Woods vs Kubota FEL

[ns_in_tex]

Craig,
When I purchased my Kubota, they were installing mostly Bush Hog fel's because they cost less. Since I already had 2 other tractors with bush hog fel's, I agreeded. It turned out that bush hog didn't have the controls for my cab tractor which forced me to buy the kubota fel. $$$

Now another dealer also told me he usually installed non kubota loaders because of price, but said, one with a kubota loader would have higher resale. This didn't matter to me because I don't expect to ever sell, but my thinking at the time was "there must be a reason".

Now after owning the kubota fel, unless I could use another loader first, to prove to myself I liked it as well, I don't think I would get anything but the kubota, even if the other one was free. Need I say, I really like it.

 

[CraigM]

Neal:

You are just the guy I need to hear from. How is the Kubota loader better than the Bush Hog one?

From carefully looking at the specs for both and trying to look at them from every angle (my wife just says "are you still looking at that") I can see only reasonably small differences in things like lifting capacity and cycle time. Some times the advantage goes to Kubota, sometimes to Woods. Looking at it from a purely financial point of view, I can't see 20% more for the Kubota. Since you have used both factory and aftermarket loaders (I've never used a loader), please tell me what is better about the Kubota unit.

Thank you

 

[ns_in_tex]

OK Craig,

First, the two bush hog loaders I own are 19 & 35 years old, so it would supprise me if the new models were not much better than mine. The only experience I have is with mine.
It is entirely possible I might like some other brand of fel better than my Kubota, if I were able to use it today.
It is also possible, if you were using the loader for a specific job on a regular basis, a particular loader would work that job easier than another. For instance, my big tractor will lift more, higher, with more reach than the small kubota. I have to push dirt to the far side of the dump truck with the kubota, while I have missed the truck all together a few times with the big tractor by dumping it on the ground on the other side of the truck.

But I do not use it very much to load dump trucks.
Some of the things I like over my older ones.
Joy stick operation, probably all new ones have this.
Faster cycle time. Pump & cylinder size determine this.
Float position, probably all new ones have this.

Now the kicker.
Precision of operation with ease, coupled with Hydro trans
I have moved stacks of pipe, handling it from the end, one piece at a time by running forks made of 2" pipe, inside one end of 3" pipe & seldom ever stop moving forward or miss threading the needle.

Trimming trees with a tree shear. The shear sticks out 6/7' in front of the fel & you can position it right against the trunk to cut off the desired limb, anywhere from ground to 15' high.

Cleaning fence lines & cut tree falls on other side of fence. Many times can, just reach over the fence to pick it up.

One time I remember seeing a barb wire hanging off of a fence that needed picking up. Just like a normal boy trying to get out of work /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I picked up the wire with the forks on the loader & wrapped it back into the fence, so I didn't have to get off the tractor to get it out of the way.

So, I am not saying Kubota is better than any other new fel. I am just saying I am spoiled & before I bought anything else, I would want to be shown what it would do. After that, I might even find something better.

Hope this helps & good luck.

 

[CraigM]

Neal:

Thank you, it did help.

I'd like to see that threading the needle trick with the pipes.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Craig,
Another thing I would look for in a loader.
No frame around the tractor. If you need to get to the engine while the loader is on, you can just raise the loader up and nothing is blocking access to the front of the tractor. Sure beats the old units with a frame down each side.

Probably most now days will have the easy on off. I take my loader on & off about once a week all summer. Take it off to mow the lawn, back on for other chores. Takes about 2 minutes to take it off, 3 or 4 for back on.

I have about 7 implements for my loader, so the quick attach bucket is also a must for me.

 

[CraigM]

Neal:

I'll look at the pictures for both and make sure. I think that they both are built so that raising them would allow access to the engine. I can forsee lots of on and off for me also, both look like they go on and off pretty easily.

Unfortunately, the quick attach system isn't available on either. I thought about going to the next size up in the Woods line to get the quick attach, but it's enough bigger that it would be too big for my little machine. It could probably be done, but it would be like wearing shoes that were 2 sizes too big.

Thanks for the advice