Buying Advice Requsting Advice on purchasing new kubota tractor

[widefat]

So, to summarise:


4. Like others, I'm in the category of thinking that's far too much tractor for 2.5 acres. But the B01 I'm buying is too much tractor for my less than 1 acre, and I want it so I'm buying it anyway. I think it's fine to buy more tractor than you need, but if that's what you're doing then you're buying it because you want it. Getting hung up on specs when both of them are massively overpowered for your needs is a bit pointless - if you're buying it to satisfy your wants then sit on them both and buy the one that makes you happy. If that's the M, then buy the M.

Have to agree with PaulL. You'll never be happy with anything smaller. You want a big one, you obviously have the money - so try both and get the one that puts a bigger smile on your face.
It really is a hairline choice between excellent and superb. You can always sell it and downsize later.

 

[Chevyzr1]

I appreciate the advice and I think you and Paul are on to something. I will get the bigger one and use it for what I need and if my business grows and I decide to purchase more acreage next to me than I will have plenty of machine for it. If not once I have finished everything to my satisfaction I will down size in couple years. Thank you all for taking your time to help me with my purchase. I will be sure to post pictures when it comes home !

 

[BRMyers]

I know in your OP, that you mentioned that the Grand Series felt to light for the work. I put my Grand L3560 to work again Saturday, moving chunks of concrete from on old foundation and pushed down brush/trees then dragged them to the burn pile. I still wonder if you would be better served with a smaller tractor and more implements/attachments for the same amount of money? I know a grapple would of made some of the work easier today verses a bigger tractor with the same setup as my L3560 wouldn't have made a difference. Yet, the right attachments would of saved us from having to take time to chain things and pile brush into the bucket.

I'm staying tuned in to hear what you finally decide to purchase.

 

[Newby first timer]

We can all fall into the trap of. I think it will be big enough for my needs (right now)
and we can fall into the trap of I think I will be needing this in the future.
2.5 acres is a lot different that 1000 acres

My situation when considering my first Tractor was different than yours but the same principals apply

One of the best Moves I made was to go talk to the Dealer and explain exactly what my needs were.
I was looking at the L4701 or the MX4800
Weight was a big decision for me as I wanted to transport my tractor many 100s of miles between property's
I have a 36 acre parcel of highly dense high desert ceder trees , Hills and an elevation of 5500 ft
The Dealer I talked to explained to me about the differences between the L4701 and the MX4800 and was leaning me towards the MX4800
The L3901 was to small for me to even consider size wise.

I ordered the MX4800 it looked to be the best bang for the buck at the time. So I ordered it
After a couple of weeks I did some more home work and changed the Order up to the MX5800 and the Dealer was GREAT and they got the change in before Kubota built my Tractor.

I have had my tractor for ver a year and it is way way to big for my home property.
That said when I take it to my other property it is small but just a bit small and I am sure happy with how the Dealer explained things to me so I could make a proper choice.

And larger Tractor and I would not be able to transport it with out getting a larger trailer and any smaller of a tractor and I would be spending a lot more time doing what needs to be done on my second property.

So Talk to your Dealer and get some advice from them. They can help you make a proper decision if they are a good Dealer.

 

[riptides]

Great advise so far.

I'd class it out smaller. Yep. I am stuck on the acreage and "home" use. For that tree work, I'd rent out the machinery. No way I'd use a brand new tractor doing that type of work.

I'd look at what your going to be doing in a few years, think ahead, and spec it out for that work.

After many years, I have settled on grass cutting and moving stuff around. LOL.

 

[OrangeMuscle]

This has to be one of the most helpful threads I've read on this forum. Excellent and valuable advice by many. The power of many good minds funneled into this forum. So satisfying to read through.

I am in the same boat as you struggling between what to buy. This thread has helped me guide me in the right direction. Thank you all!

 

[rScotty]

I appreciate the advice and I think you and Paul are on to something. I will get the bigger one and use it for what I need and if my business grows and I decide to purchase more acreage next to me than I will have plenty of machine for it. If not once I have finished everything to my satisfaction I will down size in couple years. Thank you all for taking your time to help me with my purchase. I will be sure to post pictures when it comes home !

It's not so much the size of the land as the size of the work to be done. We do almost all of our work on the 2 or 3 acres right around our house, but between big trees, hillsides, rocky outcrops, and a creek we find that a larger tractor makes more sense for us. Most of our summer work is what I would classify as "landscaping" rather than farming. For mowing our half acre of lawn we use a Honda gasoline lawn mower. For mowing our field we use the same old PTO driven bush hog behind any tractor handy. For snow or brush or hauling wood we use the standard FEL loader bucket.

With small tractors we used Ag R1 tires and chained them in the winter, but now we prefer the Industrial tread R4s. On larger tractors size and weight gives enough traction with the R4s and they don't tear up the ground as much. I'd probably go back to the R1s if we had a lot of mud here but we don't. Here it's sandy gravely soil with ice & snow in the winter. R4s do a nice job.
rScotty

 

[cathy liebchen]

I should correct the gravel driveway is more of road that is roughly 15 wide, it was already in when I purchased the land and was installed with blast ledge so I am probably going to need to add some workable material to the top before crowning it. After the initial dirt is moved and the property has a rough grade I plan on renting a power rake to get it ready for seed. My whole thought process on buying a tractor instead of hiring the work out is I can basically use the money I would pay to hire it out towards probably 2 years worth of payments on a tractor and afterwards I will own the tractor. For what its worth I have my own carpentry business so I thought at some point I could add a post hole digger for putting in decks. I have also thought about selling my plow and buying a snow blower for the tractor so I dont have to abuse my truck.

How do you get a 2,000 foot driveway on 2.5 acres? It is a math conundrum

 

[Chevyzr1]

I thought I mentioned it in a previous post but it痴 not a driveway. It痴 a gravel road that I maintain. It痴 probably about 2,500 feet to my house and then continues on to a separate property of 150 acres that is owned by a power company. They do not use the land and only purchased it to run transmission lines. What they will do with it in future I do not know.

 

[shooterdon]

When I went through the process I made up a spreadsheet.

You really need to understand your needs and the time you want to devote to tractoring. Look at what your major priorities are and the nice stuff. The nice to have is secondary but do not ignore them completely. Put in the jobs you will/want to do and the hours needed with different machines. Also estimate the cost of farming out what may be one time or rare duties. And put the important specifications for the work you want to do into the same spreadsheet.

I spent months shopping, asking questions and researching. I wound up buying a tractor that was not even on my radar when I started. You learn more as you work at the process.

When I started, I was 70% sure I was going to get a Kubota but found it was not the best investment for me.

Heed advice wisely. Some guys here are semi-professional and most are not. Retired folks have more time to get jobs done. Some buy machines that will fit their overhead door even if they need/want a larger one.....hard to determine that...LOL. There needs may be different than yours.

My work really paid off. None of the guys who have come over believe what I paid for the machine features I have. Like others have said, the money saved allows to add attachments that dramatically increase the effectiveness of the machine. A $40k tractor with just a FEL is not very versatile.