Downsizing to a 25hp B series?

[Boondox]

22 years ago we bought our first Kubota, a B1750 with FEL and a belly mower. It did a fine job mowing our 10 acre field, was maneuverable enough to get up close to the pond, garden and trees...and my wife used the bucket for moving mulch and other light stuff. Then we got into sheep and needed more power and mass. We had a string of JD and Grand L tractors in the 35-45hp range which my wife found intimidating and rarely used. Current tractor is a JD 4044R which has been less than troublefree.

But now our needs have changed. The last of the sheep will be in the freezer next month, the meadow is free of stones, and our ten acres is essentially grass that we wish to keep from turning back into brush. The toughest task will be snow removal on our 500 yards of gravel driveway. Snowfall is frequent in winter but we rarely get more than a foot at a time. The problem is that due to the lay of the land I quickly run out of places to push that snow off to the side in 200 of those 500 yards; that results in several hours of using the bucket to transport snow to a flatter area where it can be piled out of the way. The other issue is as we age we really struggle to put those heavy ice chains on the wheels every year. Smaller tractor means smaller wheels and much less weight. (We also have a KX-121-3S that I intend to keep as it's just too much fun to part with.)

Dealers in the area are Kioti (14 miles), Kubota (35 miles) and John Deere (35 miles). Both the orange dealers have a good reputation and are easy to deal with. JD comes across as condescending and unwelcoming.

I don't like the small Kiotis, but the NX4510 is a contender. I'm done with John Deere. Kubota has a new B2650 with belly mower, FEL, front hydraulic angled blade and rear snowblower in my price range. My wife absolutely loves the size, and that little tractor would let me finish mow two acres around the house that I'm currently doing with a push mower. They also have a low hour used L4060 for the same price; that would be a lateral move albeit to a tractor that gives me more confidence than the current Deere but with the same limitations.

Thoughts?

Pete

 

[jeff9366]

If the used L4060 permits you to use your current stock of implements I would give that tractor careful consideration.

Does the L4060 have a cab? Are you considering a cab?

Looking ahead five years do your expect the infirmities that come with age will allow you to mount the ice chains and relatively heavy implements to an L4060?

Has your wife expressed an interest in operating a tractor once again?

 

[s219]

I love the 2650 for the combination of size, power, and options. If you're buying it specifically for the size and don't plan to beat on it like a bigger tractor, seems like an ideal choice.

 

[dodge man]

I just got a JD 2025R. I'm not really going to push a JD for you but that is a nice size tractor. It sounds like its a size you are thinking about and it doesn't have the emissions controls that an over 25hp machine has. JD also has the autoconnect deck which I really like. The bad part of a tractor that size is it would only pull a 5' brush hog. If you can live with that size for keeping the 10 acres beat down, it would probably get the job done.

 

[skipperbrown]

For the 10 acres, I would much prefer my old 3940 to my 2650. With bigger tires and more power, it will do the mowing job quicker and more comfortably. The 2650 doesn't have a lot of pto power. My L was too heavy to use in my yard, but the B is very light and can be used in the yard with no issues as long as you make sharp turns slowly. Running 6 foot implements with the 2650 will likely be problematic. I inquired about a 5' brush cutter at my Kubota dealer for my 2650 and he said it was too much cutter and he was worried about me breaking the 3 pt mount off the transmission if it gets in twisty situations.?.? Not a good endorsement of the durability of the 2650 (however, I use an old 5 footer without any problems). I have the 60" mmm on the 2650 and I find it a pita to remove and replace. If you are going from yard to field cutting, the mmm should be removed and this would become very annoying for me. For double duty, I would be looking for a rear finish and spending the savings somewhere else. I find the 2650 to be very nimble and easy to use. Your wife will likely steal it from you and hide the key and then you won't have a tractor at all unless you keep the old one. I think you should get the 2650 or other b series and keep the 40 hp for larger chores if you can afford it.

 

[Boondox]

If the used L4060 permits you to use your current stock of implements I would give that tractor careful consideration.

Does the L4060 have a cab? Are you considering a cab?

Looking ahead five years do your expect the infirmities that come with age will allow you to mount the ice chains and relatively heavy implements to an L4060?

Has your wife expressed an interest in operating a tractor once again?

Yes, I could use the implements I currently have with the L4060, but snow removal would be the same laborious chore it currently is. It goes fast the first 3-4 storms, then I spend hours with the FEL transporting snow to make room for the next storm. And sometimes a warm spell turns it all to ice rendering it impossible to move, so every subsequent storm leaves snow that has to be scooped up with the FEL and carried away. In a perfect world the Deere would be completely reliable and I'd simply add a snowblower to my stable of implements, but I've yet to experience a year where the 4044R has not required a week long trip to the dealer.

With winter temps in the minus 30 range, a cab is an absolute essential. I'm having trouble mounting the chains already. Because of the height of the cab I don't have a concrete slab where I could jack up a corner of the tractor to facilitate mounting, and the minimal clearance between the wheel and fender makes it difficult to wrestle them on. The dealer mounts them by hoisting the tractor a few inches off the deck, then having three muscular men rotate the wheel with the lugs pulling the 220# chains up and over. I don't have that option. The L4060 has much more fender clearance, but the B2560 chains are much lighter and easier to handle.

My wife will use the big Deere reluctantly, but has spatial relations issues and tends to run into things: side of the barn, trees, back of the carport. She is much more comfortable with a smaller tractor and would use it regularly.

 

[CobyRupert]

A snowblower would eliminate snow banks and running out of room and having to use a bucket transport the snow away from 200 yard of the drive way. That must be super tedious.

As far a putting chains on: Get a good heavy duty jack that fits (or does with blocking) under rear tractor axle so that tire can freely rotate and there's clearance between tire and ground. You only have to zip tie the end of the chain to tire/rim, then rotate tire. Tire will pull the chain up on itself.

 

[jeff9366]

My wife is much more comfortable with a smaller tractor and would use it regularly.

Two operators not to be under-rated as you age. I am seventy-two.

 

[mikescruggs]

My Dad has a Kubota B3000 with cab. It is a great size for what he does. He runs a front mounted blower in the winter with a rear blade to help scrape the driveway and clean up some of the snow which falls past the snow blower. He has Q/A capability with third function on the loader. This is nice to run different implements and a grapple.

I looked at a 2650 the last time at our dealer. The dealer brought in a side mowing flail mower to see if it would work on my Dad's tractor and the new version of the B3000 is the 2650. The tractor is a little too light for that implement. I'd look at a smaller L Grand. I found my L4240 to be just the right step when stepping up from a 33hp tractor, but now I am headed to a 75hp to get more loader capacity and a cab. If I did not need to carry 1400lbs on the loader frequently or move a fair amount of logs I would probably look at another mid 40 hp tractor.

I would take a hard look at the front mounted blower if you can give up the loader in the winter. I need to carry pallets of firewood frequently in the winter so I cannot go without a loader and the frequency would be a lot of time spent switching.

Mike

 

[Boondox]

A snowblower would eliminate snow banks and running out of room and having to use a bucket transport the snow away from 200 yard of the drive way. That must be super tedious.

As far a putting chains on: Get a good heavy duty jack that fits (or does with blocking) under rear tractor axle so that tire can freely rotate and there's clearance between tire and ground. You only have to zip tie the end of the chain to tire/rim, then rotate tire. Tire will pull the chain up on itself.

The issue is that I have no concrete base for the floor jack. The tractor doesn’t budge; it just presses the jack down into the dirt