Buying Advice First Tractor Need some advice BX or an L

[wmitch1000]

I'm a newbie here but have spent lots of time online researching. But now I need advice from those that know.

A little about me: Live on 2.5 acres in No, Virginia, mostly open but still have lot's of trees, have a row barn, a horse, and a gravel drive that is about 1/4 mile long.

Looking for a tractor to mow, landscape, do barn work, driveway maint/snow removal.

Went to the local Kubota dealer and he suggested a BX2660 with a FEL, rear blade and a mid mount mower for almost $16,500. I almost pulled the trigger, then a co-worker called me and said that his friend is selling a 2005, L3130, FEL, rear finish mower, posthole digger with 325 hours on it for $11,000.

My need for advice is: I think the L3130 is a little to big for what I need, but I now feel the BX2660 may be to small.

Thoughts, Advice, or suggestions . . .

Thanks for your help.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

From what you describe, the BX should be a fine choice. The next size up is the B series so you might want to check them out also.

 

[johnk]

I'm a newbie here but have spent lots of time online researching. But now I need advice from those that know.

A little about me: Live on 2.5 acres in No, Virginia, mostly open but still have lot's of trees, have a row barn, a horse, and a gravel drive that is about 1/4 mile long.

Looking for a tractor to mow, landscape, do barn work, driveway maint/snow removal.

Went to the local Kubota dealer and he suggested a BX2660 with a FEL, rear blade and a mid mount mower for almost $16,500. I almost pulled the trigger, then a co-worker called me and said that his friend is selling a 2005, L3130, FEL, rear finish mower, posthole digger with 325 hours on it for $11,000.

My need for advice is: I think the L3130 is a little to big for what I need, but I now feel the BX2660 may be to small.

Thoughts, Advice, or suggestions . . .

Thanks for your help.

For what he's selling the 3130 I'd take it. Might not be the perfect tractor for the chore but it's many steps up..

 

[gdh]

I have received lots of help in the thread I started titled, "Please advise, what to buy?" Might be worth reading for you.
gdh

 

[timswi]

I'm a newbie here but have spent lots of time online researching. But now I need advice from those that know.

A little about me: Live on 2.5 acres in No, Virginia, mostly open but still have lot's of trees, have a row barn, a horse, and a gravel drive that is about 1/4 mile long.

Looking for a tractor to mow, landscape, do barn work, driveway maint/snow removal.

Went to the local Kubota dealer and he suggested a BX2660 with a FEL, rear blade and a mid mount mower for almost $16,500. I almost pulled the trigger, then a co-worker called me and said that his friend is selling a 2005, L3130, FEL, rear finish mower, posthole digger with 325 hours on it for $11,000.

My need for advice is: I think the L3130 is a little to big for what I need, but I now feel the BX2660 may be to small.

Thoughts, Advice, or suggestions . . .

Thanks for your help.

I have a similar set up and my BX is perfect..Sometimes bigger isn't always better..

 

[whistlepig]

The BX would be plenty enough. An L series could be a bit too much with your acerage . If you want to compromise go with a B series.

 

[DavidVT]

Good luck with your search. I usually suggest the largest you can afford and justify without being too large for what you are doing. Example don't buy a monster if you intend to scrape out stalls in a short ceiling barn.

I started my tractor search about 5 or so years ago and had every intention of going with a BX or B.

I was able to borrow a friend's B and quickly realized that it FELT very unstable to me when traversing uneven ground with anything in the bucket. I qualify that by saying that this was my first experience with any tractor larger than my garden tractor. What kind of hills do you have?

I found a deal on a GrandL3430HST and jumped on it. I justified the larger tractor with my concern about stability and my need to care for the horses and their pasture.... My wife soon learned that the tractor was too big to help clear the horse stalls...

That was early 2005. No regrets but still a tiny tiny bit nervous about the HST decision. The tractor is paid off and runs well (except for an intermittent shudder after many hours of plowing snow).

The horses are now gone as of last summer. I have very little use for the tractor any longer except to plow snow and play with the backhoe in the summer. We live on 2 acres with a rental property across the town road of 10 acres where the horses used to be.

Also for me, the larger tractor decision probably saved my butt when I was broadsided by a skidding car soon after taking delivery of that tractor. It's replacement has served me well for almost 5 years now.

Again, good luck. You will likely be happy with any tractor you decide on.

 

[Trigger]

Tough decision, the price for the L is the only thing that makes it so tempting. My father has a BX and an L (I have a B21), the only reason he has the BX is the L was too big to mow on his 2 acres. If your main concern is mowing then the BX is the better choice. However even compared to my B the L is a beast for dirt moving. As mentioned it is also more stable feeling.

Some questions about the L:

-I assume the L is not hydro? If it is the price is looking even better.
-Are the tires loaded on the L? This can be changed of course but loaded tires would be rougher on the lawn.
-What kind of tires on the L? R-1s will again be rougher on the lawn.

Honestly you could get the L for 11k then buy a used GR2110 to mow the lawn and still come in under the quoted price for the BX. Heck thats what I would do, but then again I lean towards overkill...

Edit: Perhaps some quotes for the BX2360 and BX1860 are worth investigating, I dont see anything in your stated uses that would steer me into the more PTO power of the BX2660(ie a chipper or tiller).

 

[ronjhall]

BX to L is a big jump. Have you looked at the B line of tractors.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have found out that bigger is not always better. Bigger is just bigger and different. I've had and still have several Kubotas. I've had BX's, B's, F, T and an L. I jumped back out of the L faster than any of the others back to a B. The L was to big. I put off work because I didn't want to get it out. I looked for work with the B and now it's to big for my needs and have traded it to a BX25. A BX, any of the BX's will do what you've described and more for future needs. One suggestion of going to a smaller BX and then seeing the difference in price between something that is sized right and something to big is good. I feel that since you switched from new to used for your price comparison you should compare used to used. Check the price difference for a used low hours BX vs the used L. I believe you will find the used BX equipped the same as the L to be less expensive than the used L. I believe the lower dollars got you confused for a minute which happens to me alot. I had a Law Professor in college that always talked about rabbit trails/tracks. That we need to stay focused on where we're going or what we are doing and don't get sucked into other directions that have nothing really to do with our point of focus. Decide what size tractor you need and it seems most of us believe it's a BX, if you agree then pursue a BX. If new is what you want, then hunt for the best priced new BX you can find. If saving a few dollars now is more important than later then search for the best priced used BX you can find. Another factor to consider is cash or financing. If you have to finance then you wil probably be better off buying new. If your paying cash then you may save some bucks now with used. Just my dime's worth.