Feeling Smug

Anonymous Poster · Mar 26, 2003

So I had this problem- my wife was sick of hearing about tractors. "Just buy one." she says. Then her mother gets involved. "If he wants one, he should just buy one." I tried everything, but it was no use, the pressure was too much. Last night she said "So, will you go buy the one you want tomorrow?" I agreed, but hoped it would blow over by morning. No luck. After the kids were off to school, she says "So are we going to get your tractor now?" /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

So we loaded the babies in the car and off we went. Now, I had shown her the BX-22 before, and that was the one she was familiar with. Now in my research, and from comments made to others here on TBN, I was leaning towards the B7500, or maybe the TC21. Now I was worried about how I was going to justify the additional cost of the tractor itself. One of the things I had decided was that I could live without a BH for now, but wanted the option later. So the tractor plus implements could be in the range of the price she knew for the BX-22, and the B2200 was not an option.

Well, I was ready with a analysis of the advantages of each of the units, but it proved unneccesary. Between "I know you've done the research.", "Get what you want.", and "Yeah, I can see the advantage of the beefier units." I didn't have a chance to do much selling.

She did prefer the B7500 to the TC21 (Although she did "like the bue color." /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) Since I already leaned strongly that way myself, we remained in lock step.

Of course, while we were looking at the B7800HSD (which for the money has got to be one of the best unit available, IMHO) she did blow me away when she said "Yeah, this is a little to big for now. Of course, depending on how big a property we buy, I can see getting a bigger tractor. We'd keep the smaller one too, of course." /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

So it's too late to make this a short story, but after some paper work, and faxes and phone calls to Kubota, here is what we ended up with;

B7500 HSD
Folding ROPS (compatible with a BH /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
R4 Tires

LA302 FEL
B2209 4 position bucket spool
Chain hooks

BL7548 Box Scraper

Howard HR3-50 Rotovator

The Kubota items totaled $14,725, with Kubota's 36 month 0% deal to boot.

And my wife had the gall to ask me if that was all. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Unfortunately, they had just sold the only B7500 they had, but Kubota's western division is only about an hour south, in Stockton, so hopefully it will arrive in their yard tommorow.

This story would not be complete without acknowleging the dealer, Sacramento For Tractor (except the invoice still has that pesky "d" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif) A long time family business, they are a fixture in the middle of town. I liked their service and parts departments, and with a full line of new New Holland and Kubota equipment, there are excavators, skid steers, backhoes, as well as all kind of old Fords to look at. And Harold sold Jubilees new! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Thank you for all the advice and answers. I look forward to asking many stupid questions for a long time.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 27, 2003

Well congratulations. I've been going thru the same thing you just described, only I've kept most of it to myself. My wife and dealer had all but given up on my endless questions and uncertainties (especially when it came to how big of a tractor do I really need). I can't EVER remember taking this long to figure out what I really needed ahh wanted. I ordered the B7800 with 402 fel and an assortment of other attachments.
Man I'm glad its over with.

Andyman takes delivery April 9th.

PondKeeper · Mar 27, 2003

Congratulations, Sounds like your on your way back to a normal life.

I am about to fax the credit app in on the same model. Then mybe I too can return to my other obsessions that have been ignored while tractor selecting.

My wife wants it over too, she is tired of my face in the computer every night! If she only knew the cost, ouch.

Enjoy your B7500

Mike

Boone · Mar 29, 2003

Congrats on the B7500. I really enjoy using mine. Don't sell it short when you move on to a bigger place. I thought the b7500 would be to small but I was wrong.
Tip--Add a toothbar to the loader it will make a huge difference and is well worth it at ten times the price.

JATO_RaT · Mar 29, 2003

What dealer did you use? Sacramento For(d) Tractors? Rat in Newcastle

Anonymous Poster · Mar 29, 2003

Yep. Still has that pesky "d" on the invoices. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Decided to add the high capacity alternator today, too.

JATO_RaT · Mar 30, 2003

My wife and Ron are in the same running club. Ron is a heck of a guy!

chrisjbell · Mar 30, 2003

Decided to add the high capacity alternator today, too. 

Good choice. The dynamo is kind of a pain - can't add much in the way of lights. The stock lights are darn near worthless, especially with the FEL on. I've put 50 watt high output bulbs in - I'm sure it isn't great for the charging system / battery, but they help a lot. With the alternator you can add front and rear work lights. You'll use 'em - can't get too much seat time /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I checked out Sac Tractors when looking. They didn't do it for me, but they have been around for a long time. Hope they serve you well.

JATO_RaT · Mar 30, 2003

Even with my L48 and its great lights I find I rarely use them. I just don't work at night. I'm often suprised at the number of people who apparently do who post on TBN. I would certainly hope it isn't a growing trend and something my neighbors will start doing. I can't imagine myself subjective any of them to routinely operating my tractor after dark. Occasionaly I will drive it home from my neighbors after dark, but thats a different story and one where even the lower hood mounted lights found on most tractors would be fine. Lights, hmm, just never been that big of a deal for my home use. Rat...

chrisjbell · Mar 30, 2003

I would certainly hope it isn't a growing trend and something my neighbors will start doing. 

Yeah, I suppose that it isn't all that great for my neighbors. On the other hand, we're all on pretty large lots (10 - 40 acres) and I don't do it all the time.

Actually, I haven't been doing much night time work because I was laid off - now I have time to do it during the day, which is far better (for me and my neighbors, I'm sure /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

But when you're working long weeks sometimes the only chance you have to get stuff done is at night (often after the kids are in bed). There are times when something has to be done in a timely fashion (say, mowing the pasture before the weeds all go to seed) and you just haven't been able to get to it... That's when you need the lights.

Or maybe we're all insomniacs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...