Need to buy a tractor, am newbie

[BGigHarbor]

Thanks, all good advice and appreciated.

 

[stoyan79]

L3800 is your best value, its about $20K.

If you have a bit more money, the MX is excellent value - heavier, larger and more powerful than the economy L series, offered with 48 and 52 horse engines (MX4700/MX5100). These are about $25K.

What everybody wants is the Grand L - it is about the same size as the MX series, but is fully loaded. This is your most expensive option, as the cheapest Grand L is the 34 horsepower L3240 and it costs about $22K.

All prices above are approximate and include 4x4, HST and Front Loader.

I would not buy a tractor without 4x4 and Front Loader. HST is highly recommended too. Also make sure you get the SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) Front Loader - about $600 option, but quite worth it!

Your most used attachment would be the brush hog, the cheap ones are around $1,000 bucks and the expensive ones can go as high as $2,500. Good brands are Land Pride, Bush Hog and Woods, these are the more expensive units. I purchased myself a Howse 6 foot mower for $800 new and have been quite happy with it.
As far as size on rotary mowers, you figure 5 PTO horses per foot of mower, so 30 horse on the PTO will allow you to use 6 foot rotary mower maximum (L3800).

 

[BGigHarbor]

One thing you mentioned was working with logs, you are going to for sure want to make sure the FEL bucket is attached with Skid Steer Quick Attach, SSQA.. so that you can take off the bucket and put on either forks or a grapple in a few seconds. Grapple would be best, but you can also move logs around with a little practice with a good set of SSQA forks. The 3940, is a lot more tractor than the economy model L3800. More weight, beefier front axle, the above mentioned telescoping lower links and stabilizers (extremely useful feature) and a 3rd generation Hydrostatic transmission with an industry leading design. If a Kubota is what you want, and if you had to choose between an L3800 and a L3940, well you should buy the L3940 if you can swing it money wise. I would highly recommend a hydrostatic transmission especially for a newbie.. I am not a newbie, 5 tractors and 20+ years, but I prefer the Hydro also. You may note I am a Kioti owner, and the Kioti DK40se is comparable to the Kubota Grand L at a much lower price point, the only big difference I can note is the Kubota hydro tranny is superior. Good luck on your hunt, and keep coming back here and asking questions. We will be very happy to spend your money

James K0UA

I search youtube and saw vids of a grapple. Is that aftermarket? And are the forks aftermarket too?

Any disadvantage to the SSQA, ie is it as strong?

 

[lilranch2001]

I am not sure but the better grapples are probably aftermarket
I bought my forks from Bobcat, I assume other manufactures have their own brand
No, SSQA is a standard, most of the name brands use it (other than Deere I believe) and it is as strong as a pinned bucket, but much more useful

 

[k0ua]

I search youtube and saw vids of a grapple. Is that aftermarket? And are the forks aftermarket too?

Any disadvantage to the SSQA, ie is it as strong?

All implements are aftermarket as far as I know.. None of the Tractor manufactures make implements that I know of. they paint and put labels on some of them. I am not certain about John Deere's Frontier line of implements, they may make them. SSQA is used on skid steers and large tractors, Both are much stronger than any CUT you would be considering. I am considering the Everything Attachments new wicked grapple.

Day 2 of Compact Utility Root Grapple - YouTube

Everything Attachments Compact Utility Root Grapple 50"

James K0UA

 

[BGigHarbor]

All implements are aftermarket as far as I know.. None of the Tractor manufactures make implements that I know of. they paint and put labels on some of them. I am not certain about John Deere's Frontier line of implements, they may make them. SSQA is used on skid steers and large tractors, Both are much stronger than any CUT you would be considering. I am considering the Everything Attachments new wicked grapple.

Day 2 of Compact Utility Root Grapple - YouTube

Everything Attachments Compact Utility Root Grapple 50"

James K0UA

I think I'd get a lot of use out of a grapple on the new property. I'll do some more searching, but that everything attachments small grapple looks slick.

Can most brands of tractors (ie Kubota) be ordered with the necessary hydraulics to run implements like a grapple jaw? Is that a better way to go than adding the hydraulics afterwards?

 

[k0ua]

I think I'd get a lot of use out of a grapple on the new property. I'll do some more searching, but that everything attachments small grapple looks slick.

Can most brands of tractors (ie Kubota) be ordered with the necessary hydraulics to run implements like a grapple jaw? Is that a better way to go than adding the hydraulics afterwards?

There are different ways to do it. True 3rd function valve (more expensive tractors can be ordered with this. most economy tractors cannot). Divertor valve,( usually dealer or self installed. and run off of rear remote (factory or added on) You can add most anything, but some tractors come equipped from factory/dealer installed. I plan on just running off of the Kioti rear hydraulics. as its lever is convenient to operate. Here is my thread asking about this, and some pictures of what I installed yesterday. Pictures on page 2.. post 18

James K0UA

 

[BGigHarbor]

I went to a dealer that had been recommended to me looking for a 3940 or 4240. turns out the 40 series are gone and the series is the 60 series.

I liked some things about the new series, but was put off by where the fuel filler and tank was. Seemed really exposed if in brush, etc.

Also not crazy about buying first generation emission changes esp at such a price premium.

So I am not in a holding pattern.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Check out some used options in the mean time. If you find something older and at the right price you may be able to sell it a few years from now for about your purchase price then trade up to something newer. Tractor ownership can be hard to get right the first time.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Check other brands than Kubota and likely you can find some of the last models before Tier IV requirements took effect. Kubota and ALMOST ALL other brands are all good tractors. All brands have some of the same features but some brands have more luxury items than others and those items while making operations a bit quicker or easier, do empty the wallet very fast. A few of the items I consider valuable on CUT's are HST, telescopic lower lift arms, telescopic sway bars (attach to the lift arms to prevent or limit movement side to side- some models have chains with turnbuckles for this which are a PIA to use if you swap implements a lot) tilt steering wheel, suspension seat (a must have) FEL, 4 Wheel Drive and at least 2 preferable 3 rear remote hydraulic controls. ( You can run your grapple with the rear remotes without adding diverter valves in most cases ) Folks who do a LOT of dirt work like the TnT (top and tilt hydraulics to adjust the top link and lower one side of the lift arms without leaving the seat-very handy for box blade work but a luxury not needed for mowing, disking etc.) I love my Cab with HVAC and stereo for mowing and dusty work and in fact is the reason I bought my second tractor. It is a little inconvenient when using the FEL as it limits visibility, and working around low limbs but low limbs are easily removed in most instances but all inconveniences are put aside when it is 105F outside and you need to mow the pasture or it is cold and raining and you need to put out some hay for your critters. If you are doing a lot of tree clearing, a grapple would make life much easier, but a good set of QA forks would work for moving brush piles but not quite as well. Most other bells and whistles can be done without if you want to save money, but if you are the kind of driver that thinks a fully loaded Lexus/BMW/Mercedes /etc is minimal car for driving, then Kubota and John Deere might be the tractor for you.

Kubota sells more than any other brand in the USA so they are the first to run out of the last year models. Kioti is a close runner to the Kubota and some things I think are better. I like my LS but I don't know a lot about the smaller ones other than what the guys on the LS forum say about them which is mostly all good.

As far as a back hoe, I don't know how I got by without mine before I got my Kubota B26. I use it all the time but the hoe stays on it all the time. I would likely not use it as much if I had to remove all the 3 PH linkage and hook up the hoe everytime I needed to use it. If you can have a dedicated TLB just for loader and back hoe work, then they are indispensable, but I don't think I would invest the $7000 or more for one to go on my ONLY tractor. My two uses for tractors is moving dirt, digging stuff up bush hogging and disking. I keep my LS free to do the bush hogging and disking and one or the other of those implements is on all the time. If I need to move a large amount of material, I can use the FEL on the P 7010 LS but most of the time, I just grab the Kubota for back dragging my driveway and utility road, moving small stuff around etc. because with the HST transmission, it is faster to change directions and being open station I can see what is going on better for finesse work and get into tight spots with its small size. It is comparable to the B26xx or 29xx series although a lot heavier (4001#)with the hoe , sub-frame and under belly armor that comes on the B 26. This is not included on the regular CUT tractors from Kubota with back hoes and the capacities are a bit more with the B 26 than with a B2660 for instance with a hoe even though they are basically the same size tractors. I think if I were a one tractor operation, any backhoe work I would hire out or rent a small track hoe rather than invest a substantial amount of $$$ that will as some have stated just be setting in the shed or worse outside most of the time while you use your tractor for other chores. Another option might be to take the $7000+ and add a few dollars to it and get an older model commercial sized hoe like a JD 310 or similar Case model as they are the most common and a fairly good shape one can be had for $10K or less. They may have a little slop in the stick but with careful looking and shopping, a good one can be picked up at a fair price. That is if you don't mind the super size of it.