First tractor purchase

[dan4jeepin]

The woods are fairly large old oaks that prevent most small stuff from growing so I don't think I'll need the bush hog in the woods. May find it to large to be useful for me since I want to keep the trails fairly narrow.

Thanks for the advice so far. I still haven't gotten to look at much other than Kubota due to the distance to dealer and them all closing at noon on Saturdays. I think we my limited dealers in the area its likely I'll go with a Kubota L2501 but want to make sure I weigh all my options. I'd love to find something 4-5 years old that is in good shape for a good price but it seems everything around is either 15+ years old and beat to death or they want almost what a new tractor cost.

 

[Tractorable]

I had good luck with the Kubota dealer in Culpeper, VA. An L2501 should suit you just fine and not break the bank.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

The woods are fairly large old oaks that prevent most small stuff from growing so I don't think I'll need the bush hog in the woods. May find it to large to be useful for me since I want to keep the trails fairly narrow.

Thanks for the advice so far. I still haven't gotten to look at much other than Kubota due to the distance to dealer and them all closing at noon on Saturdays. I think we my limited dealers in the area its likely I'll go with a Kubota L2501 but want to make sure I weigh all my options. I'd love to find something 4-5 years old that is in good shape for a good price but it seems everything around is either 15+ years old and beat to death or they want almost what a new tractor cost.

That is a very common complaint pretty much all over from prospective tractor buyers. It was the same case here. Main reason I bought new.

It sounds like your chassis size is about right, L series, only thing I would say to think over is your hp. If you're only brush hogging once or twice a year, how thick and heavy is the grass getting in your field? Heavy, thick grass is harder to cut than sparse brush, open weeds and bushes. More gaps between plants don't bog down the mower as much as heavy, tall, thick grass will.

I have 32 pto hp and run a 6' brush hog. I can cut 6' tall weeds and brush with no problems, and no bogging down. However, when I cut fields of heavy, thick grass, once it gets to about hood height, or higher, I have to slow down so the tractor doesn't bog down.

This is hood height, and very thick grass. Had to go slower here:



I can go much faster through my neighbor's old unused corral area when the weeds are head height and higher. But it's not near as densely packed. No pic of that one, sorry.

But cutting this thick field was no problem, because it wasn't hood height. And I was able to cruise right through it:



So what is your field composition, and how heavy does it get if you're only cutting it twice a year?

 

[nards444]

The woods are fairly large old oaks that prevent most small stuff from growing so I don't think I'll need the bush hog in the woods. May find it to large to be useful for me since I want to keep the trails fairly narrow.

Thanks for the advice so far. I still haven't gotten to look at much other than Kubota due to the distance to dealer and them all closing at noon on Saturdays. I think we my limited dealers in the area its likely I'll go with a Kubota L2501 but want to make sure I weigh all my options. I'd love to find something 4-5 years old that is in good shape for a good price but it seems everything around is either 15+ years old and beat to death or they want almost what a new tractor cost.

Thats why i bought my 2650 new. 10 year old machines with a few attachments were still going for 15k, and 2-3 year old machines were the same as new. Buying used which i usually adovate for boats, toys etc, made little sense in tractors.

 

[dan4jeepin]

They weren't open but I did sneak onto the New Holland dealer lot yesterday to at least look at what they had to offer. The only thing in the size range I think I want they had was a workmaster 40. The problem was when I climbed on it I was so cramped I don't think I would even be able to drive it. I slide the seat as far back as it would go and it was almost touching the gas tank but still not even close to enough room. I'm guessing the seat could be spaced up to create more room but seems it would have to go really high to fit me. Has anyone else had this problem with those or did I mis some adjustment?

 

[jeff9366]

Economy tractors are constructed tighter than de luxe tractors in order to reduce costs. This is often readily apparent in the operating station.

 

[4570Man]

Economy tractors are constructed smaller than de luxe tractors in order to reduce costs. This is often readily apparent in the operating station.

I have zero experience with B tractors but I know the Grand L is a completely different machine than the economy version.

 

[ovrszd]

Welcome to TBN fellow Jeeper.

What I am about to offer is based on this statement you made at the end of post #1 in this thread.

Thanks in advance for help and note I am on a budget because the more I spend on the tractor the longer I'll want to delay the construction of the house.

I am assuming you are working on your first country property? Building your first new house?

If so, there's no way I would financially delay a house to buy a tractor. No way.

You don't need a $25K tractor to do the things you want to do. Actually some of the tractors talked about so far will cost more than $25K.

A $5K 2wheel drive tractor without FEL will do it all. It won't be fancy or impress the neighbors and friends. But it will be paid for and yours. You will learn how to get the most out of it. Check out the haired over back lots of every machinery dealer you can find to buy the attachments you need. Basically an old brush cutter and rear blade.

Go as cheap as you can possibly go. Build your house. Get yourself financially settled. Then some years down the road upgrade the tractor as you can afford to.

Again, welcome to TBN.

 

[kwbretired]

Welcome to TBN fellow Jeeper.

What I am about to offer is based on this statement you made at the end of post #1 in this thread.

Thanks in advance for help and note I am on a budget because the more I spend on the tractor the longer I'll want to delay the construction of the house.

I am assuming you are working on your first country property? Building your first new house?

If so, there's no way I would financially delay a house to buy a tractor. No way.

You don't need a $25K tractor to do the things you want to do. Actually some of the tractors talked about so far will cost more than $25K.

A $5K 2wheel drive tractor without FEL will do it all. It won't be fancy or impress the neighbors and friends. But it will be paid for and yours. You will learn how to get the most out of it. Check out the haired over back lots of every machinery dealer you can find to buy the attachments you need. Basically an old brush cutter and rear blade.

Go as cheap as you can possibly go. Build your house. Get yourself financially settled. Then some years down the road upgrade the tractor as you can afford to.

Again, welcome to TBN.

Sounds like sound advice to me.

 

[nards444]

Welcome to TBN fellow Jeeper.

What I am about to offer is based on this statement you made at the end of post #1 in this thread.

Thanks in advance for help and note I am on a budget because the more I spend on the tractor the longer I'll want to delay the construction of the house.

I am assuming you are working on your first country property? Building your first new house?

If so, there's no way I would financially delay a house to buy a tractor. No way.

You don't need a $25K tractor to do the things you want to do. Actually some of the tractors talked about so far will cost more than $25K.

A $5K 2wheel drive tractor without FEL will do it all. It won't be fancy or impress the neighbors and friends. But it will be paid for and yours. You will learn how to get the most out of it. Check out the haired over back lots of every machinery dealer you can find to buy the attachments you need. Basically an old brush cutter and rear blade.

Go as cheap as you can possibly go. Build your house. Get yourself financially settled. Then some years down the road upgrade the tractor as you can afford to.

Again, welcome to TBN.

Yeah I agree build the house. Anything used worthwhile is going to cost you 20k. you can have somebody dig out your whole house for 5k or less. Tractors are nice and there are people that use them to make money, TBH at times there more of a nice to have item or an excuse to do work with. In terms of financial pecking order, retirement, housing, personal savings are up there, a tractor probably isnt even on the first page of importance.