B7800 vs. B2630

canoetrpr · Sep 6, 2005

I'm interested in hearing your opinions on one vs. the other.

I'm completely new to tractors. Just bought 26 acres. 10 of it is forest and I plan to leave it that way. Of the 16 acres left, all is pasture. The land is flat.

I plan to mow about 3 acres of the pasture regularly. The rest (13 acres I will bush hog monthly or so in the summer. A 5ft bush hog is what I was hoping to have along with a 60" MMM.

In the winter they will be snowblowing. Not sure if my blower will be front or rear mounted. Don't know the advantages of one over the other. My drive way is about 100 feet.

I don't believe I see a need for a FEL in my case. I don't plan on doing much more than I have listed above.

Do you think either of these machines is better for the applications I have listed?

I have not driven either yet. Is there anything particular that I should pay attention to when driving to compare them to each other.

cart99 · Sep 6, 2005

Specifically for bush-hogging (I've bush-hogged with 5' with both the B7800 and B2630/3030), the B2630 will have 4 things going for it that the B7800 does not:

1. true position control - figure out which height number is correct, set the 3ph position there every time and mow away. With the B7800 you have just an up/down lever, and will have to turn around and eyeball the bush-hog each time to figure out where to move it, and then tweak it occasionally as you mow. This by itself was enough to convince me.

2. telescoping 3ph - personal experience with both tractors - the telescoping feature will cut your 3ph attach time in half (on average 10 minutes vs. 20)

3. independent PTO - with the B7800 you have to stop, clutch and engage/disengage. With the B2630/3030, all you do is push the lever.

4. 8.1 gallon fuel tank versus 6.9 on B7800.

The B2630/3030 has several other nice features as well. (sloping hood, better chair, better hydro pedal, nicer deck, cupholder, nicer instrument panel, etc.)

However, the B7800 has 2.5 more PTO HP than the B2630. I would recommend you also consider the B3030. All the features of the B2630, with the B7800's larger engine. It actually gives you 1 more PTO hp (23 vs. 22) than the B7800.

A couple other things of note...

Seriously consider the FEL. I wanted one from the beginning, but I am STILL surprised at just how much I can do with it. Anything you would use a trailer for. Hauling firewood out of your woods? Moving snow that the blower can't handle? It's really an incredible tool. It will also do a good job of counter-balancing the weight of the bush-hog.

One more thing: There has been a lot of talk about a vibration issue on the B3030. I'm pretty sure my tractor has the issue, but frankly I wouldn't have even thought about it without reading it here. Regardless, Kubota is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. I still don't consider this a big deal (apologies to those that do)

Bottom line, all three are great tractors.

canoetrpr · Sep 6, 2005

cart99:

Thank you for your informative reply.

I started off looking for a used machine and found out how little they tend to depreciate, and how tough it was to get what I needed used in my local area. I've pretty much decided on new. The B7800 / B2630 are really streching my budget. I had originally been recommended the B7610 by one of the local dealers here and figured that the B7800 was worth the extra money over the 7610.

Sounds like the 2630 can do everything the 7800 can and more. The only difference I see is the lower HP. Given your experience with both of them - do you think I am going to notice this in the applications I am putting them to? Will the extra 4 hourses allow me to mow my 3 acres or bush hog my pasture any faster? Sounds like either will pull a 5ft brush hog.

If a FEL is truly as important as most say it is, it might be easier for me to justify streching things further and going with the 7800 with the FEL, as it is a bit cheaper than the 2630.

If I wasn't already so streched I'd be going for the B3030, but I've got to stop somewhere

.

mathteacher · Sep 6, 2005

I have a B7610 and you would be stretching it. But only in the time it takes to do the job. Nothing that you mentioned is something that it can't handle but Kubota does recomend a 4 foot brush hog. Though, lots of people here say that they use a 5 footer.

If it came to the fact that I would have to get a B7800 with a FEL verses getting a B2630 without a FEL. I would get the B7800. I don't think that people understand the usefullness of one (FEL) until they use it.

I only take care of about 10 acres with my 7610 but there are a lot of times that I wish I had bit the bullet and got the B7800. Especially when I am working on my 1500 foot driveway.

But whichever tractor that you pick, It is the right color.

Donald B.

strokerduster · Sep 6, 2005

canoe, i considered the three choices you are. i picked up my b3030 last week and have about six hours so far. it is smooth, quiet, comfortable and powerful. the hst is a must in MY opinion. the 72"mmm is as easy to use as the 60" and trimming around my trees (lots) is a snap.turning radius is very good in 2wd. after having a fel, you would not consider doing without. you have many uses that you don't even know. i was pulling cedar stumps tonight. i understand it has to stop someplace but i believe i have found an ideal combination for MY needs. i don't think you could go wrong with any of the choices but i believe the price difference is worth it for the 2630/3030.

cart99 · Sep 7, 2005

I reached the same conclusion on used vs. new and bought new. They just don't depreciate enough to make used look like a good deal in most cases.

Looking at all you posted and your concerns on budget, I think your best bet would be the B7800 w/FEL. The single most important thing about a tractor is how useful it is. And in terms of usefulness, a FEL will serve you infinitely better than the niceties of the B2630 if you must choose one over the other. The first time you use the FEL for anything serious, you will crack a big goofy smile and thank yourself profusely for buying it. (well maybe that's just me)

However, if you still decide to go with the B2630, I think the HP would be fine for what you intend to do.

Some FEL stuff I've done (only 16 hours on my tractor)...

lifted the rear blade out of the pickup truck they delivered my tractor with

dug up some stumps and smoothed over the remaining dirt

created a tractor wide path over a dry ditch

hauled firewood to the wood pile from a tree that fell in my field

pick up piles of raked grass from my yard (faster than the trailer I have for my riding mower since its same capacity and I could unload it without getting off)

dug up/knocked down heavy brush (blackberry bushes and honeysuckle, grapple allowed me to pick the stuff up too, but that's more $$$)

levelled the newly cleared area to park boat trailer on

and that's with only 16 hours, most of which was mowing!

AlbertaKubota · Sep 9, 2005

I own a B7800 (200hrs) and I like it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif If I was you I would go for the B2630/B3030. CART-99 described the difference and they are worth every penny. Also go for the FEL. Without a FEL your tractor is not a real tractor. I have 40 acres and when I bought the tractor I thought I would use the mower mostly. That was not the reality. I use the FEL more then any other implement. Now tasks around the house are done faster and you can do more yourself.
They only negative thing is that the B7800 (and B2630) are very tippy. My land is very un-even and it tipped once. Very scary. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Filling the tires can solve this but I haven’t found a company yet that can foam-fill my tires.