Kubota - how big?

Anonymous Poster · May 5, 2000

Been reading lots of posts, been to 2 Kubota dealers (and JD and NH) and am still not sure what I really need. Am leaning towards Kubota, but haven't been able to test one yet (not many in stock). Need advise on how big to go. I always tend to go for the smallest package that will do the job, but not sure what will do the job. I have 11 mostly wooded acres and a 3/4 mile gravel road. Here's what I think I'd use it for:
- mow shoulders of road plus 1 acre field that I current mow with a 30" Honda (4+ hrs if I'm compulsive; 2 hrs for a quick and dirty job).
- maintain road; routine dragging, initial crowning.
- sloping ditches and shoulders (drainage is bad right now). 1st time will be some work--maintaining shouldn't be bad.
- hauling trees and/or firewood out of the woods (approx 6 cord/yr)
- occasional digging/backfilling in red clay.
- perhaps clearing another acre or so.
My biggest sizing question is with grading the road and ditches. Figure I need an offset/tilting blade to deal with the ditches. Right now I patch up major drainage problems and potholes the old fashioned way (man power), so I'm not overly concerned with efficiency per se, but I don't want to sink $$$ into something that doesn't do what I need to do. Have considered everything from the BXs to the B2910. Dealers say go big, but... Thanks for any insight you can offer.

fredoroberts · May 5, 2000

Re: As big as you can

If you don't have space constraints, like squeezing by the side of a building or through an orchard, go as powerful as you can. I do a little bit of grading with my B2150 (24 hp gross and 18 at the PTO) and I would like more. I am constantly limited scooping into piles of dirt, and ripping and grading with my box blade and ripper set up.

I guess I am agreeing with your dealer! Good luck.

Bird · May 5, 2000

I agree with fredoroberts and your dealer. To repeat my oft used phrase, buy the biggest thing you can afford and have room to maneuver. Now of course I can easily understand not spending too much money. I've had a B7100 and now have a B2710 (which I think is great), but the only reason I don't have an M120 is $$$$./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif You can do what you want to do with a small tractor, but the smaller it is the longer it'll take to get the job done./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif And then when you get a tractor, you're going to find a lot of other uses for it that you haven't even thought of yet. Good luck with your shopping.

Bird

gordon · May 5, 2000

Hate to be a clone but I'm with your dealer (thats scary) Bird and Fred on this one. What make, size, model is a very difficult decision but I would lean towards orange and of course four wheel drive. That 2910 is a nice tractor thats for sure. Just as many people have said on this board--people always trade up not down in size so buy as big as you can easily afford. Good luck---Gordon

MChalkley · May 5, 2000

Man, you guys don't leave a fella much to say.

The stuff you're talking about doing, especially on the road, is pretty heavy duty stuff. My guess is that if you go with something like the 2910, you'll still wish it had more guts on some of the initial work, but later it will feel just right.

Mark

Anonymous Poster · May 5, 2000

Well I guess you guys told me what I expected, but didn't want to hear. The only real issue is my kids' education afterall (12 and 15). And that I was raised with a Lake Wobegon ethic (any Garrison Keillor fans???) of minimalism. I can't really economically justify any of these tractors, but I sure the heck WANT one. I just might have to forget this computer consulting stuff and go into the landscaping business. Ooops, there goes the college education....

Thanks for the input.
John

M. Sullivan · May 6, 2000

2710 minimum from what you have described. The more massive overall frame/suspension vs. the hp will allow you to do more, for more years, than the 2410/7500. Don't even consider the BX here. Might check the 3000 series if you have the room/$. I have similar usage, and the 2710 (v. happy), but appears you will use it to move material more than I and you want to buy on that consideration.

Checked all major brands and Kubota is far and away the most robust machine. Good luck!

JimBinMI · May 6, 2000

M. Sullivan,
OK, now you hit a sore spot! Most Robust? Does that mean that it smells better? Please recheck your facts! I bought BLUE! My TC18 is more robust than the B2100, and the B2400 in some areas!
I looked hard at Orange because after reading the boards for over a year it seemed a whole lot of people went Kubota. However, when I started looking at the actual specs, sitting on the machines and driving them. Looking at the dealers in my area, the warranties and pricing, I would have been foolish to buy orange. If your definition of Robust is in any way more muscle...please go back and look at the specs. No smilies for this post!

JimBinMI

gordon · May 6, 2000

Sometimes it's better to buy a used instead of new. Just don't buy a used rental unit--not many hours on them but they have been beat pretty hard. Another option may be a old ford 8n won't kill your pocket and there of lots of them.
Orange or blue or green they all have their strong and weak points for each model--there is no perfect tractor--But when I find it I'm going to buy it that's for sure.
This time of year it's difficult to find a used tractor because they are all out working but come middle of summer or end of fall-winter you will have a much better chance.
Good luck in your quest. Gordon

Anonymous Poster · May 7, 2000

gotta agree and disagree with bird and some of the rest of you on how big. I have a 2710 and sometimes wish that I had something bigger but sometimes I am dang glad that tractor isn't any bigger than it is 'cause I couldn't get it in to some of the places we get into if it was bigger and if I couldn't I would probably be doing the job by hand, as in on the end of a shovel. Its a trade off of course and the more you use one the more you really start realizing how big of one you really need. All in all though I have to say for what we do that little 2710 hasn't let me down yet.