Poll: How many traded before finding the 'right' tractor?

[Killer_B]

Some take longer to learn than others. It took me three tries. BX to B to JD3320. But I think I may have finally got the right one. Time will tell. It probably would have been more cost effective to just by the 3320 first and forgo the trade up costs. Live and learn.

KB

 

[mikeyd]

My first kubota was a L3010, got it to cut grass and snowplow. The tractor worked just fine, powerful, easy to use. Problem was I didn't get a cab, figured I didn't "need" it. Well, after two harsh New York winters plowing 1200 feet of driveway, I realized that a cab was a necessity. I ended up going to a L5030 HSTC because the majority of the cost in the upgrade was the cab not the extra size and HP.

 

[nkole]

I'm also in the three try club. Started with a BX2200 in 2002. Great tractor but FEL capability and ground clearance turned out to be issues for me. Next I went to a Kioti DK45. Had major reliability issues and sold after two years and 130 hours. Bought an L39 15 months ago and 200 hours later could not be happier.

Neil

 

[JIMTORL]

I am a slow learner it took 4 for me. Farmall cub with a loader moved up to a farmall 140. The next was a case 580/ loader way too big then back down to Yanmar 220D/loader just a bit too small.
Now I think I am just right with the 3030 w/FEL

 

[Buster57]

I had a series of expensive JD lawn tractors before I bought a Kubota L3010.
A guy gave me close to what I paid for it 4 years after I bought it so it is happy some where else.

I suspect I will keep buying a new tractor about every 3 or 4 years. While I love my B7800, the next one will be the future version of the B3030. The size just fits my property and slope better then the Grand 'L' series.

I will keep all my attachments. I will never sell them again.

 

[Killer_B]

I will keep all my attachments. I will never sell them again.

That makes all the difference in the world. When you have to buy all new implements (bigger or smaller) the equation changes considerably.

 

[RayCo]

I can either say third try or first try, depending on how I look at it. As fate had it, I came across a free Wheel Horse D-180, which is a large garden tractor from the 70s. I didn't know anything about it, but it led me to learn what a 3 point hitch is and what kinds of things I can do around my property with a tractor. I spent a lot of time on Ebay looking for things and a lot of time keeping the tractor somewhat reliable. It was frustrating to use it at times because of leaks in the carb and other such problems that I was able to band-aid fix, but not permanently fix as a result of parts no longer being readily available.

I bought a second Wheel Horse, a D-200. It's the same tractor with the exception of disc turning brakes, a rear PTO standard, and some additional guages. (My D-180 has an engine from a D-200.) This tractor was in much better shape and much more turn-key. But the HST is really jerky and it made it frustrating to use. I also have yet to find a tiller, which is what I wanted rear PTO for. Tillers for these tractors are very hard to come by.

Eventually I realized that having old equipment can be fun, but is often more frustrating. After my daughter was born last year, I realized I could no longer afford the time to constantly be fixing tractors. I needed something that I could hop on and rely on so I could get things done in the time available. So, that's when I got my BX24. Is this the right and final tractor? I can't 100% say that it is for sure. There are times where having something bigger would come in handy, but the smallness is ultimately what I was after. I think that in time, I will get a bigger tractor, but I envision that being one to supplement the BX, not replace it. The size of this tractor is absolutely perfect for most of my projects.

It also helps that my father-in-law, who is my neighbor has a Case 580, and my nephew, who is another neighbor, has Kawasaki Mule.

 

[LBrown59]

XXXXXXXXX
I needed something that I could hop on and rely on so I could get things done in the time available.
So, that's when I got my BX24.
1* I think that in time, I will get a bigger tractor, but I envision that being one to supplement the BX, not replace it.
2*The size of this tractor is absolutely perfect for most of my projects.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Eventually I realized that having old equipment can be fun, but is often more frustrating. After my daughter was born last year, I realized I could no longer afford the time to constantly be fixing tractors. I needed something that I could hop on and rely on so I could get things done in the time available. So, that's when I got my BX24. Is this the right and final tractor? I can't 100% say that it is for sure. There are times where having something bigger would come in handy, but the smallness is ultimately what I was after. I think that in time, I will get a bigger tractor, but I envision that being one to supplement the BX, not replace it. The size of this tractor is absolutely perfect for most of my projects.

It also helps that my father-in-law, who is my neighbor has a Case 580, and my nephew, who is another neighbor, has Kawasaki Mule.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2*That's why you can't replace them so you supplement instead.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[btolle]

I started out with a Ford 8N when we were rebuilding out house and trying to clear about 3 acres of woods.

I really wanted a front end loader and found a used B7100 with FEL. It was a real workhorse and would do everything I needed it to do but it did not have power steering and with the FEL fully loaded was really hard to steer.

I decided on a BX2230 and had paid for it and was waiting for the R4's tthat the dealer had to order before I picked it up.

One Sunday I went to the Kubota dealer and started looking around and became really concerned about the lack of ground clearance on the BX as well as the exposure of the fan and filters under the belly. I also noticed the steering 'rams' were in front of the front axle and it looked like it would be easy to damage them if I hit a stump.

The final factor was that the BX felt more like my Craftsman riding mower than my B7100 and I realized just how much smaller the tires were on the BX.

There was a B7510 sitting there and when I got on it it felt 'right'. I paid about $1,150 difference the next morning and have been happy ever since (2 years ago).

Take you time and go to the dealer when they are either closed or tell them to leave you alone while you sit on everything and look under and around the different models. BTW, I also went to the JD dealer and sat on their comparable models but it seemed that the Kubota was more my 'style'. That could be because of my B7100 so keep an open mind.

If you read these forums you will find countless threads about wishing people had bought bigger in the first place so be careful not to go too small.

Bill Tolle

 

[LBrown59]

I started out with a Ford 8N when we were rebuilding out house and trying to clear about 3 acres of woods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1*The final factor was that the BX felt more like my Craftsman riding mower
2*There was a B7510 sitting there and when I got on it, it felt 'right'
==================

BTW, I also went to the JD dealer and sat on their comparable models but it seemed that the Kubota was more my 'style'
than my B7100 and I realized just how much smaller the tires were on the BX.

There was a B7510 sitting there and when I got on it it felt 'right'. I paid about $1,150 difference the next morning and have been happy ever since (2 years ago).

closed or tell them to leave you alone while you sit on everything and look under and around the different models. . That could be because of my B7100 so keep an open mind.

If you rea small.

Bill Tolle

1* In no way can a BX be compared with a craPsMan.
2*When I bought my BX23 I had looked at a nice used B2410 and thot that was what I wanted until I went to the Kubota dealer to get a price on a new B2410.
That's when I first saw the BX23 and it was love at first site but I battled it back and forth in my mind for almost 2 month trying to decide which one I wanted.
Finally went with the BX23 never looked back and no regrets.
The B2410 felt intimidating and huge to me and I just didn't feel at ease operating it.
I don't like driving large vehicles that's why I have 2 Dodge D50 pickups and a Nissan and a Toyota Pick up.

The B7510 B7610 and B2410 are nice tractors very nice and I sure would take one of them but not if it ment giving up the BX23.