Reliability

[BobWillsIsStillTheKing]

Shopping for our first compact tractor. How is Kubota for reliability? All we see in our neck of the woods is mostly Orange and Green.

 

[Elliott in GA]

Obviously, Kubota owners here - so we will say Kubota is the best.

FWIW, Progressive Farmer survey results:

FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVE SPOKEN: KUBOTA NAMED TOP TRACTOR BRAND FOR DURABILITY AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Kubota Takes Two of the Three Top Honors in Progressive Farmer’s Peer-Reviewed Study..Read more

www.kubotausa.com

 

[Flintknapper]

Kubota is the 'Toyota' of tractors. Maintain it, don't over abuse it....and it will last a long time with few issues.

Just came in from using my 27 yr. old L2350DT, its still going strong.

 

[BobWillsIsStillTheKing]

Kubota is the 'Toyota' of tractors. Maintain it, don't over abuse it....and it will last a long time with few issues.

Just came in from using my 27 yr. old L2350DT, its still going strong.

View attachment 105106 View attachment 105107

Thanks,

What is your opinion on buying new vs. used?

 

[Edke6bnl]

Obviously, Kubota owners here - so we will say Kubota is the best.

FWIW, Progressive Farmer survey results:

FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVE SPOKEN: KUBOTA NAMED TOP TRACTOR BRAND FOR DURABILITY AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Kubota Takes Two of the Three Top Honors in Progressive Farmer’s Peer-Reviewed Study..Read more

www.kubotausa.com

I kinda feel the opposite when I follow my Dodge truck or kubota all I read is how do I fix this or that.

 

[fried1765]

Shopping for our first compact tractor. How is Kubota for reliability? All we see in our neck of the woods is mostly Orange and Green.

I have a Kubota and a Ford (New Holland).
I would say that Kubota, Ford (New Holland), Deere, Massey, and Kioti are all good.
I would recommend steering clear of off brands such as Rural King (RK).

 

[Elliott in GA]

I kinda feel the opposite when I follow my Dodge truck or kubota all I read is how do I fix this or that.

Well, posts about how everything is fine do not serve much purpose - not worth the effort.

I am: approximately 2.5 years in with no issues with the Kubota or any of the attachments / implements,
my Toyota Tundra is almost 6 years old with no repairs and my son has my Honda Element at nearly 13 years with no repairs.

 

[xrocketengineer]

Stay away from Hyundai. Wait, ........ they don't make tractors!

 

[Flintknapper]

Thanks,

What is your opinion on buying new vs. used?

Either could be fine. Just depends on your needs and plans for use.

Occasional use.....a used tractor might make more sense. Your ability to work on the tractor could dictate whether or not a 'warranty' on a new tractor would serve you better.

Lots of things to consider before purchasing a tractor (size, hp, attachments, 4x4 or 2wd, trans type, etc).

I like your forum 'name' BTW.

 

[OlFerguson]

Every brand of tractor has their awesome and not so awesome models. Kubota for the most part is a fairly reliable tractor. Their engines a pretty bullet proof.

 

[jyoutz]

Either could be fine. Just depends on your needs and plans for use.

Occasional use.....a used tractor might make more sense. Your ability to work on the tractor could dictate whether or not a 'warranty' on a new tractor would serve you better.

Lots of things to consider before purchasing a tractor (size, hp, attachments, 4x4 or 2wd, trans type, etc).

I like your forum 'name' BTW.

New vs used: no different than anything mechanical. It depends on use and maintenance. But it often seems like it’s hard to find deals on well maintained used tractors. My experience is there often isn’t enough of a price difference to consider buying used instead of new.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Thanks,

What is your opinion on buying new vs. used?

Don't buy a B3350

 

[lynnmor]

I bought one with a backhoe that was junk when made. Had it to two different dealers multiple times and they came out three times, it remain a poor product. The tractor was made in Japan and it is fine, the hoe was made in the USA and it is poor beyond belief.

 

[RCW]

Don't buy a B3350

True!

For the OP , B3350’s have some issues specific to that model and the emissions system. Don’t go near one.

Model and emission system has been discontinued, so only available used.

 

[trial and error]

Well, posts about how everything is fine do not serve much purpose - not worth the effort.

I am: approximately 2.5 years in with no issues with the Kubota or any of the attachments / implements,
my Toyota Tundra is almost 6 years old with no repairs and my son has my Honda Element at nearly 13 years with no repairs.

6 years for a tundra is nothing, not sure about the new models since they did away with the tried and true v8 that only lacked fuel economy, everything else is/was pretty bulletproof. My brother traded in his 07 tundra in 2019. The truck had well north of 200k and not a clean corner on it, it wasn't even a sought after model as it was a 4 door with a 8 foot bed, but they gave him over 6k for it at a ram dealer no less. So yes Toyota/Honda rule the car industry. And I'm becoming pretty confident that kubota rules the tractor industry (and not just becuase I own a close to 40 year old one) there may be few close seconds though if I'm not being biased.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Beyond the machine, I’d also suggest consider price and service of what you choose. Deere obviously has a service network, but they also have a superior parts availability and distribution system. That being said in the compacts it’s very hard to argue if you look at the frames and wheel hubs etc that Kubota is not a better designed machine. Parts maybe easier to replace in a JD and more available too. JD are generally designed so that the weak link is a simpler repair and they have parts available and get them to you quick…that started with their plows…service in mind…that’s a plus, but it might be less durable compared to a Kubota….the hubs on a kubota meant to work in the mud / submerged (I’ve spent more time than I have needed in Japan and it’s impressive to see how they farm in the paddies to say the least) is superior IMO, but they would be a more expensive repair…but harder to damage them. Crawl on the ground and look at frame construction and the cast/enclosed hubs of the Kubota …hard to argue that IMO. Each have their strong points, but also in my experience JD dealers cater to big machine owners…Kubota dealers cater to compacts….at least around me…treatment. At Kubota dealership far superior to JD…walk into both and see for self in you area. If not doing the service yourself, the dealer in your area becomes a factor too. Kubotas are more manueverable. I do think though that JD has a little better stance for pulling…also back to their heritage and primary design/use. Both are great machines and better than a shovel. If their is not a parts or service network for whatever you are looking for proceed with caution. With both Deer and Kubota you can likely move and either be able to order parts and have serviced with out to much hassle.

 

[mikester]

K tractors will either run forever or break right away. It depends how you use it.

 

[BAP]

Stay away from Hyundai. Wait, ........ they don't make tractors!

No but they make construction equipment

 

[imnukensc]

The L175 my dad bought in 1975 is still going strong today along with the Woods RFM he bought at the same time. I'd say they're pretty reliable.

 

[BobWillsIsStillTheKing]

New vs used: no different than anything mechanical. It depends on use and maintenance. But it often seems like it’s hard to find deals on well maintained used tractors. My experience is there often isn’t enough of a price difference to consider buying used instead of new.

That's what I've been thinking. The price of used equipment with unknown use/abuse history makes it hard to justify the risk.