I have finalized my purchase decision on a new tractor to either a B3200 or the B2920/B2620. I have about 6 acres, the majority of which is wooded. I will be establishing trails, doing a lot of loader work (I have gravel on the property), grading the area around my new house and scraping the driveway (dirt/gravel). I have driven both a b3200 and a b2620 - I am leaning towards the 2620 due to its slightly smaller size in the woods, however, I like the B3200's greater loader capacity and 4cycle engine. I also have a 350 foot drive to take care of in the winter (over 200 inches of snow in the winter). I would appreciate input on which model I should go with - my main concern is the size issue and that I have some areas that are tight between trees.
B3200 or B2920/2620 recommendation
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JOHNTHOMAS
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From what you say yourself you need to decide which one is more valuable to you, larger bucket or smaller size. No one can or should make that decision for you. Power wise there is very little difference and both will do all you need them to do. Buck up and make a decision. Now! Today! Call and tell them to ship it or go down and sign the papers! Now!
TripleR
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Is your property relatively flat? I passed on the B2x20's due to what appeared to me to be too high COG. If I was even considering a B2x20, I would seriously look at the B2x30 due to some added features such as position control.
If a bigger bucket is what you are after the 60" bucket for the 3200 will fit the 26/2920 loader. The 20 series tractors are wonderful capable machines. If I had bought the 2920 instead of the 2620 I likely would not of traded to the 3200.
toothdoc
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The advice I was given when I bought my tractor (B3200) was, find the tractor that you know will do all those things that you are now planning, and bump up to the next size. Obviously not a bigger size if that limits you doing those things you're planning. It's better to have more tractor than not enough, unless you're lucky enough to have two.
JOHNTHOMAS
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It's not luck. It's money that is moved from one area of need/want to another area of need/want. Luck has nothing to do with it.
toothdoc
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JohnThomas, you obviously aren't married to my wife!:laughing:It took several months of "Justifying" my need for 1 tractor...I can't imagine the fight it would take for me to muster up to justify a second (even though I can "justify" it)
toothdoc
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In regards to buying the "right" tractor-there is no "right" tractor...I still stand by the thought of buying a little more tractor than you think you'll need, trust me-you won't regret it...More people trade up to get a more tractor than less.
TripleR
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That is the problem with generalities, "generally" they are right, but not always and the real hard part is that we never know which is going to be which. A couple of years ago I went to buy a B2920 and found the BX2660 was the better pick and I was right. This year I went out again to buy a B and came home with a Grand L 5030 HSTC. I have been driving tractors for over fifty years and still get confused.
I guess the important thing is that I always come home with the right one, well generally I do
I've got a B2620 and the only times I have wished for the B3200 is plowing and moving snow and to impress my neighbors with a larger tractor .
I got the 60 inch bucket for snow and light materials and it fits the B2620. I don't think you would want to heap it with rock and gravel and I'm not sure if you would on the 3200 either. In that case the 54 inch bucket might be better on the B3200. I use the stock 50" bucket on the 2620 for real heavy stuff, believe me you can move gravel pretty darn fast enough especially if you aren't doing it for a living and just working on your own place.
I think any of the three would work well for you with six acres. The B2x20's are pretty easy to get around the woods with (from my experience). The B3200 has a little stronger loader and I think you could run a 6 ft rear blade if you need to plow snow and grade. I almost think mine would run a 6 although I bought a 5ft RB as recommended. In fact since it looks like you said you get a lot of snow that may be something to consider. Weight and size seem to help a lot if you are not getting a blower.
The QA and forks will fit all three although Kubota only shows it with the B3200. Loaded tires seem to help a lot on the smaller B2X20 and probably on the B3200 as well. I was able to pick up more weight with the loader and push more snow once I got mine loaded.
Some people have complained about the B3200 four cylinder vibrating a lot, something to check out with a test drive.
Good luck - I think you'll be happy with any of the three.
.I got the 60 inch bucket for snow and light materials and it fits the B2620. I don't think you would want to heap it with rock and gravel and I'm not sure if you would on the 3200 either. In that case the 54 inch bucket might be better on the B3200. I use the stock 50" bucket on the 2620 for real heavy stuff, believe me you can move gravel pretty darn fast enough especially if you aren't doing it for a living and just working on your own place.
I think any of the three would work well for you with six acres. The B2x20's are pretty easy to get around the woods with (from my experience). The B3200 has a little stronger loader and I think you could run a 6 ft rear blade if you need to plow snow and grade. I almost think mine would run a 6 although I bought a 5ft RB as recommended. In fact since it looks like you said you get a lot of snow that may be something to consider. Weight and size seem to help a lot if you are not getting a blower.
The QA and forks will fit all three although Kubota only shows it with the B3200. Loaded tires seem to help a lot on the smaller B2X20 and probably on the B3200 as well. I was able to pick up more weight with the loader and push more snow once I got mine loaded.
Some people have complained about the B3200 four cylinder vibrating a lot, something to check out with a test drive.
Good luck - I think you'll be happy with any of the three.
JOHNTHOMAS
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That is the problem with generalities, "generally" they are right, but not always and the real hard part is that we never know which is going to be which. A couple of years ago I went to buy a B2920 and found the BX2660 was the better pick and I was right. This year I went out again to buy a B and came home with a Grand L 5030 HSTC. I have been driving tractors for over fifty years and still get confused.
I guess the important thing is that I always come home with the right one, well generally I do
It's quite obvious that you need to go out and look for an L or BX to ever get that B.
JOHNTHOMAS
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I see you have a B3200. Is that more than you thought you would need, what you thought you would need or less than you thought you would need?
I've went up from BX's, B's and an L. The L was my biggest mistake because it was to big and I just didn't want to get it out to use it. The B's and BX's fit my needs and unless my life changes I'll never go back to a bigger tractor than I need. Talk about losing on a trade, go down in size from a new tractor. I went from BX to a B mostly for ground clearance and now that I've got most of my land conquered I've moved back to BX's so I guess you can see my point of reference. Interested to see why you want bigger than a B3200.
I appreciate everyone's feedback - I am still split on the 3200 and the 2620 - I like the idea of the smaller size of the 2620 for my woods (about 4.5-5 acres are wooded), but I also like the size of the b3200 for loader work and snow removal. I am only looking at an $800.00 difference between the two (Kubota has a 300.00 CIR for the 3200 if bought with the loader).
Also - my property does have a number of slopes/inclines that I will be negotiating when establishing trails. Any thoughts on the stability of the 3200 versus the 2620? Thanks!
Also - my property does have a number of slopes/inclines that I will be negotiating when establishing trails. Any thoughts on the stability of the 3200 versus the 2620? Thanks!
TripleR
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It's quite obvious that you need to go out and look for an L or BX to ever get that B.
You may be on to something; for some reason, I just really like the B Series, but just can't really find a niche for one.
I can only speak for the B2620. I've got some fairly hilly terrain in the woods and some of my cleared area. It feels pretty stable once you get used to it. I've gone to 15 degrees but that's about it for my nerves. It's pretty stable going over rough ground in the woods. No problems with stability or power going up and down hills with loads. The 3200 is somewhat higher so leaning it to 15 degrees might feel pretty uncomfortable but I'm just guessing. Somebody that's owned one with hills would have to chime in.
ChuckinNH
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I agree with what Bstrom says. Remember when you are trying things out that you will likely have some implement on the back when you are in the woods. There have been a time, or two that I kind of wished I got the B3200 (which wasn't available when I bought mine) but then I go in the woods, and have all I can do to get turned around with my chipper on the back, and I'm so happy that I don't have anything larger! Often with just the forks, I have to curl the forks back, and raise the loader arms to clear things when I'm turning around....... even with just the box blade, or nothing on the rear. Though I have widened a few spots that were really tight, I still have spots between boulders, and trees that I don't want to damage that make me happy for the smaller tractor too. What I have now is also the largest tractor that I personally would mow my yard with.
Remember too that loader capacities are given at full height, and that the smaller loader will lift as much as the 504, just not as high, and believe me you don't want much weight at full height on the uneven ground in the woods with either tractor! That is just asking for trouble!
Remember too that loader capacities are given at full height, and that the smaller loader will lift as much as the 504, just not as high, and believe me you don't want much weight at full height on the uneven ground in the woods with either tractor! That is just asking for trouble!
davatk
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You may consider the new B3300 if you don't think you'll have need of a mid-pto. Also, the B2630, same general size specs as the B3200/B3300 may be a consideration if you don't need the extra horses. Plus I believe there is still an $1000 incentive on that model.
i have a B2630. I went with that over the B3200 because I didn't necessarily need the extra horses, and liked the smoothness of the engine as compared to the b3200. Also the premium options such as PTO postion control, tilt wheel, make it a little nicer overall tractor IMO.
Hope that helps, and good luck in your desicion making process.
i have a B2630. I went with that over the B3200 because I didn't necessarily need the extra horses, and liked the smoothness of the engine as compared to the b3200. Also the premium options such as PTO postion control, tilt wheel, make it a little nicer overall tractor IMO.
Hope that helps, and good luck in your desicion making process.
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ChuckinNH
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It's funny, the feeling of stability is somewhat subjective. In the woods where the ground is constantly changing side to side, my BX22, especially with the backhoe on made me nervous sometimes. I guess it is narrower, but is closer to the ground than my present tractor. I drive the same areas with my B2620 and I am much more comfortable with the difference being like night, and day. The BX always felt like it was tipping side to side everywhere I went. I think the larger tires soak up those small variations, rocks, etc. better, and give you the feeling of stability. In my yard, on the other hand, my BX with the loader, and backhoe off felt like a mountain goat, and I aerated, etc. places that I would approach with some caution on my B2620 though after getting familiar with the larger B, I have been every place that I went with the BX.
TripleR
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The thing that concerned me when looking at the B2920 was when sitting beside the BX2660, the tread width was about the same, but the B was much taller. The B "appeared" to have a much higher COG and since much of my mowing is across slopes, I chose the BX.
I don't "know" that the B is less stable than the BX, only what it appeared like it would be. Of course I also have other tractors to do those tractor type things the BX won't handle.
