Buying Advice Kubota vs John Deere

[Don87]

It will but the 2360 is worth the upgrade. More PTO power, larger tires, and a larger front axle. It probably would turn a blower a hair blower better. You can also get a 60'' deck on the 2360, 54" is the largest for the 1860.

You have a point on the deck size. The extra 6 inches of cut speeds things up quite a bit. My mowing gets done 30 minutes quicker with the Massey as opposed to the old Cub Cadet I used to own. Even with the FEL on.

Don't be fooled by the 1860 though, they are still a very good machine for the average homeowner.

 

[yelbike]

you are aware, that the BX2660 is the top end BX tractor. You can buy a BX1860 at the same price point as an x728 and its much more tractor with resale value thats worlds better. (there is no worse resale than a garden tractor)

I totally agree!

I think the OP is convinced he does not want a FEL. We all know how useful they are, but if the landscape is done its done. Personally, I would prefer removing snow with a fel rather than a front blade, but that just me!

 

[Don87]

FEL's are for more than just landscaping though. They can be used for firewood, rocks, mulch, limbs and sticks while mowing, carrying heavy items from the pickup/car to the 'back 40', burying rowdy neighbors:shocked: OOPS, did I say that out loud?

 

[xring100]

FEL's are for more than just landscaping though. They can be used for firewood, rocks, mulch, limbs and sticks while mowing, carrying heavy items from the pickup/car to the 'back 40', burying rowdy neighbors:shocked: OOPS, did I say that out loud?

Yes i never stop finding new ways to use it. Like this weeks when it was utilized to lift my parts car with a blown head up onto jack stand so i could pull the starter.

 

[94BULLITT]

Yes i never stop finding new ways to use it. Like this weeks when it was utilized to lift my parts car with a blown head up onto jack stand so i could pull the starter. View attachment 299611

You could probably go right through the door and lift the whole car if you wanted. I lifted a building with mine so I could move it.

 

[mjaybee]

Dang Roger, that's a nice looking tractor. I love orange.

You could probably go right through the door and lift the whole car if you wanted. I lifted a building with mine so I could move it.

 

[Deleted member 188373]

Another great place to get info is TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors. Every tractor made is tested by the University of Nebraska. Great place for info on any make.

 

[xring100]

You could probably go right through the door and lift the whole car if you wanted. I lifted a building with mine so I could move it.

Roger your probably right about lifting the car i sometimes wish i also had a set of 72" pallet forks. Another Time i was out mowing the trails and i had a small branch pop up and remove the drive belt my my zero turn. Didn't feel like trying to work on it in the grass with the mosquito's as bad as they were that season. FEL to the rescue

Again if you have an FEL you will use it no mater what the lift capacity. The uses are endless.

 

[xring100]

Another great place to get info is TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors. Every tractor made is tested by the University of Nebraska. Great place for info on any make.

kubota does not generally participate in this testing so you can't get them in NE or get the test data

 

[Deleted member 188373]

You are normally correct, but just recently they have tested a very large number of the Kubotas making it much easier to compare with other brands.

 

[xring100]

You are normally correct, but just recently they have tested a very large number of the Kubotas making it much easier to compare with other brands.

http://tractortestlab.unl.edu/misc. test reports.htm
The university only shows a total of 8 kubota's tested i believe 4 are currently produced the rest are older. Do you have some other link showing the Nebraksa test results. I figure this is where they would be. Kubota still list most of the m series and larger l series as unavailable in NE indicating they have not been tested. Did not check the m60 series

Dave

 

[Deleted member 188373]

Try this link and see what it shows you.

Www.tractordata.com

 

[Deleted member 188373]

I apologize I was getting the two sites mixed up. Yes the university has not tested very many of the Kubotas, where tractor data just gives you the specs from the manufacturers.

 

[xring100]

Apology accepted. I definitely used tractor data a lot when making my tractor purchase. They usually include NE test results if available.

Dave

 

[mjaybee]

Check out Barlow's equipment in KY. I got my B3200HST w/60" FEL and 60" HD box scraper w/top & tilt through them and saved over $4,500 over my local dealer. And that's after $1,000 added for shipping. Well worth your time. Check out the package builder section where you name your own price. barlowsequipment.com

 

[Carl Bert]

So the final pricing from the dealers is in and I still can't decide what is the best tractor for my needs.

Kubota BX2660 with 60" deck and 60" front blade is $15200.
Deere 1026r with 60" deck and 54" front blade is $15778.
Deere x728 with 60" deck and 54" front blade is $12785.

So, over $3k more for a SCUT, but I'm sure it would hold that value more if I would want to trade or sell.

That sounds a bit high for the X728 considering the $1000 rebate they're offering now. Not sure if the dealer mentioned it or not, but the new X7xx series is coming out next month, which will have the auto connect option for the mower deck.

 

[jenkinsph]

That sounds a bit high for the X728 considering the $1000 rebate they're offering now. Not sure if the dealer mentioned it or not, but the new X7xx series is coming out next month, which will have the auto connect option for the mower deck.

I meant to mention that too, I would expect about 20% off on the 2012 models. When I bought my x749 with 48" deck, rear pto kit and 3ph kit it was $13.100 + tax. About 15%off without the new promotions.

 

[chim]

Several have posted about the usefulness of an FEL and I'll pile on. Mine has come in very handy for pushing and stacking snow. Not this winter so far. It's a lot easier to move mulch, dirt, stones, brush etc than with a wheelbarrow. There are frequently things to put on or get off of my pickup or trailer that are too heavy for 1 or 2 people to lift. It has been used to pull small poles, move a dead Jeep, carry a doghouse, and many other things. It's so easy to remove and replace that it is only on the tractor when I need it. It's less bother than digging the wheelbarrow out of the shed.

And don't sell a good RFM short. I've been using them since the tractor with a MMM went away in the early 90's. First two were 5' and when we got the L3200 this past summer I went to a 6' RFM. With the 5' decks, it took me about 1-1/4 hours to mow a little over 2 acres. Going with the 6' deck cut that down closer to an hour. In the spring we're turning an adjacent field into more yard area.

 

[MacTractor]

I am with others on the usefulness of a FEL. For me I thought about the x7 series, the Simplicity, Kubota GR but in the end the FEL for me is necessary. I have some lawn but mainly a very steep long driveway. I chose a used JD 2320 with a rear blower. I plan on adding a MMM to handle the lawn duty as well. I have previously owned a BX25 and had the 54" MMM with it and mowed the lawn as well and actually I found it very well suited for this task.

For me the FEL is usefull outside of the usual dirt/snow moving:

Takes out the garbage
Moves firewood
Helps me put up Xmas lights
Moves furniture (Don't laugh, easier to walk out the front door and load in FEL, drive around to walk-out basement than maneuver stairs)
Great help in cleaning up the yard.
Also a great hoist for holding up stuff for painting, cleaning....

My 2 cents.....

Cheers,

 

[art]

Another great place to get info is TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors. Every tractor made is tested by the University of Nebraska. Great place for info on any make.

That is not true. The first thing that many manufactuerers do is look at the market in Nebraska which is limited. There are many sizes that do not fit that market well and when the costs of the tests are reaching new highs it is not worth it for them to test some there for the potential sales as they would only be throwing good money away.