Need your help in finding the perfect Kubota...

[GreenMtnBoy]

I've been reading threads on this forum for a while and so I know there is experience out there to draw upon. Here's my situation:

I need to decide which Kubota makes the most sense for me. My property is 10 hilly, rocky acres in Vermont. Realistically, however, more than half of the property will probably never be touched by the tractor, so effectively I have about 4-5 acres to deal with. Here's what I anticipate needing to do:

1) Removing rocks, smoothing and seeding 2 acres that were recently cleared and stumped.

2) Mowing 3 acres (total area to be mowed after I get the grass to start growing on the 2 acres described above).

3) Grading my 0.3 mile driveway

4) Removing snow from my 0.3 mile driveway

5) Miscellaneous landscaping/gardening tasks such as moving rocks, compost, as well as some digging.

Like many people, what I'm looking for is that tractor which is enough to do the job, but not more than what I need.

As a starting point, let me tell you what models I'm considering (all would have turf tires, FEL, box blade, york rake, MMM and possibly a snow blower):

1) B7800 - Seems like a lot of tractor for the $$, but is this more than I need? I'm a little concerned with it chewing up the lawn given its weight and its tires, which seem a bit skinny, proportionately.

2) B7610 - Is this the sweet spot for me?

3) BX - I hadn't really been considering these because they seem undersized for my purposes. But I hear a lot of good things on this forum about the BX's and considering I could save a few thousand $$ going with a BX, it seems well worth considering.

I've attached a picture of my 2 acres I just had cleared and will attach a picture of my driveway shortly.

Thanks to all who will offer some guidance...

GrnMtnBoy

 

[GreenMtnBoy]

And here's the driveway. Yes, it's pretty steep. You're seeing about 1/3 of it in this shot.

 

[Tom_H]

You might ask your nearest dealer whether you could try a couple of models for an hour or two. If he says no, you might ask him about rental (try to get rental $ applied toward any future purchase). I used to live in VT so I know it may be some miles to a dealership.

How big are these "rocks"? Unless you have boulders to move, a BX23TLB might fit your needs. The BX has a lower center of gravity than the other models and is much less likely to roll than they; those Green Mountains are a bit steep in places. There didn't seem from your photos to be anything on which you could get high centered so I don't think clearance would be an issue. The BX is surprisingly powerful for its size. The BX23 has a new 4-way hydraulic valve which stays with the tractor, it operates the FEL and I believe will operate the front attach snowblower as well. I know what your mud season is like; I get bad mud here too and my BX can virtually swim in the stuff.

I'm sure you already know this, but a going ahead and having a block heater installed up front and getting your chains at time of original purchase gives you some leverage on their cost. You will definitely need both.

Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Let us know what you decide.

 

[maxtractor]

I just bought a B7610 a few weeks ago so that is my vote. I think you might not have enough loader with a BX. I didn't consider the B7800 because it seemed big to mow with. I know it would work but it seems big. I already have found out that the B7610 can tear up your yard on turns if you are not careful. I suspect the B7800 would be worse because it is heavier. I have regular turfs on front and bar turfs on back, so it is not because I ave R4 or ag tires. I think the B7800 would be the best for the landscaping and some of the heavier jobs but seems big for mowing especially on a hilly area. THe BX is great for mowing but may be a little light for some of the heavier landscaping work. Which is why I bought a B7610 it seemed to be the right balance between size and power. Which is why it is my vote for you. One thing is for sure you have found the right tractor color.

 

[GerardC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( .....One thing is for sure you have found the right tractor color.)</font>

What color is KIOTI then /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif? G

 

[ronjhall]

GreenMtnBoy

Welcome to TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Besides your pocketbook. Some other things to consider are what can be done with each tractor.

When I bought my B2910 I had to select between the 2410, 2710 and 2910.
I selected the 2910 because of the creature comforts and extra horsepower. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I wanted something that would get the task done in a limited time. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The 2410 only had a 60" MMM. The 2710 & 2910 have a 72" mower. This allows me to cut 2 acres of lawn in less than a hour. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

The extra height, width and lift capacity of the 402 FEL all help with getting the job done easier and faster. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
This weekend my neighbor and I rented a 20 yard dumpster. It's sides are 6' high. The 352 FEL will not reach that high and dump a load into a dumpster. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The 402 loader can get a Quick Coupler that allows changing of attachments on the FEL. I have 2 buckets (1 with teeth) , Pallet forks, Front blade and a boom pole that can be changed within 5 minutes. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I have a 60" Rotary Cutter that in heavy weeds will bog down the engine. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Looking at your pictures and using the thought that pictures do not show how steep a slope is. It looks to me that you may not be looking at big enough tractor in the B series for Vermont weather. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Here is a site that will give some useful <font color="orange"> KUBOTA </font> information. Click Here

 

[Egon]

The perfect tractor?? no such thing unless it's for one type of job only.

Consider what is the most important job the tractor must be able to do. My opinion would be clearing snow on the driveway. Yours may be a different priority.

If you use a blade or bucket for clearing snow consider a larger tractor. Snowblower will work on smaller tractor.

Your horse power requirements depend on where it is used. For traction requirements all the tractors mentioned will meet your needs. For rotary equipment HP is desirable. All mentioned should meet your needs when matched to suitable equipment.

Digging rocks and moving dirt the largest availabe would be desirable.

In conclusion sort out your priorities and then go from there. Any one of the tractors mentioned will meet your minimum requirements. Some may take longer than others.

Enjoy the shopping. Thats always fun.

Egon

 

[MarkV]

Altitude, hills, snow, mud and rocks, I would want the horsepower, weight and lifting power of the B7800. From what others have said about the spring mud season up your way I think finish mowing with any of them may be a problem. You can get a pretty good dedicated riding mower for the price of a MMM. That would leave your tire options open and make the tractor better suited for the roads up keep with mud, snow and gravel. We have a road similar to yours at our weekend home and keeping a gravel drive on grade in shape takes some work. I don't get snow and would still be worried about turf tires on gravel with that hill. If you're going to pave the situation may be different. You will, even if you don't plan on it now, end up in the woods some and loaded R4's with their wide foot print sure do help with stability on the hills.

Good luck whichever way you decide. Looks like a great place.

MarkV

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> The BX has a lower center of gravity than the other models and is much less likely to roll than they; those Green Mountains are a bit steep in places. </font>

Tom_H may be right, but I'm not sure if this is correct or not. Tip angles are not published for most tractors. I do believe the COG of the BX is lower to the ground than a larger tractor, but the BX is also narrower, so it is possible that the BX is not much different as far as a possible roll over goes. It certainly does feel different on a side slope though...maybe because of sitting lower to the ground?

<font color="blue"> Seems like a lot of tractor for the $$, but is this more than I need? </font>

Nope! My B2910 is just about perfect for my uses and I suspect would be quite nice for yours. Pretty much for the same reasons RonJHall stated. You want to get the right tractor first time around or you can take a beating if you have to sell/trade in a couple years.

Egon, he said "perfect Kubota..." Easy to answer that one...Everyone knows all Kubotas are perfect, don't they??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Freds]

I agree with MarkV. You may want to consider 2 units that will be more specialized in what they do. I thought my B7500 would be the be-all do-all and suit me for a while, but after two years of "playing" with it, it didn't do any one thing well enough to suit me. It did all I asked of it, but now I want to do more and it is undersized. I'm losing about $1200 trading it in from what I originally bought the tractor, FEL and RFM for, but I know more now than I did then so I'm looking at it that the money lost paid for some education. The only implement I will need to replace will be the 4' brush hog for a 60" one. Keep that in mind too in case what you decide on today won't be around tomorrow.