Really Needing (wanting) a new Kubota CUT!

Anonymous Poster · Jun 12, 2003

Hello everyone at TBN! I have been reading posts non-stop for the past two months and have finally joined the mix. I currently have a 1991 Belarus 400A tractor that I use to maintain my property. I should say I used to use it to maintain my property, it has been sitting in the middle of one of my fields for two months now waiting to be repaired. Bottom line is I am tired of pouring money into a sinking ship. The Belarus will never be the tractor I need/want and my wife has given me the go ahead to purchase a new tractor (I am so proud of her).

I have 60 acres which is mostly wooded. I bush hog about 15 acres and mow (with a riding mower) about 3 acres. I know I want a tractor that I can bush hog AND finish mow with. I started out looking at NH and Kubota but quickly narrowed it down to Kubota when I met the staff at the two dealerships. I am pretty set on an L3830F. I plan to get a 5' finish mower and a 6' box blade. I am going to continue use the 6' bush hog I have now. My dealer said the 3830 should handle it fine since it is a Howse, which is a light duty cutter.

Any advice from you all? I have owned a tractor but I do not feel that I am an "experienced" tractor operator. I hope to become much more knowledgable through this forum.

I have been quoted the following prices:
L3830F...$12,395
Bush Hog Brand 5' Finish Mower...$1650
Bush Hog Brand 6' Box Blade (medium duty)...$695
Howse 6' Box Blade (light duty)...$435

What do you all think?

buckle

icat · Jun 13, 2003

Well, if you've been lurking then you know I'm a fan of the Grand L Series! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I never really got down to pricing the L3830 (with any of the trans) so I'll have to let someone else let you know on the tractor. However, the I have the Bush Hog SBX720 Box Blade. My guess is that this is the same unit you are refering to. If so, I actually paid $550 for mine. BUT, it's difficult to go by prices for individual items within a total package deal. Case in point, my dealer "shifted" $50 off the box blade (marked it as $500) and added the difference to the tractor when we signed the papers. I can only assume this was done to make the tractors price appear a bit fatter. They did a similar "exchange" with the cutter too. Point is this, only the final package price will really mean anything. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jun 13, 2003

Thanks for the advice on the "shifting" of prices from one piece of the package to another piece. You are right, the TOTAL is what the monthly payments are calculated on, so that IS all that matters.
By the way, I read all the posts leading through your journey of getting your 3130HST and I must say I was very excited for you when I read that you took delivery. My brother lives in TX and is always telling me how hot it is over there. You wouldn't know anything about that I bet. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

icat · Jun 13, 2003

Hot? In Texas? Naw - might be a tad bit warm! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Rick Jay · Jun 13, 2003

buckle97,

Welcome to TBN!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bush Hog Brand 6' Box Blade (medium duty)...$695
Howse 6' Box Blade (light duty)...$435 )</font>

I would go for the heavier duty one. I paid $650 for my Woods HBL60, which is a 60 box.

Also, I would think the L3830 could easily handle a 6' or possibly even 7' finish mower, or do you have maneuvering issues?

~Rick

Anonymous Poster · Jun 13, 2003

Yes Rick, I have a few concerns about using a larger finish mower in my yard. I have gone back and forth from the 72" to the 60" but I don't want to get the bigger mower and not be able to cut as much (if that makes sense).
Thanks for the advice on the box blade. I am now definately thinking the heavier duty box blade will be best.

buckle

icat · Jun 13, 2003

One other thing to consider on the Box Blade. The Bush Hog SBX720 is 72" wide (6 foot). At that width it will just cover the tracks of the L3130 that I have with R4's. As I recall, the L3830 is about 6 inches wider than the L3130. Therefore, a 6 foot box blade may not cover the tractors tracts. Bush Hog also makes a 78" model (SBX780). Might check the price on it as well.

Rick Jay · Jun 14, 2003

buckle97,

Yes, your concerns about size do make sense. One thing to remember is that if you must navigate through narrow openings or landscaping, then you need the narrower mower. If, however, it's just a matter of getting close or under trees and shrubs, etc., then the wider mower would probably be better because it sticks out a bit further on each side. Does that make sense? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I forget to check whether you had mention a rear discharge or side discharge mower deck, but a rear discharge might also make your maneuvering a bit easier. You'd have to check the actual widths, but perhaps a 72" rear discharge mower might not be that much wider than a 60" side discharge mower when you include the extra width of the chute.

Just more food for thought. Keep in mind I don't use my B2910 to mow, so I'm just tossing out ideas from what I've found with my limited research. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

~Rick

Boone · Jun 14, 2003

Nows your chance, order the front end loader. I bet you will not regret doing so.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 14, 2003

I second Boone, get the FEL you will find many, many uses for it.

I also agree with Rick Jay. Having a RFM that is slightly larger than the width of your rear wheels makes getting close to fences, trees, etc. easy. I have a 5' RFM on my 7500. The rear wheels are about 4' apart. I have about 600' of fence and a few other obstacles which I can get right against. I wouldn't be able to do this with a RFM narrower than the rear wheels.

Of course your situation may be different.