Tractor Sizing Some tractor size info needed (long)

kcook · Apr 22, 2007

Hello everyone, Ive been around for years and asked alot of questions. But last night my wife said she will let me buy a new tractor at the end of this year or even this fall

We have bought 3 ackers of land for a new home. I currently have 2 ackers I mow and take care of. I havelots of landscaping, (with a retaining wall built with stone/rocks and lots of dirt) to do at my currenty home (pea gravel and some bark around the hole house). The new home will need the same (some type of stone), as well as many holes for fence and deck. 300' or so of driveway and 1/4 mile of road that I will need to maintane thru out the year (I live in Mid Michigan, we can get some good snow).

The new land is right behind my current land! My wife wants me to mow our new land and move some small trees before we start on the new home. My plan is to have a line of tree's (currenty on the land) between my parcel and the next onel. This tree's are small at this time so I want to get them moved before they get to big.

The new land is very rolling, the road is brand new (still be put in) and is rolling as well. Road and driveway will be dirt!

I don't plan on digging my own basement or anything like that!

After we move to the new home, I will have just the 3 ackers of yard work and driveway/road to do! As with most I don't want to over spend on to much tractor (money wise, I would rather have more attachments and a pole barn

but I don't want to have to go get a larger unit a year or two later. This will be a long term buy (my last tractor is 25 years old, old Case444). So Im sure this Kubota will last as long or longer

I have looked at green, blue and orange (Kubota and Koiti) and settled on Orange. Lots of dealer support (lots of dealers that have been around for years) in the area and the prices are OK. Green is priced very high and there is little or no support for Koiti and NH with in 100 miles or so.

I have looked at BX24, B7610 and even the B2630. My financing budget is 15,000 and I will have some type of downpayment (on top of the 15k) of at least 20% or better (depending on how much I save).

Im looking for some real advice of a tractor that meets my needs.

Thanks for all the help

KC in Mid Michigan (go wings)

Bob_Young · Apr 22, 2007

Hi KC,
Are you planning to trade in the Case or will it be around to help with all this? Not familiar with Case models, but I assume it's an Ag type tractor of 30HP or more.

A B7610 with MMM and backhoe would probably exceed your budget by a small margin. If the budget is firm, the BX24 would probably be the way to go. You could get TLB with mower for the money you're talking. The B2630 would be more expensive than the B7610.

Neglecting the money for a moment, a B2630 with MMM and backhoe wouldn't be any too much for what you're planning. One big positive with this model is the Position Control on the 3pt. hitch. You can get by without it (the smaller machines have Quarter Inching) but it sure makes things nicer. I go through ups-and-downs in my opinion of the Q-I valve on the B7610. Yesterday I kept getting into trouble bush hogging on uneven ground. So I'm down on Q-I for the moment. If you're used to Position Control on the Case, you might dislike Q-I as well.

However, if you're planning to have lots of trees around, the B2630 might be a little too big. In that case the B7610 would offer the best combination of size, power and maneuverability.

I feel the lower ground clearance of the BX24 and the smaller tires might prove a hindrance on the unimproved acreage while you are working it. Those small wheels will beat you up pretty good on rough ground; yesterday even the B7610 was doing a number on me. Traveling over that type of terrain with small wheels, you just have to slow down unless you want a wild ride. This will cut into your productivity some and can take all the joy out of tractoring if you have a bad back.

Of course, if you keep the Case you can use it to smooth out the roughest areas. Problem with that is that you'll need a set of implements for each tractor.

We're good at helping people spend their money.

I'm sure the regulars will be checking in shortly with even more advice. Happy to hear that the CFO is on your side with this.
Bob

kcook · Apr 23, 2007

Thats Bob, the case is a large Garden tractor that has had it, it needs to much money to make it worth while to keep so it will be no help.

As for the tree's, not to many. Mowing should not be a problem.

Will the BX handle the road and drive way work?

KC

IslandTractor · Apr 23, 2007

While the BX could certain handle the tasks you outline, a larger frame B series would seem to make more sense given the land clearing and driveway maintenance you propose. Three acres is not that large a plot and you shouldn't have any trouble with a B7510 which would save you about $1000 over the slightly more powerful but otherwise identical B7610. 21hp is plenty for the work you need to do. You might also consider the "turf special" B7510 assuming Kubota still markets that package as it gives you a better price on the combo tractor and suspended MMM. You shouldn't have trouble coming in under $15000 with the FEL and the B7510 turf special. Add a boxblade once the road is built and you'll be all set.

cheesehead · Apr 23, 2007

Kubota has great financing right now that doesn't require the down payment (36 months @0%). Use the opportunity to get as much tractor and implements as you can afford (implements are cheaper when purchased with the tractor and fall under the financing deal) as you are obviously making a long term investment. I'm almost to the end of a 1.5 year project to clear 2.5 acres for a new home that has put 319 hours on my L3130. There are days when I would like 20 more horsepower but I never regret the Grand L features and the lifting power of the LA723 loader.

kcook · Apr 23, 2007

cheesehead said:
Kubota has great financing right now that doesn't require the down payment (36 months @0%). Use the opportunity to get as much tractor and implements as you can afford (implements are cheaper when purchased with the tractor and fall under the financing deal) as you are obviously making a long term investment. I'm almost to the end of a 1.5 year project to clear 2.5 acres for a new home that has put 319 hours on my L3130. There are days when I would like 20 more horsepower but I never regret the Grand L features and the lifting power of the LA723 loader.

Thanks, I didn't know you could finance your attachments

Does that include nonKubota attachments

KC

ats64mod · Apr 23, 2007

Whichever tractor you choose, there's really no reason to wait on your purchase with 36 months @ 0% and no down payment... especially if you already have money set aside for what would otherwise be your down payment. Simply use part of that money each month to make your payments and then, when fall comes around, it'll be the same as if you made the down payment and then financed the rest (except that the 0% deal might not be here if you wait).

That said, I don't think you'd regret the added size afforded by a B7610 tractor (or a B2630 if you want the extras) with its higher ground clearance, larger tires, additional weight, etc... decisions, decisions...

archerynut · Apr 23, 2007

I agree that I would try to take advantage of the 0% financing while it is available. Kubota had it on the BX at the end of last year and then it disappeared, and now has reappeared on the BX again. The 0% has been around for the B series for the past 6 months or so, but you never know when they are going to change it.

The BX has some strong features such as the BH and would be competent at the tasks that you have planned for it. I have a similar size (MF GC2310) and I maintain by gravel drive with a boxblade quite easily and quickly I might add.

The position control would be a great feature if you want to spring for the bigger 2630, I can see in retrospect how nice that would be. You could save a bit of money with the 7610. It doesn't sound like a backhoe is in your plans so if you went with the 2630 or 7610 your going to get a lot more tractor than with the BX24.

You can finance all the implements that you want with the Kubota financing, the dealer that I visited while tractor shopping was ready to lump in line trimmers, chainsaws and everything else in the shop with the Kubota financing, didn't matter which brand.

cheesehead · Apr 24, 2007

kcook said:
Thanks, I didn't know you could finance your attachments Does that include nonKubota attachments

KC

It did on my tractor deal. My pallet forks for the quick attach were non-Kubota and they included them in the financing deal. Make sure you bring your home owners policy with you to the dealer as that can be used to cover the insurance requirment of the financing arrangement. Otherwise they'll sell you insurance from Kubota for an annual fee.

I wasn't smart enough at the time to get my box blade and rear remotes with the tractor. It resulted it paying nearly full price for both later and I could have financed them for nothing over 36 months (a double wallet hit).

kcook · Apr 25, 2007

cheesehead said:
It did on my tractor deal. My pallet forks for the quick attach were non-Kubota and they included them in the financing deal. Make sure you bring your home owners policy with you to the dealer as that can be used to cover the insurance requirment of the financing arrangement. Otherwise they'll sell you insurance from Kubota for an annual fee.

I wasn't smart enough at the time to get my box blade and rear remotes with the tractor. It resulted it paying nearly full price for both later and I could have financed them for nothing over 36 months (a double wallet hit).

Im thinking about getting the rear remote installed. Im looing at one kind of attachments to get as well

KC