What was your first Kubota and why?

[tbk5]

My first Kubota was an L3010 HST with loader, backhoe, and 72in 3 pt finish mower. I added lots of implements over the years.

I bought it for general work, mowing, digging for the foundation of the barn I built, and to eventually clear the rest of our land. I wanted a compact to be able to manuver all around the property. The L3010 was the smallest of the "real compacts" in the L series. Another selling point was that there were no hydraulic lines hanging offf the botton of it. I did not want to be in the woods and have a branch or rock pierce a hose. Yes, some things take more time with the smaller machine but there has not been anything I could not do because of it. Finally, I found a demo unit at a dealer in NH that was priced accordingly and no sales tax! I did so much with that tractor.

Unfortunately she died when I moved to AL. The commercial carrier had a trailer fire. (A five day old trailer--apparently axles were never lubed.)


My guess is that the drivers were not paying attention. The patter of the burn looks like the flames shot backwards for a while. It is clean forward of the dash. I think the trailer axle heated to the point of setting the trailer tire on fire and that spread to the tractor tire, seat, dash, fiberglass cap etc. The tractor fuel hose likely melted spilling the contents of the tank to help things along. There is still clean fuel, however, in the fuel filter bowl. I was able to salvage the backhoe-just needed to replace a couple of hoses. I am going to try to rebuilding it. It if runs, I'll use it as an ugly beast to keep the backhoe permanently attached. Otherwise, I'll use the engine to build a whole house generator.

I replaced it with a Kubota M5640SU but that was short lived as it was too big to get around the trees at my new home (same reason for the L3010 at my old home....) And, I just did not like the manual transmission-chores would take too much time with all the shifting. I sold it and picked up an L3710HST. I was able to use my BH7500 and all other implements so a huge plus. I am looking for a loader. If I don't find one soon, I may make some mods to the LA480 from the L3010 to mount it. I don't have a need for any heavy work with the loader anymore.

I also have a GR2100 (dead in the garage due to tranny for which I curse out Kubota daily), A ZD1211 and an RTV900. So I guess am not "boycott upset" at Kubota. The latter were purchased used--I do not want anyting computer controlled. The GR2100 did go in for the transmission update early on otherwise I maintain everything.

 

[number two]

After plowing snow for decades with plow trucks,there just had to be a better way.
Running out of push-room halfway thru winter,lots of gasoline,plow trucks rotting into the ground,etc.
Come 2005,I found a nice B1750 hydro with FEL,MMM,and front snowblower,just to see if I could make it a season without a truck.
We have a 1200 foot gravel drive and 2 large parking areas.
Kubota did fine and used about 20% of the fuel I'd put into the truck.

So I liked blowing,but not the open station travtor.
Come spring 2007,I bought the B3030 cab,and gave the plow truck to my brother-in-law!
Happy camper here! Thanks for reading.

 

[TxMN]

2010 B2320HST, loader, 4’ rotary cutter, 4’ reverse tiller, 4’ drag harrow. Was purchased all new, Land Pride. Living on newly purchased 3.5 acres. Did a lot with that set up, wished several times I had kept it all. Used it for 7 years, in the last few months I have purchased 31 acres and have an MX5400, grapple, 6’ rotary cutter, 6’ disk harrow, 6’ box blade, cultipacker, and seed spreader. Will be my last chance to be on a rural property. Working with designer to develop house plans, will be maintaining a Wildlife Plan to help with taxes. We have partnered with wildlife biologists and consultants from the Noble Institute to develop a sustainable wildlife plan, no cost to land owner Ag and wildlife consulting from Ardmore, OK.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Guessing at Byrd?

Haha, how would you know? Yes, bought it at Byrd's.

 

[RobertN]

I was looking at L3410's; my wife used them at the nursery she worked at. That was what started the conversation about about moving to a bigger, more hp, larger loader tractor. She wanted a 3410!

We were looking used; as soon as we sold the trusty old B8200, I could not find a used 3410 locally. That's when I found the NH.

My first was a used B8200, 2wd, gear transmission, with turf tires. I added weight and R4's. I got a hugh amount of work done with that machine over the few years that I had it! That was also the last tractor that I routinely had to use the differential lock on.
Unlike you, I traded the B8200 for an L3410, which was a great machine also. Now I have my last Kubota with a cab because I'm into comfort.

 

[RobertN]

Hard to say because Yanmar/John Deere was early in the compact tractor market too.

You would think that as popular as the IH/Farmall Cubs and some of the other compacts, that the domestics manufacturers would have developed that market. It's not like there were no compact tractors from Allis, JD, IH, etc over the years.

Was it timing or something else that enabled Kubota to capture the small tractor/loader market?

 

[buck12]

Hard to say because Yanmar/John Deere was early in the compact tractor market too.

You would think that as popular as the IH/Farmall Cubs and some of the other compacts, that the domestics manufacturers would have developed that market. It's not like there were no compact tractors from Allis, JD, IH, etc over the years.

I suspect that many JD dealers and probably other domestic tractor dealers cater primarily to large agricultural tractors and related equipment while Kubota dealers tend to be more focused property owners and landscape type businesses. Years ago I was looking at JD lawnmowers and the local dealer did not seem very interested in selling me a GT series mower. A few tiny mowers were sitting beside beside huge expensive agricultural equipment seemed odd. Kubota dealers are totally different, no giant combines, etc.

 

[mcfarmall]

First Kubota is a M5660. Why? Because it is a fairly simple, mostly mechanical tractor with a hydraulic shuttle. Big enough to do serious work , but small enough to maneuver around. Dealer is outstanding and only 3 miles away. I looked at Deere but wasn't impressed with their offerings in this size range. Also, I was hard pressed to find any negative comments or issues with the M5660 after doing an exhaustive internet search. The Deere models in the 50hp bracket did not have favorable reviews.

 

[Will_C]

First was a BX 2200 with MMM and FEL. I bought my house in 1998, mowed and plowed snow in 1999 with my late father's Case 448. It was a rugged tractor, but tired and marginal for the snow removal. Decided I needed to upgrade. Looked at a 400 series JD garden tractor. I was quoted about $10,000 for the tractor, plow, MMM, and wheel weights. I wanted a Kubota B, but a little too much $$$.

Lucky for me, it was in Spring 2000 and the BX tractors were being introduced. I bought one of the first ones-$10,500 for tractor and mower. I got diesel, 4wd, and 3 point hitch, for not much more money than the JD. I saved my money and added a FEL that fall for $2500.

Swapped for a B 2620 on 2009, and swapped that for a L 3560 on 2018-added more property and started planting food plots. Picked up a RTV 900 along the way.

 

[Newby first timer]

I talked to Many Many Heavy Equipment Operators for years about what was the best Tractor to purchase.
Every single one of them said John Deer.
And then they asked me what I wanted a Tractor for and about what size that I was looking at.
When I told them for Personal mixed use nothing specific (loader work , back hoe box scraper) I really had no specific use.
Every Single one of them said Kubota.
Over the years I never had a use for a tractor but I all ways wanted one.
Then I purchased an 36 acre parcel and I ramped up my questioning to all of the Operators I came across that had time to talk to me.
They all said for what my needs are Kubota.
well i had a Leach field at my home fail (not on my 36 acre property) so it was time to start getting serious about looking.
The Brand had already been made up for me from all over those Heavy Equipment Operators.
I headed to my local Kubota dealer.
I was Greeted very very politely by a sales Girl (I call her my Kubota Girl Now) Michelle
She asked what my needs for the Tractor were going to be.
I explained to her in depth and then added that there may be things come up that I do not know about at this time. She Chuckled a bit and said that things always come up with Tractors.
I told her that I know that Tractors are like a Swiss Army Knife and your imagination is the only limit on the things that they can do.
She showed me the L3301 , L4701 and the MX4800
I told her that my only concern it transporting the Tractor. That I have a limited Weight Capacity on my trailer. So we crunched the #s and she let me make the decision. No high pressure sales tactics at all.
I chose the MX4800. With the Back Hoe and Front Loader Gave the down payment and made the order.
2 weeks latter I called my Kubota Girl Michelle up and asked if she could upgrade to the MX5800 and she was able to make the change in the order.
this was the end of March 2018
This Tractor has well surpassed what I thought it could do.
Well I was looking for a side by side UTV for work and up on my property.
My Girl Friend came into see what I was looking at on the internet.
I told her that I was looking at UTV's
She requested 2 things(she never asks for anything) can we get one with Heating and AC.
I told her I was already on it because after I finish with it at work. It would be hers up on the Property.
My only requirement for me is that it be Diesel.
Well I looked for days and Could only find 1 Side by Side UTV with Heating & AC Diesel Standard with no add on's
The Kubota RTV-X1100C
I called my Kubota Girl Michelle up told her what I was looking for and she told me to Come On Down they had one in their yard.
In May 2020 I did the Purchase and she had it delivered straight to the job I was working on.
Unless My Kubota Girl Quits and I get a Jerk for a salesman it will be Kubota for Life for me as others posting before me have stated.
My Kubota Girl Michelle was the one who directed me to this Forum after I made the purchase of my vary first Tractor that I have ever operated my MX5800.
She told me that I could learn a lot on this Forum and she was right. I have learned a tremendous amount of a wide variety of things from this Group Forum. Thanks to everyone one here.