tractor almost owner owner

mcollect · Oct 1, 2014

I am looking at a Kubota L2900 with a loader. My question is the tires. It looks as though it has some sort of industrial tires. I live in the steep hills of far Western Md and am worried about going up and down the hills with these tires, to say nothing about the massive snows we get around 150" a year. Any suggestions? Thanks

George2615 · Oct 1, 2014

Welcome to TBN....

The L2900 you are looking at probably comes with R4 Industrial tires. I have an LS tractor (XR3037HC) with industrial tires. Previous tractor was a Mahindra 2615HST with industrial tires. Prior to these, tractors I had wore Ag tires. I live in the snow belt just southeast of Lake Ontario and we get 130-160" of snow a year also. I don't care if you have AG tires, R4's or Turf tires. I have used them all. For the amount of snow we get you need all the help you can get. For my current tractor I have loaded the rear tires, use chains on all 4, and have my choice of either an 850 lb or a 1200 lb rear ballast for weight. You really need chains for the hills especially around Jan / Feb when the ground is frozen solid and there is a layer of ice under the snow.

nybirdman · Oct 1, 2014

Nice tractor by the way;we have a L3000DT.The advise you have received is spot on,purchase chains now before they get hard to get.We are in flat country and get by with R1's(AG).Are you going to use a snow-blower?That's a lot of snow to remove with just a bucket.A quality rear blade will help a lot.

deerseeker001 · Oct 1, 2014

Welcome from Wisconsin

mcollect · Oct 1, 2014

Don't want to use a snow blower as the driveway is crushed stone so I know it will break a lot of shear pins or worse. We, of course have 4WD drive vehicles so only need to remove anything more than 8".

PILOON · Oct 1, 2014

Consider this.
Once the ground is frozen and your first snow compacted you will never toss gravel.
My drive is gravel and I blow and never need to rake it back either.
In fact I back drag that first dumping specifically to create my base. That's the secret.
Last winter I did break one blower sheer pin and that was the city plow that plowed one into my entryway.
With a blower you get rid of the problem, like blow it next door or out of the way.
Simply plowing just accumulates a bigger problem and if you get a thaw followed by a fast freeze you soon wish you had a dozed and not a tractor.
Just my $0.02 (maybe .05 with inflation)
But either way, chains, 2 link and studded ice chains for that ice + loaded tires helps.
I never get stuck! (and I have hilly drive that only 4 x 4's can navigate)
(With non studded chains you will enjoy a few wild rides that could stain your drawers.)
Order chains early and don't go cheap either.

The worst nightmare is an early dumping (6-10") on a non frozen ground. For that I have oversized skids for my plow as well as my blower and scrape leaving 2 inches to create my base.
Freezing rain, well that's a complete other challenge, but if it snows followed by rain just wait 'til it freezes, DON'T rush out and plow or blow as then you will have a skating rink that goes only one way, down!

Have fun!