Trying to buy a tractor - 3 options has me confused on best value for my use - HELP

[UNCBLUE]

OP - That Kubota reads like a great deal. But $8,500 would buy more implements and let you set aside a small emergency fund or buy some more land. If you were planning on moving logs for a sawmill you'd need the bigger tractor.

I understand the general consensus of "GET THE BIG TRACTOR", but then are you going to move up to other 6' implements?

I'd test the 2013 Mahindra to see if it could handle my expected tasks (load of sand etc.) and try to figure out how many buckets of whatever I'd have to move with either tractor. My M4700 lifts a ton, my B7610 about 1/3 of that. Make sure your tractor can lift what you need to lift with a safety margin of say 20%. If you know you HAVE TO move pallets of wood chips that weigh 1 ton it wouldn't make sense to get one that only lifted 1900 lbs.

Then also there's the maneuverability, my M4700 with implements on either end can take some room to turn around. It's almost like a tank

Whereas my B7610 is more like a sports car.

If the Mahindra could handle my tasks with only a little more time needed I'd go with that, and plan on a second tractor in 5 years. Two tractors are better than one.

Great points about the $ saved being used for implements. I still need the 2 implements plus I'd love a grapple with 3rd function. Lol

 

[mike69440]

I own a Max28 8 x 8 Shuttle. Search on mike69440 and you can find a lot of info on the Max28. I'm no fan of a 2 speed HST. The Max28 is very compact, so if getting into tight places and you mentioned not a lot of brush hogging the Max 28 will work well for you, but that Kubota is a heck of a deal. If the tractor looks and runs fine, which it probably does, and you can swing the extra cost, both are decent choices, even the 1526 is OK, but if you can, get the Kubota. (And Soon!)
Plus No SSQA on the Max. Not a big deal for me, as my L39 will handle SSQA stuff fine. If you want a grapple, the Max28 does not have great curl capacity. It will lift a lot for its size.

The L3901 will lift 0ver 1200lbs, maybe not to full height, but at bucket edge to mid height and will work well with the 60" "Wicked" Grapple, a light but strong enough grapple.


If you are really thinking 2 tractors in the future, the Max28 makes sense, but remember Kubota's hold their value and you may want to sell it for a smaller and Big CUT later. I think it really comes down to how comfortable your are spending $$, but that L3901 is the deal.

 

[UNCBLUE]

I own a Max28 8 x 8 Shuttle. Search on mike69440 and you can find a lot of info on the Max28. I'm no fan of a 2 speed HST. The Max28 is very compact, so if getting into tight places and you mentioned not a lot of brush hogging the Max 28 will work well for you, but that Kubota is a heck of a deal. If the tractor looks and runs fine, which it probably does, and you can swing the extra cost, both are decent choices, even the 1526 is OK, but if you can, get the Kubota. (And Soon!)
Plus No SSQA on the Max. Not a big deal for me, as my L39 will handle SSQA stuff fine. If you want a grapple, the Max28 does not have great curl capacity. It will lift a lot for its size.

The L3901 will lift 0ver 1200lbs, maybe not to full height, but at bucket edge to mid height and will work well with the 60" "Wicked" Grapple, a light but strong enough grapple.

Thank you so much for the post & the personal testimony. Do you feel like it has enough of FEL strength to dig into a dump truck load size pile of compost, lift it up & curl it, & drive it down on Gravel road about 300-800 feet to deposit into various raised beds?

Adding in the cost of grapple & 3rd function, maybe the kubota is the better choice since it gives more reassurance that it's up to whatever evolved my tasks I might run in to.

 

[mike69440]

Thank you so much for the post & the personal testimony. Do you feel like it has enough of FEL strength to dig into a dump truck load size pile of compost, lift it up & curl it, & drive it down on Gravel road about 300-800 feet to deposit into various raised beds?
Adding in the cost of grapple & 3rd function, maybe the kubota is the better choice since it gives more reassurance that it's up to whatever evolved my tasks I might run in to.

Even a BX or similar sub compact can do compost etc., so yes. What I said about the curl is that the Max28 really can't curl anymore than say a B2650/B3350 Kubota but can lift a bit more even though it is built on a little smaller frame. Repeating what s219 said, the Mahindra's lift spec at the pins on paper compares with a small L, but the fame is not as stiff, the tractor is smaller and less stable. I would not consider a grapple as bucket is a pin on and you would want to go my to my upgraded L1526 curl cylinder Mod, and that would be expesnive.

If a grapple is what you plan, I would hope you go with the larger tractor. Kubota and 1526 will lift about the same off the ground, curl about the same, the loader on the 1526 lifts more to full height, but full height is higher on the Kubota.
PS for real grapple work, you need a larger tractor than a small L, but for general clean-up the L3910 or 1526 will be ok. For PTO work, the L3910 is the winner.
Kubota Standard L-Series. L251 L331 L391 L471 features and operation. - YouTube
Kubota L391 Tractor Advantage Video - YouTube

 

[s219]

Any of those tractors can easily handle a bucket of compost, or gravel/rock for that matter. The bigger tractors will have larger buckets though, so you will carry more and make less trips. That does add up at the end of the day.

 

[amhicks21]

The l3901 is a great machine. Lots of power for its size. If you got done with the heavy work in a few years and found that it was more tractor than you needed for maintanance you could sell it for practically what you paid and switch to a sub compact. The way those machines hold value almost seems unreal. The company I work for is looking for that exact machine for doing work on established lawns and finding one below market value is next to impossible. There is no way to go wrong with the Kubota.

 

[GManBart]

Since you're planning to sell the tractor in a few years, one thing to consider is that the biggest hit on value is normally in the first few years. If you buy a newer used machine the seller is the one taking that first hit. It may not be a big difference if the local market for used is strong and you keep the machine really clean, but it's just something to be aware of.

As a few folks have mentioned, LS is worth a look as well. I bought a new R4047H a few years ago, put a bit over 200 hours on it in 15 months, and sold it for about 2K less than I paid for it. I think the pending Tier IV machines helped the resale value a little bit, but it was still quite new and in great shape. That size machine is over 1,000lbs heavier, has a fair bump in power, and more than twice the lift capacity of an L3901.

As someone has already mentioned, all of the tractors you've talked about would do the jobs, it just depends how fast you want to get them done.

 

[teg]

After you use the trailer to move the L3901 tractor, you can turn around and sell it for some attachments.

We've planted a dozen apple trees, pear, cherry, pecan, American chestnut and plan to plant a ton more - best done with a pto post hole digger with a 12" auger. Also, much better to rent or borrow one vs. buying (mine sits around but I've loaned it out as much as I've used it). A grapple is a "must have" attachment, I'm the odd ball guy that likes the bolt on grapple so I have a bucket and grapple. Can "grab" mulch with an open bottom... :2cents:

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[bspeedy]

I think part of the decision should be based upon tractor stability. In the OP's presumably mountainous area, stability is key. Does one or more of the tractors have wheels that adjust for width? I run my tractors at the max width possible and they feel very stable. 6-feet wide is seat-of-the-pants stable for me on any reasonable slope. 5-feet wide is scary. Somewhere in the middle is probably ok, but I would try to go as wide as possible.

Also, with that budget and planning to go used anyway - why not buy a tractor with 500 to 1000 hours and save more and risk almost no depreciation. Since you seem to like the Kubota, look for a Grand L which is heavier and more stable in the 15K price range.

Here's one with a few more hours and a lot less money: Used Kubota L-29GST w/Loader

I am extremely biased in favor of the Grand L Kubota. I've owned several and also owned many other makes, models and sizes.

Good luck in your shopping. By the way, I also am highly in favor of the multiple tractor strategy. If not right away, you may want another machine eventually.

 

[ovrszd]

After you use the trailer to move the L3901 tractor, you can turn around and sell it for some attachments.

We've planted a dozen apple trees, pear, cherry, pecan, American chestnut and plan to plant a ton more - best done with a pto post hole digger with a 12" auger. Also, much better to rent or borrow one vs. buying (mine sits around but I've loaned it out as much as I've used it). A grapple is a "must have" attachment, I'm the odd ball guy that likes the bolt on grapple so I have a bucket and grapple. Can "grab" mulch with an open bottom... :2cents:

Yep, I like my bucket grapple too. Much more versatile.