Best bang for under $20K

[stoyan79]

How is your tractor pushing the 5' box blade? Would you go any bigger?

I would not completely rule out other brands at this point, but I also went with Kubota and bought my L3700SU last year for about your price point. My outfit purchased was the tractor, front end loader, 5' rotary mower, 5' boxblade, landscape rake, metal sun roof and kubota insurance.

Often the dealers can throw attachments in to make the deal at very low cost if you are not hung up on brand names or colors. All of my stuff is Ag Armstrong or Ag-Meier brand attachments rather than much more pricey Landpride stuff.

 

[stoyan79]

I hope my dealer can order quick hitch sub frame from the Grand Ls and mount it on the L3800, so I can use a front hydraulic blade. Otherwise, I might have to mount one on the loader, by removing the bucket. It seems like Curtis is making one like that.

The front blade is used with the quick-hitch subframe.The quick hitch is also used with the front snowblower and rotary broom,with the addition of the mid-pto(driveshaft)as well.My guess is Kubota hasn't bothered to engineer a quick hitch for the "economy" L series tractors since they don't offer a mid PTO.Most likely very little demand.

 

[stoyan79]

I am thinking about the B3300SU. For snow removal weight is crucial thou and the L series are much heavier.

Move down a notch to the B series, less money but more left over to add the attachments you want or need. The B3030 is a little workhorse.

 

[stoyan79]

I've heard about Kioti and I know resale value is worse than Kubota, but that doesn't bother me as I am buying for life.

Other than resale value, does Kubota have other advantages over Kioti?

I'm not sure why you've only looked at Kubota. There's no doubt you can buy a really nice Kubota ($$$), but if it's the most tractor for under $20K you're looking for, you're looking in the wrong spot.
I've now been a tractor owner for almost 2 years (still a newb). My first tractor was a used JD 955 cab with 33hp with 1800 hrs. I knew nothing about tractors and only looked at the "name brand" tractors. I actually bought my 955 from a Kubota dealer. Like any tractor, and especially any older tractor, I had lots of tinker time to learn how it was all put together and how to fix it. I finally had enough and decided to buy new.
I to looked at Kubota, but I also took the time to research as many other brands as I had local dealers to buy from. This included JD, Landini (now a blue Kioti, but not then), Case, Kioti, Branson etc. I made a list of what specs were important to me in a tractor and put them side by side.
You will find that plowing snow is very much dependent on traction which is much more dependent on weight than hp. The L3800 is not a very heavy tractor when compared to others in the same class (over 1000 lbs less than a Kioti DK40 for example). The other important factors you might be interested would be total hydraulic flow, loader lift, loader height (if you leave it on while clearing snow, this makes a BIG difference), and PTO hp if you'll be using a snow blower or other attachments.
I live in Ottawa. We can get ALOT of snow. Because my wife told me my new Kioti TBL was my birthday, Christmas, valentines day, fathers day etc present, I haven't bought an inverse snow blower for it YET. In the mean time, I use a back blade for snow, and it works very well, you just can't wait until there's 2 ft of snow on the ground with 3ft drifts. I leave the FEL on the tractor and use it for pilling. This is a very effective and cost effective way to clear snow, it just take a little longer (which makes me happy because I get more seat time). I agree with other posts, a snow blower is really the way to go. I'd also never spend the money on a front plow set up since it will be the same price or more as a blower.
My 30 hp Kioti CK30 is at LEAST twice the tractor that my 33 hp JD 955 was. If I was blinded by brand name and bought a new JD, I would have missed out on a much more capable tractor and paid a little more for it.
Here's the worksheet I developed while shopping once I narrowed my search down a little. I'd seriously suggest you make one of your own and be patient in your purchase. This thing will last your life time if you want it too, so a few extra weeks getting it right now will be more than worth it.

 

[kiotiken]

I've heard about Kioti and I know resale value is worse than Kubota, but that doesn't bother me as I am buying for life.

Other than resale value, does Kubota have other advantages over Kioti?

A used Kubota will sell for more than a used Kioti no doubt, all else being equal, but the Kioti cost less to buy in the first place. They all seem to keep their value fairly well, Kioti included.

Kioti is Korean, it's parent company (daedong) started making tractors in 1963 and brought them to North America in 1993 under the Kioti brand. They make tractors for Bobcat, McCormic, Landini and probably others I don't know about. I love this forum I've read a lot of the Kioti threads, and I've yet to read about somebody who hates their Kioti or regrets buying it.

You'd think I work for them or something, but I don't, I just REALY like my CK 30, it kicks the snot out of any of the tractors I tried and my previous JD.

Maybe Kioti is the best match for me, maybe it's Kubota for you, or maybe it's something else. I think you should go out and drive a bunch of them and have fun doing it. The dealer is as important as the tractor in many respects.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I hope my dealer can order quick hitch sub frame from the Grand Ls and mount it on the L3800, so I can use a front hydraulic blade. Otherwise, I might have to mount one on the loader, by removing the bucket. It seems like Curtis is making one like that.

The Grand L is a completely different tractor than the L3800, the sub frame wouldn't fit without some major modifications. Actually, even the smallest grand L (L3240) is physically the same size as an L4400, and shares many components. It is conceivable that a sub frame for a grand L could fit a L4400 with some work, but definitely not the L3200/3800.

I am thinking about the B3300SU. For snow removal weight is crucial thou and the L series are much heavier.

If you go with a B3200 or B3300su, stick to the 60" front blade. It is tempting to go with the bigger 72", but it won't handle it as well. The weight of the B3200/3300 is plenty for the 60" blade.

 

[stoyan79]

Guys, I just talked to few guys that push snow with tractors and all told me that a CAB makes life much easier.

So, now I am considering a CAB and a KIOTI.

I just got quoted $26K for DK-40SE HST with CAB and a LOADER. This includes the $4K promo they are running right now.

I know this is above my $20K limit, but this is a lot of tractor WITH a CAB for $26K. Should I spend a bit extra and get this?

 

[kiotiken]

I'm in Ottawa, Canada and we get snow ( 444.1 cm / 174.8 inches is the record for a year), lots of wind and temps in the -40C range. I plow my 26' X 100' + 150' horseshoe driveway and my 100' X 65' rink and I was very happy to have a heated cab on my tractor last year. This year I don't have a cab, and I think there are advantages and disadvantages of both.

If you're getting on and off you tractor a lot, cabs are a PITA. In summer, I prefer no cab and fresh air, but my cab didn't have A/C, yours would.

That's a lot of tractor, much more than the L3800 IMO, comparing much closer to the Grand L series. You're over your budget without the plow/snowblower, but it's a he11 of a tractor. You're not getting in a Kubota Grand L cab tractor for anywhere near that.

 

[greenmachine86]

Thanks for the tip...I have looked into the company and I think I'm going to start doing business with them.

 

[TractorTidy]

Glad that KiotiKen chimed in on this. I was thinking the same thing when I saw his post. Don't limit yourself to one brand. Look at Kioti because it ia a lot of bang for the buck. A very well built tractor, heavy, durable and sturdy. Definitely more tractor than an L 3800. In most cases Kioti will out spec. Kubota in weight, lift cap and features. Also the CK and DK have features the L doesn't.

The Grand L will come closer to the DK in features but the DK still weighs more and lifts more. W/ the L series Kub. (not Grand L but basic L), it is a base no-frill tractor. The CK 30 and 35 should come in significantly less than your 20K figure. and have more to offer, i.e. telescoping draft links, tilt wheel, more weight and lift.

So I suggest looking hard at the Kioti. Kind of a diamond in the ruff.

The DK 40 is definitely a nice tractor, and close to your budget w/o cab.