Buying Advice Recommendations for first tractor (Kubota)

[NPurdy1112]

Hello everyone. I have been browsing for a month. And I think we are getting closer to pulling the trigger on a property and then a tractor. Currently I have only talked to a Kubota dealer. My fiances parents would most likely disown us if we got anything else, haha. He recommended that we talk to his guy just over the state line (to avoid paying sales tax. Is that a common thing to do?).

• Current use would be property maintenance.
• 10 total acres of pasture. Front is fenced.
• Fencing rear pasture in future.
• Wooded section between pastures. (house has supplemental wood burner).
• Gravel driveway (~600') maintenance.
• Animals in the near future. (Chickens, goat, mini/mid sized cattle).

Property layout (inside the yellow):



I have talked to the Kubota dealer multiple times. We have talked everything from a BX to a L2501. I would like to keep the price under $20k after incentives and rebates. A BX is going to be way to small. A larger B (2650 or even 3350) seems to be stuck at the top of my list, along with the L2501. Dealer told me the L2501 has about $2500 in rebates PLUS the implement incentives. I am highly considering the L2501 unless I can be talked into something else.

Items we are wanting on any model would be; Quick attach FEL and HST transmission at a minimum.

Please let me know what information I am forgetting that anyone may need to give advice.


Thank you,
Nick

 

[rustyshakelford]

This will be a pivotal moment for you. It's time to establish yourself as the man of the household and do exactly the opposite of what your future FIL wants. He will respect you more for it. He wants his daughter to be with a leader. Don't fail the test. Get a Deere and make him jealous!

Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

Oh yeah. You almost never hear someone saying they wish they had a smaller tractor. Figure the one that will work for you and go up two sizes minimum.

Brett

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

This will be a pivotal moment for you. It's time to establish yourself as the man of the household and do exactly the opposite of what your future FIL wants. He will respect you more for it. He wants his daughter to be with a leader. Don't fail the test. Get a Deere and make him jealous!

Brett

A man after my own heart.

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

A man after my own heart.

With that being said, if it was between a Deere and Kubota in that HP class, I wouldn't start a family feud over those two choices. Either one will do the task for many years. Honestly I might even let my wife pick out the one she likes the best; on a purchase like this I would rather have her on my side than against me. Makes buying attachments much easer in the future.

 

[rustyshakelford]

With that being said, if it was between a Deere and Kubota in that HP class, I wouldn't start a family feud over those two choices. Either one will do the task for many years. Honestly I might even let my wife pick out the one she likes the best; on a purchase like this I would rather have her on my side than against me. Makes buying attachments much easer in the future.

Haha. Exactly. Both are great tractors in that size and really up to atleast 50hp

brett

 

[NPurdy1112]

hahaha Good ice breaker guys.

If I had more background knowledge on tractors I would be more open with other brands. But they will be a big source of everything tractor for us until we get the hang of it.

I have priced and compared green vs organge, but online only. Even the Kubota dealer said if I get anything else to go green. I was surprised he even mentioned those words haha.

Personally I dont care what color the tractor is. I just want a reliable machine that will get the job done and at a reasonable price (to us).

Without having any experience I feel like a larger B series (2650) could get the job done. But if there are more rebates on the L2501 then why not? I dont think the L3301 or similar is in our budget new.

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

You are responsible for Indiana state sales tax if if tractor is purchased out of state. Many, however, dodge this obligation and get away with it. Others are caught and have to pay sales tax and a fine.

A more serious infraction is your potential FIL recommending this practice to you. Not something to be communicating on a web forum. EDIT.

He is right in everyway, but deals are done like this everyday. I think the risk is very low of what "might" happen if you are a betting man.

 

[rustyshakelford]

hahaha Good ice breaker guys.

If I had more background knowledge on tractors I would be more open with other brands. But they will be a big source of everything tractor for us until we get the hang of it.

I have priced and compared green vs organge, but online only. Even the Kubota dealer said if I get anything else to go green. I was surprised he even mentioned those words haha.

Personally I dont care what color the tractor is. I just want a reliable machine that will get the job done and at a reasonable price (to us).

Without having any experience I feel like a larger B series (2650) could get the job done. But if there are more rebates on the L2501 then why not? I dont think the L3301 or similar is in our budget new.

What's the price difference between the 2501 and 3301? When you talking this kind of money, I can always justify by saying we will just skip going out to eat on night a month and there's the $50 I needed to get what I want. It's far cheaper to buy it once, than buy it twice. This is the most important thing I can tell you. I work with a guy that has 5 acres. Bought a 2501, used and abused it for two years. Finally realized it was to small and now he has an mx5200. He loves it and wished he bought it first. You can buy impliment off CL and save tons of money vs buying new at the dealer

Brett

 

[NPurdy1112]

He is right in everyway, but deals are done like this everyday. I think the risk is very low of what "might" happen if you are a betting man.

Agree 100%. Kind of like paying your state tax on anything you purchase online. I cant say I know anyone who claims that on their taxes each year.

 

[NPurdy1112]

What's the price difference between the 2501 and 3301? When you talking this kind of money, I can always justify by saying we will just skip going out to eat on night a month and there's the $50 I needed to get what I want. It's far cheaper to buy it once, than buy it twice. This is the most important thing I can tell you. I work with a guy that has 5 acres. Bought a 2501, used and abused it for two years. Finally realized it was to small and now he has an mx5200. He loves it and wished he bought it first. You can buy impliment off CL and save tons of money vs buying new at the dealer

Brett

Straight from Kubota to keep things even;

L2501 HST, 4wd, ROPS, R4, FEL with quick attach and 66" bucket, and cruise control $22,285

L3301 HST, 4wd, ROPS, R4, FEL with quick attach and 66" bucket, and cruise control $25,355

 

[rustyshakelford]

Straight from Kubota to keep things even;

L2501 HST, 4wd, ROPS, R4, FEL with quick attach and 66" bucket, and cruise control $22,285

L3301 HST, 4wd, ROPS, R4, FEL with quick attach and 66" bucket, and cruise control $25,355

So almost exactly $50! If that's what you want, skip chilis or Texas Roadhouse and get it! After a few months of making the note you'll adjust and be good

Brett

 

[NPurdy1112]

So almost exactly $50! If that's what you want, skip chilis or Texas Roadhouse and get it! After a few months of making the note you'll adjust and be good

Brett

That is a good plan. And good thing the property is more rural with much less options to eat out than current. I will need to see what real world prices and payments would be. I dont want to be paying $400/mo for a tractor. Sure it would be worth it, just not in the budget. I already need to figure in the kubota insurance.

 

[jeff9366]

KTAC insurance will be $400 per year (+/-).

 

[Citydude]

Make sure you compare the PTO horses between the 2501 and the 3301 if you are planning on PTO powered implements. The 2501 is a tad light in that area for the size of frame it has.

 

[NPurdy1112]

KTAC insurance will be $400 per year (+/-).

How do you pay that? Monthly, lump sum yearly, or rolled into loan?

 

[whitexc]

Not sure on the Kubota insurance but I was quoted $22/mo for whatever Mahindra offered. I am not sure of the coverage there but State Farm quoted me $21/mo for the 1538 I am looking at.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

How do you pay that? Monthly, lump sum yearly, or rolled into loan?

Standard is it's rolled in monthly but I think you could do lump sum.

The L2501 gets nearly universally high praise on TBN. Be sure to price with FWA (4x4), HST, and SSQA loader. At least one rear remote would be on my list too.

 

[WVH1977]

From what you have posted, there seems to be a lot of things taking place in the near future for you (all good things). Wedding, buying house with land, and a new tractor. If I were you, I would take one thing at a time. It can be pretty stressful and exciting buying a new property, especially if you have never done so before. I would put all my focus on that first then worry about the tractor. You mentioned a budget. Once that house payment starts coming monthly including utility bills and everything else that comes with homeownership, it might take a few months to adjust to that, unless you are already doing this now with an existing home. If you immediately add a tractor payment to that it has the possibility to get even more stressful. It seems like you already have thought/planned these things out, just would hate to see someone get in over there heads with debt. Especially if you are just starting out, which seems like you are doing. Again, I am just guessing that is what you and your future wife are doing.

As far as tractors go I think you will be fine with the L2501 or L3301 for the money you are looking to spend. Like Citydude said, if you will be doing any brush cutting and/or tilling you will need to take into consideration the PTO hp. Good luck to you and your fiancee on your new future. I wish you the best.

 

[Brazos by Nemo]

I bought a 2501DT (not HST) for my 11 acres and it is perfect. It's a solid tractor and the right size for the amount of land I have. I considered the 3301 but the emissions stuff scared me off. The 2501 has plenty of hp for the weight of the tractor. The few additional hp of the 3301 wouldn't help without more weight. I do agree the PTO output on the 3301 would be the biggest advantage but I haven't needed it so far and not sure I ever will.