Used Kubota Tractor Advice

[jmcgill89]

I have just purchased 33 acres, of which about 23 are completely cleared. I want to keep them cut down, to cut back on ticks, and other things that may make the high brush a home. I'm also going to want to finish mow about 4 of the acres.

I think I've decided that I'm going to need a tractor, but I don't have the $ to go buy a new one, so I'm looking used. Frankly, I know next to nothing about tractors, but I do know that the old Kubota lawn tractor we had in the 1990's was the best riding mower I've used.


There are a number of used Kubotas for sale around here. In particular, a nice Kubota L1501 for sale that comes with a bush hog, and I'm going to go look at it. I don't know if that would be big enough, or whether it's a particularly good model. However, there is also a B8200E and a L2002 in my price range.

I'd like to go with a diesel, and don't particularly need 4wd.

My primary uses of it will be bush hogging, finish mowing, front end loading, and possibly some back hoe-ing.

I REALLY need some advice on what size I should go with, and what are some good models. I'm not picky, and I don't necessarily want to rule out some of the older models.

Thanks for any help!

Joe

 

[Burtonbr]

I don't have any experience with mowing acreage like that, and that sounds like a lot to stay on top of. A recent thread here talks about the time it takes to mow or bush hog acreage I got the impression a low avg. was 1 acre/hr and a high avg. was 1.6ac. /hr. but I think that would be with at least a 60" mower.
While I'm sure those smaller tractors could do the work you describe given enough time it might be harder on a smaller tractor in the long run.
I think a loader on anything smaller than a 25hp tractor won't have much of a lift capacity to do much more than hauling light materials.
If you can afford it I'd think something in the 30 hp range would suit you better if you can afford it, but I know we make do with what we have when we have too. But it sure is satisfying when you take on a big job and these little tractors handle it with no problem, they are great workhorses.. And if you do buy a kubota I'm sure you will enjoy operating it like all of us here do.
Good luck with you decision,

 

[chim]

I used a 5' rotary cutter on a B7500 I had and it was only OK for light work. It was too much mower for that tractor but worked for the limited amount of cutting I was doing atthe time. There are others here with lots of experience with rotary cutters, but I'd think you want at least 30 HP and something considerably heavier than the B7500 I was using for the amount of work you describe.

EDIT TO ADD: I saw Burtonbr mentioned loader work. Although you may not think 4WD is too important, it is very useful sometimes to be able to push hard enough to fill a loader bucket.

 

[lsmurphy]

You think you don't need 4WD ...........you'll regret a 2WD.

 

[jmcgill89]

Well, after reading these messages, I'm starting to think that I'm just going to have to pass on a tractor, and hire someone to bush hog for me a couple of times a year.

I don't live on the land, I just wanted to keep it cleared out. I only planned to bush hog about 2-3 times a year, and the front end loading was a minimal concern, although I wanted to at least have that option The only finishing mowing I was planning on was about 4 acres.

That being said, I can't afford ANY 4wd tractor, let alone a Kubota. The only tractors that are 30+ hp I can afford are like 1950s-1960s Fords, etc.

 

[TripleR]

Well, after reading these messages, I'm starting to think that I'm just going to have to pass on a tractor, and hire someone to bush hog for me a couple of times a year.

I don't live on the land, I just wanted to keep it cleared out. I only planned to bush hog about 2-3 times a year, and the front end loading was a minimal concern, although I wanted to at least have that option The only finishing mowing I was planning on was about 4 acres.

That being said, I can't afford ANY 4wd tractor, let alone a Kubota. The only tractors that are 30+ hp I can afford are like 1950s-1960s Fords, etc.

Nothing wrong with an old Ford, we, my brothers and I, have tractors from 1953 to two months old and my brother often bush hogs with a 1955 Ford 600 while the other regularly uses a Ford NAA 54 Jubilee.

Yes, a MFWD is great and so is a cab etc., but we got by a lot of years with old iron and the weeds and brush never knew the difference.

That being said there is a lot to be said with paying to have things done or renting and not having to worry about maintenance on a seldom used machine.

Good luck.

 

[jmcgill89]

There is actually a B8200e and a L2002 for sale around here in my range. They are bigger and more powerful than the L1501 but still maybe not big enough.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If I had 23 acres of grass to knock down I'd be getting a few cows to do the job! or maybe horses, or sheep!

 

[Drew584]

I agree with North Idaho Wolfman, get a couple cows they'll keep it cleared, I have 80acres half wooded and half pasture and i kept the pasture cleaned up with a 1946 9n (before I got my new L3800DT) you should be able to pick one up for about $2,000 w/brush hog. I sold mine yesterday for $1,500, I thought I wouldn't be sad that its gone but I'm kinda already missing her, but tomorrow I'm picking up a new 5' landpride brush hog.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Either one of those tractors will work, if you don't get in any big hurry you could pop out a few acres at a time over the coarse of several days. There's no need to try and knock out all 23 acres in one single day.

 

[jmcgill89]

There are a couple of B7100HSD's for sale in the somewhat near area.

That has a 4wd, but would it be able to do any loading, with a smaller loader?

The only kind of loading I'm going to be doing would be moving gravel from one place to another.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

B7100 are older, but quite capable little tractors.
Make sure if you buy one that the loader is included in the deal, they are very difficult and expensive to acquire separate from the tractor.

I got a B7100HST just a short time ago and it has really amazed me with what it will do. And it's easy to operate too.

If your not highly mechanical, they can get a little pricey to have others work on it. But if you do your own maintenance and repairs then they are really easy to keep up with.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Look on Ebay, right now there are a few L185's for sale. You could get one of those cheap and buy a new loader from Coldwater tractor for $2,200 delivered to your door and have something decent with a bit of size for around 5-6k.

I'd love to do the same myself but money is realll right.

 

[lsmurphy]

This would suit you nicely-

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/grd/3903343782.html

 

[Bluegill]

When I first got into tractors in the early 80s' with a 2wd L245. I had a friend who had a couple smaller 4wd Kubotas' he used commercially, don't remember models, but were around 14hp. I was always amassed at how much he got done with those little rigs! So don't be afraid of the little 4wd ones. They can do a lot of work!

 

[jmcgill89]

I have a chance at a one-owner 1984 B6100 4wd. Its got like 5 implements, including a bush hog, and wagon, but not a loader.

Could I even put a loader on one of these little Kubotas?

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I own a B6100 and I don't see why not. I've seen quite a few of them over the years being sold online with loaders and a rare few with backhoes on them. I figure if a Cub Cadet or a Sears riding lawnmower can handle one I see no reason a B6100 wouldn't.

 

[jmcgill89]

I would suppose that a 4' Bush Hog would be all this tractor could handle, right?

The most that I'd be hogging at one time would be 13 acres, I'd say, so I might be able to make do without a 5' one.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Yeah I power a 4 footer behind mine several times. Plenty of power left to spare and I've chopped threw crap over the hood of the tractor before.

 

[jmcgill89]

I never even got to see that one I mentioned previously. It was gone in 5 hours. However a l185 just came up for sale. It's a 2wd and comes with. Loader and bush hog. Guy wants 4200 for it and says it has 867 hours on it.

Is that a decent deal? Would this machine haul a 5' mower or hog?

Thanks,
Joe