Price Check Right Size? Right Price? Need Help on Kubota

[Mofan]

New to this forum but have been reading posts for a few weeks. I rcently moved back to MO and have a small 40 acre farm that was previously used for cattle. I have about 25 acres of fescue that I want to take about 10 acres to develop food plots and will be mowing the rest with a 6' brushog and ZTR for about 2 acres of yard.

My local dealer quoted the following:

Kubota L5030 GST w/ FEL $26,200
Woods 7' Standard Duty Brushog $2,400
Scag Tiger Cub ZTR $6,400

Kubota L4330 GST w/FEL $23,125
Woods 6' Std. Duty Brushog $1,700
Scag Tiger Cut ZTR $6,400

I would appreciate any input on whether I would need the larger tractor since it would be 3,000 for 8 h.p. and whether these prices seem reasonable or are way too high. I priced a comparable New Holland and the price was in the same ballpark but I liked the GST transmission better with the shuttle shift.

Any help on the tractor, brushog and ztr would be appreciated since I have never owned any of these. Thank you.

 

[rk246]

Just curious if you looked at, or considered the HST? I love mine, very simple and time saving to operate, and similar in price to the GST.

 

[crown]

Are you going to be brush hogging 13 acres every week? If so I think you need to ask yourself how much time do you want to devote to mowing.
I may ask your dealer about a base M series tractor the line is being replaced you may be able to get a deal, even if not I believe you will find them less expensive than the grand L series, you will lose some creature comforts but they will easily handle the larger implements and be a benefit for the food plot.
As far as the 2 acre lawn is concerned the ZRT will be the fastest route but also most expensive, I do not know if the price is good or not on your quote.

As a possibility you might see if a local farmer would be willing to cut the 13 arces for grass hay for horse or cattle and go with a smaller L series tractor with a brush hog and get a finish mower to do the lawn and not have to buy the second piece of equipment.

That said most will tell you having a dedicated lawn mower and a tractor is prefered if money allows.

Good luck and welcome to TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DmansPadge]

I'll leave the tractor to the others and say a word about the Scag since I've had some experience with them.

My uncle has a Tiger Cub, Kohler/44", and mows about 3 acres and about 1/2 mile of fenceline. He paid $6000 about 4-5 years ago. On that note... I would say the price is fair. That thing is a hoss. I've used it several times and have been amazed. It is built like a tank and will cut down anything you throw it's way. The first time I used it I cut his fenceline... simply because I wanted to use the Scag! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I was mowing VERY TALL grass at nearly full speed and the Tiger Cub never even thought about slowing down. I was honestly surprised at how well it did. He has a few hundred hours on it now and has never had any trouble. I think a belt is the only thing that has been done to it other than regular maintenance.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mofan]

Thanks for the input, keep it coming.

I will check on the M series. I thought about them at first, but thought they might be more than I need.

I found another dealer farther away who has L4400's in stock and is willing to deal, but they only have the DT transmission. He says they are not shuttle shift, but the Kubota website indicates you can shuttle shift in low gear and I assume that is without clutch, but I don't know. The original dealer I went to never mentioned the L series so I thought they were being discontinued and being replaced by the Grand L series.

I only plan to mow the pasture about once a month. I was going to hay the pasture and still may if I can find someone, but need a tractor anyway for planting food plots, etc.

I didn't try the HST as I thought they were alot more money and the GST seemed pretty easy compared to my brother's NH with the standard transmission. I don't have a lot of fel work, just alot of clean up right now and filling in some holes in the pasture, snowplowing, grading for a patio, etc.

Found a much better deal on a ZTR, a Grasshopper, from a local dealer. I just thought a could get a better deal with Kubota by packaging everything I needed to buy.

Again, thanks for the input. I have learned so much from this site, but I still don't know much.

 

[rk246]

Were all learning all the time, or at least I hope, I don't believe the HST was much more when I was looking at them, maybe like 600.00.... I would at least try the HST, Alot of people who try them really like them...

 

[Marooned]

Mofan,
Your tractor pricing seems to be in line with what I found. I just bought the 4330 HST (Hydrostat) w/ 853 Loader / HD Bucket & Quick Attach for $23,320. If I remember correctly, I believe the HST was around $600 more than the GST when I priced them.

In regards to the Woods Brush Hog, I can't really comment on the price as I didn't price it. I got a Rhino SE6 (standard duty 6') for $1,100. It seems to be very well built and I have read many good things about it on TBN. I have as of yet had the need to use it as winter & lack of rain has kept my grass in check. Don't know if your dealer has Rhino, but it appears you could save a little here. Again, I don't know anything about the Woods Brush Hog, it may be worth the extra money? Just seems a bit high for a 6' standard duty brush hog.

Drive the GST & HST before you decide. Many like the HST, others prefer gears. I was all set on a gear tractor, but when I drove the HST, I (& my wife) loved it!

Good Luck!