Buying a CUT, I think I have narrowed down some choices

[WillardinMaine]

Trying to keep it under 18,500. I know that will be tough. Price I have been quoted before taxes is 17k for the Kioti and 16,5 for the LS both with FEL. Add about 1K to each for hydrostatic drive. I have not spoken with the bobcat dealer or the other Kioti dealer and do not how much room there is to move (LS took $500 off over the phone)

Probably should give JD and Kubota a chance. Just don’t think they can come close. JD did not have best FEL numbers from memory.

Talked with the Kioti dealer today and he liked the manual transmission a lot better than hydrostatic. Said the way f2 and reverse lined up made it easy.

We try to burn field every couple years and we cut it at least once a year so just grass. Although I know the wife would cut it every three weeks with the tractor if I let her.

We have a dedicated lawn mower and the tractor will not serve that purpose.

Appreciate everyone who has taken their time to share their thoughts. I take all of them into consideration. Most of all appreciate the perspective of the wisdom here which is independent of selling me a specific machine. You are also cutting through some of the chaff that’s hard to do with just reading threads.

 

[stevem5215]

That's cheap at 14,000 for that TYM T264 tractor with a 6 year warranty. Why not get it ?

Steve

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I think the size tractor your looking at is just fine. As long as you size your attachments appropriate to your size and hp, that size machine should do everything you'll need it for. It doesn't sound to me like you'll end up needing rear remotes (if you can get them thrown in, why not have them though), but I do think you should look at getting a 3rd function for your FEL. With a "bunch" of tree work coming up, and sounds like you'll have that long term need, a grapple may be in your future. Even if you don't buy the grapple right away, getting the 3rd function added at the sale should save you some nice $.

My thought on snow work consist of 1 word... CAB! Lol. I wouldn't be without one, but our circumstances may be different. For "non-cab" (hint, mistake, lol) I wouldn't relish a snow blower. But not sure how practical a rear blade is in your particular layout. You may have plenty of room to pile snow and never have years where you get boxed in or have to push back piles late in year, or blow or throw snow over a bank, fence or into a ditch. Also your driveway and parking layouts may lend really well to a rear blade, and in that case, go forth and be merry.

I have a cab, and a rear blower is on my short list of impending new attachment purchases. But what works best for me may be different than what you need. What does the family member that does it now use on your place? Is it working well? Are there times of the season or circumstances that present problems that make you (them) wish they had something different there?

 

[rush389]

I just went through this process and bought a new 3025e. I felt the Kioti CK2610 was the most tractor for the money, the L2501 was a very strong contender, but I went green. Basically, I did not have a lot of confidence that the smaller companies would be around forever, and I was very confident that any 3-series or L-size tractor would be more than adequate for my needs. So i eventually figured I narrowed it down to the 3025e and L2501 and got the 3025e because I liked the separate pedals for forward and reverse.

I want this to be as easy as possible, both from a learning curve standpoint and a maintenance standpoint. That said, I am not a tractor guy - I am just a guy that happens to need a tractor. Would not surprise me if I turn into a tractor guy sometime soon and decide to upgrade, but if you have looked at the prices on used JD and Kubota tractors the resale is really high.

 

[rush389]

i have a western pro plow on an old 72 chevy. i cannot see how a CUT could even come close to moving a lot of snow as quickly as a truck with a plow. i just angle the plow, drive down the driveway pushing the snow off of one side, then drive back up pushing it off the other.

would probably be a different story if you want to move the snow further, but for just pushing it off the driveway the pickup seems awfully fast to me.

 

[4570Man]

i have a western pro plow on an old 72 chevy. i cannot see how a CUT could even come close to moving a lot of snow as quickly as a truck with a plow. i just angle the plow, drive down the driveway pushing the snow off of one side, then drive back up pushing it off the other.

would probably be a different story if you want to move the snow further, but for just pushing it off the driveway the pickup seems awfully fast to me.

Plus it has a windshield and heater.

 

[rush389]

Plus it has a windshield and heater.

and a 396!

 

[WillardinMaine]

Ha, yeah a cheap yard truck is probably a better answer. Snow removal is way down list of needs, so for now I will not include it.

That's cheap at 14,000 for that TYM T264 tractor with a 6 year warranty. Why not get it ?

Steve

Yes it sure is cheap. Engine is a Cummins design and the tractor has some nice features. The T264 is not listed on the TYM website as one of the models having a six year warranty. I can not find on their website what the warranty is. Place selling does not do tractor maintenance. Not sure how far would need to haul it for warranty work. This is a long term investment and I do have faith Kioti will be around. I am trying to figure out if LS is likely to be around. TYM seems very iffy.

I hear y誕ll and I will give JD and Kubota a look. One of the Kioti dealers sells Massey Ferguson so will add them on. Besides price, a long term relationship with the dealer and sense the maker and its parts will be there in fifteen, twenty years is important.

 

[jeff9366]

Since the FEL will be used a good amount I think I want loaded tires and a weight box-yes? Build your own?

Consider your garden. Minimizing soil compaction should be a primary garden goal.

With only ~~25-horsepower traction over dirt will not be a big issue. I would inflate tires with air only and carry a heavy Box Blade as FEL counterbalance. Had you 35 to 40-horsepower on same chassis I would suggest loaded rear tires + Box Blade.

Pound for pound FEL counterbalance carried on the Three Point Hitch is more effective than weight/ballast in the tires because of leverage. Or, to turn this around, liquid in rear tractor tires/ballast is much less effective as FEL ballast relative to Three Point Hitch counterbalance.

You can remove Three Point Hitch counterbalance. Rear tire ballast is always with you.

MORE T-B-N ARCHIVE: TPH COUNTERBALANCE VS TIRE BALLAST SITE:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

 

[chim]

....................I have been watching craigslist and FB for used tractors for a while now. Good ones pop up once and a while and are quickly snatched up. I may still end up going this way, but my thinking is the price discount is not enough to overcome knowing how the tractor was treated from new and the value of the warranty. I have read always buy bigger, but hoping this will be a forever tractor for us. The needs will not grow.

Thanks everyone.

You've had a lot of good feedback. I would add that if you aren't in a rush, you can find a nice used tractor and save a lot of money. It took nearly a year to find my current Kubota. I bought my "forever tractor" a few times. The needs haven't grown much. The desire to get things done without operating at the upper end of the tractor's capabilities was more of a driving factor. This is my 5th tractor since we built here and it's probably the final one.