Which Compact with Cab to Buy??

[concord maple]

Been pricing and looking at a Kubota B3000 and a Mahindra 3616 both with the factory installed cabs. Any thoughts on these or any other make with a cab around the 30ish HP range? The Mahindra is around a $1,000.00 dollars cheaper but not many around this area. Thanks.

 

[IslandTractor]

Depends on what you are using it for. The Kubota 3030 cab is very nice and optimized for mowing (light weight, medium strength loader). The Mahindra is heavier and I believe has a stronger loader so is probably better for lifting and field work. Also, Kioti sells a CK35 with a dealer installed cab (heat only I think) that would cost quite a bit less but also would not be quite the same fit/finish with regards to the cab itself. The Kioti tractor is absolutely the equal of the others though and priced closer to the Mahindra.

 

[texasjohn]

welcome to TBN.

THIS general topic has been extensively discussed....suggest you use the search feature of TBN and spend a lot of time reading the views and ideas of many others. Many considerations are involved but generally involve your needs, dealer , pocket book, ergonomics, features.

Truly, a wealth of info for you is already here...just read about it and enjoy TBN's wealth of experience and expertise.

 

[concord maple]

Depends on what you are using it for. The Kubota 3030 cab is very nice and optimized for mowing (light weight, medium strength loader). The Mahindra is heavier and I believe has a stronger loader so is probably better for lifting and field work. Also, Kioti sells a CK35 with a dealer installed cab (heat only I think) that would cost quite a bit less but also would not be quite the same fit/finish with regards to the cab itself. The Kioti tractor is absolutely the equal of the others though and priced closer to the Mahindra.

I would be using to mow around 5 acres and medium loader work. I have a 5.5' rear snowblower that I would set up with hydraulics and a remote for blowing snow. I use the loader for snow plowing and some landscape work and the blower for large drifts or for blowing back snow banks. I currently have a JD 3120 and it looks to be built more like the mahindra than the kubota as far as beefier looking. The other question I have is resale or trade in value on the Mahindra. I know the Kubota holds their value but not sure about the Mahindra.

 

[kiotiken]

It's been said about a million times here on TBN, but nothing can beat a ZTR for mowing grass. I do 3 acres and wouldn't consider doing it any other way, 5 acres is a lot of grass, ZTR is the only way to go.

If the tractor has to do double duty, as IT has said, the Mahindra is heavier, the Kubota is lighter and better for mowing. I'd assume you have a septic system. There's no way I'd take my Kioti CK30 (30 hp) over mine, it comes in at 6500#, but I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be even taking something as light as the B3030 (B3300 I think is the new model?) over it. I think the Mahindra is somewhere in between.

 

[IslandTractor]

I would be using to mow around 5 acres and medium loader work. I have a 5.5' rear snowblower that I would set up with hydraulics and a remote for blowing snow. I use the loader for snow plowing and some landscape work and the blower for large drifts or for blowing back snow banks. I currently have a JD 3120 and it looks to be built more like the mahindra than the kubota as far as beefier looking. The other question I have is resale or trade in value on the Mahindra. I know the Kubota holds their value but not sure about the Mahindra.

For your work the Kubota B3030 seems a fine choice. You are right that Kubotas retain value better than anything else and if you intend to sell in a few years that should argue for the Kubota. On the other hand, Mahindra and Kioti are both making inroads and deliver excellent products with great bang for the buck. Think Honda/Toyota vs Hyundai comparison. All are very capable machines.

 

[concord maple]

Looks like the kubota would have a lot better resale value based on what I have read but that was what guys were getting 5 or 6 years ago.

 

[kiotiken]

Looks like the kubota would have a lot better resale value based on what I have read but that was what guys were getting 5 or 6 years ago.

I won't say that Kubota doesn't have one of the best resale values, but I disagree that there's much difference between all the big players these days. I include Mahindra (one of the worlds larges tractor manufactures by the way) and Daedong (who have been around since the 40's and now build tractors under the Kioti brand and build Bobcat,Landini and McCormick CUTs). The fact is that ALL tractors are good these days and they're ALL expensive, both new and used. They maintain so much value, that for me, I decided to buy a new one last time.

 

[IslandTractor]

I won't say that Kubota doesn't have one of the best resale values, but I disagree that there's much difference between all the big players these days. I include Mahindra (one of the worlds larges tractor manufactures by the way) and Daedong (who have been around since the 40's and now build tractors under the Kioti brand and build Bobcat,Landini and McCormick CUTs). The fact is that ALL tractors are good these days and they're ALL expensive, both new and used. They maintain so much value, that for me, I decided to buy a new one last time.

All of the mentioned tractors are excellent well proven machines. That doesn't negate the point that JD and Kubota have a marketing advantage and that they have generally better resale values. It is made up by the fact that the other brands are less expensive to buy but I still have to believe that Kubota and JD are going to hold value in the first 5-8 years a little better.

 

[murphy1244]

All of the mentioned tractors are excellent well proven machines. That doesn't negate the point that JD and Kubota have a marketing advantage and that they have generally better resale values. It is made up by the fact that the other brands are less expensive to buy but I still have to believe that Kubota and JD are going to hold value in the first 5-8 years a little better.

Mostly in the first 5 years its better to buy new, Finance, warranty.

 

[IslandTractor]

Mostly in the first 5 years its better to buy new, Finance, warranty.

Yes, that is what drives down all used tractor prices in the first five years or so. Hard to compete against a zero percent loan or factory warranty.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would also consider trading the 3120 for a cabbed 3520, might get a better deal trading in a green one for another green.

See what kind of trade deal you can make with the brands available near you, their all good.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

(B3300 I think is the new model?)

The new model is the B3000, IIRC.

 

[shortthrow50]

I would also consider trading the 3120 for a cabbed 3520, might get a better deal trading in a green one for another green.

See what kind of trade deal you can make with the brands available near you, their all good.

i agree hahah
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VLS_5FMMjg&list=UUSSFUkguBXBANxXL8YRZx1g&index=8&feature=plcp]John deere 3520 cab - YouTube[/ame]

 

[murphy1244]

i agree hahah
John deere 3520 cab - YouTube

Expensive machine just to cut grass, ain't it??

 

[shortthrow50]

Expensive machine just to cut grass, ain't it??

yes sir!!!! very expensive lawn mower! Ill tell you what though. Awfully nice to mow with no bugs doing the spiraling kamikazee dive in my ear and sweating. Love the a/c and radio in the quiet cab. The big selling feature for me was the pressuirsed cab and no noise inside. I like to drink and talk on the phone too while im mowing so this seemed to be the only option

 

[IndyIan]

yes sir!!!! very expensive lawn mower! Ill tell you what though. Awfully nice to mow with no bugs doing the spiraling kamikazee dive in my ear and sweating. Love the a/c and radio in the quiet cab. The big selling feature for me was the pressuirsed cab and no noise inside. I like to drink and talk on the phone too while im mowing so this seemed to be the only option

Watch out for those branches on those pretty windows then!:laughing: Does sound like a fun way to mow I suppose. Some nice hoppy micro brew might make a good mowing beer!

 

[Ledge End]

I would suggest that you sit in each of the units, drive them around a bit. I am not impressed with the "quietness" (or lack thereof) of the B3030 HSDC. However for use in the winter/summer the heat/air does make a big difference to me - along with the suspension seat.

 

[Cat_Driver]

welcome to TBN.

THIS general topic has been extensively discussed....suggest you use the search feature of TBN and spend a lot of time reading the views and ideas of many others. Many considerations are involved but generally involve your needs, dealer , pocket book, ergonomics, features.

Truly, a wealth of info for you is already here...just read about it and enjoy TBN's wealth of experience and expertise.

With all due respect - Why do people answer question with GO SEARCH? It's amazing that you can type an epistle on where to search how to search WHY to search yet you won't answer the OP question which takes LESS TIME - LESS WRITING.

Furthermore, with new models, new technology coming out DAILY, any search is rendered USELESS along with advice to GO SEARCH.

Telling any person to GO SEARCH is doing this site an injustice.

When a person asks a question here that person wants the LATEST and greatest info. A search will drudge up records from 2001. Who has the time to slog through this type of search?

Telling a person to SEARCH is not helping anyone. Seeking FRESH info might bring the answer " I just read five minutes ago that brand X is coming out with this and that next week. See you won't get that from a search....AND if you did it would take you quite a while to find that in a 25,000 thread search.

So how about we all, just answer the question and ASSUME the person asking has already done a search, it's a much faster answer to anyone who asks a question, AND it's much more informative to all the readers of that thread.

 

[rubicon79]

I was looking for a mid 30 hp tractor with a cab that could pick up a round bale of hay. I don't do any finish mowing but I do bush hog around 12 acres.

I bought the Mahindra 3616 shuttle cab with a loader. I found one on a dealers lot and got what I felt like was a good deal. The fit and finish isn't quite as good as the JD or the Kubota but it isn't night and day either. I've got 27 hours on it in the first month and I am happy with what I bought. Having the cab makes such a difference and is definitely worth what it costs. Money having been no object I would probably have been in a green tractor but at close to $10k difference I couldn't justify it.

We had kubota stuff in the past and have a diesel zero turn now and was always pleased with kubota service though. I don't feel like the resale with be as good but with the substantial savings up front plus the longer warranty I think it evens out. The 16 series Mahindras are Mitsubishi made tractors and seem to have typical Japanese quality. On a 94 degree day in humid Alabama I stay cool and comfortable!!!