Used Kubota for the Long-term

[The Deerslayer]

It seems as though alot depends on your intended uses, so more details may be helpful. Depending on how much weight and use the FEL will see impacts selection. You may be able to find a used B series that will suit your needs. Although, as many here will say, go a little bigger than what you think you will need and have no regrets.:thumbsup: Used L series can be found with plenty of useful life in them. I had an L2250 that served me well.

All that said, and as you mention, you need not just consider Kubota. When I was looking used years ago that was the main brand I was looking for as my dad had one and loved it (still has it), but I would have considered others if all the planets aligned. Good luck on your search.

 

[jeff9366]

I live on 4 acres, heavily wooded, semi sloped.
I want something comparable to a Ford 8n but with a loader - but not an 8n with a loader.
Something similar in size and capability but newer but used but easy to work on and easy to find parts for and under $12,000. Something that's going to last me til I die.

June 2018
I own a 1952 Ford 8N and my neighbor recently bought a new Kubota L2501. Yesterday my neighbor let me use his new tractor to mow my fields and I wanted to provide a compare and contrast of old vs new for anyone considering a new L2501.

My pastures had become majorly overgrown due to our wet spring in Virginia and because I was out of the country for a month. The grass in most parts of the fields is 4-5ft high with some parts being extra dense and thick. In the past when it gets like this it has nearly stalled out my 8N with 5ft Bush Hog.

What’s interesting is that the 8N and L2501 are about the same horsepower (25-27hp) and the same weight (2500-2700lbs) but I can tell you, the performance is very different with the tractors both using the same bush hog.

Bottom line, the contemporary L2501 is way more capable.

Ford 8N - dimensions

1947 - 1952 N Series
Utility tractor
Previous model: Ford 2N
Next model: Ford NAA

Ford 8N Tires:
Ag front: 4.00-19
6.00-16
Ag rear: 10-28
11.2-28
Dimensions:
Weight (operating): 2,717 lbs [1232 kg]
Weight (ballasted): 4,043 lbs [1833 kg]
Wheelbase: 70 inches [177 cm]
Length: 115 inches [292 cm]
Width: 64.75 inches [164 cm]
Height: 54.5 inches [138 cm]
Ground clearance: 13 inches [33 cm]
Clearance (front axle): 21 inches [53 cm]
Rear tread: 48/52/56/60/64/68/72/76 inches
[121/132/142/152/162/172/182/193 cm]
2WD turn radius: 8 feet [2.4 m]

Page information:
Last update: November 17, 2017
Copyright: Copyright 2018 TractorData LLC
Contact: Peter@TractorData.com

For 4 Acres and woods, a widely adopted, basic, and buit for a long time is Kubota entry level L series, example a L2500 series/size - its a basic tractor but has the L Frame, decent weight and HP.

Kubota L2501 - dimensions
2014 - Standard L Series
Compact Utility tractor
Series next: Kubota L3301

Kubota L2501 Tires:
Standard tires (ag): Front: 5-15. Rear: 11.2-24 (2WD)
Front: 7.2-16. Rear: 11.2-24 (4WD)
Industrial front: 27x8.50-15 (4WD)
Industrial rear: 15-19.5 (4WD)

Dimensions:
4WD Gear Weight: 2601 lbs [1179 kg]
4WD Hydro Weight: 2623 lbs [1189 kg]
Wheelbase: 63.3 inches [160 cm]
4WD Length: 106.3 inches [270 cm]
Width: 55.1 inches [139 cm]
Height (ROPS): 91.7 inches [232 cm]
4WD Ground clearance: 13.4 inches [34 cm]
Front tread: 41.3 inches [104 cm] (2WD)43.1 inches [109 cm] (4WD)
Rear tread: 43.8/47.1/50.8 inches
[111/119/129 cm]

Page information:
Last update: January 2, 2019
Copyright: Copyright 2019 TractorData LLC
Contact: Peter@TractorData.com


L2501HST - 4WD TRACTOR W/3-RANGE HST, FOLDABLE ROPS, LOADER
Suggested List Price
$21,234.00
1 FRONT - 7.2-16 R1 Goodyear Power Torque
REAR - 11.2-24 R1 Titan Hi Power Lug 2.94"offsetinc.
(ALR8866D & ALR9494)
1 HEAVY DUTY FRONT LOADER W/2-LEVER STYLE COUPLER $4,421.00
(LA525)




Sufficient tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

Shop your weight range within tractor brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. Collect a dealer brochure for each tractor model in your weight range. I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.

Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight operate in residential or hobby farm applications on one to ten acres.

 

[jeff9366]

How to evaluate a used tractor:

VIDEO: How To Evaluate A Used Tractor - YouTube

 

[RjCorazza]

It would be difficult to not recommend a Kubota L2501 or L3301, but your price requirements may be hard to meet. Both models are established, and very popular.
Since you're shopping used I will mention that the B3350 should be avoided like the plague.

 

[mikester]

My experience with Kubota's so far has been I've never had to wait long for OEM parts, even oddball parts on 20+ year old machines, and parts were reasonably priced.

I don't know what the aftermarket parts situation is like for K, you probably won't get the same following as you do with a tractor like the 8N or 9N. There may be a popular K model with good aftermarket stuff, I just don't know.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm not sold on orange. It's just that from my research I thought parts were more reasonably priced than for green.

The expand your search. If you bought a 'Bota, that's what you're limited to on parts. They make their own stuff, even some of their own engines and genuine parts come only from genuine dealers or authorized agents. Yes, there are aftermarket suppliers, but then you run risks. Some of the other colors use a common base model and paint it their own color and add their own frills. But if you can't find a part at one color dealer, you might be able to at another, or the part manufacturer or generic parts suppliers.

 

[nybirdman]

As noted the L2501 fits the bill as a 8N replacement;but way more capable.The older L series may not have HST but just as capable.
My son has a L3000DT and my BIL a L3300 both purchased used (gear) and are great all around tractors.May take some looking(TractorHouse.com | Used Tractors For Sale: John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Kubota.) for one but they are out there.

 

[rScotty]

Then back to my original answer - Any Kubota 30-45hp from 2005 on. It will take patience and a lot of searching to find a good used one with a loader for $15k.

I know you want orange, but a John Deere 3032E would be easier to find.

Airbiscuit, I'm curious why you wrote, "Any Kubota 30-45hp from 2005 on."?
Not that I disagree with that range - ours is a 2007 - but what is special about 2005?
Not much has changed that I am aware of since the mid 1990s or even before - except that power steering has become more popular. Having had several tractors without it, I would certainly have power steering with a FEL....and 4WD.

If I was looking for an inexpensive tractor to last forever it would have little or no emissions control and certainly would not be a computer-controlled common rail design. It would be a traditional diesel with individual injectors for each cylinder.

My favored transmission choices for durability would be manual with a power shift or direction reverser. Those require little or no clutching & last forever even when used hard.

I would look long and hard at the 3pt hitch hookup and operation for smooth operation. There was a period of time when some Kubotas in the 30 hp? range had a jerky 3pt hitch. You can look at old threads for the exact models. A smoothly working 3pt hitch makes towed implements a joy to use....and vice versa.
good luck,
rScotty

 

[airbiscuit]

For most of us, the only parts we buy are filters. However, if something fails, you do need to be able to buy parts. Here are the Dos and Don'ts for that:

Do
Buy a major name brand (John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Massey Ferguson)
Buy a model series that sold for a number of years
Regular maintenance

Don't
Buy an Orphan Tractor (Montana, Farmtrac, Century, etc.)
Abuse your tractor

 

[diesel85]

I'll add a little more to this...

For years, I've worked on all brands of equipment. By far the easiest to get parts for is Kubota. Hands down. They don't hide the parts books, things are readily available across many dealer stock shelves, etc.

Working on Kubota's aren't bad, but yes some designs make you scratch your head. But with some makes, forget it. Everything is hard to work on or requires specialty tools.

Coming down to from longevity stand point. I've owned a BX2200 for 18 years, going on 19 years. Yes -- it's NOT as old as a 8N. But the BX series has been around for a long time, that a majority of components have the same part numbers. Now I haven't paid much attention to the frames from the BX2200 to now, but I know that there are a few series (BX2230, etc) use the same frame. So if my D905 went kaput and I didn't feel like finding another D905, I could stick a D902 in there and bolt it right in. Possibly with minor mods, but nothing that would require major engineering skills.

This is why for my next machine, it will be nothing other than a Kubota. -- Take it from someone that has worked on red, green, blue, orange machines.