First time buyer guidance - B-7500

nch18 · Jun 2, 2011

Hey everyone, enjoy the site, thanks in advance for any feedback.

So I've just recently decided to buy a tractor. I'm buying used and have 10k to play with. I know that I should spend more time researching my options before making this kind of investment but I'm about to have to pay several grand in landscaping and earthmoving costs that I could easily do myself with a small tractor so... I look at that as a limited time offer for 3-4k off the tractor of my choice.

I want it mainly for the front end loader but would like to be able to do some bushhogging too. The loader seems like it would be handy for just about everything but right now I'd be using it mainly to landscape and move dirt around a new house I'm building. Lots of drainage work and mulching on the horizon. A bit of backfilling and berming up against a foundation wall as well. I also have around 15 acres (mostly wild) with 5-6 acres of field areas I'd like to be able to bushhog a couple times a year. Ideally I'd like a backhoe too but I'm not sure if that's really feasible on my budget.

With all this in mind, I was looking for something in the 25-35 HP range and have been to look at Kubota, New Holland, and JD. Saw an LS I really liked the look of too but you can't really find them used since they haven't been around long. My plan is to resell it in 3-5 years but who knows how I'll feel at that point.

So I found what I think is a very solid deal on a B-7500 in my general area. It's got the FEL, HST, 4x4, and just under 500 hours and they want $7,500. I haven't been out to see it yet but I guess my main concern is if it's enough HP. My family has a '56 Farmall with like 13 HP I used to use a lot and that's really my only point of reference. Also, does this seem like a pretty good deal?

It also has turfs on it and I'm wondering how big of a hassle it is to change out for R-1's (my terminology might be wrong here but I'll get laughed at if I say "the grippy ones" - edit - Wolfy with the assist). Can someone give me a basic idea of where to draw the line between needing one or the other and how big a hassle/expense it would be to switch them out if I need to down the road? The guy also said he has a 6' bushhog which he'll throw in for $500 but from my understanding that's a pretty big mower for the HP I'd have to work with. It's just lightly sloping pasture land that's been farmed for decades so it's not the most demanding mowing but still seemed like too much mower for the tractor.

I guess that's about it, just let me know if I've forgotten any important info. I'm located in NC if that makes a difference. Hope to be on here posting pics of my new ride sometime soon. Thanks!

Wolfy · Jun 2, 2011

You mean R-1s. You would need different rims front and rear to use them. $7,500 is about right give or take. The B7500 is not going to run a 6' rotary mower very well. Maybe a 4'. It's a nice, but small machine.

crbr · Jun 2, 2011

I have turfs on a B7800 and they do everything I have put before them (with a FEL). For my $.02, I'd use the turfs until you see fit otherwise. Even in snow they work well [chains are good for any tread tire, but I have yet to need chains (east TN)].

The 7500 is a 21 HP machine. Semi-small but stout. I'd not use a 6' anything on that small of a frame / HP.

$7,500 is a good price on that machine for the description. If it doesn't suit your needs, at that price, you can't lose anything on it.

k0ua · Jun 2, 2011

I will throw in my 2 cents. I had a B7500DT (gear) for 8 years, its a good machine, and I dont know exactly what you are anticipating doing, And I cannot comment from first hand experience on the tires, mine had R4 Industrial tires. I can comment on the rotary cutter. 6 foot is too big. I used a 4 foot and it was about right. I swapped off the tractor for an L3400HST, mainly because I wanted the Hydrostat real bad, and a little more lift in the FEL. I did a lot of landscaping and clearing of trees with the little B7500, and it worked well, but I will tell you this the L3400HST will out "clear" it by a factor of about 2 to 1. just more shove, lift and pull in all respects. Course the L3400HST. costs a lot more. I got $8500 from mine and it still looked pretty good, and had only 202 hours on it. The hydro is worth about 1000 more, and the hours make it a little less.
good luck on you decision.

James K0UA

nch18 · Jun 3, 2011

I'm going to look at it today so I'll let yall know how it goes.

I was hoping I could just keep a set of both tires and switch them out as needed... oh well. I'm guessing the turfs will be fine for what I need. What leads people to go with the turfs, is it mainly for not tearing up lawns?

Looks like I'll pass on the bushhog. Although they said they'd throw in a 6' bushhog, 6' finish mower, and 6' rake for an extra thousand which I might do just to have them if I ever upgrade to a bigger machine, seems like a good deal. Also a lot of farmers around here I could easily sell or trade with.

Thanks for the advice!

k0ua · Jun 3, 2011

nch18 said:
I'm going to look at it today so I'll let yall know how it goes.

I was hoping I could just keep a set of both tires and switch them out as needed... oh well. I'm guessing the turfs will be fine for what I need. What leads people to go with the turfs, is it mainly for not tearing up lawns?

Looks like I'll pass on the bushhog. Although they said they'd throw in a 6' bushhog, 6' finish mower, and 6' rake for an extra thousand which I might do just to have them if I ever upgrade to a bigger machine, seems like a good deal. Also a lot of farmers around here I could easily sell or trade with.

Thanks for the advice!

yes Turfs are easy on lawns and from all reports pretty good on snow as the snow gets in the grooves and sticks, causing a snow to snow connection. I have never tried any, but many reports that they are lousy for loader work, or of course mud. R1 (Ag) best for mud. R4 (industrial) best for loader work, it is a compromise tire, better in mud than turf, not as good as R1 Ag, but R4 is not a hard on grass as R1 Ag. R4 is so so on snow, some have reported good results by putting "sipes" on thier R4 tires with a tire groover to improve snow traction. (search for it). Also R3 (turf) tires are lower profile, and do not have very stiff sidewalls like R4 does so not great on loader work for that reason too. Now all that said, some (many?) would disagree with some or all that I just said. Tires are kinda like politics or religion, or brands of Pickup trucks if you know what I mean.

James K0UA

easygo · Jun 4, 2011

If you look this tractor be sure to ask if they used the 6' bush hog and the 6' finish mower on it. If the answer is yes you should probably walk away. Both are far too big for the B7510 and could put lots of stress on the engine and chassis.

That said I used to own one and it was a great machine. Turfs will pack a surprise or two so don't discount them. I used R4's and turfs on two different tractors and they more then hold their own under most conditions.

In any case let us know what happens.

nch18 · Jun 5, 2011

Well I decided to pass on it. I figure as short as I've been on the market, I shouldn't jump unless it's the perfect tractor at the perfect price. I was a little worried about the turfs not being what I need and about it being a little too small. And easygo brings up a great point I hadn't thought of, they definitely were pulling the 6' equipment with it for years so that might have caused some extra stress.

I guess I should probably go post this in the Mahindra section but I was talking to a guy today with a Mahindra 2810 with a loader, 5' blade, and 350 hours for $8.5k. Think I could probably get it for 8k. Does that jump off the page to anyone as a particularly good/bad deal. I'm a little hesitant to buy 'off brand' even though I know it's a great way to go sometimes if you have the knowledge of who's making who's engines and parts for a given model and what's rebadged from one company to another. Eh, guess I'll go do more research.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Verdemont · Jun 6, 2011

nch18 said:
Well I decided to pass on it. I figure as short as I've been on the market, I shouldn't jump unless it's the perfect tractor at the perfect price. I was a little worried about the turfs not being what I need and about it being a little too small. And easygo brings up a great point I hadn't thought of, they definitely were pulling the 6' equipment with it for years so that might have caused some extra stress.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Good choice. A few years back my wife was looking to buy a good used Subaru Outback. One of the ones with the 6 instead of the 4 cylinder. Found the perfect car and saw that it had a class 1 tow hitch on it. That alone made us decide to pass. It was at a dealership so we could not talk to the owner. But why buy a car that's been towing something if there are 10 others out there that have never put a load on the car? I know they could have been towing a 200 pound Hobi Cat but they also could have been pulling something heavier like a popup trailer, etc.

Tom