Poll: How many traded before finding the 'right' tractor?

[bxowner]

It seems that many - if not most - of us didn't keep the first tractor for very long. I keep coming across threads and look at people's signatures - so many speak of trading in or selling their tractor for something bigger.

"Upgrading" seems to be the common experience. I only mention this since I did a lot of research before buying my BX1500 and cannot afford the luxury of trading in each year for something bigger. I learned a very costly lesson by buying a new 2005 JD garden tractor and getting only one season of use before trading it - I now have a 3-pt hitch, diesel engine, FEL and 4WD - for not a lot more than it would have been if I had just bought the Kubota from the start.

But, it seems as a bit of warning to perspective BX buyers that - although it may be Kubota's biggest (but not physically largest) seller - a lot of people seem to complain about it's lack of ground clearance and upgrade to a "B."

I wonder if the same is true when talking about the "L" and "M" series.

 

[Gatorboy]

I meant to post this to the 'buying' thread - not the owning thread - sorry...

Then why not just DELETE your message in this thread? Click the Edit button and look for the Delete button.

 

[kwolfe]

bxowner,
Like you, I have a bx1500 and love that little mule. From reading many of the posts, I seems that many who have upgraded over the years have done so becasue they needed to extra capacity that larger models offer. Either they underestimated the first time, or found that they wanted to do things with the tractor that required more lift capacity, HP or whatever.

If I had the money, I would buy 10 to 20 acres and get a a larger tractor. Why? I love the seat time. However, with 2 acres (mostly clear), the 1500 with FEL will do just fine. Some projects might take me a little longer, however I enjoy the work so I don't mind.

 

[Sully2]

I did all of my leg work BEFORE my first purchase...as compared to doing it after...looking for an upgrade!

 

[Stef]

Please, if you want to post on this thread do it in the "Kubota buying/pricing" section (same title). It'll benefit every TBNers. Thanks

 

[LBrown59]

"Upgrading" seems to be the common experience. I only mention this since I did a lot of research before buying my BX1500 and cannot afford the luxury of trading in each year for something bigger.
1*I learned a very costly lesson by buying a new 2005 JD garden tractor and getting only one season of use before trading it -
I now have a 3-pt hitch, diesel engine, FEL and 4WD -
2**for not a lot more than it would have been if I had just bought the Kubota from the start.

1* I did about the same thing = bought a new CC GT2554 with front blade and back tiller about a year ago.

2*I'm now replacing it with a BX1500 with front blade and rear tiller .
Should have just bought The Kubota BX 1500 last year instead of the Cub Cadet GT2554.

 

[texasjohn]

I've been very happy with my L5030 HSTC.... see no need to upgrade... just need to find time for more seat time... and a few more attachments. It does all I need done on 200+ acres.

 

[LBrown59]

I did all of my leg work BEFORE my first purchase...as compared to doing it after...looking for an upgrade!

That works except when there is A slip up and you miss simething or things change in the future

 

[DraftHorse]

I'm in the process of "upgrading" from my L3130GST to a 3540HSTC. The reason for upgrading is that I need a cab. With all the construction take place around where I currently live, the increase in Valley Fever is on the uprise. Just recently, I was moving a piece of equiment for a neighbor and a bag of something which was hidden underneath and wasen't visible, broke open.

15 minutes of hacking and a cracked sternum later, I was on the phone yelling at the dealer for my new tractor. Of course, I really didn't yell, but I asked him how fast he can get one in. Should be in late next week.

As for my 3130, I love the beast. Did everything I asked it to to and then some. I just didn't think I could justify the cost of a cab at that time, but hindsight is 20-20.

Peter

 

[Shantycoke]

I upgraded from a BX 2230, which is a good little workhorse of a tractor, to a B7800 for it's size, clearance, hyd. pump output, and workload capacity.
I ended up missing the smaller tractor, so I went out and got a T1570 to park next to the B7800. They seem very happy together.
Pat

 

[Killer_B]

Some take longer to learn than others. It took me three tries. BX to B to JD3320. But I think I may have finally got the right one. Time will tell. It probably would have been more cost effective to just by the 3320 first and forgo the trade up costs. Live and learn.

KB

 

[mikeyd]

My first kubota was a L3010, got it to cut grass and snowplow. The tractor worked just fine, powerful, easy to use. Problem was I didn't get a cab, figured I didn't "need" it. Well, after two harsh New York winters plowing 1200 feet of driveway, I realized that a cab was a necessity. I ended up going to a L5030 HSTC because the majority of the cost in the upgrade was the cab not the extra size and HP.

 

[nkole]

I'm also in the three try club. Started with a BX2200 in 2002. Great tractor but FEL capability and ground clearance turned out to be issues for me. Next I went to a Kioti DK45. Had major reliability issues and sold after two years and 130 hours. Bought an L39 15 months ago and 200 hours later could not be happier.

Neil

 

[JIMTORL]

I am a slow learner it took 4 for me. Farmall cub with a loader moved up to a farmall 140. The next was a case 580/ loader way too big then back down to Yanmar 220D/loader just a bit too small.
Now I think I am just right with the 3030 w/FEL

 

[Buster57]

I had a series of expensive JD lawn tractors before I bought a Kubota L3010.
A guy gave me close to what I paid for it 4 years after I bought it so it is happy some where else.

I suspect I will keep buying a new tractor about every 3 or 4 years. While I love my B7800, the next one will be the future version of the B3030. The size just fits my property and slope better then the Grand 'L' series.

I will keep all my attachments. I will never sell them again.

 

[Killer_B]

I will keep all my attachments. I will never sell them again.

That makes all the difference in the world. When you have to buy all new implements (bigger or smaller) the equation changes considerably.

 

[RayCo]

I can either say third try or first try, depending on how I look at it. As fate had it, I came across a free Wheel Horse D-180, which is a large garden tractor from the 70s. I didn't know anything about it, but it led me to learn what a 3 point hitch is and what kinds of things I can do around my property with a tractor. I spent a lot of time on Ebay looking for things and a lot of time keeping the tractor somewhat reliable. It was frustrating to use it at times because of leaks in the carb and other such problems that I was able to band-aid fix, but not permanently fix as a result of parts no longer being readily available.

I bought a second Wheel Horse, a D-200. It's the same tractor with the exception of disc turning brakes, a rear PTO standard, and some additional guages. (My D-180 has an engine from a D-200.) This tractor was in much better shape and much more turn-key. But the HST is really jerky and it made it frustrating to use. I also have yet to find a tiller, which is what I wanted rear PTO for. Tillers for these tractors are very hard to come by.

Eventually I realized that having old equipment can be fun, but is often more frustrating. After my daughter was born last year, I realized I could no longer afford the time to constantly be fixing tractors. I needed something that I could hop on and rely on so I could get things done in the time available. So, that's when I got my BX24. Is this the right and final tractor? I can't 100% say that it is for sure. There are times where having something bigger would come in handy, but the smallness is ultimately what I was after. I think that in time, I will get a bigger tractor, but I envision that being one to supplement the BX, not replace it. The size of this tractor is absolutely perfect for most of my projects.

It also helps that my father-in-law, who is my neighbor has a Case 580, and my nephew, who is another neighbor, has Kawasaki Mule.

 

[LBrown59]

XXXXXXXXX
I needed something that I could hop on and rely on so I could get things done in the time available.
So, that's when I got my BX24.
1* I think that in time, I will get a bigger tractor, but I envision that being one to supplement the BX, not replace it.
2*The size of this tractor is absolutely perfect for most of my projects.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Eventually I realized that having old equipment can be fun, but is often more frustrating. After my daughter was born last year, I realized I could no longer afford the time to constantly be fixing tractors. I needed something that I could hop on and rely on so I could get things done in the time available. So, that's when I got my BX24. Is this the right and final tractor? I can't 100% say that it is for sure. There are times where having something bigger would come in handy, but the smallness is ultimately what I was after. I think that in time, I will get a bigger tractor, but I envision that being one to supplement the BX, not replace it. The size of this tractor is absolutely perfect for most of my projects.

It also helps that my father-in-law, who is my neighbor has a Case 580, and my nephew, who is another neighbor, has Kawasaki Mule.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2*That's why you can't replace them so you supplement instead.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[btolle]

I started out with a Ford 8N when we were rebuilding out house and trying to clear about 3 acres of woods.

I really wanted a front end loader and found a used B7100 with FEL. It was a real workhorse and would do everything I needed it to do but it did not have power steering and with the FEL fully loaded was really hard to steer.

I decided on a BX2230 and had paid for it and was waiting for the R4's tthat the dealer had to order before I picked it up.

One Sunday I went to the Kubota dealer and started looking around and became really concerned about the lack of ground clearance on the BX as well as the exposure of the fan and filters under the belly. I also noticed the steering 'rams' were in front of the front axle and it looked like it would be easy to damage them if I hit a stump.

The final factor was that the BX felt more like my Craftsman riding mower than my B7100 and I realized just how much smaller the tires were on the BX.

There was a B7510 sitting there and when I got on it it felt 'right'. I paid about $1,150 difference the next morning and have been happy ever since (2 years ago).

Take you time and go to the dealer when they are either closed or tell them to leave you alone while you sit on everything and look under and around the different models. BTW, I also went to the JD dealer and sat on their comparable models but it seemed that the Kubota was more my 'style'. That could be because of my B7100 so keep an open mind.

If you read these forums you will find countless threads about wishing people had bought bigger in the first place so be careful not to go too small.

Bill Tolle

 

[LBrown59]

I started out with a Ford 8N when we were rebuilding out house and trying to clear about 3 acres of woods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1*The final factor was that the BX felt more like my Craftsman riding mower
2*There was a B7510 sitting there and when I got on it, it felt 'right'
==================

BTW, I also went to the JD dealer and sat on their comparable models but it seemed that the Kubota was more my 'style'
than my B7100 and I realized just how much smaller the tires were on the BX.

There was a B7510 sitting there and when I got on it it felt 'right'. I paid about $1,150 difference the next morning and have been happy ever since (2 years ago).

closed or tell them to leave you alone while you sit on everything and look under and around the different models. . That could be because of my B7100 so keep an open mind.

If you rea small.

Bill Tolle

1* In no way can a BX be compared with a craPsMan.
2*When I bought my BX23 I had looked at a nice used B2410 and thot that was what I wanted until I went to the Kubota dealer to get a price on a new B2410.
That's when I first saw the BX23 and it was love at first site but I battled it back and forth in my mind for almost 2 month trying to decide which one I wanted.
Finally went with the BX23 never looked back and no regrets.
The B2410 felt intimidating and huge to me and I just didn't feel at ease operating it.
I don't like driving large vehicles that's why I have 2 Dodge D50 pickups and a Nissan and a Toyota Pick up.

The B7510 B7610 and B2410 are nice tractors very nice and I sure would take one of them but not if it ment giving up the BX23.