My first tractor - Kubota Deal - B2100

[jvncnt]

Alright folks, first post, so I hope this comes through and makes sense. I have been luking for a while and have learned a lot... thanks ahead of time to those here who offer advice!

I have been in the market for a tractor, as we recently purchased 4.5 acres of relatively flat farmland next to a golfcourse on which we are having a home built. 290' driveway to care for in the winter, and once grass is growing need to mow. Other chores include building a patio and various landscape work (mulching, planting, etc.) as well as needs typical to new home.

Long story longer, my father-in-law just located a B2100 circa 1999. 284 hours and comes with a lot of attachments including loader, back hoe, box blade, tiller, front blade, rear finish mower, landscape rake. As I understand it all are in very nice shape, and have been cared for by a mechanic who works for a school system in Illinois (it is his own personal tractor). All kept indoors since purchase.

Listed for $15,000, with the understanding some willingness to negotiate. Any thoughts? Your advice and insight is appreciated.

 

[daTeacha]

That sounds like you'd never need to buy another attachment for the thing. Check the new prices locally, figure in transportation costs to get it to your place. The hours are not a problem -- figure each hour on a tractor is very roughly equivalent to between 50 and 100 miles on a car, so in a sense you're looking at the rough equivalent of a '99 with 15 to 30k miles on it that has been well cared for. With a tractor, let the hours and care be your guide, much more than the year since each model runs for several years and parts are more a function of total number sold than anything else.

If you can, hit the power show in Columbus this weekend and take a look at what the same money can buy new. Tickets should be available free at any implement dealer. What county are you in, anyways? I'm up in Wayne, near Wooster.

 

[jvncnt]

Thanks for the response! I actually picked up two tickets to take the wife to the power show (after someone on this forum talked about it). Hopefully I will learn a lot and get to see how the seats fit! I live in Franklin County right now, but am building in Union County (Marysville area.)

Checked out the prices this last weekend on a new bx2230 and found a good deal from a friendly dealer about 15 miles from the new place. The price I got, largely because of the new models, are as follows:

W/ FEL - $12,200
w/o FEL - $9,155

Wouldn't mind either one of the above, but then my father-in-law found this used one. Now I am in a pickle. Financing interest rates right now are a non-issue for me.

I agree that I would never need to buy another attachment, but simply don't know anything about the B2100 and since it is no longer made, I have never actually seen one up close. I do like the idea of being able to play with both a FEL and a BH on the b2100!!

I know that there really isn't an answer to the "which one is better" question between the b2100 and the bx2230, but I simply have no info. on the b2100. My luck, it would be the one poorly made tractor in Kubota's history, and I would be the owner!

All thoughts are appreciated.

 

[crown]

The B-2100 will closely resemble the current B-7510.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I think the attachments, other than the loader, that you've listed are worth at least $4000 - $5000. Assuming you have a use for those attachments, you're talking about $10,000 for the tractor & FEL. Based on these prices on ELS for comparable units, I would say that's a good price. Especially if the tractor is as described.

By the way, there are a couple of pictures of a B2100 w/FEL in one of those listings. Nice looking tractor. Of course, I look at everything through <font color="orange">orange lenses. </font> /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Here's one:

 

[jackl]

Since the B2100 is similar to my B7510 HST, I thought I would share my views of this tractor with you. I have 5 acres with 1.5 acres of grass and another 2 acres of fairly level fields with lots of spruce and pine trees. My Kubota is equipped with a FEL, back blade and 5ft finish mower. I've used it to mow, excavate a small pond, excavate for a 80ft paver sidewalk, landscape, plow snow, strip topsoil and move crush stone, rocks and topsoil. Bottom line is that I am very happy with the tractor, fuel consumption and operation. Sometimes I wish I bought the 7610 with a few more hp, but it has had plenty of power for my needs. My only problem has been that due to lack of snow I've only had about 1 hour of real seat time since Thanksgiving! Good luck.

 

[jvncnt]

Glad to hear that there is at least a similar current model. I will now at least be able to compare a fully equipped B7510HST to see how much of a difference I would pay with all of the same attachments. I know that the 7510 is newer and maybe has some more creature comforts, but it sounds like a good starting point for comparisons.

Thanks for the picture. Glad to see others are much better than I am at locating pictures of a no longer produced model (don't want to tell you how long I hunted this weekend online to no avail.) It also really puts it into perspective that I could get a tractor with FEL for $10K when excluding the $ for attachments.

Sounds like this size tractor can do many of the things necessary to get the new place in shape for the wife (all the time enjoying myself because I am on a big hunk of steel with a diesel engine!!) I have to ask though, how the heck do you excavate a small pond with a FEL and a rear blade? Seriously curious, because I think I now want to make a small pond... not sure where it will fit, but that sounds like a lot of fun.

Any other thoughts?

 

[DmansPadge]

I've heard of some people doing some excavating with a small tractor with a FEL. I would imagine a tooth bar would be necessary for any real digging. But if you have a backhoe... that'll definatly do it.

Would you be able to put all those attachments to use? They would be great to have in the future... but if you never use them it might not be that good of a deal for you. Maybe you could figure out what you will need and try to sell any that you don't and put a little cash back in your pocket.

 

[jvncnt]

The honest answer to whether I will really use all of the attachments is that at this point, prior to having the land even ready to work, I don't know. I do know that within the first year in the new house, I will have to:

1 - move dirt around the house and fill in low spots in the yard;

2 - plow the land prior to raking, as it is an old soybean field and no grass to speak of (can this be done with this tractor and a rental, or should I try to find a farmer nearby with equipment for this?);

3 - start some sort of lawn (seeding, fertilizing, I think rolling);

4 - spread gravel and hopefully make a reasonably level driveway (I think FEL and box blade?);

5 - plant however many trees my wife can get her hands on (backhoe perhaps?);

6 - hopefully build a patio;

7 - mow the lawn that is growing (hopefully);

8 - make a garden for my wife to play in.

Okay, now I am scaring myself silly that we may have bitten off a wee bit too MUCH! Nevertheless, as we are already building it ...

I probably should have put these things in the first post, but these are the reasons we are thinking of a CUT or SCUT. I realize I may need to supplement with rental of some equipment (i.e. dirt moving equip), but am hoping I can do much of the above list with a tractor of this size.

Thanks for the responses so far!

 

[daTeacha]

A 7510 is about 25% bigger than my old B7100 with FEL. Somewhere on here I listed the things I have done with that little machine up here in Wayne County. I stopped at 24 or so different uses on my wooded 7 1/2 acres of sloping land. Use the search feature to find that thread.