Comparison/Reccomendations requested

[TheSpoon]

I'm in the market for MY first tractor. Grew up running an 8N. My wife and I recently moved to 10 acres. About 6/3/1 woods/field/lawn. I have a small craftsman rider that I plan on using for our lawn, so finish mowing isn't a concern. What I do plan on doing though is:

- Grade/Plow 1000' driveway
- Brush hog 3 acres. This will become a small (very small) orchard with small (400-100 sq/ft) garden.
- Clear fallen trees and cut trails through the 6 acres of woods

What I think/know so far. I don't want a JD. I've mostly looked at Kubota's and have priced out a couple options.
L3301/R4 tires/FEL/66" SSQA bucket/72" Grading Scraper/60" rotary cutter w/slip clutch (Tier 4 diesel)
L4600/R4 tries/FEL/72" Light Material SSQA bucket/84" Grading scraper/72" rotary cutter w/slip clutch (Tier 3 diesel)

I'm fairly certain the 4600 is going to be more than I need. However, there is only a $4k price difference and from what i gather, less trouble since it's still tier 3 (and I've never heard anyone said they wish they bought "less" tractor).

There are Kioti, New Holland, LS, and Mahindra dealer pretty close to me, and a Massey Ferguson relatively close.

So, I ask. What other brands/models should I look at? I'm willing to spend the money on the Kubota, but also don't want to rule out any good competition.

Thanks,
Nelson

 

[TSO]

Look at ALL of the brands near you!

I think that the L3301 is the perfect size for your property, and there will be comparable machines from all those brands you list. They are all good enough to own.

Of those brands you mentioned, that Kubota will likely have the least features and shortest warranty, and dollar for dollar will be the lowest on the "bang for your buck" meter.

LS will probably be the highest "bang for your buck," with Kioti being a close second.

You will find that all of those machines will offer something slightly different, better, worse, etc... Find the one that feels the best under your butt.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

If you shop from home with an Excell spreadsheet you'll not want to look at Kubota. Kioti (the only other brand you listed I know fairly well) make a good tractor and are very adept at matching Kubota's models and adding more bells and whistles for less money. What you give up is the dealor network, possibly some better engineering, the truly great Kubota insurance, and customer service.
This of course just my opinion and I probably know less than many others on this forum.

 

[paulfun9]

You should look at them all and buy the machine that fits you and your needs the best!

They all make a very good machine and you will be happy with any of them.

 

[teg]

I would read about and look at a L2501 and put the savings into Top and Tilt hydraulics for the 3ph and a grapple for the front. You'll have a much more useable tractor for the money... :2cents:

 

[TheSpoon]

Thanks for the suggestion and it got me thinking a bit more. I probably won't go so low as the 2501, but it does make me lean towards the smaller L3301 or an LS XR series and a few more attachments.

 

[jenkinsph]

Curious why you won't consider Deere?

 

[TheSpoon]

Mostly a cost issue. For the smallest 3 series with the same setup as the kubota its looking like it's around $5k more.

I also understand many shy away because the engines (or whole tractor) in this range are farmed out to Yanmar.

 

[DavesTractor]

Mostly a cost issue. For the smallest 3 series with the same setup as the kubota its looking like it's around $5k more.

I also understand many shy away because the engines (or whole tractor) in this range are farmed out to Yanmar.

I don't sell them, but I am a big fan of the Yanmar engines. They can't be beat. As to the JD's being costly, no doubt you are right, except for the economy models and then it is not an apples to apples comparison. Many good brands to choose from today.

 

[jenkinsph]

Mostly a cost issue. For the smallest 3 series with the same setup as the kubota its looking like it's around $5k more.

I also understand many shy away because the engines (or whole tractor) in this range are farmed out to Yanmar.

You should compare real quotes between dealers as I would be surprised if there was that much difference in money. Yanmar is good stuff too, most brands today are a mixture of parts from different manufacturers, what matters is the quality of these parts. Kubota does build most of their tractors in house which I consider a good thing. I find that most of the brands are good today. I just found it unusual that you excluded Deere from the outset but ended by saying you did not want to rule out any good competition.

I still recommend you look closely at all the brands you can find and get quotes on the out the door price.

 

[rScotty]

I still recommend you look closely at all the brands you can find and get quotes on the out the door price.

When we retired to a forested small acreage my wife insisted that we get a brand new tractor with a backhoe to maintain and improve the land......get the kind of machine I had always wished for. I agreed, and then had the brainstorm to add that my condition was that we shop for it together. The upshot was we spend an enjoyable summer going to a different dealer about once a week. Started with JD, but eventually went everywhere except Kubota - which I considered a bit of an upstart. Lots of dealers in a 100 mile radius here. Just for fun, we also looked to the big kids: Case, JCB, and Cat. Those Cats are luxurious! New ones have comfortable seating for two. One of the oddest tractors we saw was a Zetor which featured a truely nice cab, built in air compressor, and wrap around seating for passengers! Do they take the family into town in the tractor in Zetorville??

Finally pulled into Kubota almost as an afterthought after months of looking and immediately saw their demo M59 TLB with backhoe, thumb, 3 point hitch, 27 hours, multi-range HST, and set up with most extra options.... Wow! That was nearly ten years ago. It's simply been a wonderful machine. Powerful, well-balanced, and dependable. Extremely high quality of manufacture. Only compromise is that in the winter I wish it had a cab although in the summer it's better without one.
Hope you find what you want. As for us, we'd buy that same Kubota M59 all over again without any changes. In spite of being used often and hard it still works as good as new. A keeper for sure; but it wasn't cheap.
have fun with the search,
rScotty

 

[TSO]

When we retired to a forested small acreage my wife insisted that we get a brand new tractor with a backhoe to maintain and improve the land......get the kind of machine I had always wished for. I agreed, and then had the brainstorm to add that my condition was that we shop for it together. The upshot was we spend an enjoyable summer going to a different dealer about once a week. Started with JD, but eventually went everywhere except Kubota - which I considered a bit of an upstart. Lots of dealers in a 100 mile radius here. Just for fun, we also looked to the big kids: Case, JCB, and Cat. Those Cats are luxurious! New ones have comfortable seating for two. One of the oddest tractors we saw was a Zetor which featured a truely nice cab, built in air compressor, and wrap around seating for passengers! Do they take the family into town in the tractor in Zetorville??

Finally pulled into Kubota almost as an afterthought after months of looking and immediately saw their demo M59 TLB with backhoe, thumb, 3 point hitch, 27 hours, multi-range HST, and set up with most extra options.... Wow! That was nearly ten years ago. It's simply been a wonderful machine. Powerful, well-balanced, and dependable. Extremely high quality of manufacture. Only compromise is that in the winter I wish it had a cab although in the summer it's better without one.
Hope you find what you want. As for us, we'd buy that same Kubota M59 all over again without any changes. In spite of being used often and hard it still works as good as new. A keeper for sure; but it wasn't cheap.
have fun with the search,
rScotty

The m59 us an awesome machine. My previous issues with it was that it didn't come with a factory cab. However, I was BS'ing with the local 'Bota dealer recently, and he claims that the new version (replacing it for 2016 I believe) will offer the cab. If true, that could be the ultimate compact machine.

 

[rScotty]

The m59 us an awesome machine. My previous issues with it was that it didn't come with a factory cab. However, I was BS'ing with the local 'Bota dealer recently, and he claims that the new version (replacing it for 2016 I believe) will offer the cab. If true, that could be the ultimate compact machine.

Yes, that was my issue with the M59 too. A cab gets you away from the noise and exhaust fumes as well as the weather. But now that we have one tractor with a cab and one without I'm seeing some things that hadn't occurred before. An awful lot depends on the work to be done and the way a particular cab is built. Sitting in one open place working the backhoe or when pushing snow around I'd love a cab. But for working close to house or in an area with lots of trees the open station is way more convenient and safer too. Plus just flat being nicer for half the year.

What I'm saying it it isn't simply that a cab is better. I once thought it was, but not always. Sometimes the cab just gets in the way, and yet there it stays because it's impossible to remove. Given the choice, I'm not sure which way I'd go brand new. Well, probably a cab, but it wouldn't be the first thing on my list. More important things are a seat that pivots, an exhaust that throws noise and fumes away from the operator, a FEL bucket that pivots back far enough to see the load along with an engine hood shaped so as to let you see into that bucket in use, and a thumb on the BH. And HST.
Enjoy, rScotty

 

[Parkanzky]

Mostly a cost issue. For the smallest 3 series with the same setup as the kubota its looking like it's around $5k more.

I also understand many shy away because the engines (or whole tractor) in this range are farmed out to Yanmar.

When I was shopping for tractors, I compared Kubota and Deere and after incentives and a bit of negotiation they were within a couple hundred dollars of one-another OTD. In the end, I bought the one that "felt right."

 

[RollingsFarms]

I recently bought a Kubota in the size you're looking at and after comparing it to the John Deere 3032/3038 it was a no brainier. I own ALL John Deere tractors too, except for this Kubota and one Ford. If you end up looking at the Deere, I hope you will skip the 3032/3038 and just compare the 3M or 3R. I am not saying the 3e is a bad tractor but the design is just awful. They cut way too many corners when trying to make a "value tractor" and ended up making a cheap tractor. The 790/990/3005/4005 were far far better tractors and built much much better. Why they couldnt stick a hydro on them and call it a day I don't know but the 3e line is not a good replacement for them at all. In my opinion anyways, that's what I noticed the many times I looked them over when visiting my Deere dealership.

 

[k0ua]

Look at ALL of the brands near you!

I think that the L3301 is the perfect size for your property, and there will be comparable machines from all those brands you list. They are all good enough to own.

Of those brands you mentioned, that Kubota will likely have the least features and shortest warranty, and dollar for dollar will be the lowest on the "bang for your buck" meter.

LS will probably be the highest "bang for your buck," with Kioti being a close second.

You will find that all of those machines will offer something slightly different, better, worse, etc... Find the one that feels the best under your butt.

I am pretty much in this camp also. Lots of good brands to look at and consider. I am very pleased with my Kioti, as are many LS, Mahindra and Massey owners. Consider them all including the Kubota's you mentioned before making your decision.

 

[jenkinsph]

When we retired to a forested small acreage my wife insisted that we get a brand new tractor with a backhoe to maintain and improve the land......get the kind of machine I had always wished for. I agreed, and then had the brainstorm to add that my condition was that we shop for it together. The upshot was we spend an enjoyable summer going to a different dealer about once a week. Started with JD, but eventually went everywhere except Kubota - which I considered a bit of an upstart. Lots of dealers in a 100 mile radius here. Just for fun, we also looked to the big kids: Case, JCB, and Cat. Those Cats are luxurious! New ones have comfortable seating for two. One of the oddest tractors we saw was a Zetor which featured a truely nice cab, built in air compressor, and wrap around seating for passengers! Do they take the family into town in the tractor in Zetorville??

Finally pulled into Kubota almost as an afterthought after months of looking and immediately saw their demo M59 TLB with backhoe, thumb, 3 point hitch, 27 hours, multi-range HST, and set up with most extra options.... Wow! That was nearly ten years ago. It's simply been a wonderful machine. Powerful, well-balanced, and dependable. Extremely high quality of manufacture. Only compromise is that in the winter I wish it had a cab although in the summer it's better without one.
Hope you find what you want. As for us, we'd buy that same Kubota M59 all over again without any changes. In spite of being used often and hard it still works as good as new. A keeper for sure; but it wasn't cheap.
have fun with the search,
rScotty

I worked a job for a friend of mine in Durango with my 110 a couple of months ago. Thought about you while I was there. I have recommended the M59 several times recently and recognize it as a good machine. I bought my 110 loaded with a Laurin cab and have no regrets about it. The new replacement for the M59 with cab should be a nice tlb for sure.

 

[mike69440]

Curious why you won't consider Deere?

You own some of the better Deere models under 100 HP, but in general, I do not think in general the smaller Deere are a value (Kioti etc) or match Kubota in quality. Big Deeres are nice machines.