Closing on 35 Acre Property Need Buying Advice

[ProudVeteran]

First about me and the property. I am a 40 year old retired veteran and grew up on a farm driving deeres (4040 etc). I now live in Colorado where we are about to close on a 35 acre grassland farm with a wonderful homestead, 3 outbuildings, a log cabin etc. The area gets about 120 inches of snow per winter. The terrain is rolling but aside from a .5 acre pond it is almost totally usable.

*Cab is a requirement.

Intent:
We intend to open an organic farm with some greenhouses and outdoor garden plots. I will also be doing some brush mowing, plot tilling, animal pen scraping for the horse stalls, LOTS of snow blowing, and perhaps even some custom snow and brush mowing work to help offset the tractor cost monthly on the 0 for 60 plan.

Quotes:
Here are the quotes I have and decision I face:
All the L series come with the following:
Air Ride Seat, HST(+), 4wd, LA1055 FEL, 72 inch Single Wheel Rotary Cutter, 84 inch tilt/offset blade, 74 inch snow blower. All new. Also water in the wheels for weight. All quotes include the attachments.

1. L3560 -> $36,600
2. L5460HSTC -> $50,107.00
3. L6060HSTC -> $51,641.00

M Series:
LA1154 Loader, 84 inch single wheel rotary cutter, Air Ride Seat, 84 inch blade, 84 inch snow blower

1. M6060 -> $50,787.00 (8x8 Shuttle, to add creep is 600.00)
2. M7060 -> $55,500.00 (12x12 Shuttle)

My thoughts (feel free to chime in) tend to lean toward my experiences with a boat. You can add features later but not feet in length (in this case size and horsepower). I have driven them all and love the L and M series. I want to get feedback on the prices and thoughts of what peoples experience is. I think that the M would allow for more custom service offers but would require much more equipment for transport whereas the L is smaller but still packs 60 HP. I really love them all even the 8x8 M6060. I need your advice Kubota folks. I have decide on the brand BTW. The service, customer care, and price Kubota has shown me has blown Deere away not to mention I researched the service departments and the Kubota location had great feedback and the Deere was 'warm' but they are always 'backed up' according to some customers I spoke with. Thanks! I am attaching some pics to give you an idea.

As for storage: Everything will be stored inside a heated shop. There is a 111 inch entry door vertical clearance. Please see included pics for terrain and snow blowing area pics.

 

[Dalroo]

Wow! Nice place and great views! Congratulations!

This may not be good advice with your climate, but the MX is a nice fit between the L and M series tractors. Unfortunately, I do not believe the MX series comes with a cab version, so if you want climate control, not a fit.

Regardless, I think you nailed it with the boat analogy - more is better, and in this case, the more is weight. I'm a relative novice at all of this, but it seems that the popular consensus is, "better to have too much tractor, than not enough."

Good luck!

 

[ProudVeteran]

Yes, a cab is a must. We love the property and the original builders still live there which shows in the TLC. One family raised and now they are downsizing and we are the next to raise our family there .

 

[virginiavenom]

I would go with a Grand L 6060.....I doubt you would regret that. my only displeasure with the M's is no possible HST. beautiful place, and thank you for your service.

 

[ProudVeteran]

It was an honor to serve thank you. I am kind of leaning towards the L 6060 but just looking for some input. I think 60 hp is plenty and I think my wife and eventually children could drive the L 6060 easier.

 

[TripleR]

It was an honor to serve thank you. I am kind of leaning towards the L 6060 but just looking for some input. I think 60 hp is plenty and I think my wife and eventually children could drive the L 6060 easier.

Very nice property and also thank you for your service.

Very important considerations, some of the reasons I bought my L5740HSTC even though we own an M8540HDC. My health took a nose dive and my wife and kids can easily run it and no way could they do it on the M8540. My brother gets a nice break from his hot open station units when he does some work for me on it or the M8540.

I do love the M8540 and have enough acreage to really need it with two farms four miles apart.

I would go with an 8' dual spindle or if you can afford it a 12' batwing. A 6' will do, but it will take a while on that much acreage.

I do think a case can be made for an M, but gardening etc. is going to be a real problem with a bigger tractor and geared tractor, even hydro shift.

Jut one person's opinion.

 

[ProudVeteran]

"I would go with an 8' dual spindle".

Which one TripleR and is it fine for the L6060? Thanks!

 

[sheepfarmer]

Much as I love my 3560 HST, with your sized spread, I think the 6060 would serve you better. In general I love the Grand L features, they are a pleasure to drive, and many are seriously useful, not a luxury at all. You would run into some implement limitations on the 3560, you'll need the bigger tractor to run a 6 foot snowblower and stay in warranty. I assume a front mounted? The down side to that is if you need the bucket for horse chores or to move piles of snow you would have to swap the bucket and the blower back and forth. Rear mounted is more versatile but you have to back up while snow blowing.

The only place bigger is not better is clearing paths between house and barns and around gates to get the critters in and out. The former owner might be able to tell you where the wind puts the drifts. If you are east of the Front Range you get some serious spring blizzards.

A lovely spread! Enjoy!

 

[TripleR]

"I would go with an 8' dual spindle".

Which one TripleR and is it fine for the L6060? Thanks!

For pastures and light brush up to 1", an RCR2596. For more cutting capacity an RCF3096 would work well, but you may have to go to a semi mount or pull type due to the weight.

I'm not familiar with other brands as to model numbers, but we use a Woods 121 and DS1260 on our M and the quality is great as is Bush Hog and some others.

 

[ProudVeteran]

Thanks TripleR. What about snow blowers for the front vs the back. Are Kubotas good or should I look elsewhere? Assume the L6060.

 

[TripleR]

Thanks TripleR. What about snow blowers for the front vs the back. Are Kubotas good or should I look elsewhere? Assume the L6060.

We get so little snow here, everyone uses a plow on a truck or tractor, I just use my bucket, so snow blowers are a mystery to me, sorry.

 

[drab m]

at your altitude I believe you want turbo, so if any of those are naturally aspirated I would cross them off.

 

[ProudVeteran]

Ye sir. That is why we chose the 6060 for the turbo. We are at 7k feet.

 

[ProudVeteran]

We get that much snow in May I think lol.

 

[bucktail]

I'm new to Kubota's myself, and have never run a blower on the front, but I'd run the blower on the back. We had a blower on the back on a JD 4030 growing up, and I never felt handicapped running it backwards. It allowed us to leave the loader on the front. A loader on the front with a blower on the back is a handy set up for moving snow, and we fed silage with the bucket. The only downside on the 4030 was that the reverse was a little faster than we'd have liked when you had to bust drifts, but I think that the reverse in the Kubotas will be slow enough. Check before buying. If you're not going to run the FEL, the front will probably be easier to operate, and will allow you to run a back blade at the same time. I'd expect the back blade to be less useful for moving snow than the loader

 

[ProudVeteran]

Good point bucktale.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

I have no experience with bigger tractors, just a little BX, but I am thinking there is a big difference running a gear drive tractor backwards and running an HST tractor backwards. I would go to the dealer and sit on an L6060 and turn around to watch the rear while holding your foot on the HST pedal. Maybe at 40 you can do it. Anytime I have to backup my BX a long distance twisting around with my foot on the pedal gets old in a hurry, but then I am 40 + 28.

 

[TripleR]

I have no experience with bigger tractors, just a little BX, but I am thinking there is a big difference running a gear drive tractor backwards and running an HST tractor backwards. I would go to the dealer and sit on an L6060 and turn around to watch the rear while holding your foot on the HST pedal. Maybe at 40 you can do it. Anytime I have to backup my BX a long distance twisting around with my foot on the pedal gets old in a hurry, but then I am 40 + 28.

Therein lies the difference. I owned BXs for years before the M8540 or GL and I found it much easier to use the pedal on the GL by using the front of the foot. The BX is a bear to back up long distances.

Even easier on this old man is just using my mirrors on the cab models like I do in my truck to back up. I do this on gear as well as HST.

 

[ProudVeteran]

So for the same money for M6060 vs L6060 with creamer kit I'd the M6060 the better buy in your opinion?

 

[TripleR]

In my opinion only the M6060 may be the better "value" ie more for your money, but for what you describe as your needs, my choice would be the L6060.