B3000 with Cab

DirtMerchant · Sep 9, 2012

I was eyeballing a new B3000 at the local dealer this morning, interested in hearing from anyone who owns one and likes dislikes.

I plan to use it on 5acres for mowing, post holes, trenching (with BH option) tree planting, snow plowing, back filling etc. Not heavy work but standing next to it, it just seems less than what I need.

I definitely want a cab tractor and a FEL with a BH, and this one is basically the smallest with a Cab and backhoe options, just would like to get opinions.

Ductape · Sep 9, 2012

I have a B3030, which is the same tractor except Kubota gave them a name change when they decided to offer the tractor without all of the B3030's deluxe options (in theory, to be able to offer them at a cheaper price). I am 110% happy with mine and it has about 400 hours on it currently. I have a Woods BH-80X backhoe on mine, as well as the factory optional front mounted snowblower. The tractor has loads of power for its size, and will always run out of traction before it runs out of power. The tractor is very comfortable to operate in any season with it's heat and air conditioning. You are correct that it is the smallest factory cab available in any brand. Mine is perfectly sized for me, but only you can decide if it is too small for your needs. FWIW, it will run a 5 foot bush hog and 6 foot finish mower. On the other hand, it is probably a little light for alot of ground engaging work. I'm not aware of any real problems with them, but feel free to use the search function here for boat loads of reading on the B3030 and B3000. The meat and potatos of the tractor are mostly unchanged since 05 (or was it 04?) when it was introduced.

JJZ 109 · Sep 9, 2012

I second Ductape's opinions. My 3030 has pretty much done everything I needed from it. Too bad you didn't live closer, I'd make you a deal on mine!

Ductape · Sep 9, 2012

JJZ 109 said:
I second Ductape's opinions. My 3030 has pretty much done everything I needed from it. Too bad you didn't live closer, I'd make you a deal on mine!

I did try to sell yours to my brother in-law...... but i think the distance squashed any possibility.

JJZ 109 · Sep 9, 2012

Ductape said:
I did try to sell yours to my brother in-law...... but i think the distance squashed any possibility.

I appreciate it! Never did get a solid answer on the BH 77 question. I emailed my dealer today. Maybe if it doesn't sell I can swap it in on a skid steer snow blower and either upgrade my flatbed trailer to a tilt bed or get a dump trailer. But of course the first pick would be just to sell it outright.
With the economy and with me being a private seller who won't finance makes it a tougher sell.

94BULLITT · Sep 9, 2012

I have never been in one but have heard the cab is noisy inside. They would make a really nice mower.

DirtMerchant · Sep 10, 2012

Ductape said:
I have a B3030, which is the same tractor except Kubota gave them a name change when they decided to offer the tractor without all of the B3030's deluxe options (in theory, to be able to offer them at a cheaper price). I am 110% happy with mine and it has about 400 hours on it currently. I have a Woods BH-80X backhoe on mine, as well as the factory optional front mounted snowblower. The tractor has loads of power for its size, and will always run out of traction before it runs out of power. The tractor is very comfortable to operate in any season with it's heat and air conditioning. You are correct that it is the smallest factory cab available in any brand. Mine is perfectly sized for me, but only you can decide if it is too small for your needs. FWIW, it will run a 5 foot bush hog and 6 foot finish mower. On the other hand, it is probably a little light for alot of ground engaging work. I'm not aware of any real problems with them, but feel free to use the search function here for boat loads of reading on the B3030 and B3000. The meat and potatos of the tractor are mostly unchanged since 05 (or was it 04?) when it was introduced.

I have a fair amount backhoe and loading work to do on the property which makes me nervous about the size, I am going to stop at the dealer again today and speak to a sales guy and see what I come up with.

Thanks for the input, it is good to know that its a perfect fit for some.

JJZ 109 · Sep 10, 2012

94BULLITT said:
I have never been in one but have heard the cab is noisy inside. They would make a really nice mower.

You heard correctly. When running at PTO rated speed, I discovered that it pretty much was a waste of time to install the stereo.
I have no idea whether Kubota has addressed this when the cab moved from the B3030 to the B3000.

Ductape · Sep 10, 2012

I'm going to respectfully disagree on the noise. Its definitely not as quiet as the Grand L, and other mid sized cabs, but worlds better than no cab. I have no complaints on the noise at all..... might not be as quiet as I'd like, but its about where I'd figure it would be.

DirtMerchant.... here is a finish mowing video (camera suction-cupped to the inside of the window) with the factory optional radio on at a moderate volume.

Landpride FDR1560 & Kubota B3030 - YouTube

JJZ 109 · Sep 10, 2012

I did get an ebay bid from St. Albans, VT. That wasn't him was it?

DirtMerchant · Sep 11, 2012

Ductape said:
I'm going to respectfully disagree on the noise. Its definitely not as quiet as the Grand L, and other mid sized cabs, but worlds better than no cab. I have no complaints on the noise at all..... might not be as quiet as I'd like, but its about where I'd figure it would be.

DirtMerchant.... here is a finish mowing video (camera suction-cupped to the inside of the window) with the factory optional radio on at a moderate volume.

Landpride FDR1560 & Kubota B3030 - YouTube

Thanks for posting the video, its kind of mesmerizing

I watched the whole video twice....

DirtMerchant · Sep 11, 2012

My plan was to stop at the dealer and test drive both the B3000 and the GrandL but ended up getting out of work too late, and today I will be on the road and won't be back in time to hit the dealer either, will try again tomorrow.

RFB · Sep 14, 2012

I have a fairly new (10 hours) B3000HSDCC with the front mounted (mid-pto powered) snowblower for smaller snowblowing tasks around the residence. We also put a Caroni TM1900FSC 72 inch flail on the back for lawn and light brush mowing. It has sufficient power for both. We loaded the tires with Bio-Tire Ballast and it feels pretty stable thus far. I plan to put some Bro-Tek rear wheel spacers to enable chains.

I use NRR 30 hearing protection in the B3000 and the L5740, so I am not able to give an objective sound critique. It came with a pre-plumbed antenna but I do not do entertainment while operating (I prefer a sterile cockpit) so the only electronics I use are strictly for comms.

The snowblower attachment system is quite easy. I removed it and installed it with very little difficulty and an ATV jack to roll the submount into position. (One must turn the front wheels to slide the receive pin into place.)

I have no issues so far.

DirtMerchant · Sep 16, 2012

Thanks for the info guys, I finally got by the dealer and find that B3000 is simply too small, maximum bucket for the BH is 16 inch, just not big enough for some of the things I need to do. I am looking at the L3940 now...

BizDoc · Sep 16, 2012

One note about a cab, besides the noise, which , I agree, makes an in cab stereo pointless. I've had to replace hydro lines and the cab had to come off, expensive repair. Plastic switch melted so tractor wouldn't start, floor of tractor had to come up, more shop time, more cost. The cab is nice, especially in winter, but repairs are expensive if it's anything near the cab.

ns825 · Sep 22, 2012

JJZ 109 said:
You heard correctly. When running at PTO rated speed, I discovered that it pretty much was a waste of time to install the stereo.
I have no idea whether Kubota has addressed this when the cab moved from the B3030 to the B3000.

Hi I just got a b3000 as my first tractor and installed a Pioneer deck in it and new pioneer 4" speakers. It sounds great even at PTO speed. The stock speakers would not of course, in fact they were breaking up trying to listen to it at idle. Of of the things i really lime about this tractor is the size it may take me a few more trips to move a pile of dirt but it turns quick and i
an get it between some trees which i know i could not get an L3200 between(that was the other model i was looking at)

DirtMerchant · Sep 23, 2012

For the scale of work I need to do the B3000 was just too small for me, I ended up looking at an L3940 HSTC instead, and as it turned out the local dealer had a L4240 HSTC on the lot that he was willing to sell for the same price as the L3940, so I signed for the L4240 HSTC. Now I just have to wait two weeks for the backhoe and remotes to get installed.

JJZ 109 · Sep 23, 2012

ns825 said:
Hi I just got a b3000 as my first tractor and installed a Pioneer deck in it and new pioneer 4" speakers. It sounds great even at PTO speed. The stock speakers would not of course, in fact they were breaking up trying to listen to it at idle. Of of the things i really lime about this tractor is the size it may take me a few more trips to move a pile of dirt but it turns quick and i
an get it between some trees which i know i could not get an L3200 between(that was the other model i was looking at)

Looks like you and Ductape had better luck than BizDoc and I. Some of my issue probably can be attributed to low budget speakers. But the tractor is now gone so it's moot point for me.
I actually think that the Bobcat S185 that I now have is quieter inside. But I won't install a stereo in this machine. If I really feel the need, I'll use the Worktunes headphones that I use on the zero turn mower.