Going orange

[Grumpyjoe]

I have rented a Kubota more times than I can remember over the last 30 years. The size of the jobs I was able to do with such small tractors has been unbelievable. The dealer wants me to buy a B26 but I am retired and have plenty of time. I am going for a BX25d1 without a belly mower. It is small enough to get in where it is tight, easier to haul with less attention by the State Troopers. Mostly I can use it on my 10 acres where I cannot dig and pull it to my kids houses to help them with landscaping too.

I have read many of the threads here. The draw towards a bigger tractor is hard but eventually I will need a much bigger tractor for mowing the fields. Until then this little guy will save me pain on my new hip. Most jobs have no deadline and I can always rent something bigger if really needed.

I have read a lot about filling tires and using weights. Not sure I can afford to fill them right now but wheel weights for the BX25d are only $60? Seams cheap.

There was some anxiety with not having the money before all the great deals before December 31st. Seems financing is still 0% thru March. Rebates are much less and packages are smaller. The dealer I am going to has been a Kubota dealer for over 50 years. I am sure they will put together a good deal still. From the Build a Kubota page it is looking like I will spend about $24,000. That will be a FEL, BH, 4foot rotary, 5 foot box and possibly an auger.

Thanks for all the great reading so far. It has made the choice much easier. After I get the tractor I am going to give it a good looking and see where else I can add weight easily when needed. Low and slow.

 

[bearbait]

Good luck with your new tractor. Loading the tires is very easy, i did it myself using windshield washer. Home depot put's on for cheap once in a while.

 

[85Hokie]

Sound like you have the perfect plan.

I agree - windshield washer fluid, about 40 bucks worth and a few hours, and you'll add about 150 pounds.

 

[bearskinner]

Grumpy, don't know where your located, or how hilly your property is, but I highly recommend a set of Rear wheel spacers, a Piranha blade for the FEL, and a Skid plate to protect your underbelly. Lots more goodies, but that's the 3 fairly inexpensive items I would start with

 

[precisionbike]

Here's my two cents. I purchased a B2601, I spent lot of time making the decision to purchase my first tractor. I didn't need a tractor, I just wanted one to move snow, mulch and whatever else I can dream up. I had looked at the BX series, it seemed more suited to my 1 acre lot, limited needs and imagination. As I researched the model I found a lot of used BX's for sale. I couldn't find a B series used in the northeast Pennsylvania area. It seems the grape farmers love the subcompact B series tractor. Also, I didn't want to own the "oh crap, I bought the wrong tractor", size and weight does matter. The more I thought about spending almost 14k on a BX I had determined to buy the B2601. The reason; I bought out of "want" and not need, I played the waiting game and only wanted to spend 16k. I bought it with the LA434 60" FEL & BB1260 60" Box scraper.
I added 3 Weld on chain hooks and Beet juice to the rear R4 tires.

I love my B2601! I move all the lake effect snow with ease, no chains needed. I also added a power port for my heated motorcycle gear, I love moving snow and being warm!
Last season we moved a felled maple tree, 4 cords when cut & split. Laid out 10 yards of bark mulch. Leveled the yard and started digging a pond. So far the pond is only 18" deep but the fall rain came and I'm on hold till summer.

With all this said, I would buy the B series with joy and never regret buying too small of tractor.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CaveCreekRay]

PB,

Your tale is another one by a satisfied owner who did his research and bought to meet his needs. Your smile says it all.

What will amaze you is all the stuff you find out you use the machine for that you never thought about using it for before you bought it. Moving wood. Moving cardboard boxes. Picking up heavy stuff.

Be safe and have fun! That is what life is all about.

Ray


(Grab a 13,000 ratchet strap from Home Depot for $13 and cut off all but about ten feet of the strap. These make super handy straps to pick stuff up by hooking the hooks to the back side of your upper bucket... never use the lip. Get a couple of 6000 lb lifting straps from Harbor freight to use with the ratchet strap and you can lift boulders, steel, transmissions, all kinds of stuff. Grab a 14" chain while you are there and you can pull tree stakes out of the ground and do other fun stuff.)

Chains...

Straps...

 

[Grumpyjoe]

Great hearing all of this. I am in SW Missouri and mild rolling 10.5 acres. My neighbor is using 7 acres for his love of Holstein cows and in trade he runs a 60HP tractor with large Bush Hog in the field.

I need the backhoe for what I used to use a shovel. I just got a new hip after fighting VA 30 years. I am not near what I used to be. There will be some trenching but less than 42 inches. A few 2-8 inch tree stumping and pond cleanup. I used a B21 to dig out an 8000 lb stump at my last house so using physics I am sure I will make good use of the BX25d. Box blade and rotary catter I need for fence lines and 1/4 mile driveway. The FEL is just for general cleanup and anything heavy I can call the neighbor. My wife feeds him well.

The dealer includes 3point and teeth on all his tractors. He wants me to get a B26 but I still think it is bigger than I need. The Police Chief used the JD equivalent to knock over a small house. It worked well but was a lot slower. I now have plenty of time.

Dealer also told me I can come back anytime and he will fill tires at cost of fluid only for the first 6 months. They encourage I try first without.

Thanks again for the responses. I really liked the bucket with chains and straps. All good ideas. I have an industrial sewing machine so I will be making straps anyways but now I have ideas for more straps.

 

[Grumpyjoe]

Big Disappointment today at dealer. Suddenly the tractors they ordered 3 weeks ago may not be there for another 4-6 weeks. Then the salesman was charging much more than other dealers and knew nothing about options and..........

Long Story short tomorrow is a new day and a new dealer. Starting at $18,400 we will see what we get. They have 3 on the lot ready to go. Again everyone wants me to get the B26 TLB but too many videos on Youtube showing the BX25d1 can do everything I need and more.

 

[skeets]

I thought Erie was NW Pa.....snicker snicker .. Ya done good it will do everything you need slower that big ones but she will get it done

 

[Grumpyjoe]

Still waiting on the call but I did pick up forklift arms and a 3pt auger already. The auger was used with a 12 inch and 6 inch bit at $400. Forks are bolt on 1500 pounders but bucket is limited at 700 pounds so I figured no need to fabricate or make a big deal of it. Dealers get $1100 for the new quick hitch ones but we decided $110 for bolt ons and will get a pallet lift later.

 

[Grumpyjoe]

Took delivery yesterday. My trailer was still full of gravel so I ended up using neighbors 20 foot tilt bed. So much extra room on the trailer. But I did take advantage an measured from bucket to tail and it is 15 feet long with a back hoe pointing back.

Later I will play backing into my 12 foot trailer to see how everything fits. The only problem we had in the end was they forgot our $500 rebate. This will be taken care of today. Locals laughed at the tiny 4 foot rotary cutter but agree what I am using it for would be nice. I see partnerships between clearing fields and fence lines with their huge tractors and my Mighty tiny tractor.

The next couple weeks will be trying every attachment and find my limitations. I already have found lifting with BH and using it as a boom lift will not do much for me. It is great low to the ground but no height. FL and forks for lifting.

 

[bearbait]

Took delivery yesterday. My trailer was still full of gravel so I ended up using neighbors 20 foot tilt bed. So much extra room on the trailer. But I did take advantage an measured from bucket to tail and it is 15 feet long with a back hoe pointing back.

Later I will play backing into my 12 foot trailer to see how everything fits. The only problem we had in the end was they forgot our $500 rebate. This will be taken care of today. Locals laughed at the tiny 4 foot rotary cutter but agree what I am using it for would be nice. I see partnerships between clearing fields and fence lines with their huge tractors and my Mighty tiny tractor.

The next couple weeks will be trying every attachment and find my limitations. I already have found lifting with BH and using it as a boom lift will not do much for me. It is great low to the ground but no height. FL and forks for lifting.

Congrats Joe, enjoy and play safe.