Price Check A decent Kubota price?

coyote_hills · Jul 1, 2005

Hello, this is my first post here and I'd first like to say _thanks_ to this whole community of great people here. You guys have already (in the past few weeks) filled in so many blanks for me and brought many things to light while reading all the posts and answers as I'm shopping for my 1st tractor.

My question is whether a couple of prices I'm getting from my local Kubota dealer are good prices. I'm looking at either the L2800HST or the B3030HST:

L2800 (HST, kubota FEL, Industrial tires) - $15,541 delivered
B3030 (HST, kubota FEL, Industrial tires) - $16,625 delivered

Also... I have about 15 acres of mostly flat pasture to brush hog, a 200' gravel drive to blade once in a while and basic/occasional around the farm, veggie garden, flower beds fel work. Other than the creature comforts of the B series, is there any other reason to spend the extra grand for the B3030 over the L2800?

Thanks!!
Ken

rockyridgefarm · Jul 1, 2005

Hey Ken, great post. I like yoiur screen name too. It describes both YOU and YOUR PROPERTY!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

If it were me, I'd get the B3030. It is their newest refinement. It is more convenient - and safer. And it looks great. I think you are getting a fair price, considering there aren't many around the area, too.

Welcome to TBN!!!!

TonyV · Jul 1, 2005

Hi Ken. Welcome to the forum. I can't speak for the 3030 but the price on the L2800 is right in line with what I was quoted here in Michigan. I ultimately went with the L3400 with gear drive and FEL, and bought a Landpride 72" finish mower as well. That whole package came in at around 18K.
Whichever tractor you decide to go with, you can be assured one thing...it'll be the best tractor you've ever owned. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

...Tony

Highbeam · Jul 1, 2005

I only worry that these machines won't spin a monster brushhog. Mowing all 15 acres will take a good bit of time. I have similar land issues and am looking at the 3430 size machine.

Do the prices quoted include HST tranny? Do you already have the mower?

rockyridgefarm · Jul 2, 2005

Ken, I have been wondering why there has been so little response to your question. I thought it might be because questions of this type might not interest members here. But most usually get a smattering of answers. It could be because the Kubota owners are just confused as to the different models. Nah, they know this stuff inside and out.

Then I realized. The B3030 is radically different than other Kubotas. It has a sloped hood. Like the new Kiotis. And it is Orange like a Kioti. Maybe Kioti makes the B3030. And Kubota owners know it. anso they dont want to answer what seems like a pretty straightforward question...

So the real question, should you get a 'real' Kubota, or a rebranded Kioti?

Bob_Skurka · Jul 2, 2005

The L2800 is, in my opinion the worst Kubota has to offer. For mowing/hogging the worst transmission/pto combination to use is the set up on the L2800. Just the upgrade to a live PTO is probably worth the price difference. But then there is the real position control on the 3pt, the suspension seat, foldable ROPS, easily adjusted rigid sway bars, and the much easier to use extendable lower links.

Add to that the new curved hood that Mike says Kubota stole from Kioti, who by the way stole it from New Holland, and the B3030 is winner of a little tractor. Mike didn't mention that John Deere is now sloping their hoods too . . . and curving their loader arms. In all fairness to Mike, the entire industry seems to be going to curved and sloped hoods, and some are moving toward the curved loader arms.

DK35vince · Jul 3, 2005

My opinion is the B series is too small for 15 acres.
I would want an L-3400 or better yet the L-30 series machine (3130, 3430, 3830) for 15 acres.

rockyridgefarm · Jul 3, 2005

Thanks Bobm that is just the kind of information Ken needs! (Ken is my friend that I have mentioned in several other Kubota posts. If you ask him, I am sure he won't know who i am... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)

I am glad Kubota pointed out the sloping hood. It is definately incremental as far as a change - I might not have noticed. I don't know if you've ever noticed, Bob, but the curved hoods really help forward vision of the loader. You should check it out sometime... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (I was just kidding about the Kioti stuff, I was trying to get some interest going on this question. )

Ken would love to get a Deere 3520 or even a L3430... We know that this machine is on the small side. There are two major factors. Ken's budget (he IS open to donations...) And the fact that he will be doing alot up close to his beautiful home on his picturesce property. The 10-15 acres he will be brush cutting will only be done a few times each year. He doesn't have to commute, and can sneak time out to get a little done from time to time. So we feel the a 5 foot 'hog will do a good job. But any input is welcome!

We even looked at other brands. Ken decided to go HST, due to past experience. Kiotis are only a little higher than John Deere, around here. Mahindra was lower priced, but we prefered the long term history that Kubota has with HST's and the larfe number of dealers. Besides the B3030 beat the Mahindra on several key features.

Boone · Jul 3, 2005

But any input is welcome!

A B7510 HST and a fence around the pasture. Run a couple of head of livestock in and forget about all that mowing.

Bob_Skurka · Jul 3, 2005

<font color="green"> I don't know if you've ever noticed, Bob, but the curved hoods really help forward vision of the loader. You should check it out sometime... </font>

NO, I NEVER NOTICED!!!
But you might want to check this out . . . What Bob didn't notice!

johnday · Jul 3, 2005

Bob; Good shot!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Some how I knew that was on the way. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

coyote_hills · Jul 4, 2005

Thanks for all the replies - I appreciate all the different experienced input. As much as I hate to admit it, Mike is right (ouch) that I'll probably only brush hog the 15 acres 2-3 times a year. The rest of the time will be in moving some dirt around, making jumps for our 4-wheelers & motorcycles /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif scraping the gravel drive once in a while, dragging & pushing burn pile stuff (shrubs, small-medium trees), hauling dirt to flower beds, etc. You know... all that house/farm up-keep general 'stuff'. I'm not planning on going into business with it, digging any huge ponds or pushing over live Sequoyah trees.

Mike is also right that I don't have a work commute - as I tele-commute and have a little slack time now and then... so I don't have to be able to mow 15 acres in less than 20 minutes /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Price is certainly a factor, so I'm trying to get what I __need__ without breaking the bank. As far as non-needed things, I am going with HST. I have two Crafstman riding mowers - one gear and one hst and I can for sure see where it would make a difference on a real tractor (I hate it when salesman at Sears call a riding mower a "tractor" - HAHA).

Bottom-line, before I starting bouncing things off of Mike here, I was actually looking at some of the grey market smaller things. Then Mike slapped me around a little and I gained some knowledge of parts avail, safety, etc. When you compare all the features, support, re-sale, etc across all the brands in the price range I'm needing Kubota just seems to make sense. I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as most of you guys, though, so if I need to also be looking at the NH or Case line, somebody please tell me.

johnday · Jul 4, 2005

Ken; I'm only familiar with the big three, and think they're all nice. The big reason I have a BLUE tractor is the price I get thru my brothers. The Kubota's are very nice, but don't sell the others short until you try them out. The new Case are most likely very good too, at least as good as the NH. I've only seen Kiotis on this forum, but they don't sound bad either. Check them all out if you can. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rockyridgefarm · Jul 6, 2005

Well, Ken went to the auction today. I'll let him post the outcome...

gippolit · Jul 7, 2005

You should be looking at all manufactures not just Kubota. I like Kioti, but I own one. I also really like the JD.

coyote_hills · Jul 7, 2005

Yep - I did it! I bought my first real tractor (not the Craftsman lawn tractor type). I ended up with a Kubota L3710 HST w/ Kubota loader. It has 600 hours on it and is in real good shape, no leaks, runs and sounds tight, smooth and strong. I got it for $13,600 - which I hope is a good price. The only thing that will make it _not_ a good price is if I have it here for a week and something major goes out on it. Then I'll be crying while I'm kicking myself. I have faith in these things, though, and according to the looks of it overall, the breather/filter and fluids, the previous owner took pretty good care of it so I'm hoping I get my money worth.

The 37hp is probably a bit more than I really need here, but, at least I won't be wishing for more hp when cutting that really thick grass down the road, digging out the pond some more, pushing around dead trees, etc, etc.

As soon as I get it home, I'll snap some pics and post them.

GaryE · Jul 7, 2005

Ken,

Does not sound like a bad deal. I have a L3710 also. I think you will be real happy. Not to say a "Craftsman lawn tractor" does not have it's place. In fact today my lower field was still so wet I did not dare to cut it with my 3710. So I used my GT-5000 (Sears) to cut the waist high grass.... Needed to use the 3710 to pull it out of the mud!

Good luck with the L3710... They are built to last.

Gary