JD 2320 vs B2320

JDinVT · Sep 4, 2010

I was sold on green and yellow paint, but everyone I speak with tells me I should get something orange - mainly a Kubota that is orange.

See - the people that are telling me this seem to know more about tractors than I do, and make me second guess my thinking. I assume I cannot go wrong with either one, but if I needed to say why I wanted one over the other, I really could not. However, I can get the Kubota cheaper - so....why not.

Yes. I am posing this in a Kubota section, so I assume Kubota will be the advice given. Either way, I am saying money to buy one.

I have about 6 acres to work (wooded). I plan on putting in more lawn, a camping area, grading the 100 yd driveway, and mow. The advice I have been getting to date have been from BX owners. Both a JD and kubota dealer are .5 hours away from me.

Any futher advice from you guys/gals? This will be my only tractor - and I want it to last.

Thanks!
Josh

Giles · Sep 4, 2010

I just made, basically, the same decision. I bought a Kubota B2320 because I felt I was getting more tractor for less money:thumbsup:

TripleR · Sep 4, 2010

Well I wouldn't buy either as the Kubota doesn't have position control and the John Deere only has a 2-speed transmission while Kubota has 3-speed. I would go for a Bxx30.

If I HAD to pick between the two, I would have to pick the JD 2320.

nebraskasparks · Sep 4, 2010

Have you read the reviews for both tractors by owners (third from right on top of web site)?
Sounds like you have a lot of work to do.

bp fick · Sep 4, 2010

They are both fine machines. Each has something little thing on the other. If these two are the only finalists, then it is going to come down to dealer compatibility and price, pure and simple.

There are similar machines produced in two different Red, two different Blue, another Orange, it's twin in White, and so on. All these choices, yet, it will eventually come down to your tastes, and once again, dealer and price.

OrangeRidge · Sep 4, 2010

JD do have significantly more accessories.

nebraskasparks · Sep 4, 2010

Talked to a buddy of mine in Virginia with ten acres. He bought a Kubota 2300 series 5 years ago and has been very impressed with the performance but he said he has pushed it to the limit. He has hills, 1/4 mile drive that he pushes snow on occasion, back hoe for projects etc. He would have stretched the budget to buy a larger unit. (We've all heard that sage advice). When we buy a machine we try to make it do more than advertised.
As a whole he is totally impressed with Kubota quality.

JDinVT · Sep 5, 2010

Thank you guys for the tips!

I will have to begin wheelin' and dealin' to see how things turn out.

milkman · Sep 5, 2010

It would be an easy choice for me. I used to work in a corrugated factory and used a clamp truck to stack and stock rolls of paper to the corrugator. The Hyster clamp truck had a side by side forward and reverse pedal. I had that job for about two years and it's was scary when I had a 2500# roll of paper 12' in the air and catch the wrong pedal and go rev when I need to go forward. I've never had that happen with the rocker pedal, always know which way the tractor will go when I push the pedal. Yea, I could have taken the time to look at the side by side pedal to make sure I pushed the right one, but I don't have to do that with the rocker.

TripleR · Sep 5, 2010

milkman said:
It would be an easy choice for me. I used to work in a corrugated factory and used a clamp truck to stack and stock rolls of paper to the corrugator. The Hyster clamp truck had a side by side forward and reverse pedal. I had that job for about two years and it's was scary when I had a 2500# roll of paper 12' in the air and catch the wrong pedal and go rev when I need to go forward. I've never had that happen with the rocker pedal, always know which way the tractor will go when I push the pedal. Yea, I could have taken the time to look at the side by side pedal to make sure I pushed the right one, but I don't have to do that with the rocker.

My father in put his new 425 into ten foot of water just after he bought it by hitting the wrong pedal.

KU Gator · Sep 6, 2010

About 2.5 years ago we purchased about 12 acres of part woods, part pasture property. Realizing our JD garden tractor wasn't going to be enough, we started shopping for a tractor. Not knowing much, I asked the manager of landscape at the university where I work and he said he was very impressed with the Kubota they had just added to their fleet. So I looked at them along with the JD's. Price (about $1500 less) helped moved me more to the orange, but his recommendations also influenced me.

Initially the reverse pedal seemed a little awkward to use, but you adapt to it pretty quickly. I like having the 3 speed HST. I mostly use the mid setting as it gives decent ground speed while maintaining enough power. High is good for getting from one end of the property to the other and low is for when you really need to pull. After a little over 2 years of ownership and almost 250 hours, it has been trouble free.

The only negative I have experienced it the Kubota BX's and the B's except for the Bxx30's use a quarter inch valve to control the 3 pt hitch. The nice thing about it is you can raise and lower something slowly and smoothly without a lot of jerking. The bad thing is it will not repeatedly go the same height and hold it there. The only application that bothers me about this is mowing with a rough cut (brush hog) mower. If you put it at the height you want to mow with the front of the mower maybe an inch or two off the ground, it will gradually drop as you mow and you have to use the control to bring it back up. I put some chains on mine to control this but a tractor with position control such as the Bxx30 or I think the JD you are looking at would hold it at the height you set.

Don't confuse either tractor with a bulldozer. They aren't going to knock down trees of significant size but they are easy and fun to operate and can do a lot of work with a few attachments.

In the end, if you think you will find yourself saying I wanted a JD, but ... , I would say by a JD. Much like people who want a Harley, but buy a Honda, will always find themselves looking at every Harley. If you decide to go with the Kubota, I think by moving up to the B2620, you get a little stronger loader, so may be worth the consideration.

bp fick · Sep 6, 2010

People that love Orange, do NOT spend a moment looking longingly at Deere's that pass by. After 30+ years of building a well deserved, stellar reputation, Kubota is not a second choice, merely a different choice. :thumbsup:

As I am sure there are thousands of Gold Wing riders who wouldn't trade their bike for a Harley, ever, never. Just sayin'. People who buy tractors and large motorcycles have a choice and they usually exercise it to their own preference. For the few that might compromise?, well, I feel sorry for them. But, I get your point. If a guy bleeds Green, he should go that way.

Your point of the B2620 being a "step up" point of interest, is well taken. But the same thing can be said about the Deere 2520. Each step up brings it's rewards, along with a larger price tag.

KU Gator · Sep 6, 2010

I agree with your points about the orange not being a second choice. Especially in the size we are talking about here, it seems Kubota pretty much wrote the book. It is just that for some reason if a person always wanted a green one, go for it. JD has done a good job through marketing of maintaining the mystique similar to HD. You only have to go to the local TSC and look at the amount of bobble that is green to get a feel for it.

As to bikes, I ride a BMW R1200GS. There is no bike I would trade for it. I plan on riding it until I can't get my leg over it anymore and then go to an R1200RT. But the same as with green, if you want a Harley, buy it, that is the only cure.

poldies4 · Sep 6, 2010

A friend of mine bought a JD2320 this spring, it is a really nice tractor. I bought a BX this spring as well, I just completed my 50 hr svc, his tractor has 5.5 hrs on the meter. I am a Kubota guy totally, and he was in love with his deere the minute he saw it. I tried to sway him the way of Kubota, if I had to (were able to) buy again, I would go with the B2320 for sure. BP is dead on, either one has strengths the other might lack. I guess the point is buy for your needs and wants, not for color.

I've said before that I like that Kubota is made by Kubota. All of it, the Deere consists of parts farmed out by the manufacturer that meet their specs. Nobody seems to question the Kubota diesels, my bol has owned many Bobcat skid steers over the years, and loves the Kubota engine. He also mentioned that if they were to stop using the Kubota engines, he would not purchase another.

Either would be a great choice, enjoy the shopping:thumbsup::thumbsup:

abeal · Sep 7, 2010

I was in the same boat this past spring. I really wanted to buy "American", either green or even blue but after looking at the three, I ended up with a Kubota B2320 that I couldn't be happier with. Why I chose orange over green:

1. The Kubota had a 3 range hydro vs the 2 range.
2. The Deere had a lot of hoses for the FEL hanging down which I knew I would snag on something.
3. Compact tractors is what Kubota does. Most of the other brands are farmed out to the lowest bidder.

So far, and I only have about 45 hours, that I dislike about the Kubota, is the MMM deck height adjustment. It has begun to slip. Should be an easy fix.

keyman1808 · Sep 7, 2010

I'm surprised no one hit on this, How did each dealer treat you?? Drive em both...which one feels the best?? I bought a Kubota because my JD dealer treated my like I had the plague. I was deadset on a JD until that experience. Now the Kubota dealer had me on different machines driving them around and couldn't do enough for me. So to me it was a no brainer and if I were to do it again I would go orange again this time because i love the machine.

Dubeast · Sep 8, 2010

I just went through this exact same problem. It seems all the local dealers for JD and Kubota gave me the exact same prices with the JD running about $900 more than the Kubota. I'm leaning towards the Kubota because $900 can buy me some extras. Will probably pull the trigger and order it up in the next day or two.

jinjimbob · Sep 8, 2010

I have the B2320 and wished I would've gone with the Kioti equivalent, as the 3 point hitch position lever would've been great. Longer warranty too I think.

PUSHINDIRT · Sep 9, 2010

Both are excellent options. My neighbor has the JD 2320, I have a B2920. As far as size the are both about the same. I am very happy with my purchase, and my neighbor is happy with his. I do like the 3 speed HST. I had my rear tires loaded and the machine can do more than my neighbor's. I'm sure it's cause of the extra weight. I believe the hydraulic pump on the B series puts out around 8 gpm. The JD is around 6. If you go to the JD website you can compare the two models. Good Luck!

ChuckinNH · Sep 10, 2010

Before I made a simple adjustment on my 3pt to get the 1/4" ing working, I would have said the JD without question, but now it would be a much harder choice. I think the steering geometry on the JD is a llittle easier on yards, and I like the steering brakes, but I don't like so much hanging underneath, odd sized tires you can't find chains for, etc. I do like the QC change on the loader bucket better, but think Kubota implements are better sized for each tractor though JD has fixed some of that with their new snowblower.