Kubota Tractor Purchase

[TX ANM]

I am looking to purchase in the next month a tractor for my new place. I have 2.5 acres, and have a need for the following:
- snow removal down my driveway (about 150 yards)
- Post hole digging
- Tilling of old overgrown area (about 1.5 acres)
- removal of lots & lots of gravel & rock that the previous owner dumped
- removal of a 150 year old cotton wood (cut & drag to the front for easy loading)
- mowing of about 2 acres going forward (The rest will be nice grass & I will use a push mower to get my exercise!)

I have been looking at Kubota tractors & they appear to be great machines that hold their value. My budget is around 10-12,500. What should I look for? I have found the following on craigslist:
BX2200 (looks newer) 4WD with 48" tiller & box scrapper - $10,500 OBO
2007 L2800 (under 150 hrs) with bucket, Brushhog, Landscape rake, Box Scraper, Rear Blade - $15,000 (This seems high but maybe somebody could tell me here)


What else should I look at?

Thanks for the responses, anything helps.

 

[gwdixon]

You will probably want and need something larger than a BX for some of those jobs.

A B-series or an L-series in the 25 - 35 HP range should do whatever you want and in a reasonable time frame.

The tiller, post hole digger, and mower will add quite a bit to the expense. That makes the L2800 look pretty good. Check the various tractor selling sites (this one included) to get a price comparison.

 

[art]

The BX is about all you need but some tasks that you have listed could be asking all of the BX and then some with out good knowledge of tractot operation.
This is where getting to know your tractor on some of the smaller jobs would make using it on the larger jobs a bit easier. Time is the key here and if you are short of time then a larger unit might assist in a faster intial job but leave you over sized for future tasks.

 

[radioman]

For the tasks you have listed- you would be better off with a B or bigger. A BX can do all those things, but time is not on your side. The post hole digger, you are limited to the size you buy and it must be a junior size. A full size post hole digger will cause auger to drag. Tilling is not a problem for BX, 4 or 5 footer will be good so whatever tractor you get it will work for all sized tractors. For moving dumped gravel, you will need to order a toothbar for whatever tractor you get. What size of rocks are you talking about that needs to be moved ? Any sized tractor with right snow equipment suited for your area will be fine. 150 yr old cottonwood ? are you sure? have you cut one down to get the age and final diameter yet ?

using a push mower for 2 acres to mow ? sure ! you can get a belly or RFM mower for the tractor instead- the fuel costs will be much less compared to push mower.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Had an L and now have a BX and a B. Looks like a B will do most of your requirements. I found that trees and stumps are usually a one time item which can be handled much easier and quicker by a dozer. Pay the guy a few hundred dollars and save a few thousand dollars on a bigger tractor that will be to big for most of your ongoing needs. i cut trees for a month with a chain saw and still had stumps. I then had a dozer come and knock down with stumps and all in a few hours the remaining ones that was more than I had cut and also pushed my remaining stumps in the pile and then burned them.

 

[LBrown59]

The BX is about all you need but some tasks that you have listed could be asking all of the BX and then some with out good knowledge of tractot operation.
This is where getting to know your tractor on some of the smaller jobs would make using it on the larger jobs a bit easier. Time is the key here and if you are short of time then
1* a larger unit might assist in a faster intial job but leave you over sized for future tasks.

1*Many sceamers of the bigger is better faith forget this about this fact.

 

[TripleR]

I truly love my BX2660, but would probably opt for a B Series for what you describe and as JOHNTHOMAS points out, hire someone to do the bigger, one-time stuff.

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Not sure where you are located, or how much snow you get, but if it gets very cold there I would want a bigger unit or a cab. You must be on an easement or something to have a driveway that long.

 

[LRTX1]

using a push mower for 2 acres to mow ? sure !

I believe he said he has 2.5 acres and wants to tractor mow 2 of those. Leaving the .5 to push mow....

 

[Carter Bamboo]

The BX2660 is one fine machine. I worked a Bolen 21 hp for many years on a little over 15 acres. That was indeed small, but the higher hp and 4wd of the Kubota would be a huge leap forward. I found I spent more hours mowing than anything else and the tight turning radius, power steering, mid mount mower and hst trans of a BX2660 sure would have been nice. I now use a JD455 for my mowing around the house, appr 4 acres yard. The Ford 2600 for bigger work. If I could only have one machine again to do all my work, I would size it for what I do most. I have many, many trees in my yard and a machine the size of a BX would be ideal for mowing.

 

[Matt_Jr]

I love my BX24. But I only have a .5 acre lot. If I had 2 acres or more, I'd have a B series. Sure the BX can mow 2 acres. I've mowed 6 one day of shoulder high weeds. Took me over 8 hours with the deck all the way up, and I was really pushing it. If I had to do something like that a lot, I'd have a bigger tractor for sure, but pushing snow with a driveway your size, I'd go for a bigger model like a B series. Whenever we get 2 ft of snow in one storm, I wish the my BX was a B, and my driveway is nowhere near as long as yours.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148830-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html
You may want to review this post for side by side pictures and comments between BX and B..

 

[CharlieR]

TX ANM - The BX series are great little machines - but - the little tires scared me away - afriad they'd drop in a hole and disappear!
I almost bought a B7800 w/FEL for 16K but the dealer had a B7200 w/600Hrs, MMM and FEL.
For 6K I bought the B7200 as a really good "starter tractor", one that I wouldn't feel bad about using hard for the same type of work you want to do.
When that work is done, I'll be beter educated about what I need in a tractor and can go get a new one that's just right!

 

[radioman]

TX ANM - The BX series are great little machines - but - the little tires scared me away - afriad they'd drop in a hole and disappear!

That brought a chuckle for me! Never disappeared on me yet! When it does, I'll post some pics.

 

[TX ANM]

Thanks for all the information. First tractor purchase is a little overwhelming! The hard part is that my tractor will be worth 3x's my automobile value. I guess that is the reason I can get a nice tractor though! I am leaning towards the B3200 at this point. I am a little confused though as to why would somebody purchase the L2800 vs the B3200? Very similar HP, but the B is lighter.

What are the benefits of the L2800 vs the B3200?

 

[TX ANM]

Never mind, I just found this post.

Interesting the difference in opinions. If you have more to add, please feel free!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/144564-b3200-l2800.html

 

[TX ANM]

Here is a link to the property. It is 150 yards for plowing. We don't usually get a lot of snow, but there are large drifts that can get a foot to foot and half high across the access.

The dark green areas are going to be where I push mow or buy a small yard machine. The lighter areas are going to be the tractors job.
14517 federal blvd, 80023 - Google Maps

 

[KU Gator]

If you have not done so already, drive some of the different models at the dealership. That will help a lot. If you operate a B3200, make sure you get the RPM's up to PTO speed and note the vibration as a result of the 4cyl engine. It may or not be an issue to you. It will also give you a feel as to which fits you better.

The advantage to me on the B series would be you could use a belly mower instead of an RFM. The belly mower is easier to get around stuff than the RFM, but of course the RFM is easier to take on and off. For the mowing, it might be the better size for your acreage.

The L series would offer more of a real tractor feel with better hydrolic power. It also has position control for the 3pt vs the 1/4" valve system on the B's. When using a Brush hog, I would prefer the position control as the front of the brush hog tends to sag down as you mow and you have to bump it up every now and then or it is dragging the ground. But I think RFM's have wheels on all corners, so it may not matter much with them.

 

[keyman1808]

Cant tell from the the map pic but depending on how hilly he may want a bX for the low COG. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

TX ANM - The BX series are great little machines - but - the little tires scared me away - afriad they'd drop in a hole and disappear!
I almost bought a B7800 w/FEL for 16K but the dealer had a B7200 w/600Hrs, MMM and FEL.
For 6K I bought the B7200 as a really good "starter tractor", one that I wouldn't feel bad about using hard for the same type of work you want to do.
When that work is done, I'll be beter educated about what I need in a tractor and can go get a new one that's just right!

Are these the little wheels on the BX on the right that you are talking about?