New to tractors and heard a rumor about Kubota

[Wishing2play]

I am looking into tractors for a farm/apple orchard I want to start (80 acres or so). I liked how the Kubota seemed to have more features/implements for different operations than advertised with other brands. The rumor I heard is that Kubota equipment is not usable on other tractors due to a different connection system. So if I were to get a second tractor of a different brand, I wouldn't be able to use any of the implements from the Kubota. Is this fact or complete fiction?

As for implements, I will be getting a loader, disk, planter, and hay equipment. All on the smaller side so that I can run them between the rows of apple trees. Is this feasible or should I just resign to the fact that I may be buying multiple units or a completely different tractor? I was asking about the Kubota because of their work with veterans to farmers program. I have a father and brother-in-law who claim Kubota are hard to kill so it made me curious as well.

Thanks

 

[jeff9366]

I am looking into tractors for a farm/apple orchard I want to start (80 acres or so). I liked how the Kubota seemed to have more features/implements for different operations than advertised with other brands. The rumor I heard is that Kubota equipment is not usable on other tractors due to a different connection system. So if I were to get a second tractor of a different brand, I wouldn't be able to use any of the implements from the Kubota.

Balderdash.

Tractors all have the same, standardized connections to implements, called a (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch. All compact tractors have the same, standardized Power Takeoff as an integral part of the standardized (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch.

Before 1955, when Ferguson's patents expired, this was not universally true. Since 1955, tractors all over the world have the (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch. No one has been able to invent anything superior which the market will accept.

Disregard input from whoever fed you this totally incorrect information.

 

[jeff9366]

As for implements, I will be getting a loader, disk, planter, and hay equipment. All on the smaller side so that I can run them between the rows of apple trees. Is this feasible or should I just resign to the fact that I may be buying multiple units or a completely different tractor? I was asking about the Kubota because of their work with veterans to farmers program. I have a father and brother-in-law who claim Kubota are hard to kill so it made me curious as well.
Thanks

The higher volume tractor brands offer narrow Vineyard & Orchard tractors configured for narrow rows and hills. Vineyard & Orchard tractors are a small segment of the tractor business. If you desire a narrow, low center-of-gravity/extra stable tractor you will pay 25% to 35% more per unit of weight and horsepower for tractors in the Vineyard & Orchard category. Vineyard & Orchard tractors often have specialized components for high volume spraying.

You can use a standard width tractor if you plant your trees spaced appropriately. Most 25-hp to 45-hp tractors sold today leave the dealer with a loader. Disc Harrows are offered by nearly every implement maker. Lower weight/horsepower tractors are narrower than heavier, more powerful tractors.

Generally speaking:

25-hp tractors = 48" wide.

30-hp to 40-hp tractors = 60" wide

45-hp to 50-hp tractors = 72" wide.


Haying equipment is specialized and requires multiple implements. It is impossible to raise hay profitably except on a scale larger than eighty acres if buying new equipment. Forget the idea of eight or twenty acres of hay AND profit.

Prudence and experience of the operator determines how hard tractors are to kill. Tractors operated by owners have fewer repairs and fewer operator injuries than tractors operated by employees. Kubota and Deere are renowned for parts continuity and availability ~~ but that is a different issue.

You should spend some time on one of your family's tractors. You will learn more in one day actually operating a tractor, under supervision, than in months here.

As you may or may not know, Kubota has a national distribution facility under construction in Kansas. Kubota is in the process of buying Land Pride implements, a high volume, broad line, implement manufacturer located in Kansas.

 

[nybirdman]

Second this for sure from Jeff9366.On the front of the tractor(FEL)you can get the Skid Steer(SS) and use any implements that use this connection(not the hydraulic driven stuff) buckets,forks,grapple ect.You wouldn't have enough hydraulic flow to run say a post hole digger(front).

 

[newbury]

I am looking into tractors for a farm/apple orchard I want to start (80 acres or so). I liked how the Kubota seemed to have more features/implements for different operations than advertised with other brands. The rumor I heard is that Kubota equipment is not usable on other tractors due to a different connection system. So if I were to get a second tractor of a different brand, I wouldn't be able to use any of the implements from the Kubota. Is this fact or complete fiction?

There is specialized "Kubota equipment" but for the most part implements rely on rather "standardized" connections IF you plan in advance.
One that IMMEDIATELY comes to mind is the Kubota quick attach for the smaller tractors.
To quote James:

Now some of the smaller B series Kubotas have a proprietary Quick Attach bucket. That is more in keeping with their reduced lifting specifications. <snip>

IF you choose Skid Steer Quick Attach (SSQA) you will be compatible with much of the rest of the universe.

As for implements, I will be getting a loader, disk, planter, and hay equipment. All on the smaller side so that I can run them between the rows of apple trees. Is this feasible or should I just resign to the fact that I may be buying multiple units or a completely different tractor? I was asking about the Kubota because of their work with veterans to farmers program. I have a father and brother-in-law who claim Kubota are hard to kill so it made me curious as well.

Thanks

You should resign yourself to getting more tractors With 80 acres you might even end up with three

There are several other brands worth looking at and for the most part all "modern" tractors in the size you need can pretty much interchange implements within their size class.

 

[DT86]

The grey market tractors have reverse rotation pto. I'm betting his "rumor" has to do with that.

 

[k0ua]

It is called FUD. Fear Uncertainty Doubt. A common sales tool. Utilize FUD to create a conflict in the customers mind so that you can sell them something else. "no you don't want them, they utilize non standard implements".. uh huh... nevermind...

 

[Wagtail]

Balderdash.

Tractors all have the same, standardized connections, called a (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch. All compact tractors have the same, standardized Power Takeoff as an integral part of the standardized (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch.

Before 1955, when Ferguson's patents expired, this was not universally true. Since 1955, tractors all over the world have the (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch. No one has been able to invent anything superior which the market will accept.

Disregard input from whoever fed you this totally incorrect information.

Hogswallop! And I agree... however,

The information was probably referring to the Front End Loader (FEL) connection 'system'. I know that my JD FEL uses a JD specific configuration and my attachments for it are configured as such. But, JD (as others) offer a SSQA.

Anyway, welcome to TBN Mate from Downunder.

 

[RickB]

The grey market tractors have reverse rotation pto. I'm betting his "rumor" has to do with that.

Was going to post something similar till I found this; now I'll simply agree.

 

[RickB]

Hogswallop! And I agree... however,

The information was probably referring to the Front End Loader (FEL) connection 'system'. I know that my JD FEL uses a JD specific configuration and my attachments for it are configured as such. But, JD (as others) offer a SSQA.

Anyway, welcome to TBN Mate from Downunder.

Deere is unique in demonstrating the level of arrogance necessary to cling to proprietary coupler systems. They aren't even compatible with different series of their own loaders. I was involved with a farm that had 540 and 741 loaders. Not compatible. When we bought a 3720 the sales guy insisted we could not get SSQA on that loader until I gave him the bundle number for the ecoupler. Then I had to buy a bucket elsewhere as nothing suitable was offered by Deere.

 

[rbargeron]

Few food crops are in the process of changing as completely as apples. Spend some time with R&D orchards at Agricultural colleges near you. You'll see what the new trellis planting methods are and the machinery and methods required to support them. The tractors needed are somewhat down the list of capital investment decisions.

 

[Wagtail]

Deere is unique in demonstrating the level of arrogance necessary to cling to proprietary coupler systems. They aren't even compatible with different series of their own loaders. I was involved with a farm that had 540 and 741 loaders. Not compatible. When we bought a 3720 the sales guy insisted we could not get SSQA on that loader until I gave him the bundle number for the ecoupler. Then I had to buy a bucket elsewhere as nothing suitable was offered by Deere.

I would say that "arrogance" is a fairly strong word when the addition of a SSQA to my 300CX FEL would be an additional 132 pounds of weight. Which is 132 lbs less maximum lifting capacity. I've only got two implements for my own FEL, a combination bale-spike/forklift and a 4in1 bucket... both are non-JD manufacture and fit perfectly.

I can't really comment on the twit of a salesman you dealt with except to say/repeat that he was a twit. I will say that it's almost a mantra, here on TBN, that the reputation/support of the individual dealership (the first impression being their salesman) is paramount. With your described experience, I would've walked out the door too. Where I live, my dealership knows me by name & backs me up, even though I've got a small tractor. I'm fortunate in that regard.

 

[Rustyiron]

Deere is unique in demonstrating the level of arrogance necessary to cling to proprietary coupler systems. They aren't even compatible with different series of their own loaders.

:thumbsup::laughing:
You got that right! what is funny is that JD does build skid steers/ctl's, and has a full line of ssqa attachments on their yellow equip. (construction) side.

 

[aczlan]

I would say that "arrogance" is a fairly strong word when the addition of a SSQA to my 300CX FEL would be an additional 132 pounds of weight. Which is 132 lbs less maximum lifting capacity. I've only got two implements for my own FEL, a combination bale-spike/forklift and a 4in1 bucket... both are non-JD manufacture and fit perfectly.

Is that weight additional over no QA, or additional over a Deere proprietary QA?

Aaron Z

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Few food crops are in the process of changing as completely as apples. Spend some time with R&D orchards at Agricultural colleges near you. You'll see what the new trellis planting methods are and the machinery and methods required to support them. The tractors needed are somewhat down the list of capital investment decisions.

I spent the day at my states ag center this week. They are pushing new planting techniques as mentioned above. They are really big on tall spindle on trellises. They are planted very close together. They are also pushing different root stocks. Geneva series dwarf. I just put in 385 M111. My biggest reason was drought tolerance. When I asked about water consumption at the test farm I was shocked. They water these 2 year old trees twice a week for a 2 acre plot. Using 10,000 gallons each time. That is 10,000 gallons per acre per week.

 

[JWR]

I am looking into tractors for a farm/apple orchard I want to start (80 acres or so). I liked how the Kubota seemed to have more features/implements for different operations than advertised with other brands. The rumor I heard is that Kubota equipment is not usable on other tractors due to a different connection system. So if I were to get a second tractor of a different brand, I wouldn't be able to use any of the implements from the Kubota. Is this fact or complete fiction?

As for implements, I will be getting a loader, disk, planter, and hay equipment. All on the smaller side so that I can run them between the rows of apple trees. Is this feasible or should I just resign to the fact that I may be buying multiple units or a completely different tractor? I was asking about the Kubota because of their work with veterans to farmers program. I have a father and brother-in-law who claim Kubota are hard to kill so it made me curious as well.

Thanks

That rumor is pure bunk. No validity whatsoever. I have had Deere dealers quietly tell me off to the side that some Kubotas turn the PTO the opposite direction (which was irrelevant bull from 40 years ago and not an honest current problem.) Which ever responder said that equipment incompatibility accusations are largely dishonest marketing is exactly correct. The 3pt lift, PTO, etc. are ALL standardized. Kubota was several years ahead of the rest in supplying skid-steer compatible loader quick attach paddles for buckets etc. as their most common configuration. That opens up 10 to 20 times the number of things you can put up front (including an endless variety of buckets.) I don't have the experience to tell whether you can justify a "narrow" or specialty model of tractor for vineyards or not. Suggest you talk to other vineyard people. You may have justification for a narrow model besides your "normal" utility tractor& if so do not worry. The implements are all compatible UNLESS an implement was made for a specific tractor.

 

[DK35vince]

Kubota was several years ahead of the rest in supplying skid-steer compatible loader quick attach paddles for buckets etc. as their most common configuration.

I ordered a skid steer QA and bucket on my 2001 Kioti DK.

 

[Wagtail]

Is that weight additional over no QA, or additional over a Deere proprietary QA?

Aaron Z

A JD compatable SSQA weighs 132 lbs. The JD attachment configuration is a, sorta, scoop it up at the top then lift so the pins engage, then drop locking pins in. It's not automatic, just like a SSQA you're going to have to get off your backside and secure/lock-in the implement.

 

[DT86]

So, does the ssqa actually weigh 132# or what?

 

[TomSeller]

I spent the day at my states ag center this week. They are pushing new planting techniques as mentioned above. They are really big on tall spindle on trellises. They are planted very close together. They are also pushing different root stocks. Geneva series dwarf. I just put in 385 M111. My biggest reason was drought tolerance. When I asked about water consumption at the test farm I was shocked. They water these 2 year old trees twice a week for a 2 acre plot. Using 10,000 gallons each time. That is 10,000 gallons per acre per week.

I have a few dozen apple trees on M111, I like that rootstock. Nowhere near the 385 as you have. They can grow to near seedling size as I am sure you know. Very hardy.