Tractor Sizing Help kubota L2501 vs L3901

[Atchuuu]

Lefty422 - I am doing similar research myself and have considered the L2501 and L3901. Both very fine machines. But then I checked the Mahindra 2538 and am leaning that way because it is a heaver tractor with better FEL and 3ph capacity and the price is very good. But the main thing, for me anyways, is that it doesn't use the DPF that the L3901 requires. The L3901 is 2778lbs and the 2538 is 3351bs.

That's my thought at this time but I am open to new information, suggestions or owner experience.

 

[motownbrowne]

Lefty422 welcome to the forum. I have been lurking here for several years trying to learn and have not posted before. What prompted me to start was your location and circumstance.

You live in the PNW where the trees can easily outgrow one's dreams. Based on where you are in Clayton you may have 200' trees that can very quickly out gross most tractors. I am in a similar situation although the most of the trees here are not comparable to yours. Weight is the prime driver for what you describe. I have just about read the print off the Kubota brochures and visited several dealers trying to get a feel for what each offers and lacks. I am leaning toward the MX line because of weight and grapple capacity. The 4701 is OK but for $500 more you can get a lot more lift with the MX series.

How big is the slash? Clear cut remnant? Stumps? Are you going to pile and burn the remains? All of that has to be moved. As so many have said here before, it may serve you well to figure out the weight then find the equipment. Whatever you get will handle the road. Snow management may be another issue to consider. I don't know how much you get up there. As Jeff said at the end of his post "buy enough tractor."

Let us know how it goes!

Hey North Woods,

Welcome aboard. I'm a bit of a drive from you, but if you want to take my MX for a spin in real world conditions, you'd be welcome to come down for a visit. Shoot me a PM if you want.

 

[Jstpssng]

Welcome to TBN. You have already read a lot of comments by people a lot more knowledgeable than me, but I wanted to comment on the DPF. (Diesel Emissions) It really isn't as big of a deal as some seem to think. I've put 50 hours on mine and it's "burned off" once; but it was just a case of stopping for a few minutes while the tractor did it's thing. I have a Kubota 3301 and the only thing which I regret is buying an HST... the price was right and I thought that I could get used to it, but after running geared tractors all of my life I can't wait until I can afford to trade.

 

[Lefty422]

Hey jstpssng what kind of work are you doing with your 3301? What do you like or dislike about it?

 

[North Woods]

Hey North Woods,

Welcome aboard. I'm a bit of a drive from you, but if you want to take my MX for a spin in real world conditions, you'd be welcome to come down for a visit. Shoot me a PM if you want.

Thanks Motown,

I have noticed that in your other posts. When I get closer to pulling trigger and get my domestic easement I may just do that. Many thanks!

 

[jeff9366]

It's 71" from outside to outside. Brochure says 60.2 but that's with R1s, probably in the narrowest configuration.

Factory wheel spacing normally places the centerline of the rear wheels/tires directly in line with the centerline of the front wheels/tires. Therefore wheel spread differs with tire types.

This is so a moldboard plow will pull straight when the right front and right rear tires are sunk in a plow furrow and the left front and left rear tires are on level ground.

 

[Jstpssng]

Hey jstpssng what kind of work are you doing with your 3301? What do you like or dislike about it?

So far, I've mostly done snow plowing and a little bit of wood cutting; also very little backhoe work. I got the tractor too late last fall to work my garden and field. I have 1/4 mile of frontage on a lightly used town road; so I am constantly travelling up and down it. I am putting in a cruise control this spring which make travelling easier.

Mostly though, is probably that I accustomed to having a direct driveline; let the clutch out and the tractor goes.

 

[ericm979]

Factory wheel spacing normally places the centerline of the rear wheels/tires directly in line with the centerline of the front wheels/tires. Therefore wheel spread for different tire types varies.

This is so a moldboard plow will pull straight when the right front and right rear tires are sunk in a plow furrow and the left front and left rear tires are on level ground.

I didn't know that. Good thing I'm not going to be plowing- the rears stick out quite a ways from the track of the fronts.

 

[motownbrowne]

So far, I've mostly done snow plowing and a little bit of wood cutting; also very little backhoe work. I got the tractor too late last fall to work my garden and field. I have 1/4 mile of frontage on a lightly used town road; so I am constantly travelling up and down it. I am putting in a cruise control this spring which make travelling easier.

Mostly though, is probably that I accustomed to having a direct driveline; let the clutch out and the tractor goes.

Does your tractor have cruise control? I think it was optional on those models. Personally I LOVE my HST, but I know they are but for everyone. It is nice when mowing or driving on the road to just past push the cruise lever and not have to keep my toes in the treadle. If you don't have it and otherwise like the tractor, it'd be worth the few hundred bucks to try it and see if it makes the machine more useful for you.

 

[Jstpssng]

Does your tractor have cruise control? I think it was optional on those models. Personally I LOVE my HST, but I know they are but for everyone. It is nice when mowing or driving on the road to just past push the cruise lever and not have to keep my toes in the treadle. If you don't have it and otherwise like the tractor, it'd be worth the few hundred bucks to try it and see if it makes the machine more useful for you.

It does not have cruise control yet, but will this spring. It's a $200 add on, I'm not sure if I can install it myself or not.