Need advise on L series package

[fried1765]

Welcome sir!

Lots of good advice/opinions above.

I have a set up similar to what you are describing.

I love my 2501 and the emissions thing for me was a big factor; However the other factor for me was the lift capacity was the same for the 3901 as it was for the 2501 at the time, so I reasoned that since I like to "work on my own stuff", I would rather have a "simpler machine" if I was going to get the same lift capacity.

I may have been swayed to the 3901 if there had been a significant increase in lift capacity.....but whatever.

I also went with the 2560 box blade due to the "silly clip" design for the scarifiers of the other 12 series BB, whereas the 25 series uses simple pins instead of "special clips".

I went with the 1860 RCR with front and rear chains, (slip clutch too) and that thing is beastly (at least to me). I don't actually use it very often yet, but it is clearly a "quality tool" for sure.

Since your financing it, one cheaper thing that will add about 10 bucks to your payment, and you wont regret, is a set of forks. (trust me)

Either way your gonna love it!!!

Good luck.

Oh yea, since I am the resident backhoe nut job......

View attachment 117627

You surely do know..... that YOU are not the ONLY "resident backhoe nut job" !

 

[fried1765]

Or just go right to the L47 TLB!

'
YES !!!!

 

[PaulL]

So, I'll answer the question asked: L2502 or L3902.

If you're mowing on hills, and your hills are suitable to go a bit faster, then I think the L2502 would bog down. You're also talking about food plots, which means a tiller (bit more HP would help there), and dragging your driveway at any speed can benefit from a bit more HP.

It's not a deal breaker, but given your tasks I'd upgrade.

On the equipment, one to watch out is the weight of the bigger cutter. The L isn't a huge machine, a heavier duty cutter will be more steel, you may need to ballast the front. Then all that weight has to be dragged up and down hills - more HP would be nice for that.

I think I'd go heavier on the implements, my impression is that the implements you describe are built for occasional use. Not bad implements, but not top end either. If you're mowing reasonably frequently then heavier duty may be wise. I also second the suggestion for a flail - and maybe run a rotary cutter for the first cut (in case there's some heavy things to cut), then flail for ever after.

Also check that you really want a box blade and not a grading scraper. I hear that grading scrapers (aka land planes) are quite a bit easier to use for a novice.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I hate to be" wishy washy", but after some reflection and re-reading, you might want/need the extra HP.

Don't get me wrong I love my 2501, and it does everything I personally need, but I have 5 acres with no hills a 75 foot driveway, and no real "work" to do.

It is not even at the property now. Its sitting in my garage so I can make more stuff for it, and polish it up a bit.

It sounds like you are going to do more actual work with yours than I do with mine, so for the 50'ish bucks per month I think you might be wise to go bigger.

Like @TheOldHokie said, don't sweat the 'emissions BS" too much, Kubota makes a great machine and I'm sure it will serve you well for a very long time to come.

Don't forget...... Pictures, or it didn't happen!

 

[kamil]

Thank you all for your valuable comments and suggestions. Based on the feedback and talking to someone at the dealership yesterday again, I am now leaning toward L3902 and plan to go with heavier duty implements as long as the overall cost is within my budget.

I bought the property back in 2017 for hobby farming but with just a Cub Cadet ride on lawn mower, I am not able to do much. I very much enjoy going there (don't live there but have someone else living there) and doing things. So far, I have been keeping bees since 2017 and some chickens since COVID time. I tried some fruit trees with limited success but want to try again and do more. I grow veggies in my backyard in my house and always want to do more gardening and am trying to figure out if I can do so on the property somehow remotely (e.g., going there once a week).

I am really hoping that this tractor will enable me to do more things with the land as well as maintain the driveway, keep the field cut and look nice, and correct several erosion and grading issues that is getting worse and worse driving my truck over the naked dirt, etc.

Thank you all again and happy weekend.

 

[bbxlr8]

Thank you all for your valuable comments and suggestions. Based on the feedback and talking to someone at the dealership yesterday again, I am now leaning toward L3902 and plan to go with heavier duty implements as long as the overall cost is within my budget.

I bought the property back in 2017 for hobby farming but with just a Cub Cadet ride on lawn mower, I am not able to do much. I very much enjoy going there (don't live there but have someone else living there) and doing things. So far, I have been keeping bees since 2017 and some chickens since COVID time. I tried some fruit trees with limited success but want to try again and do more. I grow veggies in my backyard in my house and always want to do more gardening and am trying to figure out if I can do so on the property somehow remotely (e.g., going there once a week).

I am really hoping that this tractor will enable me to do more things with the land as well as maintain the driveway, keep the field cut and look nice, and correct several erosion and grading issues that is getting worse and worse driving my truck over the naked dirt, etc.

Thank you all again and happy weekend.

Welcome & You will LOVE either choice - 100% game changer on getting real work done.

FYI - I came down on the non-emissions side and most of my work is via the hydraulic pump (it's the same on 25/39). This means I do more with hydraulics than rear pto & ground-pulling power (I LOVE my BH as well )

Also, I went slightly outside the lines & judiciously bumped up the H pressure (carefully measured w gauge) based on a lot of research & reading here which gives me more capacity w/out changing anything on the engine (rev limiter, fuel, or turbo) as I was under warranty. This would not help with your pulling question but I have never felt low on those (don't do fields etc)

 

[PaulL]

Depending on where you're located, my general experience is that farming without farming every day requires water. An automated watering system of some sort will pay dividends on any vegetables or other food type farming.