B2601 regrets?

Nimrodski

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Dec 24, 2020
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Washington
I'm close to buying a B2601 with a FEL and the backhoe. I'm curious if anyone on this forum has a B2601 and if they have any regrets buying it. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your help. I'm excited to become part of the Orange community.
 

85Hokie

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Nim,

In my opinion....... the ONLY thing you will regret ..........
Is NOT buying it years ago
many will tell you not to get the hoe - I like the fact that I have it at all times, ballast on most days for the FEL - but nice to spin around and dig whatever up!
 
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B737

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I moved from BX to B2601, I was a little sheepish on the idea given my generally small wooded property, thinking a B would be too big, overkill, or unmanageable. It's not. I just wish I did it sooner.
 
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UpNorthMI

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I'm close to buying a B2601 with a FEL and the backhoe. I'm curious if anyone on this forum has a B2601 and if they have any regrets buying it. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your help. I'm excited to become part of the Orange community.
Hi, it would be useful if you told us what you planned to manage with your tractor. How much land, what types of attachments and uses you plan to use it for. Forum members can then comment if this model is a good fit for your planned usage.
 
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Nimrodski

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Dec 24, 2020
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I'll be using it on 20 mostly wooded acres in NE Washington. Sloped property, but not too steep. Nothing to mow. My driveway is over half a mile long, so I'll be maintaining that (snow, gravel, etc.) as well as making a shooting range, digging a ditch for power to come in, cutting wood and clearing some areas. I'm also planning on getting a grapple and forks (both lightweight because of my already low lift capacity). I plan on getting a third function control, wheel spacers, and juice in the tires. I'm thinking R14 tires. Thanks
 

VaGlock

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B2601 FEL - BH
Jun 28, 2020
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Have a 2019 B2601 FEL / BH have owned it 4 months (bought used 61 hrs). I am still getting used to the BH, made a few modifications for my use. The more I use it the more I wished I bought one sooner. I have 6 acres mostly wooded and hilly. Also help out with an adjoining property. The tractor sits high enough so not to worry to much in the woods but also not too big to maneuver around.
 
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UpNorthMI

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May 12, 2020
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I'll be using it on 20 mostly wooded acres in NE Washington. Sloped property, but not too steep. Nothing to mow. My driveway is over half a mile long, so I'll be maintaining that (snow, gravel, etc.) as well as making a shooting range, digging a ditch for power to come in, cutting wood and clearing some areas. I'm also planning on getting a grapple and forks (both lightweight because of my already low lift capacity). I plan on getting a third function control, wheel spacers, and juice in the tires. I'm thinking R14 tires. Thanks
My only input would be have you looked at a L2501, key difference is going to be weight, a lot of the uses you list are ground work, weight will help. You will find lots of posts and videos on L2501 vs B2601. Good luck with your final selection.
 
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sn0wman72

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Nov 16, 2019
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B2601 owner...zero regrets. Live in WA also, main use is snow removal (front mount snowblower). No use for a backhoe attachment. SUmmer use is mainly light FEL work. Size is just right for my needs. Based on you property size and work I would look at a B2650
 
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B737

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20 acres, i agree, lx2610, L2501 or up
 
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michigander

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B2601
May 29, 2018
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Northern Michigan
B2601 owner no regrets. Mines main task is mowing with 60 " MMM.

How much snow do you get ? GP outdoors traded in his B2601 for a LX2610 this summer to get a cab.

 
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Docpraise

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B2601, MMM, FEL, PF, BB, RTV 500
Nov 21, 2020
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Eastern Kentucky
I got my B2601 (no BH) last month and the only regret is that I did not get it sooner. Enjoy your Christmas present!
 
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PaulL

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B2601
Jul 17, 2017
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My B2601 came a month ago. 21 hours on it as of yesterday. 5 hours a weekend is pretty good, given I have no actual need for a tractor. Mostly mowing, chipping, a little bit of lifting stuff (helped a neighbour lift a water tank up onto his roof with the forks on Christmas Eve).

Don't see how you could regret it. The only think I could imagine regretting is if you needed a bigger machine. If you don't need a mid-PTO (no mower or snow blower) and you're doing ground engaging work like grading and digging, an L2501 would be a lot more machine for not much more money. You have quite a bit of land. But a B2601 is a huge improvement over a shovel and a wheelbarrow, any step you make beyond the B2601 will never be as big as that first step. :)
 
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sdk1968

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loved my 2601.... great little machine.

only drawback i ever could complain about was that it always had a crooked FEL.

check for this before you buy it.

wish i still had it along with the bigger machine we traded to. SOOOOOOO handy to get in & out of places with it.
 
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sheepfarmer

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Only thing I’ve heard is some folks don’t like the style treadle pedal on this model relative to either their knee position or how big or small their feet were. I suggest you drive one for a while before you buy, and drive some of the other models too. The pedal on my 3560 is more comfortable for me than the style on the B2650 for example.
 
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dirtydeed

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OP, I'd suggest that you sit on a few different models. From what you've described about your intended use, I'd think you may want to consider upping the frame size a bit as others have suggested.

By the way, your thread title reminds of a movie (We're the Millers) where some kid had a neck tattoo that read "No Ragrets". Don't be that guy....;)
 
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River19

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B2601, RB1560, BB1260 and BX2830 blower
Sep 10, 2020
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I got my 2601 in November and with 14hrs on it I have no regrets. Got a lot of work done in those 14hrs and now with the blower and back blade on we have already had great success this winter with the 500' gravel drive and a pretty steep incline back up to the road.

Lot of capability in a reasonable size to still be maneuverable in tight spots.
 

Tire Biter

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B 2601 434 loader MMM, bunch of tractor stuff . Ford 4600
Jul 10, 2012
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S.E. TN
I have had one two and a half years and 320 something hours as of now, good little tractor. No issues with it. Just about all the hours are mowing in the hot Tennessee sun. I actually used a 6’ bush hog on it for a while this past summer with no problems if I took it slowly in the heavy stuff.
 

bx tractorjoe

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kubota l2501 upgraded from a bx23s john deere 670 husquarvana huv 4421 gxp
Jun 3, 2020
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loxahatchee flordia
I went with a l2501.. wanted the lx for the mmm and bigger frame, but both the 2601 and lx2610 were 3 to 4 months wait.. glad I got the 2501, would be nice to have a backhoe but id rarely need it.

Had it about 4 months and just hit 61 hour