Which Kubota for Me?

Suzanne · Sep 10, 2003

Greetings, Tractor Fans!

I am contemplating my first tractor. We have a mighty acre now with a few horses, but I want a big enough tractor to live happily ever after with after we move to 10-20 acres. Therefore, I think the B series?

I want a loader, probably a brush hog sometime... not too much volunteer grass to mow here in southern California. I'm thinking the upper reaches of the B series would be small enough to drag the arena, move dirt around, and powerful enough to lift something heavy like hay and be useful with a tiller or post hole digger in the future.

Comments from all you seasoned veterans? Any advice for a girl who drives the neighbor's JD 750 but wants her own tractor? Thanks much, and plow on.

TresCrows · Sep 10, 2003

Kubota 7800, 2910 or the smallest Grande L. For one acre, a BX will do all you need, even for five. For 20 acres though, probably not. J

Boondox · Sep 10, 2003

I agree completely with TC on this one. The 2910 is a little dynamo with a great power to weight ratio. If I didn't have to drag trees home for firewood that's what I'd be driving!

It's also a very wife-friendly size of tractor. She's a little intimidated by my L-series

Pete

Egon · Sep 10, 2003

So far lifting hay seems to be largest job. Pick a tractor that will handle the hay bales you have in mind. I'm thinking round bales.This should give you enough tractor for the future considerations.

Egon

riptides · Sep 10, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( She's a little intimidated by my L-series )</font>
Heck, add me in there.

B7800 cause I have one for 11. My only complaint is the telescoping links. So the 2910 has nothing else I like. If I want the tilt steering, I'll adjust my body position accordingly. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The links can be had on the after-market. And most likely I shall get them when I break or bend one of mine.

Best of luck in the search.
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

GregJ · Sep 10, 2003

I have the B7500 and it has served me very well. I like the small footprint and manuverability. I have been amazed with the power and it's capabilities. That said, the B7800 would be a tremendous value. I know what my 21hp is capable of, so with 30hp I am sure it would handle significantly more. However, the tasks you listed, quite honestly could probably be handled with the B7500, but there's no harm in a little more power. Although I have no idea how heavy hay is. How much does a round bale weigh?

Greg

fishman · Sep 10, 2003

I don't think any of the b-series could pick up a round bale with the loader, but maybe so. My 2910 is limited to under 1000 lbs, and unless you got a detachable fork/bucket combo, even less. You might do well with a 3 pt bale spear, though.

You are on the right track with the b-series, particularly if the 10-20 acres might be in a remote location requiring you to trailer your tractor back and forth. The L-series is considerably heavier, which otherwise is probably a good thing.

jcollins · Sep 10, 2003

You need to determine what size hay bales you will be dealing with. A 5 x 6 round bale will weigh a little over 2000lbs. Where as a average square bale will weight 50 - 60 lbs. After you decide the weight you will be working with then you can be better informed on the tractor you need.

JeffRey30747 · Sep 10, 2003

If you are going to handle round bales, that will be the issue. My L3710 with LA682 loader will handle the smaller round bales okay but I haven't tried it with any of the large ones as of yet. I suspect they would be a little on the heavy side for it. At 38 gross HP, it is a good bit bigger than any of the B series. However, the size can handicap you in tight areas like cleaning out a stall and I don't mow near my septic tank or field lines (infiltrator type) with it.

Suzanne · Sep 11, 2003

Hi, and thanks to all for your advice and comments.

To settle the hay question: at this point in California, we have 3 wire alfalfa that weigh around 110 lbs. per rectangular bale, not those round monsters. We will probably stay in state (despite the governor, deficit, ridiculous governmental interference, etc.) so don't need to get too worried about round bales.

Thanks again for the comments, and I will continue to read and learn from this site. I bought Muhammed's pdf book and would recommend it for anyone like me who is tractor-ignorant. It is a good starting point for doing your own research and understanding the lingo and implement culture.

Suzi