Buying Advice Rookie here, looking for advice...

[bonefish101]

Hi guys, I'm a newbie on here and a complete rookie as far as tractors are concerned.
I bought my first house about a year ago on 6.25 fairly level and open acres.
I have since detonated the block on my Husq 2654 garden tractor, trying to keep six acres mowed and I am at the point where I need something more substantial.
I have narrowed my choice down to two, although I could probably change my mind again, a JD 2520 w/CX loader or Kubota L2800HST w/loader. I have recieved quotes on both machines and my local JD dealer has dropped his price to match the Kubota which would be shipped from about 500 miles away. Both machines are brand new and around 17k delivered.
What are your thoughts, which would you choose?

Thanks in advance

 

[MarkV]

There is a lot to be said for local dealer support.

MarkV

 

[scoutcub]

Are you that far out in the boonies or just got the best deal from 500 miles away?
What if they need servicing/warranty work?

 

[Craig Clayton]

On your selection of machines there is another season to consider.WINTER. Snow plowing unless you do not get any. Also drive way length.
Craig Clayton

 

[TripleR]

I don't think you can go wrong with either tractor, so the best advice I can give is crawl around on both models, check out the controls, seat, platform etc and see which one "fits" you the best.

I don't like brakes on the left, but others do. I have no real problem with either style HST pedals, but some prefer one over the other.

Dealer support is important to me, but if you do your own maintenance, you will rarely see a dealer. I am guessing there are dealers closer than 500 miles, just that the best deal is 500 miles away.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I would just like to say you are looking at 2 very nice tractors. If I was to upgrade those are the 2 I would look at first.

One note...I think the L2800 comes in at more weight. Weight is often your friend when operateing a tractor.

I too strongly suggest that you sit on each and get a feel for each machine. Test drive and operate if at all possible.

I bought my first tractor a year ago. Bought a used John Deere. The sense of pride to own a John Deere has been huge. But, there other good tractors out there that can do a lot of work...

Best of luck with your purchase. Your "quality of life" will go through the roof.:thumbsup:

 

[RalphVa]

I'd consider the 2320 myself. It would use a bit less fuel.

I'd also give thought to not mowing 6 acres. Let most of it go wild. Just bushhog it every so often, depending on what unwanted growth is coming in. If just saplings, you could go to every other year to get rid of them, but some may develop into nice trees you'd want. If weeds you don't like, you may have to mow a couple times/yr for 2 to 4 years to knock them down.

Just finish mow a 1/2 acre right near your house to keep ticks down.

You'll still find plenty of use for the tractor: as a diesel wheel barrow, snow mover, etc. Mow some trails around the 6 acres to enjoy them in the wild.

Ralph

 

[Runner]

Welcome to the site!

I maintain 6 acres with a 2520 and it does everything I need. 180 hours on the clock and so far, no problems. I use a 72 inch rear finish mower on two acres and a 60 inch rotary cutter on the rest.

If I was buying it now, I'd pop for the extra horsepower of the 2720.

 

[jlsmith]

Both are nice machines. I think he is saying his local dealer is close but the tractor he is looking at is on another JD lot which is 500 miles away and will have to have it shipped to his local dealer. If you have any MF dealers around you, you might look at the GC2400. Like others have said sit on them drive them and pick the one that fits and suits the the best. Alot of great input on here.

 

[Don87]

Both are nice machines. I think he is saying his local dealer is close but the tractor he is looking at is on another JD lot which is 500 miles away and will have to have it shipped to his local dealer. If you have any MF dealers around you, you might look at the GC2400. Like others have said sit on them drive them and pick the one that fits and suits the the best. Alot of great input on here.

I think I would have to echo these comments.

Although bigger is 'usually' better..........we are lookig at 6.5 acres, all open.

A GC2400 series just might be the ticket for this property.

Or a BX series Kubota.

 

[bonefish101]

Hi all, thanks for the input, it is all very helpful. Here's my situation, I have a JD dealer in the next town over, I wasnt really looking at Kubota too much, from the looks of the pictures the platform is a little cramped...I'm 6'4", 235lbs so I could use a little room. After reading the forums here for a while I kept seeing Barlows mentioned so I figured I would get a quote for what I figured was a close comparison to the 2520. I have to say, I was impressed with what little customer service was involved with the quote and I would feel comfortable dealing with them, even though they are not in my backyard. My local Kubota dealer wanted almost $1000 more for the same unit and he only has to deliver it 20 miles (I'm in Northern Virginia, about 75m west of DC).
I have researched most of the reputable brands, green, orange, red, other orange and finaly late today...the pretty white one! Let me just say I was shocked at how expensive Bobcat are, the quote I got today was mid18's for the 230 and high 19's for the 235. I realise they have a tad more horsepower but really! Am I missing something? I came in to this expecting JD to be way more expensive than the competition but so far I like what I'm seeing. The red 2816 is within a couple of hundred dollars of the 2520 and although I drove a Kioti it was the smaller one, I dont remember exactly right now, I'm sure you can all remind me but I would rather go Bobcat than Kioti and after getting those numbers this evening I think I am really leaning towards JD, I can get a 2720 for the same price as the CT230 and green has better resale value should that ever become necessary.
OK, I feel like I'm rambling...looking forward to your opinions.

 

[Don87]

Hi all, thanks for the input, it is all very helpful. Here's my situation, I have a JD dealer in the next town over, I wasnt really looking at Kubota too much, from the looks of the pictures the platform is a little cramped...I'm 6'4", 235lbs so I could use a little room. After reading the forums here for a while I kept seeing Barlows mentioned so I figured I would get a quote for what I figured was a close comparison to the 2520. I have to say, I was impressed with what little customer service was involved with the quote and I would feel comfortable dealing with them, even though they are not in my backyard. My local Kubota dealer wanted almost $1000 more for the same unit and he only has to deliver it 20 miles (I'm in Northern Virginia, about 75m west of DC).
I have researched most of the reputable brands, green, orange, red, other orange and finaly late today...the pretty white one! Let me just say I was shocked at how expensive Bobcat are, the quote I got today was mid18's for the 230 and high 19's for the 235. I realise they have a tad more horsepower but really! Am I missing something? I came in to this expecting JD to be way more expensive than the competition but so far I like what I'm seeing. The red 2816 is within a couple of hundred dollars of the 2520 and although I drove a Kioti it was the smaller one, I dont remember exactly right now, I'm sure you can all remind me but I would rather go Bobcat than Kioti and after getting those numbers this evening I think I am really leaning towards JD, I can get a 2720 for the same price as the CT230 and green has better resale value should that ever become necessary.
OK, I feel like I'm rambling...looking forward to your opinions.

Actually, you are not rambling, you are doing research........and it can get confusing.
JD has good resale, as does Kubota, amd Massey, and Bobcat.

You need to test drive them all, and see what suits you best. But just keep 1 thing in mind.........warranty work(or other work) on the machine.
I am fortunate, I have 2 JD dealers within 25 miles, 2 Kubota dealers within 15 miles, 1 Massey dealer 13 miles, but the nearest Bobcat dealer is 75 miles.

 

[MF 1532]

I just went through the same process you're going through . There are pro's and con's to every brand . Take your time and get it right . The only requirement starting out for me was it had to be a brand that I thought would be around for parts and support . The MF 1532 turned out to be the right one for me .

 

[Don87]

I just went through the same process you're going through . There are pro's and con's to every brand . Take your time and get it right . The only requirement starting out for me was it had to be a brand that I thought would be around for parts and support . The MF 1532 turned out to be the right one for me .

Same here.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Hi all, thanks for the input, it is all very helpful. Here's my situation, I have a JD dealer in the next town over, I wasnt really looking at Kubota too much, from the looks of the pictures the platform is a little cramped...I'm 6'4", 235lbs so I could use a little room. After reading the forums here for a while I kept seeing Barlows mentioned so I figured I would get a quote for what I figured was a close comparison to the 2520. I have to say, I was impressed with what little customer service was involved with the quote and I would feel comfortable dealing with them, even though they are not in my backyard. My local Kubota dealer wanted almost $1000 more for the same unit and he only has to deliver it 20 miles (I'm in Northern Virginia, about 75m west of DC).
I have researched most of the reputable brands, green, orange, red, other orange and finaly late today...the pretty white one! Let me just say I was shocked at how expensive Bobcat are, the quote I got today was mid18's for the 230 and high 19's for the 235. I realise they have a tad more horsepower but really! Am I missing something? I came in to this expecting JD to be way more expensive than the competition but so far I like what I'm seeing. The red 2816 is within a couple of hundred dollars of the 2520 and although I drove a Kioti it was the smaller one, I dont remember exactly right now, I'm sure you can all remind me but I would rather go Bobcat than Kioti and after getting those numbers this evening I think I am really leaning towards JD, I can get a 2720 for the same price as the CT230 and green has better resale value should that ever become necessary.
OK, I feel like I'm rambling...looking forward to your opinions.

Don is correct, you are not rambling, you are waiting for someone's approval to support your gut feeling.....Now, go buy that JD and your life will never be the same again.:thumbsup:

Seriously, the dealer is just around the corner, you feel the price is fair and, I am assuming you have at least sat on the 2520, if not operated it and you have done some shopping (research).

Don is also correct in pointing out....it can get confusing. There is a lot to decipher when searching out all the brands and all the numbers that come with the purchase....Specs and price.

Only you will know which tractor you can afford and which tractor will work for you. There comes a point in which you need to decide and it sounds to me like you are real close to that point.

Jump.!!

Best of luck with your purchase.

 

[bonefish101]

Going to go drive JD again today...anything I should be looking for? It's a brand new machine.

 

[Don87]

Going to go drive JD again today...anything I should be looking for? It's a brand new machine.

Just how it fits you, is all.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

By chance did you notice that the Kioti and Bobcat were just a weeeeeeeeee bit bigger than the John Deere? You are not comparing apples to apples. The 230 & 235 are 50% heavier and have waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more lifting capacity than the other tractors that you have been looking at.

Now me, I would jump on the tractor that has almost double the capacities for a couple of grand more, but that might just be me. Did you by chance get to sit on the 230? I think that you might find that it fits you better. Remember when your comparing tractors to try and get weight of machines along with the lifting capacities. Just because it's a tractor does not mean that it should be compared to all other tractors. Much better off to try and stay in the same size range when comparing machines.

Just my :2cents:

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Comparison

JD 2720
engine hp 31.4
weight 1973lbs
3pt lift & 24" 1250lbs
200CX loader lifts 800lbs @ pivot pin (= even less in the real world)

BC 230
engine hp 30
weight 3056lbs
3pt lift & 24" 1508lbs
7TL loader lifts 1225lbs @ 500mm from pin

Even with the jump up to the JD 2720, you only get more hp, but less tractor.

Just an example of you really do need to compare apples to apples.

 

[Runner]

You've probably already addressed this by saying that you're looking at tractors with loaders, but, if I was only going to finish mow 6.25 flat smooth acres, I'd be looking for the biggest, baddest zero turn mower that I could find and forget the tractor.

That being said, you will always find uses for a tractor with loader, so you probably couldn't go wrong by buying one with a finish mower.

Do you actually need a tractor for anything but finish mowing?

Just something else to think about.