Best bang for under $20K

[stoyan79]

Finally decided to pull the trigger on a tractor. This will be my first tractor.
Since everybody I know owns a Kubota and swears by them, I didn't even look at other brands.

I've looked for a used one for a while, but it seems that everybody asks arm and a leg for their 10 years old Kubota. It is now obvious to me that tractors do not loose value like cars, therefore I decided to buy a new one.

I fell in love with Kubotas when I played a bit with my father in law's BX2360, so I decided its time to get one for me.

Set a limit of $20K to spend.

After looking at several models, it seems like best bang for $20K is a L3800 with a 524 front loader.

A buddy who is in the know told me - buy the biggest you can afford and make sure you get a loader, but don't buy other attachments as you can get those @ Tractor Supply or used much cheaper.

So, I think I am getting an L3800 with a loader for $20K.

Guys, please give me your thoughts as I am 100% newbie with tractors. Am I on the right track?

Since #1 task would be pushing snow what is the best way to push snow with an L3800?

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Finally decided to pull the trigger on a tractor. This will be my first tractor.
Since everybody I know owns a Kubota and swears by them, I didn't even look at other brands.

I've looked for a used one for a while, but it seems that everybody asks arm and a leg for their 10 years old Kubota. It is now obvious to me that tractors do not loose value like cars, therefore I decided to buy a new one.

I fell in love with Kubotas when I played a bit with my father in law's BX2360, so I decided its time to get one for me.

Set a limit of $20K to spend.

After looking at several models, it seems like best bang for $20K is a L3800 with a 524 front loader.

A buddy who is in the know told me - buy the biggest you can afford and make sure you get a loader, but don't buy other attachments as you can get those @ Tractor Supply or used much cheaper.

So, I think I am getting an L3800 with a loader for $20K.

Guys, please give me your thoughts as I am 100% newbie with tractors. Am I on the right track?

Since #1 task would be pushing snow what is the best way to push snow with an L3800?

It all depends on what you need the tractor for. Probably the best way to deal with a lot of snow is a snoblower, then a front snow blade, then a back blade then your loader bucket, depends on how much you have to do. Give us more details about what your goin to use it for and you will git all the input you need.

An advantage of buying your implements from the dealer along with the tractor is you can usually finance them right along with the tractor and at 0% interest it makes sense to finance.

You arent the Bulgarian swimmer of Coos Bay are you?

 

[RoMad]

How much driveway do you have and how much snow do you get? What else are you going to do with it? For me buying the most HP for the money would not be especially good. I mow in some tight areas, and clean a pig pen and barn stalls. For what I do I like the small size of my tractor. I would like a little more HP but I would not want to move up in weight and size very much at all.

 

[keyman1808]

I agree it is going to depend on what you want it to do, where your doing it and what kind of terrain. If it's got lots of hills that you may need to drive across rather than straight up or down then a L may not be the right choice due to the much higher COG. That's wherever BX would be better. But if you need a large FEL capacity then a B or the L would be better. Bigger is not always better but it would be faster because it can take more in the loader and use larger attachments. A good description of what want to do and what the terrain is like will be needed for a much better recommendation.

 

[stoyan79]

Bulgarian born, but not a swimmer.

I am in NW Indiana, so we get lots of snow. I will clean a large lot (300'x200') and my 200' long driveway.

Dealer suggested a box blade that connects to the frontloaders bucket @ $2K cost.

 

[bp fick]

I am spoiled rotten. I had a BX with a hydraulic, total control front blade. Unstoppable.

The trouble with most blades I've seen on the loader arms is you cannot pivot them left and right. Big pain. Better than nothing, but no hydraulic front blade.

If you are serious about setting a budget limit, there's no sense getting all gaga over a particular tractor until/unless you price the actual attachments that make it work, snowblower, blade, Front End Loader, mowing decks, rear mowers, blades, etc. Someone once said a tractor is just an engine on wheels. It's the attachments that do the work.

It is not unheard of to spend as much on attachments as the bare tractor costs. Mostly? There's a lot of truth in that statement.

BTW, does that L model have a silky smooth 3 point valve? You'd wanna check that out.

 

[stoyan79]

We get a lot of lake effect snow from lake Michigan and it is not unusual to wake up, and have problems opening your front door. That is why I think I need heavier tractor that has enough horses to push a lot of snow.
Besides, 23 horse BX with loader is $15K, 38 horse, new model L3800 with loader is only $5K more, so it looks like I am getting twice the tractor for 30% more money.

What would be best bang for the bug attachment to push snow for the L3800?

 

[bp fick]

Does Kubota even offer the L3800 with a front snowblower? A quick look at Kubota.com didn't offer me one on "build my Kubota". Am I missing something?

 

[Verticaltrx]

If snow removal is a top priority then you really need a front hydraulic angle blade or a front mounted blower. To keep within your budget this would mean a B3200 or B3300su. The next size up with front mount attachments is the Grand L series and just the tractor alone is almost your whole budget.


You could get a B3200 or B3300 with BOTH a loader and a 60" full hydraulic front blade for under $20K.

What are some of the other tasks besides snow removal that you will be doing?

 

[dex3361]

I would check with Brady at Barlow tractor and see what kind of deal he could work up for you. Barlow tractor is located in KY and they sell all over the US and have about the best prices that I have seen. Barlow Tractor
I have never been to the lot or met anybody but the delivery guys but I have bought 2 tractors and some equipment from Barlows and they are great to deal with.

 

[timswi]

Bigger is not always better. I have a few acres and my previous 8N was more of a hinderance than a help...My BX23 is perfect for me...Just food for thought.

 

[stoyan79]

Why does Kubota offer the front hydraulic blade on the Grand Ls, but not on the rest of the Ls???

I will call the dealer and ask if they can get me the blade they offer on the Grand Ls for the L3800 as it seems like this is the way to go.

If snow removal is a top priority then you really need a front hydraulic angle blade or a front mounted blower. To keep within your budget this would mean a B3200 or B3300su. The next size up with front mount attachments is the Grand L series and just the tractor alone is almost your whole budget.


You could get a B3200 or B3300 with BOTH a loader and a 60" full hydraulic front blade for under $20K.

What are some of the other tasks besides snow removal that you will be doing?

 

[bp fick]

Why does Kubota offer the front hydraulic blade on the Grand Ls, but not on the rest of the Ls???

I will call the dealer and ask if they can get me the blade they offer on the Grand Ls for the L3800 as it seems like this is the way to go.

The issue, I believe, is the mid pto to drive front snowblower, anyhow. Some of these models do not have a mid pto. Blowing snow with a blower is not always a lot of fun without a cab. The cab/blower combination would likely blow your stated budget. Don't know why the front blade isn't listed for these L's. I'll be interested to hear what your dealer has to say.

 

[kiotiken]

I'm not sure why you've only looked at Kubota. There's no doubt you can buy a really nice Kubota ($$$), but if it's the most tractor for under $20K you're looking for, you're looking in the wrong spot.
I've now been a tractor owner for almost 2 years (still a newb). My first tractor was a used JD 955 cab with 33hp with 1800 hrs. I knew nothing about tractors and only looked at the "name brand" tractors. I actually bought my 955 from a Kubota dealer. Like any tractor, and especially any older tractor, I had lots of tinker time to learn how it was all put together and how to fix it. I finally had enough and decided to buy new.
I to looked at Kubota, but I also took the time to research as many other brands as I had local dealers to buy from. This included JD, Landini (now a blue Kioti, but not then), Case, Kioti, Branson etc. I made a list of what specs were important to me in a tractor and put them side by side.
You will find that plowing snow is very much dependent on traction which is much more dependent on weight than hp. The L3800 is not a very heavy tractor when compared to others in the same class (over 1000 lbs less than a Kioti DK40 for example). The other important factors you might be interested would be total hydraulic flow, loader lift, loader height (if you leave it on while clearing snow, this makes a BIG difference), and PTO hp if you'll be using a snow blower or other attachments.
I live in Ottawa. We can get ALOT of snow. Because my wife told me my new Kioti TBL was my birthday, Christmas, valentines day, fathers day etc present, I haven't bought an inverse snow blower for it YET. In the mean time, I use a back blade for snow, and it works very well, you just can't wait until there's 2 ft of snow on the ground with 3ft drifts. I leave the FEL on the tractor and use it for pilling. This is a very effective and cost effective way to clear snow, it just take a little longer (which makes me happy because I get more seat time). I agree with other posts, a snow blower is really the way to go. I'd also never spend the money on a front plow set up since it will be the same price or more as a blower.
My 30 hp Kioti CK30 is at LEAST twice the tractor that my 33 hp JD 955 was. If I was blinded by brand name and bought a new JD, I would have missed out on a much more capable tractor and paid a little more for it.
Here's the worksheet I developed while shopping once I narrowed my search down a little. I'd seriously suggest you make one of your own and be patient in your purchase. This thing will last your life time if you want it too, so a few extra weeks getting it right now will be more than worth it.

 

[Machold]

Move down a notch to the B series, less money but more left over to add the attachments you want or need. The B3030 is a little workhorse.

 

[Kyle241]

You can move snow in many ways, some more convenient than others. I have and still do use a blower on my current 300+ feet of driveway and used to use it on my 1000ft driveway at my old place. It's attached to my PTO so yes I have to look behind me when I'm blowing. Not hard but can be a little sore on the neck especially on the long driveways. The BEST is a blower on the front attached to your loader however there are extra costs involved compared with on the back. If you get a lot of snow, a blower is the best regardless whether it's front or back however a blade can do well but you need somewhere to push the snow (same as with the bucket).

Personally, I like the L3800. Decent power, good size tractor at a decent price. As others have noted, the 3pt hitch has been known to be 'jerky' though. The B3200/3300 someone else recommended is not a bad idea either. Any future plans other than snow removal for the tractor? You'll find once you have one, you'll think up a lot of things to do.

 

[jimrs]

If your lot is 200 X 300 with nothing on it a L might be good but if you have a house, outbuildings and trees and stuff it might be too big. I just worked my neighbors yard same size and my B was as big as I would want to try and deal with on a lot this size. Mine is the smallest of the B's and worked perfectly on his yard. I leveled out his back yard with the box blade. 200 X 250 with trees and outbuildings. Oh yea a seawall with a 6 foot drop into the dry lake bed.

 

[Chilly807]

I have an 09 L3400 which gets used for snow removal, among other jobs.

I have a couple hundred feet of driveway, it has zero problems with clearing that using a rear blade and the bucket. The first year was bucket only, took a bit longer and not as pretty a job.

Like a couple others have pointed out, the three point hitch on the economy L-series is pure poison, and the dealer has no cure for it. I say there's no cure, since Kubota refuses to acknowledge the problem. A few dealers have worked outside the corporate box to fix their customers' tractors, but not many. Before you part with a single penny, try putting an implement like a box blade or rear blade on the 3 point hitch, raise it slowly, try for an inch at a time. Then try a Kioti or a Deere. You'll see what I mean.

A search here will show you some interesting reading.

Other than that, they are a very good compact tractor.

Sean

 

[number two]

Why does Kubota offer the front hydraulic blade on the Grand Ls, but not on the rest of the Ls???

I will call the dealer and ask if they can get me the blade they offer on the Grand Ls for the L3800 as it seems like this is the way to go.

The front blade is used with the quick-hitch subframe.The quick hitch is also used with the front snowblower and rotary broom,with the addition of the mid-pto(driveshaft)as well.My guess is Kubota hasn't bothered to engineer a quick hitch for the "economy" L series tractors since they don't offer a mid PTO.Most likely very little demand.

 

[johnrex62]

I would not completely rule out other brands at this point, but I also went with Kubota and bought my L3700SU last year for about your price point. My outfit purchased was the tractor, front end loader, 5' rotary mower, 5' boxblade, landscape rake, metal sun roof and kubota insurance.

Often the dealers can throw attachments in to make the deal at very low cost if you are not hung up on brand names or colors. All of my stuff is Ag Armstrong or Ag-Meier brand attachments rather than much more pricey Landpride stuff.