B26 or l47

[Psufan]

we bought an 8 acre property with a lot of tlc landscaping needs. Small trees to remove, brush to tear out, mulching, garden beds to clean up, some French drain work. I’m trying to decide between the b26 or l47. Will the l47 be too heavy that it will really mark up the lawn? I’m not a lawn snob but I don’t want to be making huge marks every time I use it on the lawn. Any advice?

 

[fried1765]

we bought an 8 acre property with a lot of tlc landscaping needs. Small trees to remove, brush to tear out, mulching, garden beds to clean up, some French drain work. I’m trying to decide between the b26 or l47. Will the l47 be too heavy that it will really mark up the lawn? I’m not a lawn snob but I don’t want to be making huge marks every time I use it on the lawn. Any advice?

L47 all the way!
A lot more powerful machine, with lot better BH reach.
I have the L48 (11' reach older brother to L47), and I would not want a smaller machine.
But ....I do not have a coiffed lawn.
With R-3, or R-4 tires lawn damage will be likely similar from either machine.
Whenever you put the BH pads down, to dig, you will be doing lawn damage!

 

[Vlach7]

A L47 is not a lawn tractor.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

A L47 is not a lawn tractor.

Well neither is a B26.

 

[dirtydeed]

B26 all day long. My B2650 makes for one hell of a landscaping tractor.

I had considered buying an L47 for my business to do "double duty" in digging and landscape work. My conclusion was that the L47 would just be to heavy for the landscaping duties.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Now I would pick a B2650 or now the B2601 over a B26 if I wanted to do lawn work with it.
You can get a mower deck for a B2601 where you can't put a mower deck on a B26.

 

[fried1765]

B26 all day long. My B2650 makes for one hell of a landscaping tractor.

I had considered buying an L47 for my business to do "double duty" in digging and landscape work. My conclusion was that the L47 would just be to heavy for the landscaping duties.

Personal use.....general landscaping......and personal property maintenance, is precisely why I have my L48.
Prior to the L48 TLB I had a Ford 3400 TLB for about 34 years.
I also have a Ford 1920 FEL that I often run over the lawn.
The Ford 1920 is substantially lighter than the L48, but lawn wear and tear does not seem to vary significantly.
My SCAG ZT mows the grass.

 

[Psufan]

I have a zero turn for cutting grass. I have very little use for a Pto, so I wanted a machine more capable of doing backhoe work than your average l series with a hoe attachment. So I landed on the tlbs.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have a zero turn for cutting grass. I have very little use for a Pto, so I wanted a machine more capable of doing backhoe work than your average l series with a hoe attachment. So I landed on the tlbs.

So then your just worried about running on the grass with the tractor?
If so go with the L47 and put turf tires on it.

 

[mikester]

If you get a B26 you will have a lot of opportunities to post questions on this forum!

Here's a list of questions to start with:
1. Help! My tractor can't lift XXX
2. Help! How do I modify the pressure relief valve so I can lift more with the loader?
3. Help! When I try lifting heavy things my rear wheels now come off the ground
4. Help! I bent a bucket cylinder trying to back blade
5. Help! My SCUT can't do XXXX because kAbota sucks...

 

[Psufan]

If you get a B26 you will have a lot of opportunities to post questions on this forum!

Here's a list of questions to start with:
1. Help! My tractor can't lift XXX
2. Help! How do I modify the pressure relief valve so I can lift more with the loader?
3. Help! When I try lifting heavy things my rear wheels now come off the ground
4. Help! I bent a bucket cylinder trying to back blade
5. Help! My SCUT can't do XXXX because kAbota sucks...

Hahaha. Point received.

 

[BAP]

Find a HomeDepot that has a B26 in their rental fleet and rent for a couple of days to try it. That will give you a sense as to wether it will meet your needs or if too small. Not all of the stores have them but around here, some of them do.

 

[fried1765]

So then your just worried about running on the grass with the tractor?
If so go with the L47 and put turf tires on it.

I had turf tires on my old Ford 3400 TLB, though I now have R-1's on my L48 TLB.
The 3400 was very easy on the grass, but the L48 is not bad, if used wisely.

 

[bbxlr8]

Looks like you ordered the L47 so this may be hindsight but a couple of thoughts based on your OP and the comments so far FWIW...

• My neighbor has a B26 and it is a beast and punches WAY above its weight. That being said the list of questions posted by @Psufan ran through my mind as well. I looked at a couple used and found one that was well maintained (most are ridden HARD!) The fixed canopy was the kick-over point as I was not able to modify my storage in the near term.
• I landed on the small L series TLB side myself (folding ROPS) and kept my old ford 1210 with 60"mm going with spit, duct tape and occasional salvage yards parts "made of gold" - going to a ZT down the road. A regular B would get you into the jack of all trades (ok) but master of none but there is a definite value there. It is quite an advantage in some cases, but you have to really think about your needs/intended uses.
• Don't overlook the R14s but not sure they are available in the L47 but definitely the lower L. IMO they are great except when the lawn is wet and soggy or after MANY passes. Even turfs stink then.

Keep us posted.

Edit - where are you in PA?

 

[Scottly]

I have a b2601. Not sure that it's the same as the b26 mentioned. I can say it has been great. I have had a 60" box blade and worked a lot of drives and spreading dirt and such. Have to use 4 wheel assist but that's what it's for. Done countless hours of loader work with it also. Yes you can lift the rears if you get to much weight.
I pull a LP 60" rear discharge finish mower for our 2 acres. Love mowing with it. Does a great job and doesn't care really how tall the grass gets. Traded a 7 year old Husqvarna rider for the mower and been smiling every since. Have turfs on it with no complaints even on snow.
I have run a MX5500 for a friend. It's great. I have lifted its loaded rears off the ground on it also.

 

[dirtydeed]

Ok, I'm a little confused here. I thought that the OP had asked about the B26 vs L47? Both being actual TLB's. Both are substantially heavier than their similarly sized counterparts (like B2601 and L4760). That's why I commented the way I did.

Anyway, congrats PSUfan.

and to both of you PA dwellers, I'm in eastern PA as well.

 

[fried1765]

Ok, I'm a little confused here. I thought that the OP had asked about the B26 vs L47? Both being actual TLB's. Both are substantially heavier than their similarly sized counterparts (like B2601 and L4760). That's why I commented the way I did.

Anyway, congrats PSUfan.

and to both of you PA dwellers, I'm in eastern PA as well.

Yeah.....Eastern, PA..
You can drive to Messick's in mere minutes.
That would be TERRIBLE for me!

 

[BAP]

So your signature says you ordered a L4760, how did you end up choosing that instead of one of the construction series like the B26 and L47 that you were originally talking about?

 

[Psufan]

Thanks to all for commenting. My purchase will be a used one. After reading the posts I’m not too concerned about lawn damage with the larger l47. It’s going to come down to price and whatever I can find in gently used condition. I’ll ke egg p you guys posted.

 

[Psufan]

So your signature says you ordered a L4760, how did you end up choosing that instead of one of the construction series like the B26 and L47 that you were originally talking about?

I have to change that. I did order the 4760 but then we bought a property that was smaller than I was expecting (thanks Inflation). So no room for a cabbed l4760.