2007 Bota B26 TLB

[curtisfarmer]

Go with the L48 instead of the L39, only a few more bucks but much more tractor. Regarding the armor, the L48 is much more heavy duty than the B26 or L39. I don't know why Kubota would lower the quality of the armor on their TLB upgrades? Looks like the new L48, the M59, will have the same thin metal as opposed to the hard nose. For me this is a major issue.

 

[gotcha]

Go with the L48 instead of the L39, only a few more bucks but much more tractor. Regarding the armor, the L48 is much more heavy duty than the B26 or L39. I don't know why Kubota would lower the quality of the armor on their TLB upgrades? Looks like the new L48, the M59, will have the same thin metal as opposed to the hard nose. For me this is a major issue.

This post is about B26's and now out of the blue the owner of a L48 comes out saying that it is the best over the L39 and B26. It may just be so, but it is also a lot bigger and maybe not what every individual posting for the B26 really wants or can use.
The Gotcha Man

 

[ultrarunner]

One outstanding feature of the B20/21 is the "Hard" nose or armour. It is built like my Cat D3 and is just about indestructible.

The B26 looks like a very capable machine... not sure why Kubota would make the change to sheet metal?

 

[ultrarunner]

What are B26 users seeing in real world fuel consumption?

 

[curtisfarmer]

My post about the L48 was more geared towards the hardnose of the 1st generation Kubota TLBs and how the 2nd generation have noticably inferior armor......and only echoing sentinment regarding this threads L39 comparison to the B26/1 and the JD 110. The B26 sure looks nice for a small TLB, I like the factory thumb.....but still don't like the thin metal.

 

[gotcha]

One outstanding feature of the B20/21 is the "Hard" nose or armour. It is built like my Cat D3 and is just about indestructible.

The B26 looks like a very capable machine... not sure why Kubota would make the change to sheet metal?

It may be sheet metal, but it is a very small area and it is a lot stronger than what is on you automobile size wise. Just be a bit careful when operating the unit and then you won't have to be worried if it is made out some type of fabric. You use the word armour like you were headed to war.
The Gotcha Man

 

[Chris2520]

The reson , i would rather have the L39 over the L48 is is size.
i want it for personal use . only real advantage i see is one foot on the hoe.
i am sure for a property owner. the 39 will do anything a 48 will. and for me. the L39 is pushing it. as for need. its 40% need and 60% want.... A L39 is a big machine for just a few acers. and thats what i have. and right now till i add on to my garage. the L39 wont fit. so i would haft to put it under my 25x25 carport beside the garage. and a L39 will just bearly fit now. and i have some tight spaces i need to get into. so i dont need any bigger.

Chris....

 

[Botabill]

It may be sheet metal, but it is a very small area and it is a lot stronger than what is on you automobile size wise. Just be a bit careful when operating the unit and then you won't have to be worried if it is made out some type of fabric. You use the word armour like you were headed to war.
The Gotcha Man

When I'm looking for a new tractor I'll be looking for durability. Some may be happy with 'car quality' metal but I want a tough machine. Love my Kubotas but I'll switch in a heartbeat if they don't deliver a tough machine.

 

[curtisfarmer]

I could not imagine how much even a minor collision would cost on one of the new grand L40s with the fancy hoods and lights??? Big bucks I bet. Tractors should be tractors......beefy and strong....not sleek, stylish, ......and weak.

 

[gotcha]

I could not imagine how much even a minor collision would cost on one of the new grand L40s with the fancy hoods and lights??? Big bucks I bet. Tractors should be tractors......beefy and strong....not sleek, stylish, ......and weak.

My tractor is very beefy and strong where it is needed and should be and yet it does have some style to allow for better visibility and if a rock or something else hits it, I sure did something wrong.
The Gotcha Man

 

[curtisfarmer]

"Doing something wrong" and living in the real world where regular, work related **** and wear happens is different than expecting anything less than durable equipment where TLBs belong. People like myself who operate their tractors commercially are usually better operators than homeowners like yourself just because we spend lots of more hours operating them (I am assuming your machine is non-commecial due to size) and experience less "Doing something wrong" incidents that you implied but rather run of the mill work related bumps, dents, and falling rocks kinda run ins that real work entails. Hope you don't expect your B26 to stand up like the B21 in terms of front end protection, but if you are after "style".....you shouldn't anyways. Like that old saying, it is what it is. And in this case, it is less protection for 2nd generation Kubota TLBs. The B26 sure is nice, better than the B21 in most cases, except the front end protection.

 

[machmeter62]

These designing gurus that try to put style into a TLB that operates in a harsh environment, and is rarely used for mowing lawns, should let the engineers design the hoods and rugged appearance too!

Forcing a new purchaser to modify his tractor with "armour plating" reflects the lack of common sense from the manufacturer. I don't know how much the heavy plating adds to the bottom line, but the end result should increase the sales anyway? Who wants to operate a $35,000 investment with the constant fear of having it look like the results of operating in a "destruction derby!" Kubota should get a "wake-up" call!!?

Since we are mainly talking about the front and hood area of the TLB; why not offer both, if a homeowner prefers the softer appealing design? This post is meant for the L26/L39 only.

I still see many B20's-B21's and L-35's in rental facilities, and they have survived a lot of rugged use! Some of these tractors are more than a decade old. Even in the used market, the resale value is still there!

I realize this is the 21st century; but is space age appeal required for diggging and moving dirt? I see the advantage of a sloped hood for visibility for loader work; but a sloped grill to reduce the coefficient of drag too!?

 

[machmeter62]

In the future, if Kubota does offer a option "BOILER PLATE" hood and grill for the buyers on either the B26/L39, assuming the price is nearly the same, the boiler plated one will retain more value I believe when time for resale?

 

[SamWalton]

"Doing something wrong" and living in the real world where regular, work related **** and wear happens is different than expecting anything less than durable equipment where TLBs belong. People like myself who operate their tractors commercially are usually better operators than homeowners like yourself just because we spend lots of more hours operating them (I am assuming your machine is non-commecial due to size) and experience less "Doing something wrong" incidents that you implied but rather run of the mill work related bumps, dents, and falling rocks kinda run ins that real work entails. Hope you don't expect your B26 to stand up like the B21 in terms of front end protection, but if you are after "style".....you shouldn't anyways. Like that old saying, it is what it is. And in this case, it is less protection for 2nd generation Kubota TLBs. The B26 sure is nice, better than the B21 in most cases, except the front end protection.

I don't expect the B26 front end protection to be an issue. Since it features a mechanical spill guard, grill guard and the loader is not to be removed. That is not to say a rock could put a dent in the hood from an overloaded loader. As for the commercial operator I would agree your experience is much greater but your motivation is to make profit and sometime this could be a determining factor in many of these run of the mill work related bumps, dents, and falling rocks? Now I can't speak for the methods of safety related practices during the operation of heavy equipment by others but I myself except the responsibilities and consequences. I don't feel any pressure to operate in any manner other than safe and eventually, hopefully, possibly efficiently. Looking back, I suspect that your tone was somewhat provoked and I don't mean to imply by any means you are an unsafe operator but it may be that possibly for a commercial operator to become so connected with the smooth and efficient operation that safety at least on the run of the mill bump, dent and rock level could become an acceptable trade off. Also I noticed the L48 and the B21 have similar hood designs. What are your thought on the new M59 TLB?

 

[curtisfarmer]

Commercial work just means more hours, and more unintended consequences due to volume. If anything, I believe pro/ commercial operators lile myself are more careful, if I my machines cannot work, neither can I, and that instills responsible operating and watching the bottom line for repairs. Commercial work also entails many more functions and applications than a typical homeowner would expect to encounter. Regardless of how good you are and how safe (safety is ALWAYS 1st) you try to be, there will always be dings, dents, hit stumps, dropped rocks on the stabalizers, sticks jammed through the under carriage, and other mishaps. To me, this is to be expected over the long run, and accepted as part of the job. Take a look at alot of posts of homeowners doing stupid stuff translating into major problems.........people who operate machines often would never put him or herself in that position. Either been there before or maybe was warned by a friends experience, allowing for an avoidable, expensive mistake from happening in the first place. A tractor will never be new forever, but the better armored it is, the longer its durable life will be. My friend dropped his unhooked QA forks on top of his L5030HSTC, major damage. Probably $4-5K. I did the same thing, and the forks bounced off the armored hardnose of the L48, just scratches. Which I painted immediatly as I like my stuff looking good. In summary, I like durable, commercial grade equipment which is matched to the enviorenment it is expected to operate in regularly. Hopefully I don't sound arrogant or off tone, I just want to distinguish between homeowner and commercial expectations.

Regarding the M59, look at the recent M59 thread in this forum, I have detailed my thoughts there. In a nutshell, nice machine, don't like the "style" over hardnose, and too much money for the incremental capabilities of the L48 (other than HST Plus). BUT (and this is important to note), if no L48 existed, I would HAVE to get the M59 as it will be the biggest TLB (under 10k lbs.........so they say)with 3PT hitch which my type of work requires.Check out the thread, very informative.

 

[SamWalton]

Curtisfarmer,
I think that owner\operator's exercise a higher level of responsibility in all aspects of doing business. I also agree the L48 and B21 hood nose is more rigid but I like the smooth hood of the B26. Although our purchase of the B26 was motivated by a combination of its capabilities and low cost for a construction grade tractor, loader and backhoe, we also think it's an attractive design with many useful features. Our intent is to build our new Terra-Dome earth sheltered home. I know the tractor will pay for its self in a relatively short time by taking on most all normally contracted tasks. This way we will have control of schedule, method and quality of work. So with your experience what would you have to say about the B26?​

 

[samofsweden]

Why is it so that that you (at least my self) almost always need to buy a thing and then realize that maybe it was the wrong buy for your self...? I think this is called experience........ and it aint can be bought. I selling my bx24, and I will go for a B26 TLB, I would like to go for the L39 TLB, but it to heavy for trailing (at least in Sweden). I only can carry 2650kg.

 

[dfkrug]

Why is it so that that you (at least my self) almost always need to buy a thing and then realize that maybe it was the wrong buy for your self...? I think this is called experience.

Yeah, finding just the right tractor is tough....and expensive. Sometimes
you have to experience a machine personally, and sometimes you can get
useful info from someone else's experience. (Ain't that what TBN is for?)

Like Sam, I wanted to build my own earth-integrated structure. At the
time I had no tractors, and when I DID build, I hired owner/operators for
most of the excavation tasks. The machines included a Case 850 crawler
TLB, Case 350 crawler TLB, Cat 315 hyd excavator, and mostly a Case
580 TLB. I got my Kubota L2550DT in the midst of excavation, for minor
tasks. If I had to do it over, I would have purchased a CASE 580 4x4 TLB
or similar, then sold it after completion. I then would have bought a CUT
immediately after construction as I now find one indispensible.

 

[ultrarunner]

The only thing stopping me from buying the new B26 is the lack of Armour Plate that the previous models have... otherwise, I'd have one by now...

 

[SamWalton]

Yeah, finding just the right tractor is tough....and expensive. Sometimes
you have to experience a machine personally, and sometimes you can get
useful info from someone else's experience. (Ain't that what TBN is for?)

Like Sam, I wanted to build my own earth-integrated structure. At the
time I had no tractors, and when I DID build, I hired owner/operators for
most of the excavation tasks. The machines included a Case 850 crawler
TLB, Case 350 crawler TLB, Cat 315 hyd excavator, and mostly a Case
580 TLB. I got my Kubota L2550DT in the midst of excavation, for minor
tasks. If I had to do it over, I would have purchased a CASE 580 4x4 TLB
or similar, then sold it after completion. I then would have bought a CUT
immediately after construction as I now find one indispensible.

DFKRUG,
So, did you build your earth-integrated structure. Please provide some details. I researched for years and like the Terra-Dome system. Check out our floor plan and the making of a Terra-Dome document and let me know what you think?