Buying Advice Deciding Between JD 3025 and Kubota 2601

[odikens]

I am trying to decide between buying a JD 3025 or a Kubota 2601. Are these 2 the most similar in these brands right now? These are the 2 brands that have dealerships close to me. I am going to be using it to bush hog around our 12 acre farm. It is 9 acres+ of pasture to mow that is divided into paddocks from 1/2 acre to 4 acres. I would also like to move mulch, dirt around and supplies around an orchard and garden area with it. Later possibly do a bit of tilling in soil that is pretty fluffy right now.

Thoughts and opinions on these 2 would be great!

 

[s219]

Not the same size tractors, so hard to compare. Better match would be a Kubota L3301/L3901. Keep in mind the Deere 3025 is an economy model and a bit of a cost cutter.

You may want to look at 4-series models from both brands, as 3-series is borderline small for what you described.

 

[mile9c1]

Yeah the B2601 seems more like a 2025 (or dare I say a 1025 with larger wheels).

 

[Tractorable]

The tractors you're considering put out 19-20hp to the PTO which is barely enough to power a 5ft bush hog. If you're going to be mowing nine acres you should be looking at something with more power and weight. An L series Kubota, Yanmar YT235, larger Deere, or a Korean equivalent would be a good place to start.

 

[Grandad4]

Are these 2 the most similar in these brands right now?

No, not really. The B2601 is a smaller, lighter tractor that would not look or feel comparable to the 3025e.

The more direct comparison would seem to be the JD 3025e and the Kub L2501. Both similar in size, with similar overall performance. The Kub outspecs the Deere in weight, but they have similar wheelbase and tire dimensions, so they will look and probably feel very similar. As s219 notes, the 3025e is an economy model with limited features.

These are the 2 brands that have dealerships close to me. I am going to be using it to bush hog around our 12 acre farm. It is 9 acres+ of pasture to mow that is divided into paddocks from 1/2 acre to 4 acres. I would also like to move mulch, dirt around and supplies around an orchard and garden area with it. Later possibly do a bit of tilling in soil that is pretty fluffy right now.

I would differ slightly from s219 in thinking that the 3025e and L3301 would probably do pretty well for chore work around your place because you describe it as being divided into smaller individual paddocks, meaning a lot of fence rows and corners where a smaller unit would be handier. Keep in mind that larger, more powerful tractors would be considerably more capable of heavy work. Heavy loader work, severe PTO work (such as heavy brush cutting), extensive tillage work, lots of tree removal, heavy lifting or pulling are example of work that would benefit from a bigger tractor.

 

[TheMan419]

What kind of material are you bush hogging? I assume by saying it is split into paddocks you have horses?

I have 18 acres and a 25 hp new holland. It runs a 5 foot bush hog just fine. Now admittedly if the place was over grown with small trees in the mix no it would be under powered for that kind of bush hog. For mowing the pasture it works just fine. Over grown weeds waist high? Fine.

I use it also for moving dirt, manure etc. The issue there is a smaller tractor has a smaller bucket so it takes more trips.

You also have to consider turning radius to get in and out of your pastures. How wide are the gates etc. Id see if the dealer will bring the unit out. Hook up your bush hog to it and see how easy it is to get in the pasture. See of you can get down the aisle way of the barn with it or whatever other tight quarters you have.

Around here JD is way more money for a similarly equipped unit. Also for similarly equipped it had less lifting capacity w FEL than the other brands I looked at.

Kubota and JD predominate the scut/cut market. However around here I did not feel good about either dealership. I loved the NH dealership. So you may find you end up w the color of the dealer that is better in your market area.

Good luck!