Buying Advice Is the Front End Loader worth it?

[TJP89]

No FEL on a SCUT??????????? Those things are built to have a FEL. The FEL is the most useful attachment it is possible to have on a tractor. You will find all kinds of uses for it. If you need to move ANYTHING, you will use the FEL. Well worth the 3K. Personally, I wouldn't buy a new tractor without one. Two uses I used mine for that are a little out of the ordinary, unexpected, and likely dangerous: Pulling the ancient refrigerator out of the basement, and cleaning the gutters on the polebarn (kid in bucket, works great). I've also used it to hoist heavy building materials into position and lift the roof of a wood lean-to back on after it blew off (long story). And that's just some of the uncommon uses, forget the everyday ones, I'd be here all day.

 

[Garycw]

I think you've got your answer 20 fold. Yes they are great to have on any tractor. Especially if they're easy to take off & on. When we got the H120 with the 1025r they had it for $750 off + 60 months 0%. The loader makes the tractor, but is still my main mower too.
Just remember on the light scuts w/fel, propper ballast , bucket low, slow & easy with ROPS Up, and seat belt On! Always!

 

[4570Man]

Does the B7100 have SSQA?

My B7100 doesn't have a loader, and I don't want one either. The B7100 doesn't have power steering which puts a real damper on the loader. I use it solely as a heavy duty lawn mower. I only paid 3,000 dollars for it. You can't get a better diesel powered mower for that. The L3240 and My grandpas L3800 is SSQA equipped.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I think having a loader is best thing about having a tractor, without a loader I would get a good mower.
Ron

yup, if you don't need an FEL then you really don't need a tractor for what you're doing.

 

[flusher]

I bought my 2008 Mahindra 5525 new from Dave's Tractor in Red Bluff, CA. Dave posts often on TBN "DavesTractor".
He's a western states distributor for Mahindra. I'd say 99% of the tractors he sells has an FEL. Maybe 100%. And for the past several years, every one of those FELs has the skid steer quick attach (SSQA) option included in the package. That's how popular these things are.

Don't shoot yourself in the foot. Get an FEL with SSQA and pass along the cost when you upgrade to a larger tractor (we all upgrade sooner or later).

Good luck.

 

[jaydee325]

I broached the subject of getting a tractor with a loader for many years. My wife kept pulling me back due to the costs.

A couple of years ago, the power utility came in and clear cut the power line that runs along the back of our property and of course left a mess. We worked an entire weekend using my garden tractor and trailer to clean up. Barely made a dent and we were tiered and had sore backs.

She says, "how much are one of those tractors with a loader?"

The following spring I started shopping and bought my LS. Took me less than a weekend and I had the whole mess cleaned up. She said we should have gotten a tractor with a loader 20 years ago!

Moral of the story is you will find many projects to use a loader on even if you think now you won't.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Don't shoot yourself in the foot. Get an FEL with SSQA and pass along the cost when you upgrade to a larger tractor (we all upgrade sooner or later).

Good luck.

The OP is looking at a small tractor, on Kubota .com SSQA is not listed, just Kubota's QA which eliminates the benefit of being able to use a wide range of skid steer implements.
And in order to pass along the cost you've got to sell your great little tractor. I think everyone should have two tractors and 3 chain saws. When I "upgraded" from my B7610 to my M4700 it allowed me to use a tractor at two places, one in Virginia, one in Mississippi without trailering.

 

[4570Man]

Not having SSQA doesn't eliminate the benefits of having QA. It certainly does limit the possible choices for implements.

 

[Garycw]

. I think everyone should have two tractors and 3 chain saws. .

I find that not to even be enough. I prefer to change tractors instead of implements

 

[4570Man]

I have two chainsaws. I got them both stuck once. I had to go borrow my Grandpas saw. I could have changed the bar, but it was faster to grab another saw.