Gonna get a new Kubota

[VT steel]

Hi all. So after my wife gave me a little matchbox tractor for Christmas and told me to go get a real one (I think she's calling my bluff about all the thing I tell her I'd do if I only had a bigger tractor), I've been busy reading up on tractors, attachment, and everything else. There's a ton of good advice here and I'm about ready to bite the bullet on a new Kubota.

We have 15 acres in hilly Vermont with a small pond (hoping to make into a bigger one), long driveway, a nice little sugar bush for syrup, firewood, and lumber, a fair amount of field, and a lot of granite. With work and kids, I don't get as much time as I would like to play/work, but hit it pretty hard when I can.

I am flipping between the L3901 and the L4701 to compliment the little JD GX335 we have. I'm planning on getting a loader, backhoe, tiller, box scraper, brush hog, and back blade. It's about $40k for the L3901 and $50k for the L4701.

I'm usually pretty decisive, but this tractor has tied me up in knots a little. I'm past the brand decision, and relatively comfortable with the attachment variety (but will want more... always more). I'm leaning towards the L3901 because I think it will do what I need it to do and have room to do what I don't even know I need it to do yet. L4701 is a bigger beast (to me, but a little CUT to some of you), but that's a big additional chunk of change. I'm pretty aware this is just for me to get my property in the shape I want and not for my livelihood.

I'm amazed at all the different levels and option. It's kind of like climbing a ladder - you can go up or down, but you have to know what rung to stop on. So L3901 with the above attachments, spaced out R4 (but maybe R1's). I'm feeling good about it, but still deciding. Anyway, any last words of wisdom before I pull the trigger on this?

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I doubt you'll find many people that would recommend the smaller of any two tractor choices!

 

[nybirdman]

Tough choice;do you really have a lot of use for a back-hoe?With-out that you could go with the bigger tractor and a grapple/thumb for the bucket.I like R1's for woods/field work/snow.I would add a HD bucket and skid-steer quick attach.

 

[Code54]

Seeing you mentioned hilly I would look closely at the MX series - a lot wider and better on the hills. I had an L and liked it but was too narrow on our hills. Also they are HST and the price could be fairly close as they are a no frills machine.

 

[Rustyiron]

Do you have any tractor "seat time"? It would be tough (suck) if your expectations fall short of what you want to do with the machine.
I wonder if the dealer would set you up a demonstration period starting with the smaller one. You wouldn't need the hoe on but if this is your first tractor.... I would think with that accessory package would be a nice sale for the dealer, and he may accommodate you. Any rental center's around with either unit?
Exciting times for you:thumbsup:

 

[sixdogs]

I'm going with bigger and saying get the backhoe. You'll find uses you never thought possible.

 

[jeff9366]

As most of the tractors discussed here are for residential use, most are stored under cover, with one bay in a garage the most frequent storage area.

Will one of the tractors under consideration fit through your garage door(s), and the other not? Consider three vertical dimensions: ROPS up, ROPS down, Backhoe mounted.

Kubota generally (not always) has incentives to the dealer when dealer sells a package of tractor and three Land Pride or Kubota implements together. The last time this promo ran it was $1,000 to the dealer.

I would try to negotiate as much of this dealer incentive money into the initial purchase as possible, then delay on further implements until you feel a real need.

You will want the dealer to fill the tractor's rear tires with freeze-proof liquid to lower tractor's center-of-gravity on those Vermont hills. Heavier tractors are more stable than light tractors because of greater mass/inertia.

Backhoe option is $7,000. Do you have $7,000 worth of tasks for a Backhoe?

 

[TheMadOne]

I'm obviously biased, but the L3901 is not a tractor I find myself interested in. It's exactly the same tractor as my L3301, just with 6 more engine HP and 4.4 more HP at the PTO. I've had my tractor for almost a year, and the times I ran out of power before traction on loaded R4s can be counted on one hand. The L4701 is a nice step up in weight and adds some features that the smaller "bare bones" Ls miss out on, like push-button PTO. As you mentioned hills, I'd look into the MXs for the wider stance that they come with. The MX4800 MSRP is less than 1000 more than the L4701. That's not much money for a good bit more tractor.(and the MX5200 is just over a grand more than that, and adds a turbo)

So, I guess my advice is to either the L4701, step up into something larger than planned like the MX4800/5200, or, if your budget doesn't have room, dropping down to the L3301.

 

[VT steel]

Appreciate the input so far. The backhoe is expensive, but I have to fix up the pond a little, put in some long swales to dryout some areas, dig back a berm for the driveway, etc. Also plan to plant a bunch of trees, but not sure if a backhoe or post hole digger is better. If I got one now as a package, I think I'd use it. I probably wouldn't buy one at a latter time. I'm going to be building a shed to house this and some of the stuff in the garage so I can turn the garage into the wood shop. The 0% from Kubota is huge. Dealer has filled tires and block heater standard. This is the first tractor I will own and have limited time on others. Done a lot of work with the little JD, but that's been slow, manual, and limited - and I'm getting older.

 

[jeff9366]

Your rear/angle blade should create swales, probably the berm, depending on how you visualize these projects.

A $400 bucket spade will plant tress as fast as a Backhoe in reasonable soil. (Your Vermont soil may NOT be reasonable.)

LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/328798-bucket-spade-today-fel-bucket.html?highlight=


Backhoe option is $7,000. Do you have $7,000 worth of tasks for a Backhoe? For $7,000 you can buy a much heavier, more stable, more capable tractor. You can have hydraulic tilt and Top Link adjustment added to the tractor for your Rear/Angle Blade and Box Blade. These are called hydraulic rear remote ports.


Tractor newbies almost always want a Backhoe. A lot (NOT ALL) of newbie Backhoes sit, rather than work.

You must remove the Backhoe in order to mount these implements on the Three Point Hitch: tiller, box scraper, bush hog, and back blade.

 

[SkylineAcres16]

For what its worth I also have 15 acres and went with the MX5800. Started out looking at the larger L's but dealer gave the "well for not much more" speech. I love it. Big loader lift capacity, stable, lots of power, no frills, hydrostatic, etc. By no means would I say it is too big for 15 acres.

 

[Oldoak]

I like a backhoe for planting trees any bigger than seedlings. More room in the hole to spread out the roots and loosens more soil around the hole to allow the roots to grow more easily. I am also partial to R1 Ag tires. They have more traction accept on ice or hard packed snow. Also the HD bucket.

Funny! Years ago, when I bought our first tractor, my wife and I didn't have a garage to keep our car and truck in. Spent many a winter morning scraping windshields and digging out of the snow. Well, before my tractor arrived from the dealership, I went to work constructing a shed out of salvaged lumber to store the tractor out of the weather. Forty four years later and my wife still mentions it.

 

[mike69440]

Hi all. So after my wife gave me a little matchbox tractor for Christmas and told me to go get a real one (I think she's calling my bluff about all the thing I tell her I'd do if I only had a bigger tractor), I've been busy reading up on tractors, attachment, and everything else. There's a ton of good advice here and I'm about ready to bite the bullet on a new Kubota.

We have 15 acres in hilly Vermont with a small pond (hoping to make into a bigger one), long driveway, a nice little sugar bush for syrup, firewood, and lumber, a fair amount of field, and a lot of granite. With work and kids, I don't get as much time as I would like to play/work, but hit it pretty hard when I can.

I am flipping between the L3901 and the L4701 to compliment the little JD GX335 we have. I'm planning on getting a loader, backhoe, tiller, box scraper, brush hog, and back blade. It's about $40k for the L3901 and $50k for the L4701.

I'm usually pretty decisive, but this tractor has tied me up in knots a little. I'm past the brand decision, and relatively comfortable with the attachment variety (but will want more... always more). I'm leaning towards the L3901 because I think it will do what I need it to do and have room to do what I don't even know I need it to do yet. L4701 is a bigger beast (to me, but a little CUT to some of you), but that's a big additional chunk of change. I'm pretty aware this is just for me to get my property in the shape I want and not for my livelihood.

I'm amazed at all the different levels and option. It's kind of like climbing a ladder - you can go up or down, but you have to know what rung to stop on. So L3901 with the above attachments, spaced out R4 (but maybe R1's). I'm feeling good about it, but still deciding. Anyway, any last words of wisdom before I pull the trigger on this?

If you have light duty landscaping, yard projects the L3901 will work. My next door neighbor has a L3901, and found it can not do much more than my Mahindra Max28. The L3901 is bigger and a bit faster, not much stronger. He bought a CTL SV90 Track loader for snow plowing, Logging, dirt work and Round bales. He uses the L3901 for 3 point work, and Manure, dragging the horse arena, etc. He had been hiring out brush clean-up and stuff to a fellow with a L4700, before he got the SV90.

 

[Grandad4]

I would vote for the larger tractor because it has a larger backhoe with more reach. That will be important because you mention working around your pond with it. A shorter backhoe puts you closer to water's edge while doing your work.

 

[Tompet]

I would vote for the larger tractor because it has a larger backhoe with more reach. That will be important because you mention working around your pond with it. A shorter backhoe puts you closer to water's edge while doing your work.

Agree. And as Sixdogs wrote you'll find uses (for BH) you never thought possible. Also backhoe is a real back saver and compliments the FEL very well. You can even spend more and get a factory hydraulic thumb with the BH92!

Whatever your decision...enjoy!

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Townline Equipment? I drive an extra hour just to go there over my local dealers.

I would not look any smaller than the largest frame-size L. We just have too much granite (hint: granite is heavy). For the same reason I would recommend the R4 tires.

Unfortunately, our rocks really increase the value of a backhoe of the BH92 size or larger.

 

[VT steel]

Oh boy, I thought I was getting close to deciding, but now i'm scratching my head again. To backhoe or not to backhoe? It's a handy tool, but a major cost. The BH77 looks spindly to me, and the BH92 much more rugged. BUT, it's about 10K for the 92!! Also, I plan on moving some dirt, so disappointed to hear the L3901 has fallen short at times. For the cost of the L4701, you can also almost get into a low Grand L or MX. It's like the carrot is always dangling right there to take another step up the ladder into a little more tractor. Maybe get a heavier tractor like a L4060 or MX4800 and rent a mini ex when needed, or go with a smaller tractor with a backhoe to keep $ reasonable. It's a vicious cycle to balance it all.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Lots of used back blades around in the $3-500 range. I find that my box blade does almost everything my blade will do.

IMO you do not want to go with a smaller tractor just to justify getting a smaller backhoe.

I have been very satisfied with my MX but it's a rare person on TBN who doesn't recommend there own tractor choice most of the time. :drink:

 

[desh]

I had the same choices you are considering (L3301, 3901, and 4701) and I went with the L4701. Knowing what I know after using it for 5 months, I might would have went larger if I had to do it over again. Regardless, I'm very happy I listened to folks on here and went with the larger tractor.

 

[dragoneggs]

I should just stay quiet as I have a little BX so you are already out of my league but... yes backhoes are expensive but it is a joy to use them and you will tackle more jobs with the luxury and without hesitation. To me buying a tractor is a one time/long time commitment hopefully and not having a backhoe is settling short. Yep they are expensive but if you have any real digging to do, you will be so glad you bought one. Yeah you can rent one but if you already have a tractor is that what you really want to hassle with? Good luck with your decisions. Not easy... but at least you got the right color figured out! Just kidding