Comparison Another newbie looking for advice - no affinity to color

[bobbylyon]

Hi folks,

Newbie to TBN and tractor ownership and need advice and wisdom. CFO (ie wife) has approved a purchase of a tractor for our 5 acre property near Sacramento. I've been shopping the local Kubota and Deere dealerships but I have no real allegiance to color or brand at this point and interested in the best match of quality, reliability, durability, and value. Here are the tasks we are looking to have the tractor help with:

• moving material bark, gravel, riverrock for landscape, dirt
• mow approximately 3 acres of pasture/grass
• no hills, flat parcel
• occasional tugging, pulling, lifting, digging of posts and trees
• shuffling/moving utility trailers (6x12 dirtbikes)
• garden prep
• clearing brush - have used FEL to clear blackberry bramble and was fast and effective

Here are the high-level details of the quotes I've received from the local green and orange shops for SCUTs and CUTs

BX2670 - $11,193
LA243 FEL - $3435
BB1254 - $753
TOTAL = $15381

B2601HSD - $15,059
LA434 FEL - $3701
B1625 - $0
BB1254 - $753
TOTAL - $19513


1025R - $13,817
D120 FEL - $2524.39
Ballast - $232
TOTAL - $16573.39

1023R
D120 FEL
BB2048L
TOTAL - $13,500

I've begun looking at others now from a value perspective such as Kioti, LS, Mahindra. Nothing is off the table but am interested in a tractor, FEL, and BB as a package deal. Based on research here and watching the 1-series and BX series, I believe them to be too small/slow/weak for some of the tasks I'm looking to perform with this tractor. I'd like to hear from ya'll your experience, dealings, costs, maintenance, etc with any and all brands.

Thanks in advance.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

The only thing that really jumps out at me is moving the travel trailer around. How much does it weigh? Any hills to deal with? Are you going to have an 'oh crap' brake controller set up? I would want to be as close in weight or over it as possible.

As for brands- go sit on the tractors you are considering, some features on different machines fit individuals better than others. Make sure you go big enough for your intended uses. Good luck and welcome aboard!

 

[bobbylyon]

Thanks - I've struck the TT and added that our parcel is flat.

 

[dadster4]

Will you be wanting a mid-mount mower or do you need a brush hog for maintaining the pasture? A MMM will limit the size tractor, and brush hogging grass requires more HP and more tractor.

 

[Streetcar]

2nd red neck on operating tractors. Get setup you prefer.
Is mowing for lawn, pasture or both

 

[bobbylyon]

Thanks for the questions and input folks.

No need for a MMM. Perhaps a rear finish mower or brush hog. The pasture is flat and clear of debris so a rear finish set high could do the job.

 

[paulfun9]

Looking for value? Look at Kioti, LS and TYM as they all seem to pack a lot more in for less. As far as my experience with different brands I have had just about all of them except fro LS, TYM and Mahindra. This time around I went with Kioti and have been more than pleased. Maintenance is no more than anything else and so far it has performed flawlessly for me which is something I can not say about any other brand for the same first few years of ownership.

 

[jeff9366]

All four tractors you have shopped will do the job.

I suggest you shop the Kubota L2501/HST in addition. One increment heavier and wider for stability; LA525 Loader. A larger displacement engine producing much more torque with only the basic emissions control equipment required on sub-25 horsepower tractors. For a few additional dollars, a lot more tractor.

With its higher capacity LA525 Loader, SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) is a practical factory option. For the tasks you have outlined, SSQA option would be useful.

VIDEO: tractor SSQA - YouTube

You have decided on a Finish Mower rather than a Rotary Cutter/Bush Hog. In that case, consider a Ratchet Rake attachment for your bucket, to deal with brush, Blackberries, loosening posts and garden prep, rather than beat up/dull your finish mower on brush. One of my favorite attachments. Ratchet Rakes are sold by the T-B-N store, among other sources, delivery by FedEx. Photo #2 will give an idea of its utility for standalone garden prep.

VIDEO: ratchet rake brush clearing - YouTube

You may want a 'tween rows garden cultivator. There are many. I have a MODULAR tool bar Cultivator from Woodward Crossings in Pennsylvania. Nice people to deal with.

LINK: woodward crossings - Google Search

"Hands Hitch" is a sturdy attachment for moving trailers and dragging stuff with chains via clevis shackle.

LINK: Handi hitch - Google Search


At present Kubota is providing its dealer network promotional money for package sales including a Kubota tractor and two implements, Kubota or Land Pride (which Kubota is buying) brands. [ Promo is current in Florida. May or may not be available in other states.]


L2501 LINK: Compact Tractors | L2501 | Kubota Tractor Corporation

L2501 VIDEO: kubota L2501 tractor - YouTube

Shop all tractor brands. Kubota has >50% market share in this category but the fastest growing brands, off a small base, are Korean. I have purchased two new Kubotas because I have an excellent Kubota dealer six miles from my property. The value of a reliable dealer, nearby, is HIGH.

 

[AxleHub]

I'd consider Massey Ferguson product in the same qualuty (equal or better) to Kubota or J.D.. Yet price should be cheaper than those 2 brands.

The GC1700 seties is a scut "with an attitude" and a heavier fel payload for a scut and long warranty. The 1700 series are cut sizes with or without mid pto. Again . . name brand product but very competitive pricing and excellent features, long warranty, and quality.

You need more seat time before gathering prices imo. Don't underestimate comfort and cockpit fit and spacing.

MF has great insurance programs for really low low rates and better protwcted categories for MF product purchases (MF is owned by AGCO and AGCO also oens finance and insurabce entitues)

I assume you also checked out the 324 and 424 models of Yanmar product?

Why am I mentioning MF/Iseki and Yanmar? Because like Kubota they are long time emgine AND tractor builders. They aren't assemblers . . they are builders with top tier rwpurations.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I would shop for a dealer before you shop for a tractor. The tractors are =, give or take, dealers are not. find a good one and then shop for a tractor from them. I just took a tractor in for hydro work. My dealer found a loose nut and had it fixed in no time. I worked for a dealer that charged over $50 to replace the blade on a push mower because they could and got away with it. Ed