Buying Advice Which Kubota is right for me?

[JFoy]

I recently purchased a BX25. Now that I've used it, a few conclusions.

Pros:
Since I mow 90% of the time with it, I like the MMM and weight light enough to drive over septic tanks.
Because of its smaller size, I can park it in my garage.
I saved around $6000 versus a larger model.

Cons:
Lifting power is substantially less that higher models. I can only lift around 400lbs with the forks.
Finding used stuff on craigslist for the SCUT is definitely more difficult.

If it matters, my dealer read it from his dealer book that the BX25 can use the MMM while the BH is attached. On the higher models, you have to take off the BH to raise and lower the MMM as the BH blocks the MMM's vertical path. Since then, I've realized I won't use the MMM with the BH attached, so it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

 

[k0ua]

What B series models do you suggest? Also what attachments in addition to the mower, FEL, and backhoe are crucial if any for my uses? I had planned on a snowblower attachment but we don't really get a lot of snow compared to other places in the US. I think I could get away with an FEL for that if I kept up with it during the storm. I would probably just rent a post hole digger and splitter when needed. Can these tractors be stores in sheds or are they too heavy for the flooring to handle?

I kept my Kubota L3400hst in a dirkson wooden building for several years, and a B7500 before that one. It has a wooden conventional floor. I did put another layer of 1/2 inch plywood down over the existing plywood for extra strength. but the floor joist's never seemed to care. And that included the L3400 (2600 lb bare tractor) with loader,( about 1000 lbs) and fluid loaded tires (maybe 600 lbs) and 750 lbs of ballast on the back.

 

[k0ua]

I have never priced a new tractor from either. I have about $24,000 in all of the listed Kubota equipment plus about $5,000 for the backhoe and necessary stuff to use it. Based on my limited experience Kioti makes a good tractor, but the Kubota L Grand HST transmission is far superior.

As much as I love my Kioti, and enjoy using its HST transmission, I would have to agree that the Grand L's HST+ transmission is a "cut above" or next generation hydro tranny.

 

[arrow]

Whatever you get, ask for the turf tires. They are better in snow and mitigate much of the lawn destruction associated with lugged tires. If you ever need more traction, simple ladder chains on turfs will get you through just about anything. As for size, what you said about "snow" is the decision maker for me. If you were not prone to a snow blower attachment, then I'd get the biggest, small tractor available. Weight is your friend with snow if you are going to plow it so that pertains to the largest B series or the smallest L series. Mid mount mowers tend to be a pain for my patience level so I would opt for a pull behind type mower. The garden, rather than a plow, I would opt for a rotary tiller attachment. Only you know what maneuverability aspects you need so I would base the rest of my decision on that.

 

[Grandad4]

Lots of good advice so far, mr2143. I'll just add a little from 10+ years of BX ownership and some seat time on my cousin's B model. First, the small B's and the BX's are very close cousins. For most things you do, they feel and work pretty much the same. The BX has smaller wheels, of course, so it's lower to the ground. That helps on hills and slopes but doesn't work as well on really rough ground or in brushy, overgrown places with sticks, rocks, etc. My BX has gone into that kind of stuff, but only with extreme caution.

The B has a 3 range transmission that is quite handy. You use 2nd gear for most work and drop into 1 for heavy pulling. Better than the Hi/Lo ranges on BX type machine.

The BX machine will park pretty much where a riding lawn mower will, except when you've got a loader sticking out in front and an implement hanging off the back, it takes up your wife's parking space in the garage. No big deal with that, right? Small B has just slightly larger footprint.

The BX25 makes a nice small backhoe package that can do an amazing amount of work. A B+backhoe would make a better rough-terrain setup but would cost more also. Unless you are expecting to be in the woods a lot, there's nothing you've described that is beyond the easy capability of a BX25.

You posted in the General Buying/Pricing section, so you've got owners of other makes pitching you to look at their favorite brand. You won't go wrong following your own wants and shopping the Kubotas, but there are also other good makes if you want to check them out as well.

 

[jeff9366]

Here are some threads from the T-B-N archive, searched with "FINISH OR MID MOUNT MOWER?"

LINK: Google : TBN



And another "WHICH TIRES?"
LINK: Google : TBN


Tell us your AGE.

 

[Paystar]

I want to add something about mowers. I see lots of people saying mid mounts are a pain. Not if it's a drive over and you can physically bend down and kneel long enough to pop the driveshaft on and off. Other than that, it's only three pins. No pulling, no fighting.

I like the maneuverability of a mmm, and when you are used to mowing all your life with a lawn tractor, it just feels natural. With a 3 pt you have to watch your rear swing.
Now if it was a tractor without a drive over deck, I would then consider a 3pt mower.

But a 3pt rear mower also has an advantage in that you can back it under tree branches to mow spots. It all depends on your yard and preference.

 

[Btown]

I recently purchased a BX25. Now that I've used it, a few conclusions. Pros: Since I mow 90% of the time with it, I like the MMM and weight light enough to drive over septic tanks. Because of its smaller size, I can park it in my garage. I saved around $6000 versus a larger model.

I drive over my septic tank with my Ford 1920 with loaded tires as well with my 2001 F-250 super duty. We are not talking about driving 25 ton machinery on them.

 

[Paystar]

If installed properly, a small tractor will not hurt a septic. Even a pickup can drive over a proper install.

What is worse is a snowmobile or anything that drives frost down in the winter.

 

[AxleHub]

I recently purchased a BX25. Now that I've used it, a few conclusions.

Pros:
Since I mow 90% of the time with it, I like the MMM and weight light enough to drive over septic tanks.
Because of its smaller size, I can park it in my garage.
I saved around $6000 versus a larger model.

Cons:
Lifting power is substantially less that higher models. I can only lift around 400lbs with the forks.
Finding used stuff on craigslist for the SCUT is definitely more difficult.

Greetings JFoy,

In reading the above part if your post I nited your comment about fel lifting ability as a disappointment. So you mention lifting with your forks only about 400 lbs.. is that with clampon forks or with real forks?

Let me say why this is important. The Kubota spec for your fel lift is 745 lbs which includes the bucket and any quick attach. So if your bucket is 150 lbs by itself thats already 20%. Then if you have a quick attach thats another 8 or 10% and then if its clamp on forks from landpride we're talkibg another 55 to 65 lbs depending on which size. And to make matters worse if you use clamp ons your pallet is considerably further away from the pins which further reduces your capacity.

I have a Massey gc1715 and its a scut too. My fork set weighs 110 pounds and my quick attach weighs 77 pounds (your q.a. may weigh less). So my forks and qa together are 187 pounds. Using your Kubota spec if you load your payload to the back of a real fork set you should be able to lift at minimum 500 to 550 pounds to full height and more than that to a 2 or 3 foot height and that is using your kubota specifications. Late last fall I tested my unit quite accurately. My lift spec is higher than yours but I was lifting more than the massey spec by a fair amount. My point is . . Kubota us good equipment. You should at least be avle to do your factory spec if you are ysing prooer technique and quality implements. 400 pound maximum lifting isn't close to factory spex . . so something in implement ir technique needs improvement imo. You should at least be able to do 30% more than you are . . if not more imo.