Price Check L2501 in Ontario

[ottawarob]

Looking to buy a general purpose tractor for my property, 15 acres of super flat, farm/scrub. Mostly want to do some landscaping, set up and maintain a really nice dog sports yard, maintain the gravel driveway and plow in the winter. At the moment I plow really well with a 500cc actic cat ATV, so I imagine the L2501 will a great step up.

Local dealer quoted me: (in Canadian dollars)
2501HST + R4 tires and block heater kit = $18,500
LA525FL loader + 66" Squareback bucket + rod level indicator = $6250
BB1560 5' box blade = $1335
$1,000 in discounts

So before tax basically $26,000. Is this in the ballpark of reasonable? I didn't try to get him to go down at all at the time but will likely try when I go back. At the time I was thinking pin on bucket, but since I've thought of how handy pallet forks would be for moving dog agility equipment and other stuff, so I'm thinking I'd get the quick attach bucket for the loader.

First time tractor buyer. I drive standard in my car, but I thought a hydrostat is the way to go for all of the loader work I want to get going. Considered going larger, but already more than enough money for the L2501, and watching videos of people working with them seems like it'll be a pretty good fit in here. Considering getting an old beast of a tractor like a MF 165 instead, but sure like the reliability, ROPS and warranty of a new tractor.

 

[nybirdman]

I would say a wise choice and a very nice tractor.We have two similar sized Kubota's and they have been great.Price is decent.

 

[Thomas]

Have you consider having rear tires loaded also cab?

 

[ottawarob]

Yeah, I forgot to get a quote for loading the rear tires, definitely want to get that done! I'm passing on a cab - I'm cheap (Scottish roots?), and I've been plowing the drive way with an ATV for 2 years and manage well in all kinds of crazy Ontario weather, it's all about dressing right and using hand warmers in moose mitts!

 

[ottawarob]

I would say a wise choice and a very nice tractor.We have two similar sized Kubota's and they have been great.Price is decent.

Thanks! I really hope I find it big enough for my needs. Seeing other people's videos online, sure seems like it. That and this is really the max for my budget. Been watching a lot of "GP Outdoors" on youtube, he has a similar sized B2601 and he does a lot of the same stuff I'd like to do. Move some medium sized rocks, fix the driveway, flatten some land, etc. Right now I have a BCS 2 wheel tractor and an ATV, get by well with them, the L2501 should be a nice step up.

 

[Scook222]

I had looked at the b2601, b2650 and L2501. I went with the L2501 because it was wider and I believed it had a larger fel capacity. It is gear drive and has the quick attach bucket. I use it in the garden, doing firewood, clipping pasture and a few other things and don’t regret getting the wider frame. It fits in some pretty tight areas in the woods with no problem. I had the rear tires loaded and have scooped full buckets of wet hay mixed with manure and dirt and it handled them fine with only the rear tires loaded, normally I would have the Bush hog on the back for weight, but I needed to fit in a catch pin to put a panel up. Since your upgrading from a four wheeler, you will enjoy it and always wonder how you got by without it.

 

[ottawarob]

To muddy the waters, someone is selling a Massey Ferguson 165 high arch with a front end loader nearby in great shape. While it would be a bit worse in some ways, I tried it out and appears to be in good working order. While a bit cruder than the L2501, it has heaps of power, could get some jobs done I don't think the Kubota could... Tough decision!

 

[Ricn]

Having the 2501HST now for 2 years, my one small issue is; wishing it had more PTO power for brush hogging; with my 5 ft Land Pride this tractor is right at the limit when mowing pasture grass and I did not want to buy a smaller 4ft mower but might need to or, repair the old JD. Using the flail mower is much easier where I mow the well maintained 3 acres about the house, it's the taller field grass I have trouble with needed to go slower, especially on the slopes which are not much of a grade really. Mostly though, I like this tractor but getting used to the high end whine of the HST, and the fact they need to be run at high rpm, was something I hadn't thought about enough before buying. Were I to do it over, the L3300 or L3901 would be a better choice for my needs and not much more in price. I picked the 2501 because of it not having re-gen and thinking 25HP would suffice where before I needed at least a 40-50 HP tractor. The 2501 does do all I need though except serious mowing, and at a lot less fuel than my old tractors use. We have a half mile long driveway and the 2501 with 5ft Land Pride-land Plane does a great job! Also works great with the forks and QA is awesome too! Comfort and operator space is also great, another plus for us big guys.

Ricn

 

[ottawarob]

Having the 2501HST now for 2 years, my one small issue is; wishing it had more PTO power for brush hogging; with my 5 ft Land Pride this tractor is right at the limit when mowing pasture grass and I did not want to buy a smaller 4ft mower but might need to or, repair the old JD. Using the flail mower is much easier where I mow the well maintained 3 acres about the house, it's the taller field grass I have trouble with needed to go slower, especially on the slopes which are not much of a grade really. Mostly though, I like this tractor but getting used to the high end whine of the HST, and the fact they need to be run at high rpm, was something I hadn't thought about enough before buying. Were I to do it over, the L3300 or L3901 would be a better choice for my needs and not much more in price. I picked the 2501 because of it not having re-gen and thinking 25HP would suffice where before I needed at least a 40-50 HP tractor. The 2501 does do all I need though except serious mowing, and at a lot less fuel than my old tractors use. We have a half mile long driveway and the 2501 with 5ft Land Pride-land Plane does a great job! Also works great with the forks and QA is awesome too! Comfort and operator space is also great, another plus for us big guys.

Ricn

I've definitely been considering the one step up for extra HP for mowing. I have 8 acres I *could* mow, but usually we just leave it long and put paths in it with my BCS 32" bush mower. I definitely like the idea of the l2501 with a 4' bush mower as a step up from that at some point. Doesn't have to be fast or that pretty, just knock down the grass. We get THICK grass in the field, but absolutely no hills...

There are a lot of old 30 to 50hp tractors for sale around here for around $3 to $6k, I could see getting one if I needed a tractor with more horsepower and saving my money for now and going L2501. It'll be nice to have something dependable for landscaping, and moving dirt, and a larger old tractor that I could afford to have out of commission.

 

[Ricn]

The 2501 works for 90% of our needs now, just the long field grass where mowing slow is a must but gets the job done! Our hills are minimal really, but when the nose of the tractor rises or in heavy, long grass you notice it pulling hard but still it cut ok using low gear and 2000 rpm. At 19.5 PTO HP only, it is not all that much pending grass types and height, 25 PTO HP would be much better though so, an old tractor having more would be good, just have to try the 2501, see how it does on your place. If possible, I'd try a 5ft mower before buying the 4ft mower as it may work just fine and not take as long. The rear wheels on these machines are 60" outside to outside, my brush hog is the same as is the flail mower. Regardless, you will love the 2501 for most everything on a small place.

Ricn

 

[Carl_NH]

If you end up going the 2501 route I would get a 6' rear scraper blade for snow and general leveling and a counter weight for the FEL and the QA loader bucket and an extra set of Hyd valves on the loader for a future snow plow or grapple setup. You can find a used 5' brush hog for $5-700 typical or just keep using your tow behind for now.

You can add a canopy to the ROPS too which will keep a lot of the snow/rain/sun off and in the winter golf cart enclosures are $300 to fit over the canopy for a cheap cab setup too.

 

[Ricn]

Good suggestions - I have both the canopy and 3 hydraulics on the rear for top and tilt plus a 3rd one for my flail mower side to side; all very useful too! No need for snow blower in my area and if getting a grapple can run that off one of the rear remotes.

Ricn

 

[ottawarob]

The 2501 works for 90% of our needs now, just the long field grass where mowing slow is a must but gets the job done! Our hills are minimal really, but when the nose of the tractor rises or in heavy, long grass you notice it pulling hard but still it cut ok using low gear and 2000 rpm. At 19.5 PTO HP only, it is not all that much pending grass types and height, 25 PTO HP would be much better though so, an old tractor having more would be good, just have to try the 2501, see how it does on your place. If possible, I'd try a 5ft mower before buying the 4ft mower as it may work just fine and not take as long. The rear wheels on these machines are 60" outside to outside, my brush hog is the same as is the flail mower. Regardless, you will love the 2501 for most everything on a small place.

Ricn

Been thinking about it too much,now I'm wondering if I should go a bit bigger for better lift capacity. For most of the day to day work, the loader on the L2501 should be fantastic, but we do a lot of funny stuff around here, and being able to lift & drag even more I'm sure would come in handy.

Definitely going to inquire about the L3301 (better horse power for chipping) and a MX4800. The MX is a lot more money, but man it's a nice package.

 

[ottawarob]

If you end up going the 2501 route I would get a 6' rear scraper blade for snow and general leveling and a counter weight for the FEL and the QA loader bucket and an extra set of Hyd valves on the loader for a future snow plow or grapple setup. You can find a used 5' brush hog for $5-700 typical or just keep using your tow behind for now.

You can add a canopy to the ROPS too which will keep a lot of the snow/rain/sun off and in the winter golf cart enclosures are $300 to fit over the canopy for a cheap cab setup too.

Definitely want to get the QA loader bucket, having some light pallet forks would be great for moving stuff around. I can imagine a number of heavy things I'd start to store on pallets for easy moving.

Canopy would be nice!

An extra set of valves would be useful, I like the idea of a hydro top link. Getting $$$ though. If I do go with the L2501, it's at least in part a budget minded purchase, if I start to add a ton of features the budget goes out the window.

 

[Ricn]

From what you have posted, the L3300 will do all your asking with it's higher PTO HP; an mx4800 is a big step up. Nothing wrong with going big and bigger, just so you have the work for something in that category for most all you want to accomplish. Tractors can be like travel trailers, always wanting one bigger. Much of American small farming was built on the Ford 8N after WWII, john Deere took care of a lot using a 2 cylinder tractor until the 1960's.

Ricn

 

[metalbender]

Older tractors do good with bush hog and driveway stuff. For bucket and especially fork work, the hst wins hands down. Had a short session with an old Ford 3000 fel and bucket forks. Not a happy experience, gets old real fast.

 

[ottawarob]

Older tractors do good with bush hog and driveway stuff. For bucket and especially fork work, the hst wins hands down. Had a short session with an old Ford 3000 fel and bucket forks. Not a happy experience, gets old real fast.

Yeah, I drove around a bit on the lot with the L2501, I can totally see how it'd be great for getting the tractor right where you'd like it. I have a manual transmission Subaru, I can imagine clutch in, clutch out gets old with a loader.

 

[ottawarob]

From what you have posted, the L3300 will do all your asking with it's higher PTO HP; an mx4800 is a big step up. Nothing wrong with going big and bigger, just so you have the work for something in that category for most all you want to accomplish. Tractors can be like travel trailers, always wanting one bigger. Much of American small farming was built on the Ford 8N after WWII, john Deere took care of a lot using a 2 cylinder tractor until the 1960's.

Ricn

Sure don't want to pay the extra dollars for the L3301, but it does seem a little more future proof for wood chipping and other PTO implements. I've heard they're quieter too?

 

[Carl_NH]

Here's a nice L4240 machine in Renfrew area for $25K and 200 hours and has a QA bucket too. https://www.kijiji.ca/v-farming-equ...ts/1439674106?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

The 2501 will likely do 90% of what you need/want to do and you learn the limits of the machine - like not overloading pallets and such, but I you need to lift pallets of brick regularly or more than 1500-2000 Lbs go bigger if not the 2501 is a nice machine.

Also, if you do go new, adding the front remotes (or rear) or canopy etc you have a position to negotiate more at the initial sale than later on - so you may spend an extra $2K but negotiate the whole package that $2K adder may be $1000 today.

 

[ottawarob]

Here's a nice L4240 machine in Renfrew area for $25K and 200 hours and has a QA bucket too. https://www.kijiji.ca/v-farming-equ...ts/1439674106?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

The 2501 will likely do 90% of what you need/want to do and you learn the limits of the machine - like not overloading pallets and such, but I you need to lift pallets of brick regularly or more than 1500-2000 Lbs go bigger if not the 2501 is a nice machine.

Also, if you do go new, adding the front remotes (or rear) or canopy etc you have a position to negotiate more at the initial sale than later on - so you may spend an extra $2K but negotiate the whole package that $2K adder may be $1000 today.

I saw that Refrew ad, been keeping a close eye on kijiji! I can't cough up $25k unfortunately, so I can't go for it. Nice deal though.

I can't see us doing heavier tasks that often, it would be nice to have a bigger machine for the odd time we'd want to, but I think we can get up to a lot of work with the LA525 loader. This would be my main reason for going to a larger machine, but there's also a nimbleness to the L2501 that you lose with larger units.

The Massey Ferguson 165 I looked at would be amazing in this respect, but that thing was an incredible tank, would have a lot of fear about running it into something by accident.

Definitely considering negotiating advantage. I'd like to get a rear remote so I'd have it for a hydraulic top link at a later date, I could see that being handy. I like getting exercise, so having to get off the tractor to adjust a rear blade isn't a big deal for me, but being able to jimmy with the angle of a box blade sounds super handy.

I don't think I'd bother