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

[N80]

I started with a simple gear drive Kubota L4400. It is painfully perfect for my wants and needs. Why painfully? Well, there are times that I think a bigger tractor would be really cool, or that a Grand L with HST and champagne bar would be nice, or a little B series for doing the lawn around the cabin. But whenever I look at what I want to do and need to do, the L4400 just fits the bill perfectly and anything else, up or down, would just be a waste of money. I suspect this will be my first and last tractor. Kind of boring but I really just lucked out with this particular machine.

However, if I ever get enough money to entertain irrational desires for toys, I'll be driving an M7040, a Grand L and a B!

 

[Bob_Young]

Don't TRADE. Take a page out of the LBrown book and ADD...that way you won't take a beating on resale and won't lose any faithful, old friends.

That said, I did sell the Ford 2000 a few months ago. After 33 years in the family, I miss it sometimes. But it was feeling neglected and went to a home where it was appreciated. The JD40 might go next...if I get it running. The 4000, maybe never; but a neighbor who used to own it sometimes asks about it. I think he'd like it back. He might get it if I can find a Kubota or JD to replace it with. Something like a JD 5203 might make sense.

Other than yard work, which the 'B' handles; two good reliable tractors in the 40-50HP range work out perfect for me. A fairly muscular 'back-up' tractor can be a help during the warm months, but isn't really needed over the winter. So far, the 4000 fills the back-up role well. It's too cold blooded for NY winters and goes into hibernation in November and emerges in April.
Bob

 

[LBrown59]

As with many others here, I have been more inclined to add rather than trade.
-otus

Does Adding count the same as upgrading?

bought a BX1500 for the yard.

Hain't it sweet?
I know my 2 are.

Started out with a BX2350 and upgraded to a B2320. Same HP, just needed higher ground clearance Steve

Center of gravity has never been a problem with my BX23.
I grubbed six tenths of an acre of this hill with my BX23 and never had an issue with center of gravity.
This was after 25 or 30 years of unhinderd groth.
It was a real jungle up there.

Looks nice don't it?

 

[rbargeron]

It looks great - it takes a lot of doing to reclaim open land after it has gotten away for a few years - good job!

I came back to this thread to correct the record...
In Oct '07 I wrote:
"First I got a Ford 8n - it was just the right tractor
Then I got a Kubota L345 - it was just the right tractor
Next it was a Kubota L4150 - again, just the right tractor
Now it's a Kubota L5450 - its exactly the right tractor too
Yesterday I was looking at a M6040......."

I didn't get a M6040 - I ended up adding a second L5450 instead (fabulous tractor). Then a few weeks ago I found a L345 like my first Kubota (also perfect for some jobs) - so now there are three orange rigs in the fleet. Got 2 smaller green ones too, JD 420 and 318 and a sears but they don't really count. Some might say I need counseling but, as Lindsay Lohan would say, rehab is for quitters.

 

[dex3361]

Does Adding count the same as upgrading?
Hain't it sweet?
I know my 2 are.

Center of gravity has never been a problem with my BX23.
I grubbed six tenths of an acre of this hill with my BX23 and never had an issue with center of gravity.
This was after 25 or 30 years of unhinderd groth.
It was a real jungle up there.

Looks nice don't it?

LBrown I will have to say that I thought I would never find a mower that would replace my IH Cub cadet HST 169 with dual wheels for cutting my hillsides and in West Virginia (when we say hillside we mean its difficult to walk on) there is very little flat ground at least in my area. But the BX1500 with rears loaded with fluid really fill the bill. Its one of those purchases that you know is the right one for the job. LBrown I have decided to model my Kubota ownership after you the same day that I received the used (100hrs) Bx 1500 I also got a L4400HST w/FEL and it was like Christmasin the summertime. I dont know how long I have to wait to start talking to wonderful wife about needing another tractor. LOL

 

[LBrown59]

Cnter of gravity has never been a problem with my BX23.
I grubbed six tenths of an acre of this hill with my BX23 and never had an issue with center of gravity.
This was after 25 or 30 years of unhinderd groth.
It was a real jungle up there.
Looks nice don't it?

I used the wrong term here.
I ment to say Ground Clearance

1*LBrown I will have to say that I thought I would never find a mower that would replace my IH Cub cadet HST 169
But the BX1500 with rears loaded with fluid really fill the bill.
2* the same day that I received the used (100 hrs) Bx 1500 I also got aL4400HST L.

__________________

1*I have a real nice nearly new CC GT2554 I bough new 2 years ago .
I like it real well but there is just no comparison between it and the BX1500.
2*Congrats on both.
I got 2 BX1500s on the same truck at the same time.
The used one had 380 hours and the new one had about 2 hours.

L . B .
2*

 

[wwalkersd]

Based on the dealer's recommendation, I bought my first tractor, a B2710, for our horse ranch. It worked mostly fine, though we had some trouble with it, probably due to poor maintenance and/or operator error (I have some trouble communicating with my employees). Then we needed a better arena drag, and ended up with a bigger one in the bargain. I think it was too much for the B2710, or my guys were always using high range. At any rate, the B2710 was in the shop many times, and I wasn't that happy with the service I received from my dealer.

So I finally resolved to buy a bigger, more powerful, harder-to-break tractor that would be understressed rather than overstressed, and to not buy it from my Kubota dealer. Which is why I bought the JD 4320. But I've kept the Kubota for smaller jobs, and for backup in case the JD is ever in the shop.

 

[AMR]

I looked pretty hard before I bought my BX23. For 3 years it was the perfect tractor for my 9 acres with about 2.5 to mow, some woods work, plowing, tilling, a little hogging, . . tractor kind of stuff. I just happened to stop by a dealer and sat on a B3030 about 1.5 years ago, it was love at first site. Was my BX23 perfect, for sure, is my B3030 more perfect, well yes, it is too, could I get by with a riding lawn mower from sears, probably just fine. The right tractor has a lot of variables, not the least of which is price, I need to remind myself that my BX23 with all the stuff was around $20 K my B3030 with all the stuff I got was nearly $33 K, that is a ton of money. I was fortunate to have the cash, but for the homeowner cost is a pretty big part in my mind of what makes the right tractor.

I kick myself, there is nothing that the BX23 could do or fit into that my B3030 can't but even better. I wish I started with the B3030, I would have saved a couple K.

 

[LBrown59]

I kick myself, there is nothing that the BX23 could do or fit into that my B3030 can't but even better. I wish I started with the B3030, I would have saved a couple K.

i got this in Nov 2004 http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2321.jpg and added these 2 in Nov
2007.http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2316.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk286/lb59/100_2313.jpg
No regrets-wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[AaronP]

I started with a B7800, on 147.5 acres...I know, I know, what was I thinking. But it's good for gardening and snow removal and mowing. So definitely upgraded from that, maybe even upgrade again if I start haying.