Small tractor for gardening, Kubota? John Deere?

chuckcou · Jan 19, 2005

I need some feed back regarding a small tractor for doing some gardening and other general chores. I am hoping to use it to till and then pull a bed shaper for my rows.
From what I have read thus far, it appears that John Deere seems to rule. The only problem is the price is up there. I would like something in the <10K range. Thus this has led me to Kubota. Does anyone know anything about these tractors? I was looking at the B series 2410 or even the lower BX series. I am open to the used market so that should help. What I need from you is:
>For my needs, considering price, what tractor and model would you recommend?
>What do you know about Kubota? Good, Bad? Models?
>What do you know about John Deere? Good, Bad? Models
>Last any recommendation on places to buy?

Thanks for the imput and time.
chuck

SCB · Jan 19, 2005

Filling out your profile would help us in answering your last question of where to buy. Maybe a little more info on your uses also. Any grading? Leveling? Loader work? What size of property? What kind of terrain? Do you get snow? all these questions and more can go a long way in helping you. Welcome to TBN!

KiotiJohn · Jan 19, 2005

Welcome to TBN. Not knowing anything about what you'll really need to do with the tractor, if you want a small tractor that can really do a lot of work, check out the Kioti LB1914. It is within your pirce range, as you should be able to buy just the tractor for less than $9,000.00 leaving you $1000 or your 10 to buy implements.
This tractor is a tough little beast, has a mechanical shuttle shift for shifting F/R without shifting gears. Check out this tractor by going HERE and clicking on PRODUCTS/TRACTORS/LB1914. John

RalphVa · Jan 19, 2005

Have you found a bed shaper than requires less than 35 hp?

The JD 4010 is $9,775. This is what I bought for use in the garden and for bush hogging and for tossing mulch with the bucket loader. Total with FEL and hog was $13,300. Bought a tooth bar, too, in case I wanted to dig in the dirt. That was $285 more.

Just used my "new" (1951) soil ripper to do the garden with it mounted on the 3 pt hitch.

Ralph

SteveM · Jan 19, 2005

I think the best bargain, if you can call it that, for less than 10 grand would be the kubota BX1500. It is a very small, 4wd diesel with 3pt hitch and PTO standard, for about 8 grand with no attachments. You could get it with a mower deck and tiller for less than ten, barely, and it has infinite capability to add attachments, good resale. If you slide down to a garden tractor, the price will not be much less, but the tractor will be far less capable. If you could find a small used compact, that would be great - but they are somewhat hard to find in good condition. Few people buy and resell, they tend to last forever!

I have had several small (13-18hp) compacts with tiller and it is the best way to manage a garden. If you could get a used tractor, and thereby afford a loader as well, you wont regret it. When I do my gardening I constantly use the loader to carry seed, fertilizer, mulch, stakes, etc. It is a very handy carry-all...and at the end of the season I use it to haul out the pumpkins and corn....

to look for used tractors, go to ironsearch.com and try your luck. Also look at Ebay and local classifieds.

good luck and happy shopping

Bowhunter · Jan 19, 2005

If you plan to buy from a dealer I'd suggest you still visit all your local dealers and talk to other people who have done business with them to find out which can best service the tractor after the sale. All the big 3 (Kubota, John Deere, and New Holland) have good tractors, but dealer support (or lack of it) can make all the difference.

LBrown59 · Jan 19, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I need some feed back regarding a small tractor for doing some gardening and other general chores. I am hoping to use it to till and then pull a bed shaper for my rows.
From what I have read thus far, it appears that John Deere seems to rule. The only problem is the price is up there. I would like something in the <10K range. Thus this has led me to Kubota. Does anyone know anything about these tractors? I was looking at the B series 2410 or even the lower BX series. I am open to the used market so that should help. What I need from you is:
>For my needs, considering price, what tractor and model would you recommend?
>What do you know about Kubota? Good, Bad? Models?
>What do you know about John Deere? Good, Bad? Models
>Last any recommendation on places to buy?

Thanks for the imput and time.
chuck )</font>

Are you talking about
Garden Tractor
Sub Compact Tractor or
Compact Tractor.

What you intendend to do with it will determine which class of tractor you will need.

Don't get foucsed only on John Deer.
There are a lot of other good tractors out ther giving JD a run for the money.
Also the Dealer is important regardless of Tractor brand.

I'm considering adding a garden tractor with a blade and tiller to my fleet of tractors.
Why Not I have 4 picks so I may as well have 4 tractors too to even things out .LOL
I'm not concerned with brand just features and reliability in a tractor that will meet my needs at the best price new or used.

EastTexFrank · Jan 19, 2005

It's difficult to give any real advice without knowing exactly what you want to use it for. Let's just say that I have a B2400, the model before the B2410, and it's a little workhorse. It'll pull a 50" tiller with no problem, a 5' finishing mower, a 4' shredder, boxblade and just about anything that is sized for it. The FEL also has a 770# capacity. I don't know about a bed shaper since I've never used one (actually, never heard of one). I have a 4 - 5 acre garden and a 8 acre pasture to cut at the house but if I was using it only for gardening, I think I would probably step down to the BX model. Well, that would be the logical thing to do but I don't think I'll get rid of the B2400 any time soon. I love that little machine and more importantly, so does my wife.

As far as JD and Kubota are concerned, they are different but both are good. Try them both out and see which one fits best and don't forget that the dealer is almost, if not more important than the actual brand.

LBrown59 · Jan 19, 2005

if I was using it only for gardening, I think I would probably step down to the BX model. Well, that would be the logical thing to do but I don't think I'll get rid of the B2400 any time soon. I love that little machine and more importantly, so does my wife.
========
Or you could add to rather than step down.

I'm thinking of adding down a L&G tractor to my BX.

KiotiJohn · Jan 19, 2005

You didn't mention a mid mount mower (MMM), but the LB1914 doesn't take one if you need one.
Leinbach makes a two disc bedder that can be used on small tractors. Here are some pics of them.
John

Leinbach bedder

another

The single disc