Help deciding on model tractor for my needs...

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thank you all so much for responding. This is all so new to me. I drove my friends kubota 30hp this weekend and it was easy to handle. I think it was a b7800. Gentleman who delivered our horse shelters has 3 Kubotas and said don't go below 30hp. So, I want something easy to maneuver and on some sites I read bigger isn't always better and I have not had an L series to compare with. As far as lifting, I really have no idea what we will be lifting. We will have the rectangular bales, possibly some tree limbs. I will use it to spead manuer and shavings around track area and to make an arena and keep it groomed. We live in a river bottom area. No boulders but stones and rocks. I was told to get a rock rake implement and slowly keep going over the arena area to get rocks out, then start building the arena. My friend did a great job with an arena implent she uses to groom her arena. My daughter seems to think we need higher hp to carry a heavier discing implement than what our friends have. Oh and the 32hp Harvest return is being sold as new with the 0% financing and 3yr warranty. I think Massey Ferguson is selling with a 5yr warranty and 0% but I have not heard a lot about this brand. We just built 6 horse pens i don't think any tractor will fit in. Hubby kept insisting on permanent rail fence. So we have 3 pens and a 12ft walk way and then 3 more pens (all are 48ft by 60ft). They have 10ft gates. Seriously...will any tractor fit in there especially with a rear implement? So, I want an arena tractor that is not too cumbersome but will easily get the job done.

I'm not sure about your daugters request of "carrying" a heavier discing implement than your friends have. I know there is a southern expression of "carrying" but I'm not sure you mean actually carrying a disc in the FEL or your talking about pulling a disc. Everything you mention other than the disc can be done with a BX or a B. Even the BX's or B's will pull a disc sized for them. The major difference between BX and B is ground clearance and you don't seem to mention ground clearance as a problem also a BX will take a bit longer to do FEL moving (SMALLER BUCKET, LIGHTER WEIGHT LIFTING LIMITS) than a B. Depends on how much time you want to save vs how much money you want to save. A BX will move rocks and stones but if your driving over bigger ones then the BX will have some limits. A BX will carry square bales and will go in small areas and are slightly more manuverable than a B that is a bit more manuverable than an L. I just traded my B for a BX25 because my needs changed but the BX's and B's are great machines. I've had an L but it was to big for my needs. Here is a good thread to read to see some opinions about B and BX's side by side.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148830-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html
Go to a Kubota dealer and try the BX, B and L.

 

[catdiva6]

Thanks all. Think my daughter meant that it could not pull a heavier one (arena groomer). However, talking to the kubota rep today he said that it was a cheaper brand groomer and it might not be very heavy. Since I don't know much about tractors I just think I am going to stick with Kubota. I have read so many great reviews from people...main complaint is that there is no cup holder. Not too bad. If I start delving into all of the other brands I will still be researching it a year from now! I like the other poster am debating between the B3200 and L3400. These are the prices I have found so far B3200 w frontloader new $18K, harvest return w/ warranty (forgot hrs) $15k, L3400 new w frontloader $20k, harvest return w warranty $16,900. One salesman told me it is not good to buy harvest returns because there is not much of a discount as after they are returned they need to be serviced...any truth in that?

 

[TripleR]

My concern with a "harvest return" is they may have not followed proper break in procedures, "rode hard and put away wet" as the people who used them had nothing to lose. You could have a unit that was abused and driven by people with varying degrees of experience and no problems will show up for quite some time, but may very well affect long term reliability. Just a thought/observation.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks all. Think my daughter meant that it could not pull a heavier one (arena groomer). However, talking to the kubota rep today he said that it was a cheaper brand groomer and it might not be very heavy. Since I don't know much about tractors I just think I am going to stick with Kubota. I have read so many great reviews from people...main complaint is that there is no cup holder. Not too bad. If I start delving into all of the other brands I will still be researching it a year from now! I like the other poster am debating between the B3200 and L3400. These are the prices I have found so far B3200 w frontloader new $18K, harvest return w/ warranty (forgot hrs) $15k, L3400 new w frontloader $20k, harvest return w warranty $16,900. One salesman told me it is not good to buy harvest returns because there is not much of a discount as after they are returned they need to be serviced...any truth in that?

Kubotas have a cupholder, that's where I keep my gloves. A new B3200 FEL should be able to be bought for around $16500-$17000. If not there then contact Barlows.

 

[KU Gator]

Both the L3400 and B3200 have advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs and intended uses.

The B3200 would offer mid PTO so you could put a mid mount mower (MMM) on it. If you would like to mow your yard with it this is a big advantage, although some prefer the rear finish mower (RFM) even with B's or BX's. To me the MMM is nice because it is easy to use and easy to get around obstacles and less likely to run it into something than something you have behind you. The lighter weight of the B3200 will also track up your yard less and it is probably slightly easier to manuver due to it being about 6" shorter overall. Although a little shorter overall, the wheelbase is actually wider and longer than the L so it should feel more stable. The B3200 is the new rounded styling.

The L3400 weighs about 800 lb more than the B, so while the weight isn't so good in a yard, it will help you with ground engaging tasks like pulling a disc, box blade or using the FEL. It also has stronger hydraulics allowing you to lift more with the bucket and the 3pt hitch. It does not offer a mid PTO option, so any mowers would have to be off the back. It does have position control for the 3 pt hitch which is better for controlling the height you set something in the rear than the 1/4" valve on the B.

If you are on the fence, maybe the dealer would be willing to bring one out and at least let you drive it around on your property to see if you are going to feel comfortable operating it on any slopes you may have. Assuming you feel comfortable on the L and don't care about using a MMM or front snow blower, it may be a good fit. If you want to stay closer to the B in price, you could also look at the L2800 which is a closer match to the B in power while retaining the heavier frame and hydraulics of the L3400.

 

[catdiva6]

Thanks guys! The reviews I read were of various models of Kubota's so I guess some models lack the cup holders. My friends B7800 does not have one. But good to know the B3200 does. Our local dealer only has the L3400 I think. He was higher in price and seemed disinterested over the phone. I realize this is where the tractor would go for service...so I hope the service people are nicer. So, I am going to have to probably drive to a couple different dealers out of town to drive them. One salesman I talked to also mentioned trying the L2800. When I balked at the 28hp he also said it was comparable to the B3200 and had better traction. But an L2800 will lift better and pull better than the B3200 right? and it will be easier to maneuver compared to the L3400? As far as lawn goes there won't be a ton of it more to mow weeds by fence lines I would think. Also, very important ...this issue of harvest returns...if it had under 50hrs could it still be badly abused, I mean is there a cut off point where you would say I won't consider a harvest return...or do all of you stay completely away from them? Thank you so much you guys!

 

[KU Gator]

The L2800 and L3400 specs are the same except for the HP. They use the same FEL so would have the same capacity and lifting ability there including the 3pt hitch. I doubt they they would handle any different as their lenth, wheel base etc is also the same. The L28 has 2 less gross HP than the B3200, but the L2800 actually has .5 PTO hp more which is the measurement of the power to the mower for instance. The L2800 is a 3 cyl diesel vs the B3200 is a 4 cyl. If possible test drive one immediately after the other while making sure that you rev the engine to above 2000 rpm. The 4 cyl are sometimes belived to have a vibration which bothers some owners but not others. But it would be a good thing to test.

As far as the harvest return, I don't have much to say on that. If the deal is pretty good, probably worth considering, but much like buying a car that has been in a lease, maybe the leaser didn't take as good of care as they should have. Maybe talk to the dealer about throwing in the 50 hr service with the deal if you go that route so at least you know you're starting out with fresh fluids. My wife would say I want the new one in the box, I'm the one looking for the bargain. But 50 hours is nothing in the life of the tractor if it was treated reasonably decent.