Best bang for under $20K

stoyan79 · Sep 21, 2011

Finally decided to pull the trigger on a tractor. This will be my first tractor.
Since everybody I know owns a Kubota and swears by them, I didn't even look at other brands.

I've looked for a used one for a while, but it seems that everybody asks arm and a leg for their 10 years old Kubota. It is now obvious to me that tractors do not loose value like cars, therefore I decided to buy a new one.

I fell in love with Kubotas when I played a bit with my father in law's BX2360, so I decided its time to get one for me.

Set a limit of $20K to spend.

After looking at several models, it seems like best bang for $20K is a L3800 with a 524 front loader.

A buddy who is in the know told me - buy the biggest you can afford and make sure you get a loader, but don't buy other attachments as you can get those @ Tractor Supply or used much cheaper.

So, I think I am getting an L3800 with a loader for $20K.

Guys, please give me your thoughts as I am 100% newbie with tractors. Am I on the right track?

Since #1 task would be pushing snow what is the best way to push snow with an L3800?

tungularafishcamp · Sep 21, 2011

stoyan79 said:
Finally decided to pull the trigger on a tractor. This will be my first tractor.
Since everybody I know owns a Kubota and swears by them, I didn't even look at other brands.

I've looked for a used one for a while, but it seems that everybody asks arm and a leg for their 10 years old Kubota. It is now obvious to me that tractors do not loose value like cars, therefore I decided to buy a new one.

I fell in love with Kubotas when I played a bit with my father in law's BX2360, so I decided its time to get one for me.

Set a limit of $20K to spend.

After looking at several models, it seems like best bang for $20K is a L3800 with a 524 front loader.

A buddy who is in the know told me - buy the biggest you can afford and make sure you get a loader, but don't buy other attachments as you can get those @ Tractor Supply or used much cheaper.

So, I think I am getting an L3800 with a loader for $20K.

Guys, please give me your thoughts as I am 100% newbie with tractors. Am I on the right track?

Since #1 task would be pushing snow what is the best way to push snow with an L3800?

It all depends on what you need the tractor for. Probably the best way to deal with a lot of snow is a snoblower, then a front snow blade, then a back blade then your loader bucket, depends on how much you have to do. Give us more details about what your goin to use it for and you will git all the input you need.

An advantage of buying your implements from the dealer along with the tractor is you can usually finance them right along with the tractor and at 0% interest it makes sense to finance.

You arent the Bulgarian swimmer of Coos Bay are you?

RoMad · Sep 21, 2011

How much driveway do you have and how much snow do you get? What else are you going to do with it? For me buying the most HP for the money would not be especially good. I mow in some tight areas, and clean a pig pen and barn stalls. For what I do I like the small size of my tractor. I would like a little more HP but I would not want to move up in weight and size very much at all.

keyman1808 · Sep 21, 2011

I agree it is going to depend on what you want it to do, where your doing it and what kind of terrain. If it's got lots of hills that you may need to drive across rather than straight up or down then a L may not be the right choice due to the much higher COG. That's wherever BX would be better. But if you need a large FEL capacity then a B or the L would be better. Bigger is not always better but it would be faster because it can take more in the loader and use larger attachments. A good description of what want to do and what the terrain is like will be needed for a much better recommendation.

stoyan79 · Sep 21, 2011

Bulgarian born, but not a swimmer.

I am in NW Indiana, so we get lots of snow. I will clean a large lot (300'x200') and my 200' long driveway.

Dealer suggested a box blade that connects to the frontloaders bucket @ $2K cost.

bp fick · Sep 21, 2011

I am spoiled rotten. I had a BX with a hydraulic, total control front blade. Unstoppable.

The trouble with most blades I've seen on the loader arms is you cannot pivot them left and right. Big pain. Better than nothing, but no hydraulic front blade.

If you are serious about setting a budget limit, there's no sense getting all gaga over a particular tractor until/unless you price the actual attachments that make it work, snowblower, blade, Front End Loader, mowing decks, rear mowers, blades, etc. Someone once said a tractor is just an engine on wheels. It's the attachments that do the work.

It is not unheard of to spend as much on attachments as the bare tractor costs. Mostly? There's a lot of truth in that statement.

BTW, does that L model have a silky smooth 3 point valve? You'd wanna check that out.

stoyan79 · Sep 21, 2011

We get a lot of lake effect snow from lake Michigan and it is not unusual to wake up, and have problems opening your front door. That is why I think I need heavier tractor that has enough horses to push a lot of snow.
Besides, 23 horse BX with loader is $15K, 38 horse, new model L3800 with loader is only $5K more, so it looks like I am getting twice the tractor for 30% more money.

What would be best bang for the bug attachment to push snow for the L3800?

bp fick · Sep 21, 2011

Does Kubota even offer the L3800 with a front snowblower? A quick look at Kubota.com didn't offer me one on "build my Kubota". Am I missing something?

Verticaltrx · Sep 21, 2011

If snow removal is a top priority then you really need a front hydraulic angle blade or a front mounted blower. To keep within your budget this would mean a B3200 or B3300su. The next size up with front mount attachments is the Grand L series and just the tractor alone is almost your whole budget.

You could get a B3200 or B3300 with BOTH a loader and a 60" full hydraulic front blade for under $20K.

What are some of the other tasks besides snow removal that you will be doing?

dex3361 · Sep 21, 2011

I would check with Brady at Barlow tractor and see what kind of deal he could work up for you. Barlow tractor is located in KY and they sell all over the US and have about the best prices that I have seen. Barlow Tractor
I have never been to the lot or met anybody but the delivery guys but I have bought 2 tractors and some equipment from Barlows and they are great to deal with.