Kubota B7800 or ???

[cart99]

I am brand new to the tractor world, but learning fast. I recently bought a house on 10 acres in Northern tip of VA and we will be putting 1-3 horses on it once the fence and barn is built. The land is a gentle slope, mostly pasture but also some heavy tree/brush areas that need cleared.

I am looking for a general all-around tractor to bush-hog the approx. 8 acres of pasture and do all around horse-farm stuff. I'm using an 18hp JD lawn tractor for the "yard" area which is working fine, but I keep asking it to do things its not meant to do and if I don't get a real tractor soon i'm gonna break it.

175' stone driveway, but wife and i both have 4wd and neighbor has a plow truck he loves to play with.

I have 6 neighbors, 3 have B-series Kubotas, 1 NH sub-compact (too small!!), and other two don't have a tractor

My neighbor across the street loaned me his 77 hour Kubota B7800HST to bush hog and I loved it (especially hydrostatic drive and power steering!) with the exception that "fine tuning" the height of the bush hog was trickier than I thought it should be, and there was no cup holder.

I priced an identical new tractor and got what seems like a pretty good price (R4s, FEL, 5' Bush hog). I also priced a comparable NH TC33 Boomer and dang near fell out of my chair -- $6k MORE!

A couple questions:

1. Is the NH really worth $6k more than the Kubota (The NH had 3 more HP and supersteer) Even the dealer (young guy) couldn't tell me much that made the NHs so much better than the Kubotas.

2. should I even LOOK at a JD or am I gonna fall out of my chair again? If so, which is comparable to the B7800?

3. a farm nearby is apparently a new Kioti dealer because he has two of them parked out front with a sign. Definitely not your typical "show room" type establishment. Should I consider these as well?

4. If I decide on Kubota is the B3030 worth an extra $2k over the B7800?

5. should I get the rear tires filled? (I plan to get R4s)

6. Thinking about swapping in a foldable ROPS, couple of work lights and having a couple hooks welded onto the top edge of the FEL. Anything else I should think about?

Thanks!!!

 

[firtol88]

You are not comparing apples to apples that NH has 5 more HP at the PTO, weighs 700lbs more... It would take more time than I have to list the differences.

Anyway, yes I would look at the John Deere and no I would not look at the Kioti JMO.

For the most part you will find prices are about equal for similarly equipped tractors. Good luck and have fun picking your new toy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MFL]

cart99,

We have almost identical profiles! While I can't comment on any other brand being "better", I can tell you that I've been very happy with my B7800. I've had it for just over a year and it has done everything I've asked. What is now my pasture, was completely wooded when I bought the tractor. I had the land cleared by a logging company then a friend brought over his Cat's to stump and grade the land. Throughout that process, I basically stayed on the sidelines. The B series is too small to be effective in the heavy work of preparing new land. The B7800 is perfect for everything else, though! I've smoothed and graded, seeded, fertilized, put in almost 200 wood posts, cleared land for my workshop, moved boulders, etc., etc. The size is perfect to get into my remaining wooded areas, and I've been amazed at the power this "little" tractor has!

That said, if I was buying this year instead of last year and knowing what I know now, I'd pay the difference for the B3030. My only complaint with the B7800 is the 1/4" inching valve. As you said, it's a little tricky fine tuning the height on some attachments. The position control valve is much more user friendly. Also, the telescopic lower link ends would be great to have. Trying to muscle the box blade a few inches when things don't line up isn't as much fun as it sounds! Finally, it does give you a place to put a cold beverage!

All in all the B7800 is a great tractor. Don't hesitate to look around, but if you decide on a Kubota, you'll be buying a very solid, well priced machine that will run a looong time.

 

[Bird]

The B7800 is a fine tractor and good choice, but personally, I'd pay the extra $2k for the B3030 to get some of the "deluxe" features the B7800 doesn't have; i.e., position control instead of quarter inching valve, tilt wheel, cruise control, etc.

 

[To20Chris]

Since your list of tasks does not seem to include lawn mowing, and you've already got a lawn tractor, I would suggest you get a heavier tractor. This means anything but a Kubota B series, which are some of the lightest units, as they are optimized for mowing with a lightweight steel frame. If you want to stay with Kubota, look at the L series, or broaden your horizons and look at the Kioti CK25/30 line. My LK is quite heavy, will filled tires, and I'm usually wanting more traction yet. The B7xxx line also has the useless quarter-inching valve, which is a cheesy cost cut on Kubota's part.

 

[plaindave]

I'm two years into my 7800 and can't say enough good things about it. I bought it based on my personal price/value perception, and the dealer.

The same dealer sold NH tractors, and I saw the same price differential you did. While I am sure it was worth more, for my use I didn't see the additional value it would offer me.

Local John Deere dealer seemed to sell large diesel lawn mowers to people with 2 acres of grass and that didn't work too well for me.

All said, the 7800 is kind of a between sizes tractor and that worked for me. Lighter than some of the bigger models (and less expensive), and heavier than the BX series. I do wish I had position control. Never thought I would need that, and the telescopic stabilizers would be nice, but I fixed that with a Pat's Easy Change.

If you like the dealer I wouldn't hesitate to recommed the 7800.

 

[To20Chris]

My previous post was too blunt, so I thought I'd qualify it. The B7800 is a nice unit, for what it was designed for. It's important to remember that a CUT is a general purpose machine - while you can put a FEL and BH and brush hog on all of them, and they will certainly function, that doesn't mean they are all the same. The designers optimize different models for different things. It's worthwhile recognizing what the particular tractor you're considering was optimized for, and if it matches what you're going to do with it. The B's are light, with powerful engines, in order to run mowers and not leave tracks. In your case, for your uses (which are similar to mine), I think you could make a better choice.

 

[rpeter]

I recently purchased a B7800. I bought it because I needed a light weight small machine I could use in my woods. Size does matter and there are times when having the extra 700 pounds of the NH would be nice. Having said that, I have 22 acres and the 7800 will do everything I need to do. I would get the B3030 if you can spring for the extra 2k. I could not get the boss to do that /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[RodgerF]

A better comparison to the B7800 would be the TC30. It's available with hydro but no cup holder. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I don't have the stats in front of me but I believe the TC30 is a little heavier, more available PTO hp, and more lift on the 3ph. Double check the stats though. Also the TC30 has true position control.

You didn't mention a fel but I bet you could use one. I can't comment on how the two would compare, just something to think about.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Shopping is half the fun of getting a tractor.

Rodger

 

[gippolit]

3. a farm nearby is apparently a new Kioti dealer because he has two of them parked out front with a sign. Definitely not your typical "show room" type establishment. Should I consider these as well?


Yes. If you compare apples to apples the Kiotis will win hands down. See if you can Demo a ck30hst.