Another newbie- JD2305, BX2350, or GC2300?

[gball]

Fellas,
I'm yet another newbie who found TBN while looking for info on SCUTs. We'll soon be proud owners of 4 acres (1/2 of it pasture, other 1/2 yard) in NC, and I've narrowed my tractor search -for MMM mowing, FELing, and garden tilling- to the JD2305, MF GC2300 and the Kubota BX2350.

I've read many opinions about these three on previous posts, but have a couple questions to add:

One; does anyone know if the "limited" cat. 1 hitch on the JD will accept a run of the mill posthole digger ? Say a 42" or smaller 36"? One short term project would be to rent a digger, to add another pasture fence in the side yard, for the dogs, and I assume the JD's limited cat. 1 would accomodate, but seek any observations/facts on this.

Two; the JD dealer is just 8 miles up the highway from the property, while Massey-Ferguson is 40 miles away, and Kubota 40 also. As long as the JD dealer is friendly and has consistently good service, does close proximity add anything extra/ tilt purchase decision toward JD, just by virtue of easy access if questions arise/service is needed?

Three; Just in general, could those who own any of these three machines chime in on thoughts about them-- advantages, perceived disadvantages, things they do well, things to take note of?

Thanks in advance. Great forums on TBN, and looking forward to getting opinions.
Mike G.

 

[JiminGa]

Mike,
I have a 2305, it's a great machine. It will not accept a standard phd, it won't lift high enough. There are phd's designed for use on these machines though. I have a 50" rototiller for it and it's an animal in hard virgin dirt.
as far as dealers go, would you take your truck to a dealer 40 miles away if there's one 8 miles away? these machines are all very well built and I'm sure any of them would be a great purchase.
sit on them all however, because there are differences, some like it this way, some that...

 

[aesanders]

All three are excellent machines and a fairly close in comparison.

I do beleive that the Kubota and Massey are both limited category 1 hitches as well. They might not be advertised that way, but all three lack the height of a true compact tractor and that is what makes them a subcut.

 

[gball]

Thanks guys, for your responses. Makes good sense about a SCUTs height limitations, vs. a compact (therefore "limited" cat 1 vs. cat 1 on a CUT). I will definitely get a little seat time on all three brands before making the decision. I can tell just from the literature that each has slightly different control layouts, so I'm sure that, on top of comfort/ergos, layout factors into the decision. Will need to check out the toe/heel HST pedals on the bota, for instance, see if it works for me. Thanks again--- more questions to come...
Mike