riding mower, but the mower deck just crapped out, and I use it more for dragging and cleaning the pastures anyway. My neighbors are great and stop by to help out with stuff, but I really need my own tractor, most people around here use them almost every day for something.

So after much searching, I basically know nothing much more than when I started looking. What I do know is that tractors are expensive!

Here are my parameters: Decent HP (24?) - 4x4 - rear box scraper - front bucket - canopy - mower deck. Other than that I'm flexible. Budget is under $20k. I'd like to go new to get a warranty, plus most manufacturers are offering $0 down and 0% financing which makes it doable....

Brand choice is another matter. John Deere is way too pricey, Kubota is a possible, Yanmar also.
What should I know or do to get this going? I'd like to have one by next spring.

All advice appreciated!

I recently purchased a new Kubota 2601, bucket, front mount snow blower, for which I paid cash. I believed the words of the salesman that the electrics for the blower, first year maintenance, etc. would be included. A year later I discovered they would not stand behind their promises, and would not honor the guarantee on the blower drive shaft because it was 1 month over, even though I had used it a couple of time the previous year. That was $310 from my pocket. So this is why I suggest that the dealer is more important than the make. Ask around and find out how the various dealers treat their customers.

 

[Beatline]

Well here's the story....I have a 5 acre place in N Central Az. All flat, about 2 acres is horse pasture. Well not grass pasture, but dirt and rock. The other 3 acres are 'grassy' but not nice grass. Plus there are spots with rocks that need to be cleared and always DG to spread. I currently have a riding mower, but the mower deck just crapped out, and I use it more for dragging and cleaning the pastures anyway. My neighbors are great and stop by to help out with stuff, but I really need my own tractor, most people around here use them almost every day for something.

So after much searching, I basically know nothing much more than when I started looking. What I do know is that tractors are expensive!

Here are my parameters: Decent HP (24?) - 4x4 - rear box scraper - front bucket - canopy - mower deck. Other than that I'm flexible. Budget is under $20k. I'd like to go new to get a warranty, plus most manufacturers are offering $0 down and 0% financing which makes it doable....

Brand choice is another matter. John Deere is way too pricey, Kubota is a possible, Yanmar also.
What should I know or do to get this going? I'd like to have one by next spring.

All advice appreciated!

I was in your shoes about 11 yrs ago. I live in Athens, Alabama. I have 8 acres of old cotton field. I bought a B3300SU Kubota (33HP), and here is why. Similar John Deere was priced about the same. Both Kubota and John Deere were offering 0 down, 0 interest for five years. However, the JD deal was only on the tractor, not the implements. So I went Kubota because I got a tiller, a box blade, a bush hog and a finishing mower thrown into the mix. I never looked at the other brands. In my area Kubota, JD, and Massey were the big names. I have had no big maintenance issues. On hot August days, I start wishing I had an air conditioned cab, but I gut it out and drink a lot of water if I can.
So for me it boiled down to dollars. The smaller sub compacts looked nice with their little back hoes (which would be nice to have), but I did not think they had enough power.
My latest investment has been a fuel caddy with a hand crank. I am 74 now and hauling those 5 gal cans of fuel up top and pouring them is getting a bit tough.

 

[Garson]

I owned a L275 (27 HP) tractor for 20 years and loved it, but since then have had an International and two Kiotis. All tractors were great. The major difference was the cost. Kubota is about 25% higher in price but does the same thing as my Kioti and the Kioti dealers don't have their hand out for money when you drive in. They treat you with respect in my experience.

So your main concern is buying the right size of tractor and having a dealer that can support it if a problem arises. If you buy a Korean tractor you can step up in size for the same dollar as a smaller Kubota. That's my advice. I love my 72 HP Kioti. If you plan on working your tractor, stay away from a hydrostatic transmission that sacrifices 25% of your engine power toward the transmission losses. Shuttle shift is nearly as convenient. Grounds tires are fine for lawn mowing but agriculture tires are way better for working in the rough. Load your tires with beetjuice and your tractor will be more stable and have more traction.

Above all, before you buy any tractor, do third party reviews on sites such as here on TBN. All brands have lemons.

Good luck

 

[MHarryE]

You said your neighbor came over with his Deere to bail you out. Is his tractor size something that would work for your need? What does he/she say about their tractor, dealer service, etc.? In the size you are talking about, Deere and Kubota are assembled in America with parts sourced from around the world so they are the most USA built if that is a concern. Knowing your area - soil type, terrain, and vegetation are going to be different than 95% of the members of this forum so you really need to see what the locals. Like me, from Northern MN, would recommend you make sure to have a block heater, snow removal equipment, and the ability to cross swamps without getting stuck.

 

[sweilers5]

Well here's the story....I have a 5 acre place in N Central Az. All flat, about 2 acres is horse pasture. Well not grass pasture, but dirt and rock. The other 3 acres are 'grassy' but not nice grass. Plus there are spots with rocks that need to be cleared and always DG to spread. I currently have a riding mower, but the mower deck just crapped out, and I use it more for dragging and cleaning the pastures anyway. My neighbors are great and stop by to help out with stuff, but I really need my own tractor, most people around here use them almost every day for something.

So after much searching, I basically know nothing much more than when I started looking. What I do know is that tractors are expensive!

Here are my parameters: Decent HP (24?) - 4x4 - rear box scraper - front bucket - canopy - mower deck. Other than that I'm flexible. Budget is under $20k. I'd like to go new to get a warranty, plus most manufacturers are offering $0 down and 0% financing which makes it doable....

Brand choice is another matter. John Deere is way too pricey, Kubota is a possible, Yanmar also.
What should I know or do to get this going? I'd like to have one by next spring.

All advice appreciated!

Suggest you look to a compact - New Holland has a great line of Workmasters - their 60 hp will give you a tractor you can shred, disc, and a number of farming activities! Will also give good lift for your front end loader and provide better resale down the road! Most dealers around here sell used and provide a modest warranty! I would not rule out a used tractor with less than 500 hours!

 

[sorleski]

I bought a used kubota 7 years ago, it came with 1800 hrs on it, it was the L4330.. besides a few minor issues, it has run good for a used tractor. I have 10 acres of hard packed Texas clay. I plow, I mow, I dig, and move a lot of dirt, and carry a lot of things, railroad ties, rocks, etc. I now have 2460 hrs on it, I run about 100 hrs a year. I had to replace the alternator, and a hydraulic hose. I will say, the one issue I have been having is that it runs hot in the summer when I am mowing in grass that is 3 feet tall, other than that, no complaints, I haven't really put any money in it. Praise the Lord. So I too agree, go with a better known brand..

 

[HAR]

Hi
A lot has already been said, and covered, but here is my 2 cents.

I purchased a used, but nearly new, Kubota B7300 nearly 20 years ago. Why?

First, I live in an agricultural area, and farms and tractors abound everywhere. I see everything from ancient IH/JD/Ford/Case/Oliver/DavidBrown, etc everywhere, to many new and modern tractors. Of all the tractors that I see most frequently in the smaller CUT size are the Kubota/JD models, along with a few NewHollands.

Second, locally there are both JD and Kubota dealers. The Kubota dealer handles Kubota, NewHolland, Case/IH, and Bobcat plus tons of equipment mfgs.
As many friends and neighbors have equipment, I was able to do some real homework, including driving/using a few. These friends and neighbors were a wealth of knowledge both about the equipment manufacturers and the quality of the dealerships. Vemont, being a fairly small, but very agricultural state, has numerous dealers throughout the state. Other than possible distance, parts are normally quite available, as the dealers all have a working relationship. Scratch my back and I will scratch yours. As for having to haul for service, locally it would be about 12-15 miles, or in a totally extreme case, 1-2 hours.

Then it was time to determine what would be the minimum that I would settle for. In my case, 15-25 HP, CUT or SCUT with 4WD, 3PH, and 2 speed PTO. Niceties would be power steering, additional hydraulic hookups, loaded tires, and so on.

Then I went looking both dealerships and for sale forums. I looked for nearly a year, walking away from numerous tractors and deals. Then one day, someone that I had been in contact with gave me a heads up on a used tractor for sale. A 2 year old B7300 with only 104 hours, Turfs, loaded rear tires, 60" MMM, 48" FEL, 54" rear mount snow thrower, 48" brush hog. The guy selling was moving cross country and it was priced for a quick sale. I went to look and put money down that day, and paid for and picked it up the next.

I have had the Kubota B7300, as I said, nearly 20 years. Maintenance, other than routine PM, has been nearly zip. I did have to replace two hydraulic hoses, early on, but other than that nothing. Oil, hydraulic, filter changes on a routine basis. Lots of grease and a good quality fuel source have been paid back with years of nearly flawless use. I had a 3PH counter weight box build for it, and I purchased a 3PH multi point/use draw bar. I also bought a PTO genset.

Would I do differently? Not sure. Other than a few cons, the tractor has performed anything I have asked of it.

Cons:Kind of wished it had power steering, as when FEL is loaded, it is hard to steer. One control (Hi/Neutral/Low selection lever) could have been placed more ergonomically, as getting on/off tractor, clothing can get hung on it. Lack of hydraulic connections limits what attachments can be used, without modifications. More HP? Maybe at times, but I get by.

If another brand (JD/Ford/NewHolland/etc) shown up with a like setup/deal, I probably would have jumped on it, as the local dealers were all here and well established. I never considered one of the lesser known brands.