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

trikepilot

Active member

Equipment
B2620HSD LA364/BH65 48SQ Bush Hog LP FDR1660 LP RB1560 B2672 42in forks LP1266
Jul 18, 2020
170
246
43
Hardy, VA
L’s don’t have a mid pto though right? Or no? I’d prefer to not tow a mower…
Choose wisely on the MM vs FM. I have the B2620 for 56ac in SW Va. I coulda gone bigger but the B does 96% of everything I ask for. I mow maybe a couple of acres (2hrs seat time each mow) with a FM which does a great job and is infinitely easier to put on/off. I guess it depends on how often you mow versus doing "tractor stuff."

Unless you get a screaming deal on implements at purchase, just be patient and troll CL and FBMP and you'll soon have all the implements you need. My buddy just got a L2501 and it is a nice machine but I dont feel its performance envelope exceeds my B2620 by any meaningful metric. Also be willing to consider used machines. There are lots of low-hour Kubotas out there to be had for the savvy buyer.

There is some seriously good experience to be tapped here at OTT. Dive on in!
 
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jimh406

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Lifetime Member

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Kubota L2501 with R4 tires
Jan 29, 2021
2,828
2,250
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Western MT
My buddy just got a L2501 and it is a nice machine but I dont feel its performance envelope exceeds my B2620 by any meaningful metric.
I can see that no capability you need is exceeded by the L2501, but those two are quite a lot different in capability unless you need a mid-mount-pto.
 

Huckster79

Member

Equipment
B2601 w/ LA434 FEL, 60" MMM, and B2789 Snowblower
Dec 4, 2025
33
74
18
Michigan USA
I have joined the Brother and Sisterhood of the Orange Tractor...

We made the move, its beutiful, living in town my whole life I wept as a grown man when we moved in, space, peace, beauty...My kids, wife and I went sledding on our hill the night we moved it, it's perfect. But I'm lucky I have a good friend nearby with a big ol 75hp Kubota as I'm defenseless against the winter at the moment and its been bearing down... But no longer...

My B2601 should arrive next week! It comes with a FEL, MMM and a B2789 Snowblower on Turf Tires. The entire package I arrived at as what I "need"... She's not off the showroom new, but appears very well cared for, she's at 740hrs I believe. I had the dealer do the 800hr inspection in the negotiation, once that is finalized it will be headed my way. I can't wait.

It was quite the journey and I appreciate "all yawls" input... It helped a lot. I came close to going "off brand", I was temped by the TYM until I got on one and the step and fender flexed under my massive 170lb frame... I like the LS rather well, much better fit and finish than the TYM, but for a new one in my area it was only couple grand less than Kubota... So I ultimately decided that solid used was the way to go and get the brand who's Facebook page isn't filled with "may axle fell off, they say it should be here in just 11 months"...

I decided on the B2601 as my primary target, with the right b7800, b2920, b2650 or lx2610 buy pop up grab it. I decided on the the 2601 for several reason. I can mow with it for now while I decide if I want a ZT or what if I found one with a MMM. I want a tractor that can do real work with and yet be my "yard buddy" too in terms of often with me on yard chores and tasks, and though I was open to all those one step ups from this one they are still smaller than the "competitions" step up. Those all take a beefy step up in terms of weight and such compared to our orange ones. I think I started down the " it's only a little bigger but WAY more capable road" a step or two too far. The ones I listed above would be still perfectly reasonable. The TYM had those beat by several hundred pounds of weight if not a bit more. Well when my friend came and plowed me out his big tractor was a real bear to maneuver around my house area... Him and I were chatting and he said, "Hey if you are't in a hurry a little tractor will do all a big one will, it just takes longer" and I realized then at this property I do not want to be oversized and the B2601 fits all my basic need and then some. Especially after watching GP Outdoors when he had his, he worked it far harder than I will need to. I realized its 3.5 acres, it is not a farm... Some folks on some forums say all these 25hp tractors are a joke and you can't do anything without more... I think that's just a stretch, I don't recall most folks with more than a couple acres even needing more than a briggs and Stratton Rider 35 years ago... So I decided the b2601 it was unless I ran into a good buy on one of the others. After settling in on that, I found this one it it was set up to what my exact "gotta have day 1" list was, down to the tires so I pulled the trigger. I haven't sold my plane yet, so I did finance it, but figured I'll just pay it off when the airplane sells and at that time get her, her 3rd function and grapple, rototiller, forks and box blade...

Thanks for the help getting here...
 
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PaulL

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601
Jul 17, 2017
2,689
1,683
113
NZ
I'm sure you'll be super happy. Remember, we require pictures as payment for all our good advice.
 
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GrumpyFarmer

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2650, MX6000, Ford 8N, (BX sold)
Sep 13, 2021
3,379
4,804
113
Ohio
I have joined the Brother and Sisterhood of the Orange Tractor...

We made the move, its beutiful, living in town my whole life I wept as a grown man when we moved in, space, peace, beauty...My kids, wife and I went sledding on our hill the night we moved it, it's perfect. But I'm lucky I have a good friend nearby with a big ol 75hp Kubota as I'm defenseless against the winter at the moment and its been bearing down... But no longer...

My B2601 should arrive next week! It comes with a FEL, MMM and a B2789 Snowblower on Turf Tires. The entire package I arrived at as what I "need"... She's not off the showroom new, but appears very well cared for, she's at 740hrs I believe. I had the dealer do the 800hr inspection in the negotiation, once that is finalized it will be headed my way. I can't wait.

It was quite the journey and I appreciate "all yawls" input... It helped a lot. I came close to going "off brand", I was temped by the TYM until I got on one and the step and fender flexed under my massive 170lb frame... I like the LS rather well, much better fit and finish than the TYM, but for a new one in my area it was only couple grand less than Kubota... So I ultimately decided that solid used was the way to go and get the brand who's Facebook page isn't filled with "may axle fell off, they say it should be here in just 11 months"...

I decided on the B2601 as my primary target, with the right b7800, b2920, b2650 or lx2610 buy pop up grab it. I decided on the the 2601 for several reason. I can mow with it for now while I decide if I want a ZT or what if I found one with a MMM. I want a tractor that can do real work with and yet be my "yard buddy" too in terms of often with me on yard chores and tasks, and though I was open to all those one step ups from this one they are still smaller than the "competitions" step up. Those all take a beefy step up in terms of weight and such compared to our orange ones. I think I started down the " it's only a little bigger but WAY more capable road" a step or two too far. The ones I listed above would be still perfectly reasonable. The TYM had those beat by several hundred pounds of weight if not a bit more. Well when my friend came and plowed me out his big tractor was a real bear to maneuver around my house area... Him and I were chatting and he said, "Hey if you are't in a hurry a little tractor will do all a big one will, it just takes longer" and I realized then at this property I do not want to be oversized and the B2601 fits all my basic need and then some. Especially after watching GP Outdoors when he had his, he worked it far harder than I will need to. I realized its 3.5 acres, it is not a farm... Some folks on some forums say all these 25hp tractors are a joke and you can't do anything without more... I think that's just a stretch, I don't recall most folks with more than a couple acres even needing more than a briggs and Stratton Rider 35 years ago... So I decided the b2601 it was unless I ran into a good buy on one of the others. After settling in on that, I found this one it it was set up to what my exact "gotta have day 1" list was, down to the tires so I pulled the trigger. I haven't sold my plane yet, so I did finance it, but figured I'll just pay it off when the airplane sells and at that time get her, her 3rd function and grapple, rototiller, forks and box blade...

Thanks for the help getting here...
Congratulations!

share some pics when you get it!
 
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Huckster79

Member

Equipment
B2601 w/ LA434 FEL, 60" MMM, and B2789 Snowblower
Dec 4, 2025
33
74
18
Michigan USA
I'm sure you'll be super happy. Remember, we require pictures as payment for all our good advice.
Congratulations!

share some pics when you get it!
Absolutely will do! I'm hoping sometime next week.

It is coming from a couple states away.

Transporting larger "things" is one of the few spots in life I feel is very reasonable in cost... This will be my second time doing so, both times I could not have driven and got the thing for what it cost to have show up on my door step... Gotta be comfortable doing inspection remotely but if ones good with that, the move is very reasonable. We had a 1950 dodge truck hauled from Colorado to Central Michigan for $1,000 and it's going to cost me $500 to have the Kubota brought home. It would be a 6-7 hour drive for me each way and through Chicago. So there would just be no way for me to do it myself for less...
 
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McMXi

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Feb 9, 2021
7,624
10,609
113
Montana
Absolutely will do! I'm hoping sometime next week.

It is coming from a couple states away.

Transporting larger "things" is one of the few spots in life I feel is very reasonable in cost... This will be my second time doing so, both times I could not have driven and got the thing for what it cost to have show up on my door step... Gotta be comfortable doing inspection remotely but if ones good with that, the move is very reasonable. We had a 1950 dodge truck hauled from Colorado to Central Michigan for $1,000 and it's going to cost me $500 to have the Kubota brought home. It would be a 6-7 hour drive for me each way and through Chicago. So there would just be no way for me to do it myself for less...
Congratulations on the "new" tractor.

Talking of the cost to have stuff hauled from A to B, my friend shipped me an M1078 a few years ago and all I had to do was to pay for shipping from Hawaii to Tacoma, WA. It was $3,700 if I remember correctly, which isn't terrible for a 17,000 lb truck that's 9ft tall, 8ft wide and 22ft long, particularly since it was free. I made some inquiries regarding having it hauled from Tacoma, WA to Kalispell, MT (about 600 miles) and $6,000 seemed to be a number thrown around, and that was assuming that the driver didn't have to wait around to pick it up.

Given the cost, I decided to drive my Jeep to Tacoma, stay overnight at a hotel and then drive the M1078 home with the Jeep in tow. It worked out and I made it back without much trouble other than blocked fuel filters. If doing the same today I would use my F-450 and 30ft gooseneck trailer but I didn't have them at that time.

I sold the M1078 a few months ago for $15,000 but kept quite a few parts that will be useful for other projects. The new owner came out to inspect the truck and decided that he'd rather I deliver it which I'd suggested during our initial conversations. I had already figured out that it was 406 miles round trip and decided that $500 would be fair and would more than cover my time and fuel cost, so I suppose that $1.25/mile was what I quoted. It worked out better than I could hope for with a great trip out and back, and a very happy new owner.
 
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Donystoy

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
LX2610HSDCC, B/H, Loader, plus numerous other attachments. B7200 sold
Dec 10, 2013
701
342
63
Binbrook, Ontario
Congratulations on your purchase as well. I am sure you will be happy with your choice of the B2601. My original B7200 was only 17hp and did everything that I wanted it to do. I had a small woods backhoe on it and I dug out a basement, a 200 foot driveway 24" deep, 500 feet of trench 5 to 6 feet deep plus other jobs too many to list. Just takes longer with a smaller machine. All over 37 years of ownership and 2300 hours. Got the lx for the cab for blowing snow on my 4000 foot driveway.
 
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Huckster79

Member

Equipment
B2601 w/ LA434 FEL, 60" MMM, and B2789 Snowblower
Dec 4, 2025
33
74
18
Michigan USA
Congratulations on your purchase as well. I am sure you will be happy with your choice of the B2601. My original B7200 was only 17hp and did everything that I wanted it to do. I had a small woods backhoe on it and I dug out a basement, a 200 foot driveway 24" deep, 500 feet of trench 5 to 6 feet deep plus other jobs too many to list. Just takes longer with a smaller machine. All over 37 years of ownership and 2300 hours. Got the lx for the cab for blowing snow on my 4000 foot driveway.
That’s a great story… thank you for sharing, that makes me all the more confident in my choice..


It makes all the sense in the world now, once I realized (not sure why it took so long-lol) that I wasn’t shopping for my commercial operation needing max efficiency for profitability. In fact one of my goals with moving here, on a river in the woods, is to literally slow down, soak it in… If it takes two days longer it was two days outside next to the river with my wife-doing what we love to do together- :)
 
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Huckster79

Member

Equipment
B2601 w/ LA434 FEL, 60" MMM, and B2789 Snowblower
Dec 4, 2025
33
74
18
Michigan USA
It has arrived!!! Mower comes off tonight, but I had to take her for a spin :). Man can she eat some snow! I put her into a snow plow pile left from the plow and it didn't flinch... Just flung that Shtuff 30 ft or better. I'm a happy boy...

Thanks for the help getting here :)

Ray




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Runs With Scissors

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
3,606
4,759
113
Michigan
Very nice sir!

I’m sure it will serve you well.

(y) (y) (y)
 
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McMXi

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Feb 9, 2021
7,624
10,609
113
Montana
It has arrived!!! Mower comes off tonight, but I had to take her for a spin :). Man can she eat some snow! I put her into a snow plow pile left from the plow and it didn't flinch... Just flung that Shtuff 30 ft or better. I'm a happy boy...

Thanks for the help getting here :)

Ray
Cool! One upgrade you can look forward to at some point is adding rear remotes to the tractor and hydraulics on the snow blower. Rotating the chute and changing the deflector angle will be even nicer via hydraulics. Just trying to spend your money for you! 😂
 
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