help a city slicker please!

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi-I'm a city slicker that just bought a second home in vermont. I have about 4 acres to mow, and about 15 acres that I'll want to bush hog a few times a year. I have a sit down craftsman mower--and I just paid someone almost $400 to bush hog the field once--and I think I'd rather do it myself. I need a bush hogger and a second mower--2 will get it down quicker than one, right? The land is very level and flat.
I saw a cute 1999 Kubota B7100 HST 4WD with 350 hours, a belly mower and a bush hog attachment for $9K from a dealer. I liked the size and color. My biggest worry is--does it have enough ooomph to bush hog 15 acres? What's the largest bush hog attachment that would work with this? I don't want to over-strain it. And what about the price? Is it decent? I just bought a snowmobile from the dealer, and he said he wants to sell the tractor before the winter comes... Could you help a city gal like me? Thanks so much. I appreciate any assistance that may be provided.

 

[Gatorboy]

$400 for 15 acres? Is that the going rate? I think I should quit my engineering job and just mow for a living. I could cut that 15 acres in about 3 hours with my 15' batwing.

What is the width of the belly mower? I would imagine that you aren't going to be able to pull a rotary mower of much greater size than the belly mower itself. I'm not sure, but I think you could cut that 15 acres with a 60" belly mower in about 2 full days with the mower raised up.

Regards,
Dave "Gatorboy" Hoffmann
Fallston, Maryland

 

[Muhammad]

Well the B7100 is one of the models that built Kubota's outstanding reputation in America as one of the leading compact tractor manufacturers. They claim it's the world's best selling compact tractor. It's been replaced by the B7400, and lacks some creature comforts you'll find on the newer models. Doesn't have power steering, and the seat isn't even adjustable except for two positions by wrench... or at least it wasn't the last time I saw them being sold new (a few years ago). /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

It will take a 4' bush hog, but you'll have to take it nice and slow in the thick stuff... $400 is ok to pay the first time you have that work done, but not again. That's exactly why people here have tractors... why pay someone to do it when it would be more fun to do it on your own? Plus owning your own tractor removes the limits of how much work you can do... time allowing, of course.

With compact tractors, the bigger you buy, the quicker you can get something done. The b-series tractors aren't really ideal to be productive with 15-20 acres of land. Although, they certainly can work if you have specific needs and know what they are. In your case, if all you have to do is mow your lawn and mow that field, you could get by with a b-series tractor. Keep in mind, though, that the B7100 is the one of the smallest b-series tractors Kubota has sold. You might want to look at something in the 20-25 horsepower range, which will also take a 4' bush hog and won't be too much larger than the B7100, if you feel more comfortable using a small tractor rather than a larger one.

Just in my opinion, while I'm sure one could get by cutting 15 acres with a B7100 w/4' bush hog, more horsepower would be a wise idea, and increase your productivity.

There really is no limit to how many questions you'll come up with if you decide to buy a tractor. This forum, as well as Compact Tractor Buying & Basics are the best places to start.

If you decide to buy a tractor, first educate yourself on the size tractor and attachments you need, which brand you want, which dealer you want to buy from, and then look for the exact machine you're going to consider buying. I think most people here will agree when I say that buying the correct tractor from the right dealer is more important than a $1,000 price difference, either way.

 

[frank_f15]

i think the b7100 would be just a tad small for what u want to do, although it would probably do the job , but an awful lot of work for a small machine. any chance of moving up to a larger b series? think u would be more satisfied!
frank

 

[frank_f15]

forgot to mention in last post, u may want to consider getting a fel. handiest thing in the world. surprising how many things u can do with one. just a thought/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RickM]

henrietta,

I will offer an opinion. The price seems reasonable for the B7100 and that would likely be the ideal mowing machine for your 4 acres. Your craftsman mower will likely tire quickly trying to keep up with 4 'lawn' acres. In my area one can find older vintage tractors, i.e., (fords, fergusons, masseys) mostly gas models, with a working 5 or 6 foot brush hog for under $3000. I would prefer working 15 acres with my 8N and 5 foot shredder over my B6100HST and 4 foot shredder. If your budget allows it could be the ideal solution. Just food for thought. Best of luck in your search!

 

[Boondox]

Henrietta -- It sounds like you aren't planning on living here throughout the year, so I'll skip a discussion of tires and snow removal. I live on 154 acres in north-central Vermont. Seven of those acres are meadow and maybe two acres of lawn. I started with a B1750 and mmm. With 20hp it was a great mower for the lawn, but mowing the meadow was an all day event twice a month in the growing season. The first year the meadow was full of saplings and blackberries, so I paid someone to bushhog the whole thing. After that, the 1750's belly mower set high kept the resprouting brush trimmed; after a couple of years the brush gave up and the grass took over. But it took a LOT of time with that little tractor!

I now have an L3010 with a 6' rear discharge mower. Mowing the entire meadow takes maybe 2.5 - 3 hours with no strain on the rig; the little tractor used to strain and choke on the thick stuff.

I use my Grande-L to dig, haul logs, crown the road, etc. You don't mention any of those chores, so probably don't need something that large. But I would definitely look at the larger B series tractors with enough hydraulic capacity to make the FEL more than a powered wheelbarrow. In case you hadn't noticed, Vermont is full of rocks. Expect to dig up and move some of them.

Good luck, and check my Web site for a view of our hillside farm.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[cisco]

Hmm, the responses are fine, but we seem to be ignoring the "cute" adjective before 1999 Kubota B7100, and I'm guessing such was related to "liked the size and color". So guys, orange is fine (if not, advice on green or blue colored tractors are available in other sections of this web site). We need to pay attention to the size - relatively small. One of the small L series, with HST, 4WD and a FEL (aka motorized wheelbarrow and snow plow) would cover everything - for decades (mucho savings vs. $400 per bush hog job), and be comfotable and convenient. I'll bet there are a number of used ones at dealers within a reasonable distance, and at this time of year (and the current economic slowdown - see news re. John Deere layoffs and Kubota assembly slowdowns) the prices on new units are very very soft. Forget MSRP, & bargain down.