Almost There...

[zimmer]

Hey everyone,
First I appreciate the information on this forum, and it has allowed me to research quite a bit on my own regarding a tractor purchase. I frequent firearm forums for the same info-gathering so I was pleasantly surprised to find this community online.
I would like to list my work requirements, land distribution, and final 3 choices for compact tractors and then read some of your suggestions based on your experience.
I grew up farming in Iowa so I know my way around large tractors/machinery, but we never had a need for compact tractor so I have no first hand knowledge with them.

I need a tractor to mow, help clean stalls, haul class 5/gravel, move rocks/wood, and keep 300ft of gravel road free of snow in winter (which in MN this year feels like it will never end).

15 acres broken down this way:
4 acres mowed (rolling hills)
1-2 acres tilled for garden/vegetables (new this year)
3 acres in pasture for sheep and dairy goats
4 acres in ponds/marsh
2 acres trees

Here are my choices for tractors and pricing (All New):
1. B2920 $17,500
- FEL (800lb 50") and 60" MMM
2. B2630 $20,000
- FEL (900lb 60") and 72" MMM
3. B3200 $20,000
- FEL (1100lb 60") and 72" MMM

All have been priced to inlcude the FEL and MMM. I plan to use the 0% 36 month financing so based on that there would only be an $80 upcharge per month if I went with the 2630 or the 3200.
Based on the information above, what would you choose? I like the idea of the bigger frame tractors, but the 2920 is a little lighter/smaller but does that even matter?
I am struggling to find a reason why the larger framed tractors would be worth the extra $2500 or so - and maybe they are, but hopefully you all can let me know your thoughts.

I have a Kubota/Bobcat dealer 1 mile from my house (and I like to keep my $ local if at all possible), so I am not interested in any other brands.

thanks in advance for your help (and for reading my long post)

 

[easygo]

Sounds like you have both your free time and hard earned money spoken for. That said it also sound like you are having fun. If it were me and there were no other choices I'd get the B3200 if the extra $ wasn't a big deal.

On the other hand. If you are seriously considering the B2920 I would suggest to look at the B2620 really close. It has all the same features and loader capacity as the 2920 but 3 fewer HP. I could hardly justify the extra $ because the 2620 will do the EXACT SAME GOOD JOB and you would hardly miss the HP. It would probably save enough money so you could use it to get the first implement or two.
You may be able to bargain for the 17.5K price with a 60" snowblower included.
Just and idea. Either way you should be satisfied. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[radioman]

If you can, go with the largest mower deck you can use easily. You sound like you definately could use the extra time saved mowing for other tasks based on the tasks you have on the list. However, IF you need a tractor that is heavier for tree work and maintaining the driveway wheather its snow or gravel, I'd go with the larger unit, just for better traction.

 

[amigauser]

I would go with option #2 - B2630.

I previously owned a B3030 and I was happy with it. I never had any issues. The B2630 has the delux features like the tilt steering wheel and 3 pt hitch position contol along with telescoping lower links. It should run the 72" mid mower deck fine. The larger mower will help with the 4 acres of mowing.

If you think you may have some rear PTO needs were HP would matter such as running a chipper or rear cutter then option #3 B3200 would give you both a PTO HP boost and machine HP boost but you would loose the delux features mentioned above.

Any of the "B'''s would probably do what you want. Heavier is generally better in a tractor, especialy for ground engagment type tasks and pulling. All three should be about the same as far as manuverability goes.

 

[ChuckinNH]

+1 on what easygo said. In the smaller B20x0 series, I would go with the B2620, and actually I did. I can't usually get all the hp that I have to the ground with the R-4's that are on it. If it bogs at all, dropping down a range cures that! If I felt I needed more hp, I would go with the B3200. For box blading, and other ground engaging tasks position control doesn't make life a lot easier. I would like it for using the rotary cutter, but one can adjust the lower limit of the 3pt with a wrench on those tractors with "1/4 inching". The other thing to look at is how easily the mower decks install / remove since you are going to be using one tractor for everything. I would have the dealer go through that with both types you are looking at since they are different. I guess the 72" mmm is a drive over, but most don't use that function on that deck for some reason. The install / removal of the 60" inch deck on the smaller B series looks pretty painless. Turning radius is about the same on both size tractors, but the larger B's are definately larger / higher. All things to think about, but fun to think about too!

 

[medicshawn]

My opinion is bigger is better, unless you need smaller for clearance, weight or money. The bigger machine will let you run bigger implements, haul more and lift more. You should be able to do the same amount of work in less time.

 

[Bird]

The one thing I'd do differently is to skip the MMM and instead get a 3-point mower. It's a matter of personal preference and I can understand why some prefer the MMM, but it's specific to that model tractor. What if you want to trade someday? You need to trade both tractor and mower together and a potential buyer might be like me; wouldn't have a MMM. The rear mower can be used on different tractors, initial cost is usually less, quicker and easier to hook up and unhook, easer to lift high enough to see the bottom to see if it needs cleaning, easier to clean if it does need it, easier to get to the blades if they need sharpening, and easier to back under bushes, shrubs, or fences.

But, yes, for some the MMM advantages of making the overall rig shorter to fit into some places, the ability to just look down by your feet to see how close the edge of the mower is to a building or other obstacle may make your preference different from mine.

 

[zimmer]

thanks everyone for the feedback - these are exactly the type of responses I was hoping for.
I am leaning toward the larger tractors, and of the 2 large frames, the B3200 feels like a better choice - or at least satisfies that pull for more HP.
I have to say "feels like" a better choice because of course I have no practical experience with these compacts...its just hard to break that "bigger is better" mentality that I had growing up with larger equipment.

I wont be running anything I can think of off the rear pto except for a tiller, as I can keep the gravel road back to the barn in pretty decent shape with a harrow and bucket

As for the rear mower, I agree there are advantages to having one (that is all we used growing up for cutting ditches, etc), but a couple years ago I took out a 5 year pine with my atv-towed swisher by not paying attention to a corner. Since that experience, I like to keep my mower under my feet where I can keep an eye on it.

I dont think I will go with a cab (even though the weather up here can be distasteful) because honestly, I really enjoy any excuse I can get not to answer my blackberry! In fact, that is also one of the benefits I enjoy most about my jeep - too noisy to use the cell phone.

Now I do expect all these prices to have some room in them to move, because I would think that the biggest customer right now for equipment is agriculture, and I don't imagine they are buying compacts. The landscapers, excavation outfits, etc that I know up here in MN are VERY SLOW and have been for almost 9 months or more. So like the auto industry there should be some deals just to move units off the lot.

In some respects, I am finding that shopping for a Kubota is a lot like shopping for TVs at BestBuy - its easy to nitpick and compare when you have 20 right in front of you to look at - but when you decide and take it home, the comparisons stop because what you have is what you have.
I am having fun though and with the reviews and research I did on this site, I am sure that whatever tractor I go with will do fine.
thanks again for the responses,

tom

 

[kenmac]

If I were in the market for another tractor today I would check into this........2008 kubota MX 5100 w/ LA844 Loader....my wife would kill me

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Just purchased a B3200 FEL at Barlows. It was quite a bit less than the prices you quoted. I didn't get the MMM but even if I had the price from Barlows was much less. You have quite a bit of land and looks like several uses now for a tractor but with that much land your needs can change so considering that I will recommend the highest HP B3200.