Need to buy a tractor, am newbie

[BGigHarbor]

Can anyone point me to link to become more knowledgeable about differences in tractor configurations, etc?

I need to buy a tractor for my new property soon.

I am leaning towards a kubota. Think at least 30 hp, 4wd. Bucket (FEL) in front and want to be able to run a backhoe attachment in back at least some times. Plan to buy a 5 ft brushhog style mower for back. A friend said I'll want something with hydraulics all the way to the back.

It's a new world to me, so I don't understand the issues enough to really even ask decent questions. Can all the models run either a backhoe or brushhog on the back?

I'll be lifting things with bucket, moving dirt, etc, digging out the occasional ditch or stump and will be doing a lot of mowing grass and brush on sloped ground (22 acres for now). Would also like to be able to do a little light grading.

I am not that handy (and short on time) so I am thinking of buying either new or pretty new so I don't have to be working on it much. Around here used kubotas seem to cost most of a new one, so considering new.


I am a bit overwhelmed with the choices when I look online at tractors in terms of all the models. Maybe an L3800? Or an L3940?

Any thoughts, links or advice welcome.

Thanks, Bill

 

[OneQuick68]

I went through the same process. I read every tractor forum I could and watched a bunch of videos on the internet. I just recently bought a new Kubota L3240 HST w/LA 724 FEL, I am very pleased with my tractor. I like the Grand L options. You will find a wide variety of pricing. I spent several months researching brands, models, options, then obtaining price info and locating the model I wanted. Good luck with your search.
Buying a tractor can be allot like work.

 

[Budweiser John]

I have owned a New Holland TC45D tractor for 11 years now. In addition to the FEL I have quick attach pallet forks and a back Hoe attachment. This unit is truly the "Swiss Army Knife" of tractors in my opinion.
It's full Hydro Transmission is a jewel for loader work and the 4WD will plow through just about all adverse conditions. In addition to the aforementioned the tool shed includes a 7' finishing mower, 6' rototiller, 6' snow blower, and a Woodmax wood chipper.
Let me add an additional comment about back hoe attachments. The New Holland system uses a separate sub frame attached to the tractor belly that the back hoe unit is affixed to. The back hoe is reasonably easy to mount and remove (takes about 15 min) but ounce on the tractor it's solid as a rock. Several years ago, a friend let me use his 3pt hitch style back hoe. POS

Good luck shopping, you're on the right site for good information...........

 

[wolftree]

BGigHarbor,

You are on the right track, reading and learning before you buy. A tractor can be equipped to do many things. The hard part in buying a tractor is identifying just what you can reasonably do with it for the amount of money you want to spend.

We all would love to have a backhoe, but for most of us (95+%) it would end up sitting in the shed or worse, outside. That is a $5000-$7000 lawn ornament. You can rent a mini-excavator and have it delivered to your property for about $300 a day and be able to do a tremendous amount of work in that one day. Very few of us can realistically put a backhoe to work often enough to pay for itself.

I suggest that you continue researching like you are, asking questions on this forum. Stop at a few different dealerships and be truthfull with them. Tell them you are learning how to equip a tractor. Talk with them about what your needs are. Write out your questions, so they can show you the answers.(Leave your checkbook at home)

You mention mowing grass, is this finished yard grass that you mow every week or twice a year mowing field grass? These questions and many more you need to ask your self about how you intend to use this tractor. Once you identify your true needs, the answers become much simpler, not cheaper, just simpler.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

First, define ALL or the tasks that you want to do. Then ask here at TBN what will work to accomplish those tasks. You will get different answers for ways to get things done. You will have to make the decision as to what will work the best for you. Once this has been determined, then you will need to decide on what size tractor will fit YOUR needs the best. What works for one person may not work so well for you, especially if time is at a premium. Can you get these tasks done with a 20hp tractor, most likely, but just how much time does it take to get done vs having-using a 30-35hp machine or faster and easier yet a 40-50hp machine?

If you are sold on Kubota, that is fine, although there are many many nice machines out there. Just so that you don't second guess yourself, you really should at least look at some other makes for ergonomics and pricing. They are not all the same. I personally would take a good look at the 40-45hp machines of every dealer that is in your comfortable driving distance. But then I am only guessing, because I don't really have any idea of just what it is that you need to get done. :confused3:

Good luck, don't be afraid to ask questions, we like to answer questions and spend other peoples money. :thumbsup: :laughing:

 

[jeff9366]

Your basic tractor is a prime mover with a 3-Point Hitch on the rear, an INDUSTRY STANDARDIZED attachment point for pulled implements. The 3-Pt. Hitch is what makes tractors so versatile. Bush Hog is one example of an implement that mounts on the 3-Pt. Hitch. The 3-Pt. Hitch is hydraulically operated. It lifts implements. Gravity lets them down. The 3-Pt. Hitch has a Power Take Off (PTO), which powers some implements, such as the Bush Hog's rotating blade.

The most useful single tractor option is a front end loader (FEL). This is usually ordered with further tractor options: Hydrostatic Transmission (HST), four wheel drive (4-WD) and industrial tires (R4 tires).

Backhoes have a support mount that covers the 3-Pt. Hitch, so backhoe must be removed before 3-Pt. Hitch is available for an implement. Backhoe removal/replacement can be awkward and time consuming. Tractor newbies often feel they need a backhoe but backhoes are specialized equipment. Unless you have a LOT of trenching to do or a LOT of stumps to remove you can do occasional work with a more versatile 3-Pt. implement.

If 85+% of T-B-N writers have FELs, perhaps 10% have backhoes and half of the 10% with backhoes wish they had allocated the backhoe $$$ toward three $ implements.

Both Kubota L3800 and L3940, with optional FELs, are appropriately sized to accomplish real work in reasonable time on 22 acres.

B3300SU in photos is 1,900 pounds. L3800 with FEL 3,100 pounds. L3940 with FEL 3,900 pounds. ((+/-))

Buy all the tractor you can afford, with FEL, but understand tractor/loader won't accomplish much without pulled implements.

 

[BGigHarbor]

Thanks for the replies.

The advice about buying a backhoe are probably right on. Would love to have one, but probably would not use it a ton esp due to hassle of swapping it out. And will use the brushhog style mower a lot more to keep scotchbroom, black berries, saplings and grass in check.

Also will be moving and lifting logs (I work with logs) with the FEL afair bit and the more weight I can lift the better for that up a point.

I live on small acreage now, but the new place is much bigger and rougher (and I am going to try to buy the adjoining property). Will be a constant chore to knock back the grown several times a year.

And I will admit I actually have never even driven a tractor much less a brushhog. In an ideal world I would get to try in person a few sizes of tractor actually doing what I want to do, but that probably is not going to happen.

For the finish mowing where flat I have a riding lawn tractor and for steepish slopes or trails I will put a bcs 852 with a small brush hog (and a flail) into service.

Also to start with I am hiring an excavator and a tracked bobcat with a big brush hog to help me clear where the shop is going to be, and to start the war with very mature scotchbroom (some of it 9 ft tall) and blackberries that have had their way with the property for several years unbothered.

 

[BGigHarbor]

Thanks for the pics.

Your basic tractor is a prime mover with a standard 3-Point Hitch on the rear, an INDUSTRY STANDARDIZED attachment point for pulled implements. The 3-Pt. Hitch is what makes tractors so versatile. Bush Hog is one example of an implement that mounts on the 3-Pt. Hitch. The 3-Pt. Hitch is hydraulically operated. It lifts implements. Gravity lets them down. The 3-Pt. Hitch has a Power Take Off (PTO), which powers some implements, such as the Bush Hog's rotating blade.

The most useful single tractor option is a front end loader (FEL). This is usually ordered with further tractor options: Hydrostatic Transmission (HST), four wheel drive (4-WD) and industrial tires (R4 tires).

Backhoes have a framework that cover the 3-Pt. Hitch, so backhoe must be removed before 3-Pt. Hitch is available for an implement. Backhoe removal/replacement can be awkward and time consuming. Tractor newbies often feel they need a backhoe but backhoes are specialized equipment. Unless you have a LOT of trenching to do or a LOT of stumps to remove you likely can do occasional work with a more versatile 3-Pt. implement.

If 85+% of T-B-N writers have FELs, perhaps 10% have backhoes and half of the 10% with backhoes wish they had allocated the money toward an implement(s).

Both Kubota L3800 and L3940, with optional FELs, are appropriately sized to accomplish real work in reasonable time on 22 acres.

B3300SU in photos is 1,900 pounds. L3800 with FEL 3,100 pounds. L3940 with FEL 3,900 pounds. ((+/-))

Buy all the tractor you can afford, with FEL, but understand tractor/loader won't accomplish much without pulled implements.

 

[BGigHarbor]

One site I was comparing the l3800 and l3940 said the l3800 has a suspension seat and the l3940 does not. And the l3940 does not have a cruise control.

I would have thought a suspension seat would be better, and and the ability to set the throttle (which I assume cruise control is) would also be really handy for long sessions.

 

[jeff9366]

Cruise control is a $35 dealer installed kit for B3300SU. I presume same kit fits all Kubotas. It is a throttle set. I am glad I have it.

The XX40 series are the 'GRAND L' Kubotas. Generally speaking they come with ALL the bells and whistles standard. They are also quieter. I aspire to a 'GRAND L' but my spouse does not.

The feature on 'Grand L' series I most covet are the telescoping, fully adjustable, rigid stabilizers on the 3-Pt. hitch. Not only do pin adjustable rigid stabilizers make loading implements easy, they also reinforce hitch substantially so PUSHING in reverse is practical. In contrast turnbuckle stabilizers/check chains are relatively weak support when PUSHING an implement in reverse.

The 'GRAND L' series has a reclining seat with swivel. This is Kubota's best seat. Swivel feature saves your neck when you look aft at your implements working.

The L3800 is your basic utility tractor; heavier and more powerful than my B3300SU, but likewise basic.