New Tractor for buyer new to tractors

[dodge man]

I’ll add I had a BX for 10 years, the JD2025r is roughly the size of the B sized Kubota you are looking at. The BX is a solid little tractor, I liked mine. The negative is small tires and a very small end loader bucket. For your use the bigger Kubota is a no brainer.

 

[jeff9366]

Tractor Sizing - Almost Daily Thread: SUBCOMPACT or COMPACT TRACTOR?

Repetitively typing almost the same advice on the Topic: SUBCOMPACT or COMPACT TRACTOR? is not that interesting. I am going to accumulate some well considered, well punctuated standard replies, then refine the advice. Everyone is welcome to contribute.

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[aesanders]

I thought BC was all MKS

Shouldn't those acres be hectares?

;-)

eta

Get the B-01, skip the cab, You need the air and sunshine!
Get a box blade, and a scrape blade, and a flail mower. $$$$
oh! don't forget the carry all.

As a self test, write down the four things you NEED to have a back hoe to do.
If the value adds to MORE than the cost, buy one. If less, RENT!

Fresh air is nice when just doing simple things, but get into mowing or other dusty environments or too hot or too cold situation and you will love a cab.

Capability wise, yes a B can do most things but not all things. My last machine, a John Deere 2320, was about the same size and capability as a B. It did most things just fine, but there were jobs I couldn’t tackle or chose not too because the tractor was limiting.

 

[CaptPat]

I think there's a tendency to go smaller, especially for new buyers. Smaller tractors are fine but their limits are encountered sooner, for example, FEL capacity. Less capacity translates into more time for a given task, while some tasks will just not be possible with a smaller machine. I recommend buying the most HP you can afford, this will support larger implements and faster task times, plus you can always use smaller implements if required. Based on your description I'd be looking in the 40-60HP range. Think carefully about extras, beyond a FEL of course. Sure a cab is nice but it adds considerably to the purchase price and in some situations, it can be a liability (e.g. trail maintenance). I didn't see from your description the need for a backhoe, for a small number of projects renting a mini-ex might be a better strategy.

Kubota will generally finance implements with a new tractor purchase, which is pretty convenient. However one can sometimes find good deals by monitoring FB Marketplace or Craigslist for used equipment, to me this makes a lot of sense for implements that only receive occasional use

 

[Williy]

here's something for you to look at:

willy

 

[paulsharvey]

What is the import rules/taxes? Can you drive a day to get a machine in US, and cross back over without paying some kinda import tax? Does a used older, cheaper machine, avoid those rules?

 

[Williy]

1970 and back if you purchased a Mercedes Benz new and drove it
around europe an put over 30,000 miles on it no import tax it was used.
Back then you could up the price of a new Benz in the states go to
Germany pay cash for the car put the miles on the car and come back to
the states and still have some money. A 1967 VW bug cost new
$1325.00 and shipping $125.00. Here in states price of 1967 VW bug
new $2495.00+
Also if you live in a different country for 3 years all the stuff we were
carring no inport tax and wife had her mink coat and a whole lot of
clothes boots shoes etc that we purchased on our way home.

willy

 

[John_Mc]

Hello,

I have a 10 acre parcel in coastal BC with about 1/2 the acreage cleared. The 5 cleared acres quickly overgrows with brambles (blackberries), broom, and heavy grass. The land is undulating and gently sloped. There is almost no flat "lawn". My needs are primarily for brush and heavy grass cutting, fence mending, light tree clearing, light to medium landscaping, driveway maintenance, and general property upkeep. I outsource heavy logging or serious excavator work to locals with skills and equipment. Our local tractor dealer is Kubota. Current post Covid prices in Canadian dollars with Canadian taxes are horrifying. I am weighing a BX23S tractor loader backhoe plus brush hog VS a B2601HSD with loader backhoe and brush hog. The bigger machine with the extras listed is over $60,000 Canadian with taxes. The BX23S is a chunk less. Any advice or wisdom considering acreage and stated needs? Other than helping on a farm as a teenager I have no serious tractor maintenance skills (I do know how to use a grease gun)
Thanks

The "go big" vs "go small" argument always seems to be a central issue whenever someone asks advice. Some of this depends on the kind of work you want to do: you aren't going to be doing heavy duty logging with either choice you mentioned, but you also mentioned you'll be contracting out such heavier work. (However, I've seen some pretty impressive work done with an ATV, and those tractors will certainly pull more.)

A lot of this is personal preference: what is your budget, and what is your personal trade-off between spending more money (larger equipment) or more time (making more passes with smaller equipment).

I own 144 acres and manage it with a 2001, 33 HP New Holland TC33D. I brush hog several acres an several miles of trails on my own property, and grade a 1/4 mile gravel driveway. I also do some trail maintenance and mowing on another 115 acres of conserved working forest which is cooperatively owned with 15 other families in the area. However, is set up for small-scale forest management: I have a 3 pt hitch logging winch for the back, a forestry grapple for the loader, belly pan & limb risers, and a forwarding trailer (hydraulic, self loading).

For the logging work I probably should have the next frame size up and a 40-50 HP tractor. However, my current tractor can get in to places I could not with a larger tractor, so there is a trade-off. If I were starting over, I'd probably have gone up to that size, but what I have works, I just have to do my work in smaller bites.

With 10 acres, for the work you describe, between the two you mentioned, I'd be going with the B2601. The BX23 is a nice subcompact, but I suspect you'll outgrow fairly quickly. The small tires and lower ground clearance can be an issue. An L2502 or an L3302 might be a nice option, but I'm guessing they are a lot more $$.

For the uses you describe, anything larger sure seems like overkill to me. However, that's just my own personal trade off between $$ and time spent on a 10 acre property.

I agree with others who recommended just renting a mini excavator when needed. I bought a used backhoe (and a new subframe) for my tractor. I used it off an on initially, but just don't have much ongoing use for it. It sits gathering rust now. If you see an ongoing regular need, it might be worth considering, otherwise just save the money.

 

[newkiotiguy]

If planning on getting a loader/ loader grapple combo you are going to be seriously disappointed with the lift capacity of the bx. You might not think you need a grapple but you need a grapple

 

[McCann]

Horse power and a good brush hog. My first tractor was too small. I over worked it and when I finally moved up it was hard to believe the difference. Deere 4310 with fel and a 5 foot has cleared all I’ve needed. I have rented a mini ex 3 times in 15 years. I own a grapple and I recommend one. Good luck. Searching is part of the fun.