Buying Advice Landscaping tractor.

[Sparkynutz]

Howdy!
I'm new and just bought a new house recently that needs a large amount of grading and landscaping work. My uncle let me borrow his Gehl skid loader for the big stuff but it is just so big clumsy and heavy that I've been looking for a small loader tractor, possibly backhoe.
I have my heart set on a kabota b25 or something with all the attatchments, backhoe, mower, loader, grading blade but know that's just not realistic anytime soon funding wise and used ones are just about impossible to find in my area for what I can afford.
Recently there was a troy bilt gtx20 for sale in town with loader, blower and mower in pretty good shape that sold for $3200 but first guy bought it and I was second in line.
I know jack about tractors and I currently mow with a john deere sst16 zero turn so I don't really need a mower deck, but definitely a loader. Any extras would just be a plus depending on price range. Backhoe is my second most wanted item but not likely for reasonable price.
Another requirement I have is the need to be able to haul it easily. I have a 2000lb snowmobile trailer but have access to a 4500lb aluminum double axle 7x14 trailer of my grandpas if its too heavy for mine and if absolutely needed my uncles skid loader trailer but that thing is on its last leg and honestly hate hauling it anywhere with no spare tires either.
I really liked the looks of the troy bilt and price was in my $2-5k budget and local.
Does anybody have any recommendations on makes or models that I should look for? I've tried google similar models but overwhelmed at the mostly larger, older, or models with questionable homemade buckets. I could just as well do that myself if I found the right tractor and almost temped to rig something up on my atv if I can't find a good loader tractor by spring.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks and good day!
Ryan

 

[varmint]

Kubota has sold a lot of B25's, so maybe you could find a used one. I just saw one that might be what you need, but of course, it isn't close. Post a price range, and more of us can chime in with possibles? I don't think you will find anything with a loader and a backhoe that is in decent shape for $5000. Remember, good tractors hold their value, so your money is put to use, not spent and gone.

212 Kubota BX25D 4x4 tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[Sparkynutz]

Kubota has sold a lot of B25's, so maybe you could find a used one. I just saw one that might be what you need, but of course, it isn't close. Post a price range, and more of us can chime in with possibles? I don't think you will find anything with a loader and a backhoe that is in decent shape for $5000. Remember, good tractors hold their value, so your money is put to use, not spent and gone.

212 Kubota BX25D 4x4 tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale

That tractor would be sold in 2 minutes if it was listed around here at that price.

My price range is as little as possible. My wife wants me to rent instead of buy anything for that matter so a $10k+ Kubota is definitely out of the question for time being. I plan on using whatever I buy until I get the Kubota and have some recreational land I'd use it to maintain the atv trails on. For now all of my cash would be much better used towards paying down the house loan or much needed improvements in the new house.
I just spent $10k lifting a 26x26 garage 3ft in the air and pouring a new foundation under it 2ft higher because it kept flooding with every rain due to poor location. I need to get the grading done so that I can atleast use the garage again because its currently 2ft higher than grade with no way in or out. I had to stop for winter and will resume the project as soon as possible. I could use a a light tractor much sooner and would be less likely to make as big of ruts and easier to pull out than if I got the skid loader stuck in the waterlogged yard if I started before it all dries out.
Last fall before using the skid loader I moved 7 yards of screenings in a few hours with shovel and wheelbarrow so anything is better than that. Even if it means a tiny trailer and mickey mouse blade on my atv so that I can get use of my garage a few weeks or months sooner.
The main thing is hauling the dirt and gravel to location without compacting and causing ruts badly as the skid loader and doesn't break my back shoveling 80+ yards of fill by hand. I am pretty set on a compact tractor with bucket possibly a back blade or tiller would be used often too. I also could stay entirely on my own property instead of rutting up my neighbors yard using that skid loader due to size and proximity to lot line.

Just Names of similar models to the troy bilt gtx20 I could search the local classifieds etc would be helpful because sometimes they are listed by make and model not coming up when searching "compact tractor or loader"

 

[Sparkynutz]

Well. I did some major searching tonight and learned a few things. I was always hoping to get a CUT size but realize the SCUT size is what I should get until I can afford to upgrade.
There are only 2 local for sale at the moment both old and rough shape. One is $1800 and one is $2k. Barebones no mower and a front bucket. Neither are hydrostatic and makes me wonder how youd even manage to drive scoup or dump while moving without riding the clutch. I really need to see if i can find one to try out somewhere.
I really like the looks of the jd 1023, kubota b7500 or bx18 bx23. If only I can find a used one with only a bucket and a mower I could justify it better that I'd use it to help mow or as a backup.
I do have over 400 feet of sidewalk to shovel on top of 100ft x3 cars wide of driveway that would be handy to plow with a tractor. I wonder if such a thing exists as a 44 or 46" bucket so i could drive it right down the sidewalk and not tear up grass.

 

[bspeedy]

Your budget versus your needs will be an issue. Most of us have tried the 'just enough to get by' thing already. It's never the least expensive option overall. Rent for your immediate needs and save 8-10 grand minimum for a machine.

My JD 2210 SCUT with loader and mower was purchased for 4500, BUT the rear PTO had grenaded so I got it cheap. It's too costly to fix, but I have other tractors for rear PTO work. These deals are few and far between, though. Maybe once every five years you can run onto something like that.

 

[Sparkynutz]

Guess ill just cross my fingers and hope the next few months searching finds something. This morning i found a few 2 -3 yrs old with loader and mower for $9k-11k 40-400 hours then an 02 with 1300 hours for $8900 crazy that the 02 is listed that high. Sadly in this market it will probably still sell for that I bet.

 

[dodge man]

I’d look for an older Kubota. They made a lot of B series tractors with loaders before the BX series became popular. There bigger but still sized right for your needs. Also some Yanmars out there cheap. I wouldn’t be brand loyal. Some of these older tractors will seem clunky compared to newer stuff but will work well.

 

[Sparkynutz]

I found a same 25 with every attachment a guy could ever want for a reasonable price pretty local. Ive looked up what i can on it but never heard of them before today. Reliablility, availability of parts etc im finding nothing.
Any input?

Finding a kabota for $5k in a reasonable time frame local is not likely unless I get lucky. Im trying to keep all my options open. Even if i get something small or old to get me through for now I can always sell and get something newer later.

I found a couple kabota 7150, 7200, 7400 within hours of me that I can afford but they are bare tractor and loader with no mower or any accessories.
I also came accross a couple simplicity legacy with loader for under $5k but unsure on reliability and resale vs just putting towards a kubota.

My wife says we should atleast get the mower for backup and maybe a tiller
I am afraid that most of the older units I've found are larger than the bx2360 which is what I think id like most.
I am a little tight on room and the smaller the tractor the better.

 

[4570Man]

You’ll never find a decent tractor for 5k. Keep using the borrowed skid steer until you save some more cash. I disagree with the renting option though. You’ll be out 1k or more pretty quick. If you do buy a 5k machine you can sell it and likely recoup your money.

 

[kthompson]

In the idea world you are able to buy what you need/want to begin with. Seldom happens in the real world. Used machines can be find machines. But buying with idea you will be able to resell will not always happen as we plan. We often end up keeping the machine/equipment for we end up justifying why we now need both machines. Other times we fail to find buyers who think as much of the equipment as we do. You may also want to check on leasing tractor you want to see if an option.