Buying Advice Seeking advice on a first tractor

[AxleHub]

True that! AxleHub is pretty proud of his small equipment. Check out the B and the L, and see what you like, but do think about shinkage

Also as an aside. Many Kubota dealers in our area used to be Massey Dealers, but Kubota just outsold them LOL.

Greetings Airbiscuit,

You're from WI so I'm assuming you've stopped in to see one of the largest farm equipment vendors for sub and compact equipment and lawn care - Massey and Kubota - McFarlane's in Sauk City. I'd say Massey is doing quite well vs. Kubota.

And yes - I am pleased with my investment in the Massey GC1715 - not because its mine - but because its already done numerous things that others told me it wouldn't be able to do. Certainly it doesn't fit many other users needs because I'm not a farmer and I'm not logging operation - although I do cut and haul trees from time to time. I was told by several that I would need a Kubota B size or a Massey 1700 size and I'm glad I didn't take their word as gospel or I'd be struggling now with size the difference in handling hills and slopes or working between wooded areas or access to project areas.

My concern with the idea of "shrinkage" is that too often buyers don't know what they really want to do with their equipment or they don't spend the time finding out how significant fitting the tractor to available implements is.

Certainly there comes a need once in awhile that could benefit from another piece or size of equipment. Take as an example I have a 2 acre piece of hillside that needs to be brush/tree/shrub/grass cut once a year. It costs me $150 a year to have a professional come out with a track drive skid steer equipped with a firelane cutter. That's including his hauling of the equipment - cutting and hauling back to his shop (16 miles away). Never in a million years would that justify me buying a brush cutter or doing it myself in very rough ground and steep conditions (although my tractor goes on that ground fine.

As you've seen in some of my other threads I've posted on - I originally considered a Kubota BX1870, then a moved up to a BX2370 or BX2670 in consideration. They were nice machines but I'm glad I kept looking because each of them would have limited me too much compared to the Massey product. I would have been subject to "shrinkage" on those products which as yet I am not on the GC1715.

To each his own - but I had to be careful because I couldn't afford to buy too small or too big. I guess you could say that "Goldielocks thought the porridge was juuuuuust right" LOL

AxleHub

 

[Tompet]

Read through your posts and as far as the Kubota line, I think you have narrowed it down to if a B the B2650 or an L2501 as others have mentioned. I've been down a similar path before and these two are not too big and will serve you well. I would suggest you get a SSQA option and a set of forks which will help you very much with chores outlined.

Going used is a different ball game and the Deere model you mentioned (transmission type?) there are several for sale on tractorhouse.com that you can use for price comparison....or many other used models.

Good luck with your search.

 

[flusher]

Here are photos of my first two tractors, both bought new to use around my 10 acre ranch (flat pasture).



The little orange tractor is a 2005 Kubota B7510HST with a 4-ft FEL bucket. The big red tractor is a 2008 Mahindra 5525 with a 6 ft FEL bucket. I paid $12.6K for the Bota and $17.5K for the Mahindra. I got a heck of a lot more tractor for just $5K extra. Just sayin.

Good luck

 

[McREBEL]

I have a Kubota B2920 (discontinued model) which is similar to the B2601.

I use a 5 foot Woods rotary cutter and have cut brush with some 1 inch privet hedge mixed in with no problem. I have also cut fairly thick tall grass without any bogging.

Firewood is my main source for heat so I use the tractor to gather the firewood. It is very maneuverable through my thick woods.

It is my opinion that you would be well served by either a B2650, L2501 or any other in that ballpark. Some time spent test driving each would probably be all you would need to decide between the two.