FEL-any suggestions?

[BigBob]

I'm thinking hard about a new compact tractor,what I need to know is there a good aftermarket loader out there? All the dealers want between $3600-$4000.00 for the loader that is the same brand as the tractor. I don't use a loader very often,still is nice to have one when I need it. Is the above price fair, or am I just being cheap?

 

[MossRoad]

What size tractor are you considering?

 

[BigBob]

I'm looking at a Kubota L3010, and a Case DX33(same as New Holland TC33d).

 

[MossRoad]

It may seem like a lot of money, but the FEL is such a useful tool. Is that the price as figured in a 'package' deal, or is that just the loader alone? Sometimes you can get a better deal if you buy several implements along with the tractor. I don't have any experience with aftermarket loaders, so I'll be interested to see some responses to your post.

As far as not using one often enough to justify the purchase, you'll be surprised how many uses you can find for it and will never regret the purchase. Just yesterday, I popped on my 4' wide bucket and dug out a 4' by 20' planter bed, filled it in with black dirt and planted 10 shrubs to screen a patio that I am building. It took about 30 minutes from start to finish. Even my wife was impressed /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Bob,

I agree with Moss on this one. The backhoe and FEL I have are the two most useful and most used parts of my tractor. Mine are each OEM and I wouldn't want it any other way. The one made by the manufacturer for that particular machine you buy will give you the best service in most cases.

As was said earlier, you can probably get the FEL cost of the OEM loader down to near the after-market FEL price as part of a package price. If it's at all close in price, I think you'll be happier with the OEM loader. I hope this helps. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[BigBob]

The $3500-$4000.00 is the package price with tractor.

 

[MikePA]

BigBob, I reponded to you in the NH forum as well. Check Woods out. Call a local dealer and see what they'd charge for a complete install.

 

[AuCivil]

You just think you don't have a need for one. Granted I haven't had my tractor long but at least 90% of the time having the loader made the job easier.

Just last weekend built a small wall with pavestone (about 30# each). Bought 224 stones and had them placed on a trailer. When I needed stones, drove up to the trailer, placed loader over side to height of stone pile jumped in and loaded. May not sound like a big deal but eliminated the need to bend over (thus saving back) as well as reduced the carry distance and having to get in and out of the trailer with each stone. Then just drove back to wall and positioned loader at wall. Had to take very few steps while carring stones just grab and place. Of course told the wife it was most grueling (sp)!

Also use while bush-hogging to move limbs stones etc.... Actually have not found a reason to remove the loader and thinking back I have used it on every job thus far.

Greg

 

[patrickg]

I have 250 hrs on Kubota L4610, my first and only tractor. I got the OEM FEL with HD bucket. It has a fine and easy attach/detach ability to make it trivial to take it off and on. The dealer walked me through it once and I did it "at home" once, sort of for practice. I now have about a total of 3-5 minutes of operating time without the FEL attached.

I am constantly finding things to do with the FEL. Things that I didn't know I wanted to do but the FEL makes it so easy and convenient that I do them. Well, to be completely honest... I have quick detach bucket and an OEM set of quick detach pallet forks. This makes it so easy to use the FEL as a fork lift that I do all kinds of stuff with it as a fork lift and considering the hassles with changing some of my 3PH implements the 30-90 seconds that it takes to swap bucket to forks or vice versa, is a real pleasure.

The carpenters that built my mom's garage thought it lifted all the shingles and tar paper real well and sure made horsing around with trusses easier. Similarly the 8 tons of 8x12x16 blocks that I used to build her safe room unloaded faster with the forks and hauling off rubble and junk from the project went fast with the bucket to just toss debris toward. Don't tell anyone but I have used the bucket as a dipper to get water from a pond to water a couple bushes and trees that I was kindly disposed toward that otherwise would have gone thirsty waiting for me to make 20-30 trips with a bucket because it wouldn't happen.

I have a terrific box blade and a nice adjustable rear blade but for a quick pass to level some gravel, the FEL back drags it to a finish as nicely as I can do with other tools and it is right there handy.

I'm sure others could go on and on and on with much more useful applications annecdotes than these but I think you can tell that some of us think it is the single most useful implement we have for the tractor. (Please no flames from proud backhoe users who I admire and am jealous of since I have a factory cab and can't fit an OEM backhoe so have to try to make do the best I can.)

Patrick

 

[DDT]

I use a GB 260 loader on my 4400. My reasons was lift cap and shipping weight and GB has a 2 year warrinty. A HD bucket with 4 wear bars under it and twin torque tubes insead one one.Yes it did save me $500 but I feel I got a better loader, BUT thats my opion others will very.