To B3030 or not to B?

[Dusty1]

Hello all, I am new to these forums and wanted some input reguarding the Kubota B3030. I am a residential remodeling contractor and do mostly interrior work, but do pleanty of jobs a tractor is highly appealing for (building additions occasionally, digging posts, and moving material or dirt/gravel and about a million other things I can think of. I will be building a house soon and wanted a vary versitle machine to help me with this treck, run long runs for utilities (around 1000 feet total), install a septic system, run drainage, install a pole barn, and install a LONG driveway (gravel now but later cement). Most of the lot is wooded, so running utilities and much brush hogging will have to be done around trees. Also when this is finished lawn and driveway maintaince will be done with the machine, as well as snow removal. We have a Kubota and John Deere dealerships here in town so I would like to go with one of those for parts availabily and service if needed.
I am trying to take my time in picking the perfect machine, but am worried about size issues. Most of my construction work is done in the town so lots are usually around 60' X 100', and a MMM would be nice to cut grass with. I thought I had it narrowed down to a Kubota B3030 for it's good mixture of size and power, but now am not sure when reading other threads.
So I suppose my question is is the B3030 to small for what I would like to do with it? I looked at the Kubota Grand L3540 and would love to get that but is that too big for wooded work, small lot work, and mowing? And the final question: am I being too hard to please and am actually in need of 2 different machines here? Your input here would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rexcramer]

If you drop the mowing requirement and concentrate on a work tractor I think it would make things a lot easier for you. Those machines are great for mowing larger tracts of land, but too big for residential mowing. Unless you plan on mowing 3 or 4 acres, I would get a tractor to do all the work and you can get a nice lawnmower with a 54" deck for the price of a 60" MMM

 

[Evil the Weasel]

Sounds like you need an L for the larger stuff you listed and a BX for the maneuverability and mowing.

 

[newbury]

Sounds like you really need 2 machines - for your work a smaller BX, for your house a bigger machine.
In my area the lot's the size you mention often have a fenced backyard with a 40" or smaller walk gate. Small BX passable.
For my ride I had to replace the gate.
/edit - A BX or Kioti, or Mahindra SCUT w/FEL would give you a lot more "wheelbarrow" power.

 

[workinallthetime]

The b3030 tlb is a great machine, i have earned lots of money running mine for other people. I have run 1000's of feet of french drains, put in 500 feet of lateral line for me and 260 feet for my neighbor, built shop pads and gravel drives. I use it around my place and my dads every weekend and both are in heavy wooded areas.
I do not mow with mine, I use a kubotas zd326 for that but its also contibutes to the cash flow around here.
The b3030 is not an ace at any one task but more a jack of all trades, not as fast at some jobs but capable of hours of work at low cost to you compared to individual machines to do these tasks. I love mine, in fact im sunburnt right now from playing on it all day.
With what you have in mind for yous I would buy the forks, the thumb, r4's and 18" bucket for the hoe.
The bh comes off in about 5 minutes, keep that in mind when making your choice.
I started my little dirt work business with a bx 23, i was buying the b3030 after only a couple months into it. It was to small to do much with, to much time spent moving material, to much time spent repositioning laying a drain field. The only good thing with the bx was when i would hit a sprinkler line i had to force the bx through it, the b3030 cuts that baby every time, lol.
holler at me off the grid if you want to discuss my adventures between the 2.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Time is money for some. If your busy working then you may want to consider letting people with more specialized machines do the septic tank and 1000' of water line. The B or BX could do them but would take alot more time than a big backhoe with an experienced operator and a trencher will do the water line much faster. If you have very little work then have at it with your new B or BX. I have a post showing size difference between biggest B and biggest BX. Not much difference in size but there is enough difference that the B can save some time over BX which brings us back to how valuable is your time? Contact Barlows Equipment and have them price you both machines and you'll see no great difference in price. The B3030 will be quite a bit more since it has the "luxury" features vs B3200.

 

[LBrown59]

Sounds like you need an L for the larger stuff you listed and a BX for the maneuverability and mowing.

Would be a good set up.

Sounds like you really need 2 machines - for your work a smaller BX, for your house a bigger machine.
In my area the lot's the size you mention often have a fenced backyard with a 40" or smaller walk gate. Small BX passable.
For my ride I had to replace the gate.
/edit - A BX or Kioti, or Mahindra SCUT w/FEL would give you a lot more "wheelbarrow" power.

I agree a 2 tractor package would be sweet.

Time is money for some. If your busy working then you may want to consider letting people with more specialized machines do the septic tank and 1000' of water line. The B or BX could do them but would take alot more time than a big backhoe with an experienced operator and a trencher will do the water line much faster. If you have very little work then have at it with your new B or BX. I have a post showing size difference between biggest B and biggest BX. Not much difference in size but there is enough difference that the B can save some time over BX which brings us back to how valuable is your time? Contact Barlows Equipment and have them price you both machines and you'll see no great difference in price. The B3030 will be quite a bit more since it has the "luxury" features vs B3200.

If you drop the mowing requirement and concentrate on a work tractor I think it would make things a lot easier for you. Those machines are great for mowing larger tracts of land, but too big for residential mowing. Unless you plan on mowing 3 or 4 acres, I would get a tractor to do all the work and you can get a nice lawnmower with a 54" deck for the price of a 60" MMM

Good suggestion also.

 

[mswlogo]

Bigger machines generally mean less time to get the job done.

Get the 3030 first and then go from there. Or a used one of similar size to learn what you need and you won't loose any value when you trade in for what you want. You do take some hit as soon as your drive one off the lot if your not sure.

 

[Dusty1]

Thanks for some of the info. I realize that I probably will be renting a trackhoe for the septic, and a ditch witch for running some of the utilities (lots of rock and uneven ground though). That being said, when renting a machine, you try to have it for a very short period of time, so if I could get a majority of the work done with the rental, and then take it back, then I could finish up with the tractor.
Also, does anyone have any experience using a larger tractor in small places (like the L series on small plots of land)? One fear I have is that if I bought an L3400 or 3540 that it would be too big to use very often (between trees or working in town). If I bought an L I would get a standard riding mower for the grass, not a BX unless I win the lottery between now and then.

Thanks for all your great input!

 

[workinallthetime]

There have been many times that i have removed a section of fence to access and work in back yard with my 3030, on a small lot even the compact 3030 is tight in most situations. Im afraid if you go any bigger then you will spend 15 minutes doing multi point turns to try and turn around. The bx will turn ya around much faster but then your limited by the machine on the amount of work you can do in a given amount of time.
To me the 3030 is the perfect option for you that is unless you want to buy a skid steer, small trac hoe, and a mower of some type.