Opinions on my first tractor purchase please(L2501)

[Steppenwolfe]

Like those R 4's...

 

[mikester]

Hi all! This is my first post here, and I'm new to tractors but having been doing a bunch of research the past few weeks (mostly just reading through this forum and watching YouTube videos). I'm trying to buy my first tractor ASAP, and I'd appreciate any input as to whether what I'm considering is the best machine for my purposes, as well as feedback about the quotes I've received from dealerships so far.

I live in Southern Oregon, and the land has clay soil that dries very hard during the summer. I've got 14 acres, though only about half of it is drivable due to slope. Most of that drivable half is 5-15 degrees, and and only about 1 acre is actually flat or close to it.

My main reasons for getting the tractor are the loader and backhoe, but I'd like to stick with a tractor rather than a small excavator because it can perform other functions as well, and work speed isn't an issue for me. I can't afford two machines, and I'd rather have a less efficient tool for excavating if it can run other attachments as well.

The loader will be used for moving soil, gravel, woodchips, compost and manure bedding, and carrying my heavy cement mixer around by a chain. The backhoe will be used for digging drainage trenches (trying to manage runoff because erosion is a major issue), trenches for running electrical and water around the property, cutting steps into the hillside in various places, and digging a few *small* ponds. I'll probably end up using it at one point as well to do the prep for pouring retaining walls where I'm losing a lot of dirt along a path cut.

The property is primarily somewhat open woodland溶icely spaced Douglas Fir and Incense Cedar with the understory mostly native grass, blackberries, and poison oakthumbdown. I've got a growing herd of goats to manage the brush, and they're already doing great, so I don't foresee using a brush hog. And there's no lawn to mow, either now or in the future.

There's a 7' wide dirt road that makes a loop around the property, and it's about .75 miles total. In the future I'd like to purchase a box blade to use for cleaning this up, as it gets pretty rutted in the winter from driving the Polaris around on it while it's muddy. Not a priority at the moment, but a capability I'd like to have.

I'll be converting a few acres of the gently sloping terrain to pasture for the goats, and while I can overseed by hand and don't need the tractor for that, I'll need to thin some decent size trees in those areas first and would like to use the tractor for moving the logs once I have them cut.

There's a level (and compacted) pad of about .75 acre that I'd like to convert to a large garden, so plowing it up as deep as I can, adding amendments and tilling them in. I plan on doing primarily no-till gardening though, so after the initial soil prep all of the work there will be done by hand, and I'll hopefully be able to find the implements I need for the prep for rent rather than having to purchase them.

We don't get much snow here, and when we do I was planning on using the loader bucket in float to clear the paved (and steep) driveway rather than buying a snow blower that I'll use once a year. I already have a two-person gas powered auger that digs easily in our soil, so I don't plan buying a new auger for the tractor either.

Between not needing to mow/brush hog, and having a limited scope of use for other rotary attachments, I don't feel like I need a high HP tractor, especially as speed isn't much of a concern when I do use the PTO. I would like it to be able to run a rented chipper once a year, though again I'm not worried about speed.

Based on all of this, my local dealer thinks I should go with an L2501. Seems reasonable to me. Since I won't be mowing, it seems more suitable than getting the B2650 as I'd prefer the higher torque of the L model and don't need the mid mount mower. Do you guys think this model is a good choice for my purposes, or should I consider a B series or a larger L?

He quoted me at $27,500 for the HST 4x4 model, with SSQA loader/bucket, and 7.7' backhoe with 12" bucket and mechanical thumb. That's for a cash deal, and the price includes delivery to my property. And there's no sales tax in Oregon Does that sound about right? MSRP on the Kubota site for that same configuration is $30,644. I forgot to ask him about filling the tires as part the deal, but I'm hoping I can get that thrown in as well.

Let me know if this all this sounds right to you, or if I should be considering a different model or need to negotiate the price down further.

Thanks!

Ellen

If you need to do a lot of digging buy a used older construction TLB.

A CUT with a backhoe is a glorified hand shovel and will save your back if you are digging small holes occasionally and have a lot of spare time and cash burning a hole in your pocket. If you plan on a lot of digging and trench work you will start hating that machine as it kills your knees climbing up and down off the machine every 5 minutes to move it every 4 or 5 feet of trench.

In short don't waste your time and money on a CUT with a backhoe. When you finish all the hard digging and trench work sell the TLB and buy a small CUT for the 3PH implements you actually need. Keep in mind a small CUT with loader is basically a wheel barrow replacement great for around the garden.

 

[kendive]

If you need to do a lot of digging buy a used older construction TLB.

A CUT with a backhoe is a glorified hand shovel and will save your back if you are digging small holes occasionally and have a lot of spare time and cash burning a hole in your pocket. If you plan on a lot of digging and trench work you will start hating that machine as it kills your knees climbing up and down off the machine every 5 minutes to move it every 4 or 5 feet of trench.

In short don't waste your time and money on a CUT with a backhoe. When you finish all the hard digging and trench work sell the TLB and buy a small CUT for the 3PH implements you actually need. Keep in mind a small CUT with loader is basically a wheel barrow replacement great for around the garden.

Well said... Unless you really really need a backhoe I would not get one. I would just rent something if I needed to dig a hole that big. When I bought the used B7510 I almost bought a brand new BX. I am soooo glad I opted to buy a used tractor. It served me well for the 8 years I had it and I got it at such a good deal I did not lose a penny on it when I sold it. Even after upgrading to the R4 tires and replacing the bucket.

This L2501 is a nice upgrade to the B7510 and I look forward to keeping my 21 acres maintained with it.

 

[check]

I would get the backhoe. I use mine a lot, and it is detachable when I need to use a three point hitch implement.

 

[rScotty]

I would get the backhoe. I use mine a lot, and it is detachable when I need to use a three point hitch implement.

I find the backhoe very useful and would get it again - every time. Although I agree that if all it was good for was digging, it could be difficult to justify the high price of a good hoe.

But what I didn't realize until we got ours is is that a backhoe with a thumb is actually a whole different type of tractor implement. Just like a loader bucket gets as much use as a wheelbarrow as it does for scooping up dirt, the backhoe and thumb gets most of its use not from digging but just for picking up heavy things and and placing them somewhere. Sort of a combination crane and grabber. So if you get one, try to get it with a hydraulic thumb.
It's especially recommended for guys with older backs....

Of course the BH can also dig a trench or a hoe...but that becomes almost like a bonus becasue we just don't have all that many holes that need to be dug. But living in the forest where there are a lot of trees and rocks we wouldn't be without a BH & Thumb to move things around. It's pretty good for reaching out and raking underbrush too. Or cleaning heavy windfall trees limbs out of the creek. For us the hoe & thumb about doubles the usefulness of the tractor.
rScotty

 

[Jchonline]

I find the backhoe very useful and would get it again - every time. Although I agree that if all it was good for was digging, it could be difficult to justify the high price of a good hoe.

But what I didn't realize until we got ours is is that a backhoe with a thumb is actually a whole different type of tractor implement. Just like a loader bucket gets as much use as a wheelbarrow as it does for scooping up dirt, the backhoe and thumb gets most of its use not from digging but just for picking up heavy things and and placing them somewhere. Sort of a combination crane and grabber. So if you get one, try to get it with a hydraulic thumb.
It's especially recommended for guys with older backs....

Of course the BH can also dig a trench or a hoe...but that becomes almost like a bonus becasue we just don't have all that many holes that need to be dug. But living in the forest where there are a lot of trees and rocks we wouldn't be without a BH & Thumb to move things around. It's pretty good for reaching out and raking underbrush too. Or cleaning heavy windfall trees limbs out of the creek. For us the hoe & thumb about doubles the usefulness of the tractor.
rScotty

Second. I have been pulling fence posts with mine, no chains needed just grab and pull it straight up.