Best upgrade from a Kubota L2800

[neilbedwell]

As the title says, I’m looking to upgrade from my L2800 Kubota.

To be honest,there’s nothing wrong with my tractor - it only has a little over 250 hours and has been shed kept.

Wife and I moved onto 12 acres a couple years ago and I brought the little Kubota here when we came. I run a 5 ft bush hog to cut the field.

So, the thing is that the tractor just feels small now. I routinely run out of lift capacity with the loader. I’ve got several projects going and several planned that will require the use of my tractor. It takes about 8 hours to completely mow the field with my bush hog.

I would love to have a tractor with a bigger mower but everything new that I’m looking at is $40k and up and all I really get for that is a 6 ft bush hog instead of my 5ft. That’s not enough of a gain to justify the cost. I’m not opposed to buying used but I don’t have time for a project or something that will need constant tinkering. I had a 1957 Massey TO35 that burned me out on the constant tinkering.

Wife wants to keep the L2800 because she says it’s easy to drive and she likes it - she says it’s hers, lol.

I’d like to find something under $30k that would run at least a 7ft Bush hog. I don’t care about 4wd or a loader bucket on this one.

Any suggestions? Am I just better off sticking with my L2800 and spending the time it takes?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[sea2summit]

How mechanically inclined are you? You could easily get into a 80hp+ IH for half your budget that would mow with pretty much anything you could put behind it. Not sure what your other projects are but just use the L28 and take those projects a little slower. Tractors are very inefficient lifters with the FEL and you have to spend a lot to get very few more lbs of FEL capacity.

 

[Roadworthy]

Can you borrow a six foot brush hog? It's possible your existing tractor would handle it just fine. If so simply sell the five footer, buy a six and you just saved several thousand dollars.

 

[Seven Gables]

If a 2wd no loader tractor is all you need there are lots of low houred used or even new up to 50-60 hp tractors available for under 30k

 

[Thomas]

Had L2800 HST with 5'mower never had failure comfortable to use,traded with 261 hours.

Lot of good used 2wd tractors higher horse power popping up at auctions.

 

[Yander]

There are some used deals out there. Here is one that is a lot of tractor for the money and low hours. You may have to drive a bit to get them but they are out there. They still aren't lasting too long if they are a good deal.

 

[Yander]

This 50hp listed 18 hours ago. He's probably already getting messaged. Won't last

Edit: Oh but it looks like gear drive.

 

[jeff9366]

Kubota L2800​

2004 - 2010 Standard L Series Compact Utility tractor

Kubota L2800 Power
Engine (gross):	29 hp 21.6 kW
Gear PTO (claimed):	24 hp 17.9 kW
Hydro PTO (claimed):	22.5 hp 16.8 kW

Kubota L2800 Weight
2WD gear :	2359 lbs 1070 kg
4WD gear :	2536 lbs 1150 kg
4WD hydro :	2600 lbs

Kubota LA463 Loader
Height (to pin):	95.3 inches 242 cm
Reach at ground:	64.5 inches 163 cm
Breakout force (at 500mm):	1,858 lbs 842 kg
Lift to full height (at pin):	1,142 lbs 518 kg
Lift to full height (at 500mm):	853 lbs 386 kg
Bucket width:	60 inches 152 cm

 

[jeff9366]

1) I routinely run out of lift capacity with the loader.

2) I’d like to find something under $30k that would run at least a 7ft Bush hog.
I don’t care about 4wd or a loader bucket on this one.

You need to clarify in your own mind your tractor needs for the long term.


Wife and I moved onto 12 acres.
Here is a mowing calculator:

Mowing Calcuator | How many acres can I mow in an hour

www.landscapecalculator.com

Not surprisingly, if you increased your mower width from 5' to a 10' double spindle rotary cutter your should be able to mow your field in four hours. For a 10' mower I would buy a 60-horsepower tractor.


Most here will recommend a 3,700 pound to 4,000 pound bare weight tractor for twelve (12) acres. If you want to pull a wide Rotary Cutter you will need at least 50-horsepower, better 60-horsepower. FEL lift capacities will exceed one ton in every tractor brand.

4,000 pound bare weight model vs 5,000 pound bare weight model:

5,000 pound bare weight 'M' model.

When considering a tractor purchase, bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.


Brand? Models to look at or avoid? Buy new or used?

The design of the Three Point Hitch tractor has been marketed in the USA since 1939 -- 83 years in 2022.

The basic design is generic.

Kubota and Deere have most of the market through 6,000 pound bare weight tractors. But this Kubota/Deere predominance is regional.

The up and coming compact tractor brands are Korean: Kioti, LS and TYM/Branson. You have to critically assess dealer stability while shopping minor brands.

Korean manufacturing labor is paid 50% of what Deere pays its union work force. Japanese manufacturing labor is paid 70% of what Deere pays its union work force. Labor costs strongly influence tractor prices.

 

[LD1]

Kubota MX is a good choice. I went from L3400>MX5100.

Quite a bit more capable machine. And I run an 8' twin spindle mower.

Not sure what your "field" is like...but assuming its less than the 12 total acres you own? Cutting 8-10 acres a few times per year if it isnt too rough would be around a 2.5-3hr job

 

[2manyrocks]

What are you lifting that causes you to run out of lift capacity?

7' cutter and the tractor to run it puts you in a higher price category. You're at 5'. Next jump is 6'. 7' is another jump in cost.

Could you find someone to cut your field for the hay and then avoid the cost of upgrade?

I'm not sure how to reconcile your running out of lift capacity, but willingness to buy a larger tractor without a loader.

If you keep your L2800, then that's two tractors to maintain vs using it as a trade in.

TYM T574 retails in Middle Tennessee for about $30,000 with a loader. 55hp and more lift capacity.

 

[Carl_NH]

There are several for sale in eastern KY on CL - here's a 80HP Ford with FEL for $34K NEW HOLLAND 80 H.P. TRACTOR WITH ONLY 279 HRS. - farm & garden - by... and there is a 2018 Kubota L4760 for $16,800 - which seems really low -s scam maybe

As others have said if you dont need more loader, get an older 40 hP or so 2WD tractor for 3PT work for 10-15K

 

[big bubba]

Kubota MX is a good choice. I went from L3400>MX5100.

Quite a bit more capable machine. And I run an 8' twin spindle mower.

Not sure what your "field" is like...but assuming its less than the 12 total acres you own? Cutting 8-10 acres a few times per year if it isnt too rough would be around a 2.5-3hr job

mx series is a good suggestion. assume your 8'twin hog is drag rather than 3pth?

 

[LD1]

mx series is a good suggestion. assume your 8'twin hog is drag rather than 3pth?

No, its a DS96 woods. Bout 1620lbs

 

[big bubba]

your rig sounds like a good setup for the OP. thinking just stepping up to a 6' or even to the ******* size 7' wouldn't make much sense.

having said that, seems to me 12 acres is within easy reach even for a 5' hog. but sounds like he needs more tractor overall. if he's going to upgrade, i wouldn't consider anything less than MX series. 55 hp would be ideal
i see too many examples in the forum where an "upgrade" is merely the next size up. usually a big mistake. regards

 

[Paystar]

There are some used deals out there. Here is one that is a lot of tractor for the money and low hours. You may have to drive a bit to get them but they are out there. They still aren't lasting too long if they are a good deal.

View attachment 798298

Now compare that to Canada, LOL

 

[Yander]

Now compare that to Canada, LOL

Ouch! Sorry

 

[Paystar]

Ouch! Sorry

They had a used Grand L6060 with loader and a backhoe and it sold for $90,000!!!!!

 

[Yander]

One could almost make a living buying in the south and selling in the North. I realize there is the exchange rate diff. but man that is crazy.

 

[old and tired]

Not sure about what you're picking up but I'm amazed at what my L2800 can pick up... you might want to check what PSI your hydraulic system is set at. Normally, dealers set them on the low side as to "protect" the system (no idea really why they're set low).

A couple of stainless steel washers you can increase the pressure... Look at this thread...

Bump up lift capacity of L3400/LA463 Loader

I really like my tractor except that the loader is kind of weak. I would like to know if anyone has increased the relief valve pressure by adding shims to the relief spring? My salesman told me Kubota builds in a pretty safe cushion on there hydraulics and in my shop manual it looks pretty...

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