Best roughly 30hp kubota tractor for mowing on hills

[candersen10]

What would people recommend as a roughly 30 hp tractor (preferably Kubota) for mowing steep hills, running a snow blower, and using with a FEL.

 

[skidoo]

How do you define Steep?

 

[JDL538]

Kioti ck 30,very fine tractor for the money, Kubota,deere,don't compare when you look at price.

 

[Altex]

What would people recommend as a roughly 30 hp tractor (preferably Kubota) for mowing steep hills, running a snow blower, and using with a FEL.

Don't know much about snow as I'm down south. But, for Mowin on Hills and FEL, I recommend L3400 or L4400 with 4WD and HST. If price is not a problem, you can go up to the Grand L's (3240 or 3540) for the extras.

I've got hills and my 3400 HST 4WD does fine. Also, get the Ag tires for more traction.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have a B3030HSDC which is great for snowblowing and FEL operation. I don't do any steep hill mowing, but the cab is nice as it will keep the pollen out if you set the air conditioning up right for mowing.

 

[candersen10]

Is it possible to get very wide wheel spacing on a Kubota B3200? Also, does anyone know if FOPS are available?

 

[flusher]

Is it possible to get very wide wheel spacing on a Kubota B3200? Also, does anyone know if FOPS are available?

Here are specs for that B3200

TractorData.com Kubota B3200 tractor dimensions information

This question of mowing on steep hills comes up a lot on TBN. Here's my take on rollover stability.

My 1964 MF-135 diesel has a squat setup for orchard work. The rear axle centerline is 20" high and the distance between the outer walls of the rear tires is 83", which gives an 83/20= 4.15 aspect ratio.

It would take some doing to roll this particular 135 unless your hills are exceedingly steep, in which case you should probably forget about mowing with a standard tractor.

When you go tractor shopping, take your steel tape along and measure these dimensions. Anything much below 3.5 AR to me is getting tippy.

But like a lot of things in life, it's different strokes for different folks. Last year I bought a 1951 Farmall Super A with a belly mounted sicklebar mower. Axle height is 20" and tire width is 63" giving an AR of 3.15. The seller works for CalTrans and this tractor was used for highway mowing including steep sections near overpasses. He told me that he never rolled that Super A, but came close several times.

Since rollover is a safety concern, I would give it top priority when you are looking at tractors.

 

[Altex]

Here are specs for that B3200

TractorData.com Kubota B3200 tractor dimensions information

This question of mowing on steep hills comes up a lot on TBN. Here's my take on rollover stability.

My 1964 MF-135 diesel has a squat setup for orchard work. The rear axle centerline is 20" high and the distance between the outer walls of the rear tires is 83", which gives an 83/20= 4.15 aspect ratio.

It would take some doing to roll this particular 135 unless your hills are exceedingly steep, in which case you should probably forget about mowing with a standard tractor.

When you go tractor shopping, take your steel tape along and measure these dimensions. Anything much below 3.5 AR to me is getting tippy.

But like a lot of things in life, it's different strokes for different folks. Last year I bought a 1951 Farmall Super A with a belly mounted sicklebar mower. Axle height is 20" and tire width is 63" giving an AR of 3.15. The seller works for CalTrans and this tractor was used for highway mowing including steep sections near overpasses. He told me that he never rolled that Super A, but came close several times.

Since rollover is a safety concern, I would give it top priority when you are looking at tractors.

Your squat/orchard tractors are great with the wide axles. But they are 2WD. How would they handle on hills or in the snow with hills? I would think with any hill slopes and snow, 4WD would be a necessity. Also, I think HST would be better on hills. Gear in neutral on a hill could cause trouble. I agree that the wider axles inprove the situation, but there are other factors to consider.

 

[flusher]

Your squat/orchard tractors are great with the wide axles. But they are 2WD. How would they handle on hills or in the snow with hills? I would think with any hill slopes and snow, 4WD would be a necessity. Also, I think HST would be better on hills. Gear in neutral on a hill could cause trouble. I agree that the wider axles inprove the situation, but there are other factors to consider.

I tend to agree with you about the virtues of 4WD and HST.

I had both in a 2005 Kubota B7510HST. But I wouldn't trust that 7510 for mowing steep hills. A little too tippy for my taste. First give me a low-sitting tractor with a wide wheel track and then add the 4WD and HST.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Is it possible to get very wide wheel spacing on a Kubota B3200? Also, does anyone know if FOPS are available?

Kubota has a wheel spacer kit that moves the rear wheels out some, 1 1/2" on each side I think, but could be wrong about that. Folks say that it helps a lot. I may put a set on my B2620, but for chain clearance more than stability since I'm pretty comfortable with the way it is now.