Which to buy L2501 or L3301
- Thread starter Cecilfox
- Start date
I have the L2501 HST. My property is 4000 ft and higher. I have had to put my L2501 in L to keep the RPMs up. Of course, it has no DPF, so no DPF issues by idling slow.
The loaders are identical, so basically zero more lift with a L3301. The L3301 is barely more power. I don’t think it is worth it to add a DPF. If you think you will be short on HP, I’d go with a lot more HP like the MX5400 or L4060LE.
But, you don’t say what you plan to do with it. So, probably should start there.
The loaders are identical, so basically zero more lift with a L3301. The L3301 is barely more power. I don’t think it is worth it to add a DPF. If you think you will be short on HP, I’d go with a lot more HP like the MX5400 or L4060LE.
But, you don’t say what you plan to do with it. So, probably should start there.
I am replacing a B7500. I seem to do a lot of loader work ie rocks , soil, gravel, snow, etc ,so hard on front axis parts. I figure I will not mow grass with this one but will use a bush hog to keep trails in my bush clear.
Before you bought your L2501 were you able to demo / compare / test drive both tractors L2501 to a L3301?
nota4re
Active member
Premium Member
Equipment
Case 580M Turbo; Kioti DK4210SE-CH; Kubota L2501 (Traded-in)
Having owned a L2501, I would doubt that the differences offered by the L3301 would be that noticeable. My 2501 did fine with a 60" brush hog. There were a couple of occasions where I bogged down the engine - but the same would have likely happened with the 3301 as I attribute them more to operator error (rookie mistakes) than HP limitations. The big advantage of the 2501 is no DPF worries and you can putt it around when you want to. With the DPF machines, your best bet is to pretty much always keep the RPMs up - even when the task at hand could be addressed at a lower RPM - and many of them can!
I went with the L3301 over the L2501 because I’m running up down the hills here a bunch with my brush hog and wanted a little extra at the PTO. Not one bit of trouble with the DPF in 3-1/2 years and 800hrs now—I run it hard.
Had I been on flatter ground, an L2501 would have been perfectly fine.
Had I had a bit more budget at the time and being on the same slopes, I would have gone up to the L3901.
But save budget for implements, otherwise it’s like buying a drill that you can’t afford to buy the bits for.
Had I been on flatter ground, an L2501 would have been perfectly fine.
Had I had a bit more budget at the time and being on the same slopes, I would have gone up to the L3901.
But save budget for implements, otherwise it’s like buying a drill that you can’t afford to buy the bits for.
Nope, I only drove the L2501, but honestly, it felt like it had more than enough power. I doubt driving the L3301 without attachments would have felt that much different.
The biggest advantage of the L3301 will be the extra PTO hp. The L2501 is 19 PTO hp for the hydro. The L3301 is 26.2 PTO hp for a hydro. So, if you really want to run PTO driven equipment much of the time, that may be important. For me, it was not that important, although I would certainly like more PTO hp. However, I am able to run a 5 foot tiller in heavy clay soil with it OK, but go slow at times. So, hp would be very important in that area and I wish I had it, but get by. As said though, it won't benefit you much if you plan to primarily do loader work or a backhoe if you opt for one.
I would have paid extra for the L3901 when I bought my tractor. I just didn't want the DPF. That was just my preference. I know many people run DPF tractors with no issues.
I would have paid extra for the L3901 when I bought my tractor. I just didn't want the DPF. That was just my preference. I know many people run DPF tractors with no issues.
I don’t mow with my L2501 but my property has lots of steep hills. The L2501 does just fine transporting heavy loads up and down the slopes.
I do run a PTO chipper and the L2501 runs it just fine.
I wasn’t necessarily budget restricted (I didn’t want to spend more money if it could be avoided), I could have easily purchased a L3301 or L3901 but didn’t want the added complexity of the DPF systems. Plus, a friend of mine has a L3301 and says he can’t tell the difference between my tractor and his.
Mike
I do run a PTO chipper and the L2501 runs it just fine.
I wasn’t necessarily budget restricted (I didn’t want to spend more money if it could be avoided), I could have easily purchased a L3301 or L3901 but didn’t want the added complexity of the DPF systems. Plus, a friend of mine has a L3301 and says he can’t tell the difference between my tractor and his.
Mike
nota4re
Active member
Premium Member
Equipment
Case 580M Turbo; Kioti DK4210SE-CH; Kubota L2501 (Traded-in)
Ayak brings up a good point - if in a hilly arear and you are doing a lot of PTO work, the 3301 difference is likely evident. Sounds like he drives it right too - making a DPF-equipped engine work hard is probably better than the alternative.
Goz63
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L2501, LA525 loader, QH15,Land Pride RCR1860, BB2560, SGC0660, forks
The L3301 owners may hate me for this but unless you are absolutely maxed out on budget I would skip the 3301 and go to the 3901. Once you go past that 26hp thing that ship has sailed so grab the hp. Love the 2501 for allowing the use of the tractor at lower rpms. Saves fuel. The L2501 does great on that. But if I need more hp I would just go to the 3901.
I
Also when I run that 3301 engine balls out, maybe I might just have ‘engine stress’ room to spare, since the 3301 has the same exact engine as the 3901. It sure doesn’t seem like I go thru as much fuel as I thought I would. The DPF concerns (at least as they pertain to the 3301 and 3901) are completely overstated.
Thought about that too but I’d rather have that much more dough to have gotten all my other gear.
Also when I run that 3301 engine balls out, maybe I might just have ‘engine stress’ room to spare, since the 3301 has the same exact engine as the 3901. It sure doesn’t seem like I go thru as much fuel as I thought I would. The DPF concerns (at least as they pertain to the 3301 and 3901) are completely overstated.
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Goz63
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L2501, LA525 loader, QH15,Land Pride RCR1860, BB2560, SGC0660, forks
Kubota does some weird stuff with engines. The L2501 has the same engine as the old L2800 I believe which was a 29hp engine. There are posts of guys tweaking the engines on the 2501 to 32hp. Most believe Kubota just governed the engine rpms to get it below 26 hp. I’m not going to fuss with mine as it does everything I want it to on my place. I do agree with you on saving some cash for implements. A great camera isn’t worth much without lenses.
I believe that PTO HP of at least 25 HP is important, at least for many uses I put my L series to work for. I would not worry about DPF issues. If budget is limited I would buy the L3301.
I was in the same position a few years ago and realized it was not much more money to move up to the L3901 and did so. I think either the L3301 or the L3901 will meet your needs, it’s always nice to have a little more power.
good luck with your new tractor.
I was in the same position a few years ago and realized it was not much more money to move up to the L3901 and did so. I think either the L3301 or the L3901 will meet your needs, it’s always nice to have a little more power.
good luck with your new tractor.
I didn’t want DPF so I got the 25. If I had been willing to get DPF I would have went straight to the 39. Not knowing your budget, if you are considering a DPF model get the 33 for the extra HP. That said, I love my 25.
I'm in the same boat, considering both. My biggest concern is the ability of the L2501 to pull a finish mower up moderate slopes and be able to stay in medium gear. The L3301 is rated for a 6' finish mower also whereas the the L2501 is rated for a 5' finish mower. Sluggishness of the L2501 on slopes seems to be a potential drawback.