New M6800 on the way.

ljh2 · Feb 9, 2004

I finally did it. On Friday I ordered my new Kubota M6800 with the LA1162A self-leveling loader w/QuickAttach and loaded R1 tires. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I've been reading (and occasionally posting) about all the other tractors here since 2001 and I'm glad to finally have one of my own to post about. Last October my wife and I bought 47 acres of mountainside farm near Myersville, MD - after looking for about 3 years, and I was able to define my tractor needs. The dealer said to expect delivery in about 7-10 business days, so I'm looking forward to that. I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get it.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

yooperdave · Feb 9, 2004

I have a dealer trying to sell me a new M6800 with loader and hydraulic shift for approx $30,500.

What did you pay for yours?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

40Kchicks · Feb 9, 2004

Congratulations on your purchase. That should be nice machine. I know I sure do like my M9000. Your family will enjoy how smooth and quiet it is to run.

Plan on someday getting or building forks and a grapple for that quick attach. They are mighty handy to have around.

What will you be using the tractor for besides everything. Are you going to hay that acreage or have something else in mind? I am getting really tired of seeing my pasture go to waste. I really want to hay it but I will probably have to wait another year to get the equipment. So this winter I am getting rid of the rocks and stumps and ect.

Eric

ljh2 · Feb 9, 2004

Dave,

It was right around $28,600 without (sales tax - oops). I shopped around a bit, but the local dealer was had a very competitive price and seemed like a place I could do business in the future and also came recommended by a friend. All told your price doesn't seem too far out of line, I don't know what the regional pricing difference is in WI vs MD. My dealer had probably about a dozen of those new BX23 units on the lots that I would guess that the majority of his customers are using to maintain their McMansion Estates, so he may have more margin on them allowing him to deal a little more on the bigger Ag-type machines.

5030 · Feb 9, 2004

Eric:

We need a separate forum for Kubotas over 50 horsepower don't you think??

YooperDave:

You are procrastinating too much!

ljh2 · Feb 9, 2004

Eric,

Thanks, I'm looking forward to it. I've got about 4-6 inches of ice on my driveway up at the farm right now, so the loader will get a good workout on delivery day unless it gets warm enough to melt it all before then.

I'll second the forks, the wife and I have already been talking about how useful they will be while we are renovating the old log house.

The land is about half-and-half woods and field. I plan to start out this year growing pumpkins and some potatoes. One of the neighbors has been haying the fields for quite a few years and has been storing some of his equipment at our place, so I figure to work something out with him as to using his equipment to harvest hay off from some of the land. I plan to pick up a plow and disc before spring. The rest is probably going to be on a play-it-by-ear plan. The wife isn't too keen on making hay, so we'll see what all we end up doing.

I also plan to plant some of the area nearest the woods into a forage mixture for the deer.

ljh2 · Feb 9, 2004

Dave,

I'm looking forward to the hydraulic shuttle shift. No-clutch forward/reverse will be nice. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I think you'll like this choice.

froggy · Feb 10, 2004

Larry,

I'm currently looking at both the M5700 and M6800, but have not decided which would best suit my needs. If you don't mind saying, what items pushed you to the M6800?

Thanks,

Doyle

TBone · Feb 10, 2004

BOY, ARE YOU GONNA BE SORRY /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif if you ever let your wife get on it. The M series Kubotas are so quiet and smooth to operate you may never get to use it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Congratulations - you will love it.

TBone

ljh2 · Feb 10, 2004

Doyle,

MORE POWER!!!! Really. I wanted to be sure to have ample power to operate a baler on the hillside. I also knew that I'm not going to get to do this again anytime soon, and I didn't want to find myself wishing for more. I didn't look too seriously at the M5700, but did look at the M8200, but decided against it in favor of the category I/II hitch which will allow me to use Cat I implements whereas the M8200 is strictly Cat II.

ljh2 · Feb 10, 2004

I am impressed with the smooth operation and the quiet sound levels. Even with that, I don't expect my wife to be too much of a threat. She'll learn the basics of operating it, but I think I'll only get her on it if I'm not home to do what needs doing. (like clearing the driveway) /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

art · Feb 10, 2004

I know your going to have fun with it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

froggy · Feb 11, 2004

Thanks for your input. Right now I have my land rented out, but plan to build on it within two years and want to start doing the baling myself. The land is a large meadow (66 acres) of native prairie grass that gentlely slopes. Beginning to think that in the long run the M6800 would be a better choice.

rbargeron · Feb 11, 2004

FWIW, If I were in the market for a little more tractor I'd probably chose the M6800 over the M5700. The M6800 engine is at its lowest power configuration - they use the same basic engine in the M9000 (with turbo and intercooler) - so it has a lot of margin and will last a long time. Nothing like overkill. And the M6800 chassis is 500 lbs more BEEFY. (but only 200lb more than my trusty L5450) Power is good. So is weight. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Sorry to constantly plug my L5450.

ljh2 · Feb 11, 2004

Yeah, I had noticed that they use the V3300 all the way up to the M9000 (via turbo and turbo/intercooler). That engine shouldn't even break a sweat under most of my usage. I also agree that in most ground-engaging circumstances with respect to weight, more=better. All that HP doesn't do anyone much good if it just spins the wheels. Weight equals traction and traction converts raw HP into usable power.

BTW - I think the L5450 sounds like a pretty nice machine too. Quite capable.

ljh2 · Feb 20, 2004

Delivery scheduled for 10AM tomorrow. Weather forecast with a high of 52F. Perfect. Will post pics next week.

ljh2 · Feb 25, 2004

As promised, I've posted the pictures... over in the Owning forum. In this thread.

froggy · Mar 2, 2004

Great tractor. Thanks for posting the pictures. After you have had it for awhile, how about writing and posting a review in the review section?

ljh2 · Mar 2, 2004

Doyle -

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. I find the pics of everyones' new toys to be one of the most fun things here. Especially if you get one with that new toy GRIN that a person just can't help having upon delivery. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I plan to post a review after I get a few real hours on the machine and can give you a real idea of what the machine does well and what limitations I have encountered. Probably not for a couple more months until I get the field plowed and disked. I'll probably post a few updates after that as I try more things too.

So far the only real limitation that I have found is that I really NEED a toothbar. I suspected that I would. Digging in frozen dirt is pretty much impossible without one. Oh, and maybe tire chains if the driveway at the new place gets as icy next year as it did this year.