Have you got a Kubota with a loader and backhoe

[yakima]

Hi,
I would be interested to hear from anyone with a Kubota with a loader, a backhoe, and either a box scraper or a rear blade. What size tractor do you have and what kind of work are you able to do with it? Also, what are its limitations, if any.

I do not plan on doing any mowing, but need to get a machine that will grade a gravel driveway (20 degree slope), move gravel and loam, pull stumps, dig trenches, and do general home landscaping jobs. I have 22 acres of mostly woods, many small hills, and a lot of rocks.

This is a great time for you to brag about your tractor!
I'm all ears! Thanks!!

 

[yakima]

I just realized my redundency: I wrote a post almost identical to this yesterday. oops. I guess I am just wicked excited about getting a Kubota sooooon.

 

[rbargeron]

Always happy to show off my rig - It's a L5450 with LA1150 loader and 11 ft Bradco hoe. Compared to a BX, it's big. Compared to a commercial TLB, it's small. It's very similar in power, weight and strength to an L48 - but has hydraulic shuttle, not HST. For my operation - 25 acres plus 25 more adjoining that I mess with, it's perfect.

I have done a lot of rock & stump removal - the 11 foot hoe has reach and power enough to do a lot. And the loader is able to handle the occasional washing-machine size rock.

We keep about 10 acres mowed - maybe 4 or 5 times per season, not a golf course but not a pasture either. A heavy-duty 90" finisher makes quick work of it (did it earlier today, actually) The loader detaches easily - which I like for mowing - but you wouldn't need that feature.

No such thing as too much tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Carl_NH]

Yakima,

Here's a shot of my B21TLB, a baby by comparison to the 5450 series previous, but don't let the size fool you, it can do some serious work. I have run the 580 series Case machines and they are great if you have the space to store it and work around the trees and boulders we have in NE.

Shortfalls: BH bucket size - 16" is small for transplanting trees and picking up rocks, but is ideally suited for this machine. Oak & Pine stumps 12" + engaged with our rocks in NE better bring a lunch.

Strong Points: Mobility, ease of use, power to weight ratio, it's a tough unit overall.

If I had the reason (businessdriven) to do this on a regular basis for work, the L48 ot JD 110 would be in the barn.

Carl

 

[DavidInNH]

Here is a picture of my L48. I was worried that it was overkill for my lot (only 4 acres), but then I started digging electrical trench and french drains. With the size of our NE rocks, its tough to imagine what it would be like with a smaller machine. I don't do any mowing with it. I run the backhoe about 40% of the time - trenching and removing stumps. The chipper runs about 40% of the time and the rest is running the FEL. The chipper is great exercise/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.

Some nice side benefits - the wife is happier (more projects done with less help solicited from her) and "the boy" actually enjoys driving the tractor and spending some time outside with his crazy dad.

Good luck with your search!

-david

 

[yakima]

Wow, nice pictures. The L5450 and the L48 look awesome, but a bit out of my price range. The B21 looks like a great rig, but I wonder how it would tolerate the stumps, rocks, and road grading. Any thoughts on this?

 

[Boondox]

The B21, like all Kubota TLBs, is built like a tank! It would handle our New England stumps and rocks a lot better than my L3010 with BH.

Pete

 

[MarkV]

Yakima,

I have a B21 with about 750 hours on it at this point and have to add it has been trouble free. Our tractor lives at our weekend mountain home in N. Georgia where it plays with plenty of rock and has spent many hours running up and down about a mile of gravel road. The tasks you have described can be done with a B21------------But---------------everything is relative. It is not a Case 580 that can pull a 24” stump out of the ground with out thinking about it. A small tractor takes smaller bites and more time. (that can be a good thing when time does not equate to money) I have not had a stump that has won the battle with the B21 but some of them have taken hours to be beaten. I do have some rock and ledge I can not beat and I am not sure the 580 would either. The tractor does a fine job grading gravel roads and cleaning ditches. I prefer a box blade for general grading and the rear blade cleaning ditches. Others find the rear blade more versatile for their grading needs.

And I agree, the 5450 and L48 look awesome.

MarkV

 

[yakima]

Pete,
That is good to know about the B21. I haven't really given the B21 much thought until now. Nice to learn it would do so well with rocks and stumps. How do you think it would do with grading (800' gravel driveway on a 20 degree slope)?

 

[yakima]

What is the price range for a B21 TLB and box scraper? I am definitely becoming more interested and want to hear more about it.