Do TLBs make "bad" tractors?

[catskinner]

If you buy the TLB you will never run out of friends that need help.

 

[RobertN]

I have a friend that is an arborist, true "tree doctor". Amazing the stories he tells of people having a vehicle attached to a tree by rope, chain pulley ect. Most end with the vehicle(truck, atv, tractor) damaged or destroyed.

Be really careful...

Doug,
I appreciate the advice, but I probably didn't write that the way I meant it. I didn't mean with the bucket leaning on the tree. I meant with the tractor pulling away from the tree through a tackle. That way the intent is the tractor and tree are going opposite directions. We do this regularly with an atv and it seems to work out ok.
ac

 

[avc8130]

I have a friend that is an arborist, true "tree doctor". Amazing the stories he tells of people having a vehcile attached to a tree by rope, chain pulley ect. Most end with the vehicle(truck, atv, tractor) damaged or destroyed.

Be really careful...

I have seen some great videos on Youtube. We keep the cameras off. Bad stuff only happens with the camera is near. I don't even have a camera on my cell phone.
ac

 

[montelatici]

"What's the average homeowner going to do with a backhoe?"

1. Remove a stump.
2. Dig up and remove a plugged up septic tank and renew septic field.
3. Dig a trench for a power cable to a gate, to an out building etc.
4. Dig a foundation for a shed.
5. Dig holes for fence posts. (If you don't have a 3-point post hole digger.

Many other uses, trust me.

 

[RobertN]

Well, when my arborist buddy is cautious about it, I am too. He has 30 years experience, and cut his teethe in arboretums on the West Coast. Between his degree, experience, I tend not to tie my truck or tractor to a tree, 5' of rope or 500'.

He still uses ropes and pulley, but not necessarily to a vehicle.

That's because they use a 50 foot rope to pull down a 75 foot tree. I use a 250 foot rope to pull down trees and never a problem. You just need to think it thru and dont be stupid

 

[avc8130]

1. Remove a stump.
2. Dig up and remove a plugged up septic tank and renew septic field.
3. Dig a trench for a power cable to a gate, to an out building etc.
4. Dig a foundation for a shed.
5. Dig holes for fence posts. (If you don't have a 3-point post hole digger.

Many other uses, trust me.

I am positive, that once it is here...it will get used. I am sure uses will just pop up monthly, if that slowly.
ac

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

After 6 years I finally bought a BX25. What have I used the BH for?
Dug a fish pond on a hillside, dug about 30 holes for trees, dug up and replanted several tall ornamnetal grasses, dug up and moved several ornamental shrubs, dug a ditch for my nephew for his downspout drain line, moved rocks with long reach of BH several times, loosened dirt from top of 12' dirt pile to then scoop up with front bucket, dug deep hole to set a 30' aluminum pole, dug up trees to replant at different locations, moved trees laying across burn pile, dug up flower beds behind rocks to big for me to move with bucket and a few other jobs I can't remember, Over 50 hours this year on this BX25 and probably over 35 of them were using the BH. Is it worth the extra money? I've made the payments so far so it has been for me. Do I recommend everyone buy a BH? No. Will a BH be worth more to some people than others? Yes. Is a BH the greatest thing since sliced bread? It has been for me, my brother next door and my nephew down the street.

 

[missingstexas]

I have a B26 TLB with the hydralic thumb. I was looking for a small general use tractor for mowing/yardwork on 6 acres and this deal fell into my lap. I thought to myself, if I buy the thing and use it for a year or two I can still get my money out of it if it doesn't work out to be 'favorable'. I LOVE this machine. I can remove the backhoe in about 5 minutes and reattach in about 10 (if I take it off on a level surface). The FEL is a quick attach so the bucket can come right off. My only problem is that I spent more money on the machine than I had originally planned so now I'm short on cash to get all the toys to connect to it, tiller, box blade, ripper, etc... I can cut grass with my roto cutter all day and not burn an entire tank of fuel, which is WAY better than a gasser ZTR... Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[Bill in VA]

I知 not sure I can add much to this discussion but I can稚 resist. I purchased an M59 TLB last summer. Prior to that I used an L3450 which we still have. Prior to that we had an old Ford farm tractor which we had purchased an Arps backhoe for and prior to that we had an International Harvestor Cub tractor with a belly mower.

I distinctly remember all of them being agonizing purchases both in terms of the money and concerns over whether or not we would get use out of them. I think we got better at the selection process as time went on. The overriding factors seem to be:

• What tasks do you have to accomplish
• How often you need to do those tasks over time
• What limitations do you have for maneuverability/clearance/degree of slope
• What $$$ do you have at your disposal

I suspect you don稚 see the more commercial TLBs on smaller residential sites because potential owners think enough about those factors that the more commercial TLBs ultimately lose out for that setting.

After all there are no bad tractors, just bad owners.

 

[Kyle241]

As as owner of a TLB (B20) I can say it can do many things a utility tractor can do as it has a PTO. I have a bush hog and blower and it has no troubles. The only thing I want is more HP but isn't that always the game and possibly a quick disconnect for the FEL. If I had the money, I would have the L45 TLB right now, no question about it. The difference is the TLB is a commercial unit designed to run all day unlike a utility tractor. Both are good, just different. I can also say the TLB's are tanks, they are beefier, heavier and can really surprise you what they can accomplish.

If you're looking for a tractor with a backhoe that you will use a lot, the TLB is it. If you're harder on equipment, the TLB is it. If you're going to run your tractor all day long in the dirt, the TLB is it. If money is not any issue, the new TLB's are it.

Oh, by the way, I love all the other Kubota's too. :laughing:

 

[Kyle241]

If you buy the TLB you will never run out of friends that need help.

So true.

 

[KBL3830]

I'll jump in late here, I bought my Case 580CK new in 1970 used it "professionally" for a few years then moved on to cleaner work (dug a water line for a local Vet, got to talking, now I'm a Vet, go figure) I never heard the term TLB till I started dealing with compact tractors, my old girl was, is and always will will be a " backhoe" or "backhoe front end loader". The Case sits during the winter due to 2WD but otherwise I use it a lot. Can't imagine pulling a decent sized stump with anything lighter and the front end loader puts the Kubota with equivalent HP to shame. Historically the 580 was basically a farm tractor adapted to use as a backhoe. The loader frame is a b*^% to get off but the backhoe comes off in 10 minutes. There are still old 580s out there with PTO and 3PH but not very many. Same with the 580B, the 580C was the first that was a truly dedicated BHFEL

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I, for one who owns a SCUT "TLB", would not have it any other way. I thought maybe I would just rent a BH when needed. But the convenience of being able to hook to it, in just a couple of minutes, and use it when ever, is a BIG plus to me. I don't use it every week, or every month, for that matter. For the difference in price and the resale value, I believe it is a worthy investment. You will always find something to do with a SMALL BH, than a dedicated one, being that it is MUCH more maneuverable than a dedicated BH. But, also keep in mind that there are limits to SCUT TLB's. They are very handy IMHO.:thumbsup:

Amen!!! :thumbsup:

 

[jimmyj]

I don't have a Kubota (but I would without any hesitation) but I can say that a compact tractor with a BH attachment is the cats pajamas. On mine the subframe stays on the tractor so you can take the BH off or put it on in less than 5 minutes, sometimes less than that. And the FEL comes off too. The BH has its own seat and does not require the removal of the 3ph arms and the subframe is not in the way at all EXCEPT if you wanted a belly mower.

Anyhow, get some seat time if you can, you don't seem as though you need a true commercial unit based on your list of things to do.

Happy hunting! :thumbsup:

 

[cd1075]

I just bought a a B26 this pass Sept. It has Ag tires on the rear , WRlong grapple on the bucket, and thrid valve on the loader. taking the backhoe off is easy, 5 mins and it is off. I am using this machine as a genrally purpose machine and this winter it has deminstrated that it was a great choose. It is small and compact but very capable of moving alot of snow quickly. I remove the backhoe and have a 3 pt hitch snow blower on the rear and a 6 ft blade on the front.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I have a B26 use it at home/farm and for the construction company. On job sites we may take the hoe off and put it on more than once in a day. The front QA gets change more time a day than I can count. I use it with a 5foot landpride brush mower to mow a few rough acres with lots of big trees, about 4 acres each and if the tractor can push it over the mower will take it, would love to have 100hp on the mower but nice to have the little tractor with hydro to get in the tight spots.

Here are a few photo's of stuff I use it for. The brush pile took about 4hours to pile up with it. The snow removal was a good challange for any size of tractor around here but the front blade worked great.
Best use if for building snow forts for the crew