Buying Advice needing a small tractor with backhoe

[mike69440]

Max26/28 TLB?

 

[gravelman]

that is neat..i will look it over

 

[Gary Fowler]

Hi folks..gravelman here from chilly NH. i m thinking of buying a small tractor...25 hp with a loader and backhoe. I have a Kubota but would consider John Deere or Mahindra (closeby dealers) Im thinking turf tires, no cab. just wanting to know if anyone out there has an opinion, especially the backhoe part. i would want a thumb on it too.. thanks alot.

If you are looking at the sub-compact TLB then take a look at the Kubota BX25D. Or if you want a lot more, the Kubota B26TLB. The BX25 will be great for working your yard but I would keep it out of the brush. The B26 is a bit heavy at 4000# but I use mine all the time to work in the yard, just have to keep it off when it is wet or it will leave some tracks. Consider buying used for these two tractor because new prices are a bit hard to take. My B26 new cost as much as my 70HP LS with cab and FEL, but I got a good deal on it for $20,500 with only 68 hours on the clock and like new condition.

 

[gravelman]

thank you for all of t hat... i do have a B2650, i did not get a backhoe as it has a cab on it... this time around i really need the smaller machine and i agree with you...look for used.

 

[DaveNJ]

I like LS tractors I have a 10 year old Farmtrac with a montana 7.6 backhoe LS built it, and they use Mitsubishi engines. She is a strong little beast.

I second that. I did a lot of research before I bought mine about a year and a half ago. XJ2025 was the biggest bang for the buck. no regrets.

 

[mike69440]

If you are looking at the sub-compact TLB then take a look at the Kubota BX25D. Or if you want a lot more, the Kubota B26TLB. The BX25 will be great for working your yard but I would keep it out of the brush. The B26 is a bit heavy at 4000# but I use mine all the time to work in the yard, just have to keep it off when it is wet or it will leave some tracks. Consider buying used for these two tractor because new prices are a bit hard to take. My B26 new cost as much as my 70HP LS with cab and FEL, but I got a good deal on it for $20,500 with only 68 hours on the clock and like new condition.

I bet it would be real hard to find a $20K Nice B26, but if you do, forget the Mahindra idea.

 

[GManBart]

All good recommendations, and you probably can't really go wrong with any known name in that size tractor....they're all good.

The thing I would do after narrowing down the field to a couple is get your wife to run each for a few minutes just to make sure there isn't something that will bother her....peddle arrangement, seat position, etc. It's the kind of machine you're likely to keep indefinitely, so no sense in buying something with a major annoyance factor like a loader control you can't reach comfortably, or similar.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I bet it would be real hard to find a $20K Nice B26, but if you do, forget the Mahindra idea.

Mine is a 2009 that I bought in 2010 as a third owner. I think the first owner sold it just prior to bankruptcy and the next owner used it mostly for mowing. IIRC the new cost in 2010 was about $35K at the Kubota website as mine is equipped (hydraulic thumb and 3PH parts) I suspect, $20K would still be a bargain for a 2009 today.

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

The bx23, 24, 25 I think are all very good in what they do. I am pleased with the bx I have and have on had minor problems such as cv joints and u joints that I replaced or rebuilt. Other than that just regular maintenance.

 

[Rama89]

Gravelman,

I am in Maine. I am ordering a Mahindra 1526HST with loader and backhoe. I cannot give recommendations on how it operates but after reading for weeks here on TBN I chose the Mahindra. I wanted something smaller to get around in smaller areas. Seems that Mahindra has some good deals for rebates and such and a local dealer seems to be very attentive. Very important in my book.