New to tractors, need help

[GuinessNC]

Hi guys, new to the forum here and to tractors so be kind . I have been lurking and doing some homework for some time. The wife and I are currently building on 4.5 acres and I will be in the market for a tractor early spring.

This is my need:

-4.5 acres of very flat land (old farm sold off as subdivision)
-Primary need would be for mowing but have not decided between MM or RM mower.
-Secondary need would be for a FEL for gravel, mulch, dirt and such.
-I have talked myself out of the need for a backhoe to dig trees as there is absolutely no trees on our land. I figured I would not have a need for a backhoe after planting trees so I might as well rent something for a day or two.
-Budget- I would like to keep it under $20k for tractor, FEL and MM or RM mower.

It seems like around these parts, for Ag people go JD and anything less they go Kubota. Additionally, it looks like my $ goes farther with Kubota and they are generally much lighter which is good considering my primary use will be mowing.

1) Which models would you suggest me looking at within my budget?

2) I have been looking at the B3030 (no cab) and B7800. Which is easier for someone who has never driven a tractor to learn?

3) How would you determine mowing time?

4) Based on the information above, besides the loading need, why wouldn't someone in my position go with a ZTR?

 

[RussMan]

I was in a similar position as yours a year or so ago, needing to mow about 5 acreas that I was building a house on. I went with a B3030 w/ FEL and MMM (72") and have never regretted it. You will find so many uses for the FEL I would recommend it highly. You will hear varying opinions on MM vs rear mount (rear allows you to get under trees better, but some say it doesn't do as smooth of a job).

One consideration re size of mower is whether yoiu will be transporting it on a trailer. The 72" is too wide for many trailers after factoring in the wheel wells. But if it will stay at your place, I would go with the 72"..

Re time it takes to mow, there are many variables (height of grass, etc) but based on my experience I am thinking 2 hours w/ a 72".

If you are new to operating a tractor, the 3030 is very easy with the HST - just push the pedal. And the 3030 has cruise control which you many find useful with mowing a flat piece of ground.

 

[wushaw]

Either tractor will be easy to learn.
Pick the one that is comfortable to you since both are very capable tractors.

ZTR or tractor with the same deck size on flat open mowing...I would use the tractor with a MMM even though I own two different size ZTR ( I have many trees)

If you turn the place into an obstacle course then you may need to invest in a ZTR.

A tractor has many more uses than a ZTR and there is nothing wrong with having both

 

[BizDoc]

I tried out both the B3030 and B7800. The B3030 just seemed better built. The b7800 is, as others have stated in other posts, one of Kubotas economy tractors, where the B3030 is the top of the line for the B series. I use the B3030 and do alot of mowing with the 72 inch MMM. I like the tractor alot. I previously had a New Holland with a 60 inch deck, and I have found the 72 inch deck takes less time to mow, obviously it is bigger, but it seems to perform better, that being said I have to qualify that the NH was a 21 hp compared to the B3030's 30 HP. While it is easier to drop and pick up the rear mount mower I have tried them and am not comfortable with all that extra length behind me. I like knowing exactly where my deck is when mowing my 7 acres of lawn/field.

The Zero Turn Mowers are great if all you want to do is mow, but I want the FEL, and use it quite often, almost as much as the mower. I also use the tractor for plowing snow, but then you being from NC probably wont have to worry much about that. The Tractors are just more versitile for the money.

 

[Leon Wittner]

I bought a Kabota L-2800 a little over 3 years ago and have a hundred hours on it moving rocks a dirt with my FL, Box scraper. and rake. Bought it with zero % intrest and used Kabotas money for free. I am a Mechanical Engineer and Kabota is built much better than the equivelent John Deer. The owner of the place I bought it at sold both Deer and Kabota and they were about the same price. After I was done buying he walked over and told me "I sell both and you made the correct choice"

 

[Z-Michigan]

Not trying to troll here but I think you have prematurely focused on Kubota. While they are definitely great tractors and have a large share of the CUT market, they are not the only thing out there. I would look at options from New Holland and Kioti at a minimum (and that's assuming you already looked at JD and didn't like what you saw). Kioti in particular is a great tractor for typically less money than Kubota, JD or NH. Since you are in NC, if you are somewhat mechanically inclined I would also look into the Power-Trac machines which are sold out of their factory in western Virginia.

 

[flusher]

Hi guys, new to the forum here and to tractors so be kind . I have been lurking and doing some homework for some time. The wife and I are currently building on 4.5 acres and I will be in the market for a tractor early spring.

This is my need:

-4.5 acres of very flat land (old farm sold off as subdivision)
-Primary need would be for mowing but have not decided between MM or RM mower.
-Secondary need would be for a FEL for gravel, mulch, dirt and such.
-I have talked myself out of the need for a backhoe to dig trees as there is absolutely no trees on our land. I figured I would not have a need for a backhoe after planting trees so I might as well rent something for a day or two.
-Budget- I would like to keep it under $20k for tractor, FEL and MM or RM mower.

It seems like around these parts, for Ag people go JD and anything less they go Kubota. Additionally, it looks like my $ goes farther with Kubota and they are generally much lighter which is good considering my primary use will be mowing.

1) Which models would you suggest me looking at within my budget?

2) I have been looking at the B3030 (no cab) and B7800. Which is easier for someone who has never driven a tractor to learn?

3) How would you determine mowing time?

4) Based on the information above, besides the loading need, why wouldn't someone in my position go with a ZTR?

I have 10 acres of flat pasture land and mow about 7 acres with a 2005 B7510HST/LA302 FEL and a 4-ft wide King Kutter rotary mower (brush hog). The first cutting in early May takes about 11 hours since the weeds are 3-4 feet high and I mow slowly to avoid hitting new obstructions (like gopher holes) while going too fast (hard on the front axles). The second cutting in late June takes about 7 hours since the weeds are about 2 feet tall and I speed up the tractor somewhat. With a 3030 you could go with a 5 or 6 foot wide RM and reduce the mowing time considerably.

HST's are nice if you're new to tractors and plan to do a lot of FEL work where you're constantly reversing directions.

But Kubota's gear tractors are easy to learn to drive efficiently, so I wouldn't say categorically that you absolutely must go with an HST tractor.

I have a 45-hp 1964 Massey Ferguson 135 diesel that has a simple gear transmission. It's fun to drive and you learn quickly to adapt to it's peculiarities.

 

[davitk]

For what you're doing I would look at the Kubota BX2350 with MMM and FEL, a very capable landscaping and grounds keeping machine. The B series are taller "tractors" but what it sounds like you'll be doing is putting in a lawn and mowing. Spend 13,000 dollars on the tractor, go to Hawaii for Christmas and spend the rest making it up to the wife.

 

[Egon]

I'd go for the BX also.

 

[woodmanscott]

For what you're doing I would look at the Kubota BX2350 with MMM and FEL, a very capable landscaping and grounds keeping machine. The B series are taller "tractors" but what it sounds like you'll be doing is putting in a lawn and mowing. Spend 13,000 dollars on the tractor, go to Hawaii for Christmas and spend the rest making it up to the wife.

please forgive my ignorance but what is mmm and fel in reguards to a tractor