LD1
Epic Contributor
Based on your property description, That would be my recommendation as well. I think the BX would be a tad too small for your needs, and the small L's dont have a belly mower option.
Buying Advice My First Tractor
- Thread starter Mrreck
- Start date
- Views: 3263
Based on your property description, That would be my recommendation as well. I think the BX would be a tad too small for your needs, and the small L's dont have a belly mower option.
dustinfox
Gold Member
I agree that a backhoe is what he needs. However I don't believe he should buy one unless he will have an ongoing need, or if the rental cost for his projects approach a point where it would make sense to sink that money into owning one. They are nice to have! But from a practical standpoint renting might be smarter. Of course just owning such a cool "toy" is a weighing factor!
kiotiken
Veteran Member
I agree that a backhoe is what he needs. However I don't believe he should buy one unless he will have an ongoing need, or if the rental cost for his projects approach a point where it would make sense to sink that money into owning one. They are nice to have! But from a practical standpoint renting might be smarter. Of course just owning such a cool "toy" is a weighing factor!
Yes, they are a cool toy, but once you have one, you see how many jobs they can be used for. It's also the reason I'm recommending the OP buy a bigger tractor than most other commentators to this thread. When something like this is new to you, you make a list of things you know you need to do and focus on that when determining your requirements. once you have a tractor, it doesn't take long to realize all the other things you'd like to be able to do and all the things that a slightly bigger more capable tractor could do. He's on a new, unbroken piece of property and is describing work that is too big for a B series. I know the mentality of "just a little bigger" has to stop somewhere, but I don't think that should be less than the L series in Kubota. Kubota makes a great tractor, but they're light and you need weight for ground engagement and traction
I'm in the process of considering upgrading to a bigger tractor. It would be my 3rd tractor in as many years. I keep running into limitations for the work I find I would like to do. I don't use my tractor for mowing, I have a ZTR mower for that, which means I can buy the right tractor for ground engagement work and other heavy jobs. With my 3 acres, doing a lot of the same work as the OP is talking about, I'm dreaming of a 50hp tractor to be able to stack pallets of firewood (now I struggle to lift a pallet with a cord, can't curl the pallet and can only lift about 3ft off the ground), break new ground with my box blade (I can now bring my 5500lbs tractor to a halt in low range with a 5ft box blade with the rippers fully down) and other such tasks. There's no comparison, IMHO, between my CK30 and the B series Kubotas with respect to these type of task, and I believe the OP will hit the same type of limitations much sooner with the work he's planning on his new property if he goes for a b series tractor. Renting for the odd job is fine, but if you're limited on 50% of your tasks, you should have gone bigger.
To the OP, go for at least an L Series, preferably a Grand L, or look at some of the other very good, much less expensive, heavier and more capable (at the same price) tractors available.
Lefty7
Silver Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2012
- Messages
- 153
- Location
- Finger Lakes, upstate NY
- Tractor
- Kubota L3940HSTC, LA724, BH92, RTV-X1100C, 1978 Dodge D100 Adventurer (Sunrise Orange), 2018 Ram 2500 (Omaha Orange)
I'm a first time tractor owner, with about 40 hours on a Grand L3940. When I started my research before buying, my biggest concern was that I didn't want something too small - but getting something too big would also be a problem, so I understand your dilemma.
My situation is different, of course. I didn't want mine to do any mowing. But tilling, landscaping, moving and delivering bulk material (soil, mulch, compost), and to be light enough and small enough to do these things and get into some tight places, yes - and that's why the L3940 seemed perfect. And so far, with respect to all of these concerns, it is.
I knew I was already going to throw some substantial coin at this machine, and contemplated the backhoe for quite some time, as it is a considerable added expense. I was discussing this with a friend/neighbor, and he said, "Yeah, but how often do you think you'll really use it?" and I said, "I'd use it all the time if I had one!"
In my case, that's right. And now I can see that the tractor wouldn't have anywhere near the value to me that it does if I hadn't got the hoe. Got it with the hydraulic thumb, too. It's like a big mechanical hand, man, and you can pick up heavy stuff, move it, and put it down where you want. It was expensive, but I have no regrets. I love it.
Best of luck to you, and welcome to the TBN forums. Folks here have been a big help to me. Hope it works out that way for you, too. Just take your time and learn what you can. The right tractor will come to you.
My situation is different, of course. I didn't want mine to do any mowing. But tilling, landscaping, moving and delivering bulk material (soil, mulch, compost), and to be light enough and small enough to do these things and get into some tight places, yes - and that's why the L3940 seemed perfect. And so far, with respect to all of these concerns, it is.
I knew I was already going to throw some substantial coin at this machine, and contemplated the backhoe for quite some time, as it is a considerable added expense. I was discussing this with a friend/neighbor, and he said, "Yeah, but how often do you think you'll really use it?" and I said, "I'd use it all the time if I had one!"
In my case, that's right. And now I can see that the tractor wouldn't have anywhere near the value to me that it does if I hadn't got the hoe. Got it with the hydraulic thumb, too. It's like a big mechanical hand, man, and you can pick up heavy stuff, move it, and put it down where you want. It was expensive, but I have no regrets. I love it.
Best of luck to you, and welcome to the TBN forums. Folks here have been a big help to me. Hope it works out that way for you, too. Just take your time and learn what you can. The right tractor will come to you.
deadmoose
Member
Skip backhoe. Rent a mini x. Cheaper and more efficient.
Get a dedicated mower. Whether a $200 used rider or a new $5500 Z.
Buy the biggest tractor you can afford. Dont skimp on options. You never know when needs will change. I have an L3400 bought for food plots and miscellaneous that now I am making hay with as well as feeding/caring for beef with.
No one ever said I wish i bought a smaller tractor!
Attachments: get an FEL. Recommended are a box blade and post hole digger (works great for planting trees in minimum time). Tiller would be nice.
Buy quality attachments (no KK, HOWSE, county line, etc). If you buy one of them now and use it, you will buy another too soon. Get Bush Hog, Land Pride, etc.
Good Luck!
Get a dedicated mower. Whether a $200 used rider or a new $5500 Z.
Buy the biggest tractor you can afford. Dont skimp on options. You never know when needs will change. I have an L3400 bought for food plots and miscellaneous that now I am making hay with as well as feeding/caring for beef with.
No one ever said I wish i bought a smaller tractor!
Attachments: get an FEL. Recommended are a box blade and post hole digger (works great for planting trees in minimum time). Tiller would be nice.
Buy quality attachments (no KK, HOWSE, county line, etc). If you buy one of them now and use it, you will buy another too soon. Get Bush Hog, Land Pride, etc.
Good Luck!
AHNC
Gold Member
I have a BX2660 w/FEL, BB, 60" MMM, 42" Tiller and 48" Woods Brush Bull & a Ratchet Rake. It is my first tractor and has been great. When I bought I did not go with a BH. I can rent for $250/day for a good excavator. For a big job I hired a guy to do the digging and I was able to get him in and out quickly and he was a real pro. The 2660 handled the backfill and grading perfectly well. I'm sure it is a great implement, but the bh was a boatload more dough and I find that the ability to change rear implants easily without having to remove the bh and install the 3ph better for me. I'm sure if I had a bh I'd use it a lot, but not having one has worked out for me. I have no complaints about my BX other than ground clearance issues. That in itself is enough to make me go to a B as I don't have the ground clearance for the gardening I am doing. For now, I'm working around it, but I suspect it won't be to long and I'll be heading to the dealer. :thumbsup:
