Help Me Pick Out A Model... 3.5 acres 400' driveway

[North Idaho Wolfman]

awww shoot, I just posted the new one, with property pics and all

No you didn't... HEHEHE

 

[chim]

L’s don’t have a mid pto though right? Or no? I’d prefer to not tow a mower….............................................sound like for a few more bucks the 2601 is a lot more tractor than the bx… but any input on how much less maneuverable they are as a mower than a bx?

I've posted before that the L4240 has a sharper turning radius than either the L3200 or the Ford 1210. I use it with that 7-1/2' RFM and can get close enough to everything that the trimming can be done with less than one 5AH 20V battery in my DeWalt string trimmer.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

some hole digging at first if I get one with a backhoe- I need to put in egress windows and plant some pines. Not sure after that initial bit if I'd use a backhoe much besides "toy factor", or is it one of those tools once you have you use more than you think you would? If not I could potentially rent a mini excavator for for the windows and hand dig the trees.

Howdy neighbor….Nice place you have there. If a cab is not important to you, I really like my 2501.

My place is similar in size although about 3’ish hours north of you.

I have found that my 2501 is a very good fit for the work I do. Do I wish the General Lee had more lift capacity sometimes???…..Well sure, but “overall” I think for me, it is the “Goldi-locks” tractor…..”just right"

In regard to the backhoe, my advice is to “Get it…for sure”. You hit the nail on the head with your statement in red.

Are they expensive? Yes

Is a Mini-Ex a “better digging tool”….Yes

But are tractor mounted BH’s useful?……..Hell yes…..I have used it in more situations than I care to type about.

The beautiful thing about having a BH at the ready is that you have it there at all times, so when you need it, you just jump in the seat and use it.

Non of the typical “renting nonsense/BS.” that usually goes something/exactly like this………...

1. Stop what your'e doing.
2. call 2-3 rental places to price out costs/availability
3. drive to rental place, wait for contract to be printed, read it, sign for it.
4. hook up trailer and take it back home, then unload it. (Oh yea, I forgot that the last time I rented a Mini-Ex, when I showed up, the trailer was NOT included in the rental price, so I had to rent that too.)

5. Now you are “on the clock”…….so your ass is digging as fast as you can……
6. Then it starts raining…..MF’R……too bad, keep digging, you're "on the clock".
7. Now you have to clean it for 2 hours cause it’s muddy as hell, and trailer it back.
8. Wait for Joe Suckmeoff to inspect it, then he tells you that you did not clean it good enough and wants to charge you your $100 “cleaning fee"

9. argue with Mr. Suckmeoff for 15 minutes because of “dirty tracks"
10. Now drive home, all pissed off.


OR

1. Simply back up and start digging.
2. When it starts raining, go inside and have a hamburger till it stops.
3. Finish job tomorrow, cause you started drinking after that burger…...


Could be the best 10 grand I ever spent.

Just my $ .02

 

[jimh406]

1. Simply back up and start digging.
2. When it starts raining, go inside and have a hamburger till it stops.
3. Finish job tomorrow, cause you started drinking after that burger…...


Could be the best 10 grand I ever spent.

On the other hand, I have a rear implement on almost all of the time. A Bh would have to come off/on to make the switch.

I’ve had my L2501 for a few years and have never needed a BH.

YMMV.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

On the other hand, I have a rear implement on almost all of the time. A Bh would have to come off/on to make the switch.

I’ve had my L2501 for a few years and have never needed a BH.

YMMV.

Yes sir, I see your point.

It’s sort of a “different strokes for different folks” type of thing.

Heck, I lived the first 52’ish years of my life without even having a tractor.

And had I not bought a tractor, (like none of my “city friends" have), I would be getting along just fine I’m sure.

BUT that does not negate the usefulness of having one, and I make the same/similar argument for the BH.

It’s certainly no secret here, that I am a “big fanboy” of having a BH…..

Hell, most people on this board don’t have a hoist, or a CNC plasma cutter or a Bridgport, or a lathe……..But I do, and I think they should too….

If anyone else here needs help "pissing their money away", I will PM you my phone number

 

[chim]

I can safely say that I don't want a backhoe that needs to be on and off of my tractor. I must admit to thinking about one of those sub-$3000 Chinese minidiggers though. Several have been on Fakebook locally and although most of them had fake pics and questionable sellers a few appeared to be real.

When I bought my first new tractor (B7500 in 2002) Wifey talked ME into including the FEL. The FEL is without a doubt an essential after having one. It is so quick on/off that when it isn't needed it gets left in the shed so the tractor is way more nimble. Prior to that I had an old Cub 1554 LoBoy and the ever-present Ford 1210 (between 1990 and 2002). Neither had a loader but I did get a Tractor Supply rear scoop that seemed to be everything I'd ever need. Generally if you don't have something you'll find a work-around.

My thought process is a bit like RWS's. There are tools and attachemnts in the arsenal that may not see frequent use, but they're available whenever they are needed.

 

[SDT]

You can't just drop a statement like that and not make a post saying "here's what my property is, what machine should I buy?" Half the fun on this site is recommending that people buy an MX for a half acre block of land.

" Half the fun on this site is recommending that people buy an MX for a half acre block of land. "

Love it!

 

[SDT]

Greetings! New guy here. I just bought my first tractor worthy home, we will be closing on it in January. I will need something to help me maintain the property. It's 3.5 acres, 400' gravel drive through woods, gentle slope on either side of the house as it's a walk out basement, but quite flat overall.

I'm thinking a B, but temped by the BX and even tempted by that other color 1025r... All while knowing I'm ignorant of what I need so I'm trying to learn. I will plan on mowing (though some have suggested I get a tractor and zero turn- I may down the road but I'm looking forward to tractor mowing), snow removal- I'm thinking 3pt snow blower. Occasional tiller work if we put in a garden, occasional driveway maintenance- is that a box blade for that? , some hole digging at first if I get one with a backhoe- I need to put in egress windows and plant some pines. Not sure after that initial bit if I'd use a backhoe much besides "toy factor", or is it one of those tools once you have you use more than you think you would? If not I could potentially rent a mini excavator for for the windows and hand dig the trees.

I do not want to underbuy and regret it. But I also am concerned if I get too big it won't be as friendly of a machine to mow on and maneuver so balance for me is key... I'm looking for input but also know I just need to go do some test drives to see and feel. Is a B going to rut a damp spring yard any worse than a BX really or no?

Not sure on budget yet... I'm selling my fast 4 seat airplane and going back to an old low and slow 2 seater to free up some budget for this new toy... I'm thinking 15-25k is what I'll have to put towards a tractor and initial setup...

Sometimes I think the BX is the right fit, then think I may be undercutting myself and should jump to a B. I think anything over a B would be overkill. I can't lie I do like the looks of the 1025r, though I can't find data, it sounds anecdotally that orange is less repair oriented than green ones...

Here are some pics of the place. No driveway pics besides arial- it's just about 400' of gravel.

Help me spend some money!

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Random comments:

Nothing larger than a B if you plan to use it to mow your lawn (not talking about fields) with a finish mower.

I do not believe that a BX is large enough for your property, given the photos. That said, if you prefer a BX, buy the 1025 (deluxe version) instead as it has position control while the BX does not. Lack of position control is a show stopper for me, even for a SCUT.

I would probably use a ZTR to mow the areas in your photos IF the ground is smooth enough for reasonable ZTR speeds without destroying your back.

Forget about the BH. Rent a mini as needed.

Dealer relationship and convenience if probably more important than just about anything else regarding Kubota vis a vis JD.

I like the LX series but you cannot touch one of those (or a diesel ZTR) for your suggested budget.

 

[SDT]

L’s don’t have a mid pto though right? Or no? I’d prefer to not tow a mower…

yea that’s what I’m putting together on Deere . That 1025 I think looks so sharp, but a good looking repair hungry tractor is not what I’m looking for.

it does sound like for a few more bucks the 2601 is a lot more tractor than the bx… but any input on how much less maneuverable they are as a mower than a bx?

Grand L tractors can be ordered with Mid PTOs, all the way up to the GL6060.

Don't know who told you that JDs are less reliable than Kubotas, but you should ignore such nonsense.

 

[Huckster79]

I have had a couple BX's and replaced my last one with a B2401. Same as a B2301 or B2601, expect the B2401 is a gear driven not Hydrostatic.

What's the advantage or disadvantage of going geared?

Good day. That place looks like a park! Congratulations.

As far as a machine I think all the above would work fine. Having my had a BX and now a B, if it were me based on the pic, the first question I would ask is what planning to do with the wooded area? (It looks like it is 1/2 to 2/3 of the property). Does it need cleaned up or do you plan to heat house or building with firewood? If you plan to have a grapple or lift heavy stuff with forks, then I’d trend to the B/LX to if wanting a Mid PTO (otherwise small L is the best value for dollar and a 3pt mower much easier to take on/off and maintain IMO.). Looking about pics I don’t see anything that suggests must have a mmm.

if not need so much loader lift then I think the BX or B/LX would be fine.

honestly I do not think there is a bad choice in the lot. My experience says that a BX and B run out of traction pretty quick, so far if it were me I would trend towards whichever is heaviest.

If getting a mid pto, why not a front blower? I’d think that would be much more comfortable than a 3pt. Also I am not familiar with your snow situation/location, but now is the time to decide cab or open station.

my assumption is you will need to maintain that drive(or not ) so maybe need a blade or a box or a plane…for that I would be trending toward the B/LX or Small L as I think they are heavier.

Guess to me it sort of depends on your uses and how much machine you want…id suggest get a size bigger than what you think you need as I believe you will find other uses for once you have it. I d probably prefer a mid pto for the blower but I’d have to be crazy to do a mid mount mower again. (At least go to dealer and ask to take one on/off and then try a 3 pt type….i mean pull out from under and then slide back under and hook up…the technique might get easier at the u joint and shaft, but as you age flopping like a fish doesn’t get easier IMO)

maybe consider you want some forks or not…they are pretty handy.

Happy shopping.

Thanks! I'm not sure on the wooded stuff, probably not a lot, it's not as large as it appears from the arial shot, the wooded part that is. Not that I may not clean it up a bit, but not priority.... Won't be heating with wood, probably a good number of bonfires with woods clean up.

I am going to consider a 3pt mower... Seems a little like asking for a lot of trimming pulling a mower but I will investigate. I need too to learn about flail mowers....

Reason I was leaning against front blower were as follows: I figured the front ones seem pricier, the simplicity of the 3pt ones just seemed like they may be more powerful too, idk. But it would allow me to keep the FEL on to move piles, and I figured I could then drive forward towards the garage, drop FEL and back blade out from the house a ways, to drive over to where I could drop the blower on dry pavement and then simply back out to the road. It's very straight, I won't have a lot of maneuvering to do. So it almost seemed similar. If I get a front end blower, I guess I'll just need to make sure to get a back blade to do the same concept but blowing from the front... But that is the why of why I was thinkin 3pt blower.

I think I'm leaning B2601... I'm hoping to get one with bh but not a must.

One thing if I end up in a pickle occasionally for size is I am moving near two friends whom one has an M and the other an L....

 

[Huckster79]

Howdy neighbor….Nice place you have there. If a cab is not important to you, I really like my 2501.

My place is similar in size although about 3’ish hours north of you.

I have found that my 2501 is a very good fit for the work I do. Do I wish the General Lee had more lift capacity sometimes???…..Well sure, but “overall” I think for me, it is the “Goldi-locks” tractor…..”just right"

In regard to the backhoe, my advice is to “Get it…for sure”. You hit the nail on the head with your statement in red.

Are they expensive? Yes

Is a Mini-Ex a “better digging tool”….Yes

But are tractor mounted BH’s useful?……..Hell yes…..I have used it in more situations than I care to type about.

The beautiful thing about having a BH at the ready is that you have it there at all times, so when you need it, you just jump in the seat and use it.

Non of the typical “renting nonsense/BS.” that usually goes something/exactly like this………...

1. Stop what your'e doing.
2. call 2-3 rental places to price out costs/availability
3. drive to rental place, wait for contract to be printed, read it, sign for it.
4. hook up trailer and take it back home, then unload it. (Oh yea, I forgot that the last time I rented a Mini-Ex, when I showed up, the trailer was NOT included in the rental price, so I had to rent that too.)

5. Now you are “on the clock”…….so your ass is digging as fast as you can……
6. Then it starts raining…..MF’R……too bad, keep digging, you're "on the clock".
7. Now you have to clean it for 2 hours cause it’s muddy as hell, and trailer it back.
8. Wait for Joe Suckmeoff to inspect it, then he tells you that you did not clean it good enough and wants to charge you your $100 “cleaning fee"

9. argue with Mr. Suckmeoff for 15 minutes because of “dirty tracks"
10. Now drive home, all pissed off.


OR

1. Simply back up and start digging.
2. When it starts raining, go inside and have a hamburger till it stops.
3. Finish job tomorrow, cause you started drinking after that burger…...


Could be the best 10 grand I ever spent.

Just my $ .02

Yup that is exactly why I want one, is I know I'd find things I "needed" it for

So are you Kalkaska area? We have family up there, and just sold some land we had up there in Lakes of the North in Mancelona...

 

[Russell King]

Since you have a wooded lot you may want to consider how wide the tractor is and how far out behind it implements will be (especially mowers). You may not even intend to keep the wooded area mowed and cleaned but just leave it natural?

I have a riparian lot with about half of it in trees. It is difficult to mow it well with a tractor without making many straightish passes through it in many different directions. There is not enough room to make turns very efficiently. It just takes some extra time and effort.

You also need to figure out if the limb height will suit the tractor height (including ROPS or cab). I have a ROPS and it is interesting when it catches a limb and lifts the front end of the tractor off the ground and you have not much time to react!

I do recommend you get a HST type transmission instead of a normal gear drive.

Look at flail mowers over other rear mounted mowers.

Definitely get a front end loader!

 

[skeets]

Well I might as well drop my 2 cents. In MHO go with the BX, MMM, FEL and if you can swing it a plow. Do not underestimate the BX they are work horses, small but will do every thing you want to do, slower maybe but they will. I have both a BX and a B and to be honest I work the snot out of my BX and the B just sits. At least a big BX 26 hp and you wont be dissatisfied

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Yup that is exactly why I want one, is I know I'd find things I "needed" it for

So are you Kalkaska area? We have family up there, and just sold some land we had up there in Lakes of the North in Mancelona...

No, our cottage is just north of Alpena.

 

[Shawn T. W]

In regard to the backhoe, my advice is to “Get it…for sure”. You hit the nail on the head with your statement in red.

Are they expensive? Yes

Is a Mini-Ex a “better digging tool”….Yes

But are tractor mounted BH’s useful?……..Hell yes…..I have used it in more situations than I care to type about.

I AGREE!

I too have NO REGRETS about buying, and storing my BH ... If it's not on the back, and I want to use it ... It takes much less than 15 minutes to drop the 3pt attachment off the quick hitch, remove the quick hitch, tuck the 3pt stuff away, back up to the BH, hook up the hoses, manipulate the stabilizers and main boom to get it to the right position to back up and then drop it into the frame mounts, a couple of pins, and off to digging!

To REALLY make it into a "Swiss Army Knife Tractor" get a "Quick-On" like this https://www.bxpanded.com/bh77 so you can easily swap "tools" on the end of it ... OH, and get a thumb too, even a manual one kinda doubles its usefulness!

As far as size go ... I have a SCUT TLB that has done an AMAZING amount of work here on my neglected 16 acres, it has and can do everything I need ... It was the only sized TLB in my area available in the beginning of 2022 to purchase ... In the last 735 hours I've put on it (It's my 1st diesel fueled hydraulic powered tractor) while it does the job, sometimes I just need to take "little bites" which take longer, that's OK ... But the one thing that stands out to me that it is seriously lacking is the "ride comfort"! These SCUT'S (BX size) have tiny tires (26" rears) which in turn have quite a rough ride on uneven ground, I have mine reduced to 10 psi, down from the recommended 20 psi ... It's still a rough jostling for my nearly 60 year old bones!

I'd say at a minimum a B sized tractor if you going to be "off road" such as not on a smooth driveway or the lawn ... And if I had the choice available back when I was looking, I actually asked the "local" 60 miles away dealer about a L2501 w/a BH, but he didn't have one, and no idea when he could get one in, the supply chain has now caught up ... I didn't want to deal with a computer and DPF, so was looking for under 25 HP.

While I love my Little Baby Fergie, and have LOTS of accessories and customized it for MY Needs, I've no plans to get rid of it, but ... Because of the tiny tires I bought a much bigger tired tractor a Grand L5030 to mow my 14 acres "lawn" ... 6 of which were a hayfield that I was loosing money on 3 years in a row, so converted it to a "big lawn' ... The back and side bumpy pasture is a much less bone jarring ordeal on my 52" tall tires!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I AGREE!

I too have NO REGRETS about buying, and storing my BH ... If it's not on the back, and I want to use it ... It takes much less than 15 minutes to drop the 3pt attachment off the quick hitch, remove the quick hitch, tuck the 3pt stuff away, back up to the BH, hook up the hoses, manipulate the stabilizers and main boom to get it to the right position to back up and then drop it into the frame mounts, a couple of pins, and off to digging!

To REALLY make it into a "Swiss Army Knife Tractor" get a "Quick-On" like this https://www.bxpanded.com/bh77 so you can easily swap "tools" on the end of it ... OH, and get a thumb too, even a manual one kinda doubles its usefulness!

As far as size go ... I have a SCUT TLB that has done an AMAZING amount of work here on my neglected 16 acres, it has and can do everything I need ... It was the only sized TLB in my area available in the beginning of 2022 to purchase ... In the last 735 hours I've put on it (It's my 1st diesel fueled hydraulic powered tractor) while it does the job, sometimes I just need to take "little bites" which take longer, that's OK ... But the one thing that stands out to me that it is seriously lacking is the "ride comfort"! These SCUT'S (BX size) have tiny tires (26" rears) which in turn have quite a rough ride on uneven ground, I have mine reduced to 10 psi, down from the recommended 20 psi ... It's still a rough jostling for my nearly 60 year old bones!

I'd say at a minimum a B sized tractor if you going to be "off road" such as not on a smooth driveway or the lawn ... And if I had the choice available back when I was looking, I actually asked the "local" 60 miles away dealer about a L2501 w/a BH, but he didn't have one, and no idea when he could get one in, the supply chain has now caught up ... I didn't want to deal with a computer and DPF, so was looking for under 25 HP.

While I love my Little Baby Fergie, and have LOTS of accessories and customized it for MY Needs, I've no plans to get rid of it, but ... Because of the tiny tires I bought a much bigger tired tractor a Grand L5030 to mow my 14 acres "lawn" ... 6 of which were a hayfield that I was loosing money on 3 years in a row, so converted it to a "big lawn' ... The back and side bumpy pasture is a much less bone jarring ordeal on my 52" tall tires!

I forgot about my Bxpanded “Quick attach” ripper tooth.

It sure makes quick work of small/medium stumps/plants/trees. Love it.

Although I must admit that I use a “Nylock nut, and bolt” after losing the “quick pin” 247 times…….

 

[Jsjac]

If you are going to use it for snow removal I would recommend something with a cab.
Unless you can picture yourself sitting snow covered on your new tractor. Also very nice to be in a cab when mowing and it is dusty.
I used a walk behind snow blower for years on my 250 foot driveway. I did not realize how bad it was until I got the tractor. I would have plenty of winter gear on but it was still cold. When covered with snow and the wind blowing.

 

[Shawn T. W]

It sure makes quick work of small/medium stumps/plants/trees. Love it.

Although I must admit that I use a “Nylock nut, and bolt” after losing the “quick pin” 247 times…….

I've only "lost" my retainer pin once, and that was using the the little 6" trenching bucket ...

Basically the quick attachment works like this, I put the "quick pin" back in so I wouldn't loose it!

Pickup (or manipulate the BH) to put the red pin in the red slot, then pivot it so you can put the purple pin in ... Takes 15-20 seconds to swap, not including getting off and on the seat!

I too agree that the John Deere's are no more problematic than other major brands, everybody makes a good tractor that occasionally a bad one slips though ... I don't think that Kubota's Zero turn is any better or worse than my John Deere which has 1400+ hours on it , for example!

 

[Shawn T. W]

Oh, I've also found the ripper tooth is also good for breaking into frozen ground ... The previous picture was before actually using the ripper tooth ... What I didn't realize was the ground was actually frozen about 8" down, so when I went to try to dig with my factory 12" bucket to remove these 3 little stumps, but I found the teeth just barely scratched the grass!

So ... With a lot less surface area, I was able to bury the ripper tooth, and break through the frozen ground!

And ripped up the stumps!

It also works to loosen up rocky ground, that these light weight, and less powerful BH's can't dig in very well ... Had this spot out back that apparently an old tree had been growing and had died many years ago, and it was either in a rock pile, or the land owner piled up rocks around the tree, I had burned a couple of brush piles on top of it, and pulled out the wadded up barb wire ... It was a mess!

The Piranha Tooth Bar had trouble getting into it, so I swapped out the 12" bucket for the ripper ... And "loosened it up!"

So I could scoop it all up, and not have to try to mow around it anymore!

 

[Huckster79]

If you are going to use it for snow removal I would recommend something with a cab.
Unless you can picture yourself sitting snow covered on your new tractor. Also very nice to be in a cab when mowing and it is dusty.
I used a walk behind snow blower for years on my 250 foot driveway. I did not realize how bad it was until I got the tractor. I would have plenty of winter gear on but it was still cold. When covered with snow and the wind blowing.

I am going to think about a soft cab maybe, in non winter ops I want fresh air… I’ll water the lawn so it’ll never be absurdly dusty