Time to Upgrade- Stuck in Analysis

[Jay Bee]

Ok, here is goes. First post... and I need help.

i have had a 1025r for 4 years that I just sold. I have the cash to roll over into a new tractor. I really enjoyed the 1025r. I moved to the country and it served its purpose well. I initially bought it because it could do a lot of different things. It was a "leatherman". However, over time, my tastes and needs have changed.

Here are my needs and use stats and how things have changed-

I live on 9 acres. This is a mix of wetland (4acres). Two acres of field. two acres of grass and miscellaneous open space (gardens, chickens, compost) walking trails. I have a 700' gravel driveway and a large pond. I heat with wood.

I cleared the snow (mid Wisconsin) with the loader. That got old really quick and i bought a plow truck.

I mowed with the tractor. While it worked fine there are a variety of trees, paths, playhouse, swingset, fences, garages, and I my boy got old enough to mow so I bought a dedicated mower.

I bought the 1025r so I could do a bit of everything but the main thing was to be able to mow and then do other chores. The chore list got long and the mowing priority disappeared.

Now that I dont need to mow with a tractor I can get a dedicated tractor that can do the other chores.

Here is my list of options-

Kubota L3301 (i would go with a L2501 but I cant find one)

Kioti CK3510se

JD 2032r

All three brands have a dealer close to me or within my county. I have sat on and operated all three and liked them all.

Pricing is close enough on all three that its not a consideration. (my budget is under 25k)

Future uses-

Grade and maintain gravel driveway

clear bits of snow and ice where the plow truck cant get to and on my pond for ice skating

move firewood and logs (I get a 13 cord truck worth every year)

add a culvert and driveway on a separate, but attached, lot I own. (included in acreage)

clear yard for landscaping project (dirt, pavers, mulch, light grading)

clean up a 300' x 40' section of a hill top for replanting trees

remove about 15 stumps and junky trees on a clearing for a future shop

I favor the Kioti with all the options on the SE but the price works out to about the same and I feel kubota has such a strong following it should be the better choice. I have a good friend that has the L3301 and cant say enough good about it. I think I am passing on the Deere. It cost more and the thing i hated about the 1025r was the deere bucket attachment system. I want SSQA for the options. Kubota pedal doesnt bother me.

My wife is sick of me deliberating and is urging me to buy something asap so all good there. Her only question is... if you die what will be easier for me to sell? I guess there is some logic there.

Help? Thoughts for my situation?

 

[jeff9366]

Now that I dont need to mow with a tractor I can get a dedicated tractor that can do the other chores.

Kubota, Kioti and Deere have a dealer close to me or within my county. I have sat on and operated all three and liked them all.

Pricing is close enough on all three that its not a consideration. (my budget is under 25k)


Future uses-

Grade and maintain gravel driveway

move firewood and logs (I get a 13 cord truck worth every year)

add a culvert and driveway on a separate, but attached, lot I own. (included in acreage)

clear yard for landscaping project (dirt, pavers, mulch, light grading)

clean up a 300' x 40' section of a hill top for replanting trees

All above require tractor weight first.



clear bits of snow and ice where the plow truck cant get to and on my pond for ice skating

I have no idea on this application.


remove about 15 stumps and junky trees on a clearing for a future shop

This is work for a bulldozer or an excavator, not a tractor; not even a tractor equipped with a backhoe.


All three brands you are considering are high quality. Buy the heaviest bare tractor weight machine within your budget. Heaviest tractor will also be the widest tractor.

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.


VIDEO:

 

[Roadworthy]

You're going to die - that's a foregone conclusion. The question on that is when. You may outlive your wife and your tractor, one never knows. I went tractor shopping a couple years ago and liked the Kubota L3301 myself (or was it the L3901)? I don't remember. I settled on the L2501 for two major reasons. The first was that it had no diesel particulate filter (DPF). The other was the pure simplicity - I could easily work on it as there was no computer. If you don't need the power you may wish to stay at or below 25 horsepower. I'm one of the people who has had trouble with diesel pollution control. I now avoid it. Some have no problem whatsoever. The problems are not limited to any brand or model. This is just my experience. You may never have a problem, many don't. I won't again.

 

[Egon]

Follow the wife’s advice. Buy green. Just be sure you have the horsepower to handle your equipment!

 

[dodge man]

Just my opinion, but I love the JD quick attach system. You can get just about any attachment in the JD style, but maybe for an up charge, I’ve noticed it usually costing an extra $100 or so. The advantage of the JD system is that it doesn’t add any weight, I’ve read an SSQA takes maybe a 100 pounds of lift capacity away. The big advantage of an SSQA would be if you already a lot of attachments in that style already or know someone that did whose attachments you could borrow.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I don't know, but I would never touch a proprietary attachment system, given a Universal Alternative.

I am also old enough, that if I had to buy a tractor today, I wouldn't even have many current "Brands" on my list. Just wouldn't. Maybe in another twenty years they will have earned their spot on my list.

 

[Jay Bee]

Thanks all for your input. That video was great!

It’s down to the Kioti and Kubota if we are talking weight and then HP. Specs are so close you cant spit them apart very well.

I would go with the L2501 but there isn’t one around me. Both tractors have pro’s and cons. Both dealers are great. My wife was sort of joking when she said what to do if I die. I think she is tired of moving brochures around and wants me to get something and leave her alone. It’s not really apart of the decision. What do i care if I am gone...

Decisions decisions... what’s probably going to happen is I am going to debate so long they will all be sold and i wont be able to get anything. Arg!!!

 

[newbury]

Had to check out this thread based on the listing:

 

[Rdrcr]

You can’t go wrong with any of the options you’re considering. All three will do what you need and do it reliably. If I was in your shoes, I’d go with the Kubota. Why because I have two (I’m biased), they’re great tractors and have great resale...especially in my area.

Mike

 

[rScotty]

My choice would be the L3301 over the Deere.
Just little things mostly. Nice long model run. Proven traditional design. 3 speed HST or shuttle would be a tough choice for me because I like them both. The SSQA is lightweight, quick, and universal. I personally like the Kubota seating better.

Since I don't know the Kioti, so can't compare it. Kubota is definitely more popular locally - that doesn't mean it is better, but probably easier to sell. So if you hate it you can probably swap for a Kioti, but around here it would be harder to go the other way.