Buying Advice Buying advice

[dotScott]

I've recently purchased 6 acres of land that is 40% wooded/hedgerow (now) and 60% field. I want to recover as much of the hedgerow area as possible and make more park-like. Won't need a finish mower so I'm looking at a flail mower. I will also be using this to maintain my mother's gravel driveway a short distance away so a box blade/angle blade will be in the future. This will be my first compact tractor purchase and need some advice. Here's my short list I've narrow to:

• 2005 JD 3520 TLB and 4 in 1 bucket w/1300 hrs ($21.5K + NY sales tax)
• 2017 Kubota B3350HSD TLB w/ 69 hrs ($21.5K no tax)
• 2018 JD 2038R TLB new ($31K + tax) 0% @ 84 mo available.

The JD 3520 is most appealing to me as the initial depreciation is gone and from my research, is a decent price. It was meticulously maintained and really looks like a 150 hr tractor. No emissions equipment to deal with. I think it has the heft and power to tackle anything I will need now and down the road. One gripe I have is the FEL can't be raised and curled simultaneously whereas the Kubota can. This is compounded when trying to manipulate the 4 in 1 bucket.

What are the pluses and minuses of these 3? Given my situation, is this a decent short list? Which would you choose?

 

[TractorNH]

No emissions is a major plus. You just have to weigh that against the hours. You can start to run into nuisance problems on smaller tractors as they approach 1500 hours. Is the 2005 at a dealer? If not, I'd try and get the serial number and have a JD dealer check it in their system as stolen. It's a quick phone call that can save a big hassle. Small tractors are very popular targets for theft.

 

[Thomas]

Welcome to TBN.

If I,I check out Kubota closely ...post pics if you can.
Do you live in snow country?

 

[dotScott]

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, it's at a JD dealer, 1 owner trade. Sales rep is my neighbor and friend. I hope he wouldn't sell me a stolen tractor!

What are some things to look for that could rear their ugly head around 1500 hrs? Like I said, it's really well maintained otherwise I wouldn't even consider it.

 

[dotScott]

Welcome to TBN.

If I,I check out Kubota closely ...post pics if you can.
Do you live in snow country?

Thanks and Yes, upstate NY. I have no plans as to run in the snow. Could only have gone through 1 or 2 winters if it has. Doesn't look like it.

These are pics from the ad.

 

[Thomas]

Nice looking clean machine almost broken. :thumbsup:

 

[atsah]

If it's been taken care of like you say at 1300hrs there shouldn't be anything to look for..

Here is the thing, 2005 JD for the same money as a 2017 Kubota, same price, 69hrs, 1300hrs.

The Kubota would be a no brainer for me..

 

[dotScott]

If it's been taken care of like you say at 1300hrs there shouldn't be anything to look for..

Here is the thing, 2005 JD for the same money as a 2017 Kubota, same price, 69hrs, 1300hrs.

The Kubota would be a no brainer for me..

Yeah, my thoughts too. Factory warranty remaining, no tax (just over the border in the next state).

I have 2 problems with the Kubota; 1) it's out of state so I don't know the dealer well. We have a Kubota dealer a couple miles away so I think any warranty work and support would be OK. 2) if I bought a Kubota instead of the JD from my friend and neighbor (local JD sales rep), I would need to hide it and mow at night.

 

[atsah]

I would need to hide it and mow at night.

If was getting the Kubota for the same price with 69 hrs as opposed to the 12 year older JD with 1300hrs on the clock I would feel good about mowing during the day..

You may want to ask if they deliver it from out of state they may be able to delete the sales tax, (out of state sale) I have done this one time..

 

[majorwager]

When was the JD 3000 series outfitted w/ the aluminum rear axle housing? Recent posts has indicated that some 3000 series, those w/ the alum housing and hydraulic reservoir are NOT suitable for a backhoe? What are the facts? Do all of the 3000 series deere tractors have that flimsy plastic engine cover? Side engine access is restricted?


https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/398800-tweaked-fel.html A link of interest?

 

[FatTire]

What I am missing here? Practically new tractor for the same price as a 10+ year old machine with 1500 hrs? If your friend/neighbor doesn't understand why you'd go Orange, he isn't much of a friend. Or give him the opportunity to knock his price down.

 

[majorwager]

Fat Tire,
Sometimes friendships are a bit more complicated, especially when they are neighbors. Also, it isn't clear that the friend owns the dealership, may not have the latitude you suggest.

 

[atsah]

I have seen many older JD tractors is very nice condition selling for WAY over what they are worth, some people will pay it because that is what they want, some people don't shop like the OP did to find out if they could spend there money more wisely, I try to make the most of my money and that 12 year newer Kubota would be in my garage without even a blink of the eye..

 

[dotScott]

What I am missing here? Practically new tractor for the same price as a 10+ year old machine with 1500 hrs? If your friend/neighbor doesn't understand why you'd go Orange, he isn't much of a friend. Or give him the opportunity to knock his price down.

It's a tough call. He's just the turf sales manager, not owner. I can try to get him down a bit or through in or highly discount some attachments.

JD is almost 1100 lbs heavier, has twice the fuel capacity (heavier). Still a decent price. I'll see if I can get some pics. Looks like new(ish).

 

[oosik]

Scott - - Welcome to TBN and the forum. I would recommend the 2017 Kubota and here is why: 1) its a new tractor and still covered under warrantee 2) unless you are holding back on us - you are new to tractors and probably not a diesel/heavy equipment mechanic - makes the warrantee even more important. 3) ANY brand of tractor that's ten years old could start having problems, here and there. There is no such thing as a cheap repair on a tractor. 4) Any tractor with such few hours, as the Kubota, is essentially brand new and not even broken in yet.

In My Humble Opinion - IMHO - the 2017 Kubota is, by far, your best bet. Friends may come and go but with proper maintenance - that 2017 Kubota will still be doing its job for you when you croak.

 

[wagne223]

I learned the hard way and now I never buy things from or sell things to people I know.

Tell your neighbor thanks for the offer but you are not comfortable making a major purchase from someone you know.
You want to remain neighborly and that will end if that JD happens to break down 1 week after you buy it.


Go buy the Kubota!

 

[dotScott]

Scott - - Welcome to TBN and the forum. I would recommend the 2017 Kubota and here is why: 1) its a new tractor and still covered under warrantee 2) unless you are holding back on us - you are new to tractors and probably not a diesel/heavy equipment mechanic - makes the warrantee even more important. 3) ANY brand of tractor that's ten years old could start having problems, here and there. There is no such thing as a cheap repair on a tractor. 4) Any tractor with such few hours, as the Kubota, is essentially brand new and not even broken in yet.

In My Humble Opinion - IMHO - the 2017 Kubota is, by far, your best bet. Friends may come and go but with proper maintenance - that 2017 Kubota will still be doing its job for you when you croak.

Haha, yeah my friend wouldn't dig the hole to bury me in. Not holding back on you, I have some mechanical skills but never heavier equipment. Mostly motorcycles, cars, and my 1 ton P42. Which BTW is for sale with funds going toward my new tractor ;-)



Thanks for everyone's input, I'm definitely leaning toward orange now!

 

[ericm979]

The 3350 had some problems with it's emissions system. That's what I originally wanted to replace my B7100. Even the dealers were not keen on selling them. I ended up with a Branson 3725 which is much larger. Other than one tight place I mow the extra size over the 7100 has not been a problem and even in that place I can mow it faster with the Branson... just gotta make a lot of turns and be careful.

I also have a lot of motorcycle and car mechanical experience and not much tractor. But I replaced a PTO seal on the 7100 with no problem and have been doing the maintenance service on the 3725. There's more systems to learn about like hydraulics but the info is readily available.

 

[dotScott]

The 3350 had some problems with it's emissions system. That's what I originally wanted to replace my B7100. Even the dealers were not keen on selling them. I ended up with a Branson 3725 which is much larger. Other than one tight place I mow the extra size over the 7100 has not been a problem and even in that place I can mow it faster with the Branson... just gotta make a lot of turns and be careful.

I also have a lot of motorcycle and car mechanical experience and not much tractor. But I replaced a PTO seal on the 7100 with no problem and have been doing the maintenance service on the 3725. There's more systems to learn about like hydraulics but the info is readily available.

Yeah, I read that. Lots of regen issues. Seemed to be solved in this version. Still a problem with cold start but I don't plan on using it during the winter. That may change but for now, not the plan.

 

[searcyfarms]

how about one of these? just got it today, haven't even gotten it dirty yet - I have to ask, why would you need a backhoe on 6 acres? I would save the $ on the backhoe. If you have a sizeable excavating machine for some project/task you can do whatever you need to do in a days time rental than it would take you a year to do with a small backhoe. It doesn't make sense unless you just have a lot of time to waste.