Sub-Compact/Compact Recommendations

[Blue Mule]

I maintain about 3 acres. I've also got a 500 ft gravel driveway. Down the lane from me is a paved entrance to these properties that also has to be cleared of snow in winter.

I started looking at subcompact tractors but ultimately decided on a compact. There have been SOOO many times I've been glad that I did. A subcompact simply would not do the jobs I've gotten into. Size, weight, and power all would be sorely lacking for dragging a box blade full of crushed stone, scraping mud off the boat ramp, or moving fallen Ash trees to the pile.

Buy bigger now so you don't have to later!

BTW I LOVE my New Holland. I shopped all the brands. All of them. Could not find anything with the specs, features, and brand support of the New Holland for the same money.

 

[rfoxinc]

That depends on if and how much mowing you do with your machine...that 3 range transmission is a time saver in most cases...

Mike

The B2601 is rated at 12.7.mph in high.
The SA324 is 6mph [low-range] and 12.3mph in high.

Bob

 

[metalbender]

Unless you're mowing a golf course, high speed mowing and tractor don't fit in the same sentence. I wouldn't punish me or my tractor trying to mow a few acres.

 

[Bdsankey]

Realistically I think a B2601/JD 2025R or LS (IDK what series, 225S?) would be ideal for my usages. Once the home is built/driveway is paved (I would like to avoid gravel) I don't expect to be doing much. Sure, if a tree comes down then yes, I'll have to clean it up with say a grapple (I'll be getting 3rd function on the loader) and general brush but I don't plan to be cutting down trees or putting in roads etc. If I do, it will be very few instances where dealing with the smaller size of the tractor would be fine. Mowing, snow removal, and general yard tasks (spreading mulch, small ground projects for say a flower bed etc).


The biggest thing I don't know is if I should go down the hydraulic chute rotate/deflection for the blower. The unit will live inside my garage during the winter but we all know there will be instances where it won't be or where I'll have to transport it in the cold. I also have no intent of getting a Kubota cab, I will find a cheaper aftermarket soft cab to keep the wind/snow off as I can easily handle my own warmth with winter gear.


Also on the towing/trailer aspect, I am not concerned. I own a 2002 2500hd with a Duramax and have a gooseneck trailer with 12k weight capacity.

 

[Rdrcr]

The B2601 is rated at 12.7.mph in high.
The SA324 is 6mph [low-range] and 12.3mph in high.

Bob

Mowing is mostly done in mid-range....if you want a good cut....and don't want to get beat up doing it...

Mike

 

[Williy]

Perhaps you would ask your dealer about this tractor:

willy

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

How many hours do you have on yours now Williy?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I do most of my mowing in M range (HST), some steep hills in L range, and never mow in H range.

Like others have said, I'm not beating myself or my tractor up by trying to fly over pastures to see how fast I can mow. That's just idiotic. Medium range is about as fast as I can tolerate traveling over semi-rough surfaces. I'm not mowing golf courses either, most of the fields and pastures I end up mowing are fairly rough surfaced, and hopefully not too many hidden gems like rocks, old fence posts and fallen trees. I'm sure as heck not flying along hell bent for leather and "hoping" I don't find something in the tall grass.

 

[Williy]

YUP Slim, tractors are geared low for power not speed!
Slowpoke Slim still waiting. Rubber shortage and steel
shortages have really hurt a lot of tractor dealers as they are not able to produce any new tractors and that's why you will see a lot of empty dealer lots. One dealer told me the rubber shortage really set the manufacturing of tractors back 2 or more weeks as they can't get any tires. Sad to hear that. No worry the production lines should be rolling on producing all those nice shiny new tractors!

willy

willy

 

[Bdsankey]

I'm starting to wonder if I would be best served by a Simplicity Prestige, Simplicity Legacy XL, JD X500 series, or JD X700 series for mowing/snow blowing the paved driveway and get a larger tractor for tractor duties...............


The need is stemming from my current Husqvarna having a K46 trans that is on the outs. It's gone through wheel end shaft seals twice now as well as no longer unlocks, meaning that the posi unit has become a locker. I've serviced it with the Tuff Torq fluid, magnet etc and still have this behavior.

 

[Williy]

You could rebuild it or purchase a better unit to replace
it??
Check these guys out on how to rebuild and replace
the K46 with something different

willy

 

[Rdrcr]

I'm starting to wonder if I would be best served by a Simplicity Prestige, Simplicity Legacy XL, JD X500 series, or JD X700 series for mowing/snow blowing the paved driveway and get a larger tractor for tractor duties...............


The need is stemming from my current Husqvarna having a K46 trans that is on the outs. It's gone through wheel end shaft seals twice now as well as no longer unlocks, meaning that the posi unit has become a locker. I've serviced it with the Tuff Torq fluid, magnet etc and still have this behavior.

I think when you begin exploring the cost difference between the machines you’ll find the better value in a sub-compact / small compact tractor.

Sure, the X500/X700 will do what you need now, but, a tractor will do those tasks and many others for not much more money. I personally believe, in comparison, that the sub-compact / small compact tractors are built better, have better engines and are a much much better value.

Mike

 

[Bdsankey]

You could rebuild it or purchase a better unit to replace
it??
Check these guys out on how to rebuild and replace
the K46 with something different

willy

I could but I also am not going to spend the kind of money a K66 retrofit kit costs on this tractor. It was free from my parents when we bought our house (it gave them a bunch of issues with the K46).

I think when you begin exploring the cost difference between the machines you’ll find the better value in a sub-compact / small compact tractor.

Sure, the X500/X700 will do what you need now, but, a tractor will do those tasks and many others for not much more money. I personally believe, in comparison, that the sub-compact / small compact tractors are built better, have better engines and are a much much better value.

Mike

That is true, the delta between a X758 to a JD 1025R or BX series is very very minimal. The cost delta over those tractors to say a B2601 is just about zero as well.

 

[Rdrcr]

^^^^
Yes. That's why I prefer and suggest the sub-compact/small compact tractor platform when compared to the "garden" tractor in general.

There will always be a compromise when you are looking for a single machine solution and two machines can become an expensive alternative.

Mike

 

[Bdsankey]

^^^^
Yes. That's why I prefer and suggest the sub-compact/small compact tractor platform when compared to the "garden" tractor in general.

There will always be a compromise when you are looking for a single machine solution and two machines can become an expensive alternative.

Mike

That's what initially sent me toward the JD 1025R/Kubota BX2680 but from what I've gathered in this thread, the B2601 isn't much larger but is a much more capable unit.

 

[Username Taken]

Talk to me about the SSQA on the SA series Yanmars. I heard they finally discovered them back in September, are they being shipped now? Have they arrived yet?

And, most importantly, are they Universal SSQA or, as I read on their site, some of kind of haff-arsed nonsense?

Still haven't figured that one out.

 

[Username Taken]

That's what initially sent me toward the JD 1025R/Kubota BX2680 but from what I've gathered in this thread, the B2601 isn't much larger but is a much more capable unit.

The 1025R is a stout little tractor. It will surprise you. The B2601 is bigger. And a little more capable. But the 1025r is a stout little tractor. Not worth the money, IMO. But stout

Problem with the 1025r is that JD wants your first-born for it. Go to Tractorhouse and type in any JD tractor, select 'new' and nothing comes up. They even cracked down on packages. You'll see a few with a certain monthly payment but no actual cost, no selling price. Bet they get them at some point in the near future, too. That makes me nervous. I don't buy from Honest John or Slim Shady and I don't go for their 'Trust Us' sloganeering. It turns me off. bigly

I'd look around. If you decide on one of the 2 you mentioned, you'rre getting a good tractor.

But I think they're both too small for what you're gonna need. You're not looking at all the little things yu're gonna need to do that require a bigger tractor. Not more HP, which is slightly overrated..... Bigger.

A grapple, forks, all kinds of 3 point attachments and I don't even think the 1025R is a true Cat 1 3PH. So you'll be trying to mate hybrid equipment at every turn.

Buy your 2nd Tractor first. It's cheaper that way

 

[Bdsankey]

The 1025R is a stout little tractor. It will surprise you. The BX2680 is bigger. And a little more capable. But the 1025r is a stout little tractor. Not worth the money, IMO. But stout

Problem with the 1025r is that JD wants your first-born for it. Go to Tractorhouse and type in any JD tractor, select 'new' and nothing comes up. They even cracked down on packages. You'll see a few with a certain monthly payment but no actual cost, no selling price. Bet they get them at some point in the near future, too. That makes me nervous. I don't buy from Honest John or Slim Shady and I don't go for their 'Trust Us' sloganeering. It turns me off. bigly

I'd look around. If you decide on one of the 2 you mentioned, you'rre getting a good tractor.

But I think they're both too small for what you're gonna need. You're not looking at all the little things yu're gonna need to do that require a bigger tractor. Not more HP, which is slightly overrated..... Bigger.

A grapple, forks, all kinds of 3 point attachments and I don't even think the 1025R is a true Cat 1 3PH. So you'll be trying to mate hybrid equipment at every turn.

Buy your 2nd Tractor first. It's cheaper that way

At this point I'm leaning toward the B2601. The thing I don't know is how big of a pain it is to add the loader after initial purchase, IE if I buy the B2601/MMM/blower now and say pick up the loader in the spring or in a year etc if that is a life changing ordeal to do after the unit is built.

 

[Username Taken]

At this point I'm leaning toward the B2601. The thing I don't know is how big of a pain it is to add the loader after initial purchase, IE if I buy the B2601/MMM/blower now and say pick up the loader in the spring or in a year etc if that is a life changing ordeal to do after the unit is built.

1) MMM's are the work of satan. Get one if you must, avoid them when you can

2) You'll get a much better deal if you buy the FEL with the tractor. It's called "Bundling". Don't over-complicate things

In fact, look hard at package deals. Get some other attachments while you're at it. Box Blade?? Bush Hog?? Forks?

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/27531867/2021-kubota-b2601hsd?CTRY=USA

You can sometimes finance all of it through Kubota at 0% Interest. I like free money.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I would strongly advise you to get the FEL at the same time you get the tractor.

No matter what tractor you decide on, get it with the FEL installed.

I would also go SSQA for the FEL attachment type as well, again, doesn't matter which one you pick, make sure you do those 2 things.

FEL + SSQA

You're welcome.