Gonna get a new Kubota

[dragoneggs]

I got the BH77 when I bought my L3901. I used it a lot for digging stumps and it worked fine. I wasn't using the three point initially but ended up buying 3 point implements and then I found out it was kind of a pain to remove and reinstall the backhoe. The backhoe takes up a lot of space in storage too. If you're going to use the 3 point a lot, it might be better to just rent a mini ex when needed as some others have mentioned.

I decided to just get a mini ex so I can use it whenever I want. It makes a nice addition to my MX.

Indeed the best of both worlds. I remove my backhoe every once in a while to put my back blade or rake on... it's not too much of a challenge the BH storage even though on a dolly takes up space... but then so would a mini-ex! :laughing:

 

[robertm]

Twice with different tractors I've had, I considered getting a backhoe. I couldn't figure I'd use it much to pay for it. I bought a new BX2670 last summer, and over the winter, I had septic issues that would pay for the hoe IF I had it. Now, to trade up with 50 hours on my tractor is a killer. Should have bought the hoe when I had the chance.

 

[dragoneggs]

Twice with different tractors I've had, I considered getting a backhoe. I couldn't figure I'd use it much to pay for it. I bought a new BX2670 last summer, and over the winter, I had septic issues that would pay for the hoe IF I had it. Now, to trade up with 50 hours on my tractor is a killer. Should have bought the hoe when I had the chance.

Ha ha... yeah folks told me I wouldn't use the BH much. I talked to my shovel and pick and they didn't have much of a come back. Dang glad I went with the swiss army knife approach (except for the belly mower, got a Z turn). Had to dig up part of my septic system last year and saved a ton. The septic guy was happy, I was happy and I feel the BH is just gravy now.

 

[85 Sovereign]

Research this decision thoughtfully. Have never been a fan of the 3 point mounted backhoes for a couple of reasons:
1. The 3 point on a tractor is meant for lifting an implement and pulling in a straight line off the back of the tractor. A 3 pt backhoe can put severe forces on the tractor's 3 point mounting points in all directions... pushing, pulling, at an angle, up, down and even twisting. For even non-commercial use, that can be really hard on the tractor.
2. If something lets loose due to the beyond-design parameter nature of the 3 pt BH, the tractor can incur severe damage and the operator is at great risk.
There is probably a pretty good, though unstated reason why Kub no longer offers a 3 point mounted hoe.

I hadn't thought of those points. Definitely some things to consider. I know the Kubota BH is a different frame mount, but I'm not clear on the specific differences. I wouldn't expect a 3pt backhoe to have the same specs as a factory backhoe attachment or a TBH, but I'll have to see what I can find out. Thanks for the ideas to consider!

 

[Grandad4]

I hadn't thought of those points. Definitely some things to consider. I know the Kubota BH is a different frame mount, but I'm not clear on the specific differences. I wouldn't expect a 3pt backhoe to have the same specs as a factory backhoe attachment or a TBH, but I'll have to see what I can find out. Thanks for the ideas to consider!

You'll find that the more serious backhoe designs attach to the tractor with a separately installed subframe that connects the backhoe to the rear axle and someplace on the chassis near the engine. As you know, the 3 point linkages attach only to the rear of the tractor, often to the axle housing. The backhoe hydraulics can pry and push with thousands of pounds of force, with the additional leverage of the boom acting as a 7 - 9 foot pry bar on the tractor. This is just not a great place to be going for deep discount savings, at least to my thinking.

 

[robertm]

Ha ha... yeah folks told me I wouldn't use the BH much. I talked to my shovel and pick and they didn't have much of a come back. Dang glad I went with the swiss army knife approach (except for the belly mower, got a Z turn). Had to dig up part of my septic system last year and saved a ton. The septic guy was happy, I was happy and I feel the BH is just gravy now.

Thanks! I appreciate you rubbing it in.

 

[crazyal]

The real problem is you need to decide a limit. There will always be something that is bigger or better than what you need and it's easy to talk yourself into spending a little extra. I'm not saying you'll regret it but unless money isn't an issue I would set a budget. It would include two numbers, one where you would like to be at and another that's your upper limit. Then with that number I would give a number to each attachment for how important for me, say 1 through 5. It helps visualize the difference between need and useful. For example, if you have a gravel driveway having a box blade or grading scraper to maintain it could be a need if the rain is always doing damage but a want if it holds up year after year. You are thinking about spending a lot of money and most here love to help you spend it.

My advice is stick with a hydrostatic drive tractor. Unless you have spots that are tight I would worry less about size of the tractor. In a dealer parking lot it will feel big but once it's at your house on your land it's not going to feel too big. More HP is always better. Sooner or later you'll find a need that you didn't think of before you bought. It's nice having a backhoe, I wouldn't give mine up. But if I never had one, other than building my house, I wouldn't miss it too badly. I use mine now for digging up stumps when I expand my yard. But I could rent a stump grinder.

The grand L tractors are basically a deluxe version with extra features. But you pay for the features. I ended up with a Grand L simply because it has a two speed hydrostatic transmission along with a 3 speed gear box. Think of using your loader to get some dirt from a pile. As you drive to the pile you will most likely want to be in M (2nd gear) but as you drive into the pile you will want to shift down. On pretty much every other tractor you need to stop, shift into L (1st gear), then move forward to get a scoop of dirt then stop again shift back to M to travel to where you want the dirt. With the grand L you don't need to do anything other than flick a lever. You don't even need to stop. It's a nice feature but it might not be worth it to you. For me I looked at the tractor as something I was going to keep for a very long time. Think of power windows in a car, how many times will you raise and lower your windows. After 20 years of not having to crank a window was it worth spending a little extra?

All the suggestions here are good choices. Both the L and the MX would work well. One thing not asked is do you have a truck and trailer and plan to haul the tractor to other sites or is it only going to stay at your house? I ask because an MX with a loader, loaded tires, and an attachment might be too much weight. Were you thinking of buying from Champlain Valley Equipment? Their yard is kind of small but I would have what ever dealer you are thinking of buying from get the tractor away from all the other tractors so you can get a feel for it's size. Don't be intimidated, spend a little time with each. Your serious about buying (spending lots of money) so get the seat time. If you don't feel comfortable doing so there are several of us that live not too far away (I'm about an hour from you) that you can reach out directly to for help.

 

[tractorshopper]

Why not a M7-131?

Sorry, couldn't resist with some of the advise I'm seeing here. Someone even suggested a L3901 would be too weak. Yes, maybe weaker compared to larger tractors, but think of the OP's point of reference. He currently has a JD lawnmower. A BX's loader can lift his garden tractor to full height (properly ballasted of course).

No problem suggesting any size to him, but to suggest a compact tractor is weak to someone who hasn't really had experience on a tractor is a bit off IMO. I dug my entire pond with the loader on my last tractor, an L3800 (with toothbar). The box blade was mostly used for ballast on that project and had rear wheels filled for extra (which I would recommend to him no matter what tractor he buys since he has hills). That said, an MX would have done it faster. A backhoe would have been nice too, but the L3800 was quite capable (as is my current BX-2370). Each size up is more capable with more abilities.

It's all relative. Bigger, heavier, etc. Sure, go as high as you want, but don't make this guy think something mid-range would useless for 15 acres.

 

[warvalley]

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?

We own 50 acres of hilly, forested terrain in NE Tennessee (very similar to where I lived as a kid in Vermont) of which about 8 acres are cleared and include 60 fruit trees and a 2 acre pond. My CUT is a Kubota 2007 L3940 which has been a workhorse for us - 5 ft heavy duty bush hog, 7ft finish mower, 5 ft box blade, 5 ft tiller, backhoe (with subframe), 5 ft rear blade and a root/brush grapple. The L3940 has been very good for us, with enough power to do all the jobs I've asked it to do. I'd definitely recommend Ag tires and hydrostatic transmission. The Ag tires give better traction than R4s and haven't damaged what little "nice" turf we have. Shifting while mowing on a steep slope can be scary, especially for the momentary free wheeling between gears. Rather than spend the extra money on the bigger tractor, I'd spend it on a backhoe (with a subframe). Our local dealer told me that, once you buy it, you will find many uses for it. He was so right! The backhoe and its 16" bucket have allowed us to tackle many projects, including digging a 600 ft, 2 ft deep waterline from an existing well to where we're building a new house. If you're looking to make your pond bigger, that backhoe will come in very handy.

 

[Joe Malovich]

I'm in the tractor + excavator camp, an excavator will simply dig circles around a BH and you'll find many uses for it. There were some "rocks" in the yard that I couldn't mow over but weren't big enough to call a feature. I dug out one of them with a Vio 20, it was an old gravestone (gravestone shop is next door and this area of the yard was filled with stuff from the gravestone shop) only weighing maybe 200lbs, the other was a 2'x2'x2' concrete foundation weighing 1200Lbs+. An L backhoe would have had a hard time with it.