L2501 or bigger?

[greeninfarming]

Greetings All,
We are developing a 20 acre parcel in southern Utah into a farm, from scratch. The land is mostly wooded with nothing but Juniper trees and a well. Recently, I rented a BX25 to dig a trench and move the dirt into a pile, but aside from that, I've never used a Kubota tractor/backhoe before. It was a bit challenging to figure out how to get the backhoe to work efficiently but I eventually got the hang of it. The ground is soft for the 1st 6 inches, then caliche for about a foot, then soft again. I think the BX did an "okay" job but I wonder how well, over time, this unit would hold up? I have about 50 post holes to dig and want to plant 21 fruit trees, and plow/rototill an area for a large garden. It's a bit of a pain to rent a tractor over and over again to get all that I need done so I'm strongly considering the purchase of a new or used unit.

In my opinion, I think I'll need a loader, backhoe and auger. I understand that Kubota is offering 0% financing on select models if you sign before 8/31. The L2501 is one of the units eligible for this financing.

The big questions I have are:
Is this going to be enough tractor for my purposes?
Should I seek out a used tractor made on or before 08 so I can get more HP without the emissions, then buy whatever is lacking on that tractor?
How does one go about determining if the build price that the local dealership comes up with is fair?
Can't tell you how much I value the advice from those of you with insight in these matters.

 

[NWAZL3560]

I bought a Grand L3560 with BH77 backhoe, LA805 loader, box blade, pallet fork, and rock bucket from Ahern in St. George. Ahern is a good, but a small dealership. They don't stock Grand L series so I ordered mine and it took 3 months to get it. They did have the selection of Standard L's and I believe some MX series. They also have stores in Vegas and Cedar City, maybe they stock more models, I don't know. I believe my price was close to 10% off MSRP delivered, including the rebates.

I chose the Grand L3560 over the Standard L for the 3500 lb weight, better foot pedal which I really like, lower fuel fill - good for older guys, comfy seat, separate backhoe seat, loader control without having to reach far, and its physical size. The backhoe worked fine in digging out a big patch of really tough bamboo roots. A BH92 would be even better.

Besides scooping up rocks or debris, the rock bucket is good for smoothing out the ground.

I don't plan on any PTO use, maybe later on for post holes like you plan, so I can't comment on that.

I wanted the emission equipment so I wouldn't have that puff of black smoke when I start it up in my garage.

This is my first tractor! I love the tractor, perfect size for me and my 10 acre desert property near Mesquite.

 

[NWAZL3560]

But, if you're needing to remove a lot of juniper trees like it sounds like, you'd be better off hiring or renting a dozer or excavator and then using your tractor. The tractors in the size you're thinking about don't push things over well.

 

[Poohbear]

But, if you're needing to remove a lot of juniper trees like it sounds like, you'd be better off hiring or renting a dozer or excavator and then using your tractor. The tractors in the size you're thinking about don't push things over well.

Good advice here cause I know from experience hiring the biggest dozer with a stump cutter blade you can find to do the land clearing ends up being cheap.
You can't get too big a tractor either. I have a L3301 but if I had 20 acers or more I'd go big, 50 or more HP.

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to the OTT forum Green. You can get great advice here.

I second what Poohbear said. The bigger the better. While smaller tractors will get the job done, the bigger tractors will get it done much faster.

 

[Poohbear]

I don't know how big Junipers are as we don't have them here in East Tx but the new method for clearing small trees & brush here is the mulching machines. When they get done its nothing but very small wood chips that rot fast.

 

[Beaudeane]

Smaller tractor will do about anything a bigger one will do, just takes more time. What’s your time worth? Will your pocketbook allow for a bigger tractor without straining you? I opted for a mx5800 after first looking at a BX23S. Wanted to get more done in the time I have to use it in. I’m sure I’d be loving a bx or 2501 had I went that route but after asking on here I didn’t want buyers remorse from going to small then loosing money on trading it in on a bigger machine in a couple years. HST all the way for me so I got the biggest one of those Kubota makes.

 

[greeninfarming]

Thank you very much for sharing the information. I don't know anything about the capabilities of the different BH choices but I thought the power or strength of the implement or attachment was totally dependent on the GPM the tractor was able to put out, so I'm confused as to how one BH would do any better than another, unless we're talking in terms of reach, which is a physical characteristic of a particular BH and not related to how well it digs. Please, correct me if I'm off on this line of thinking.
The main reason I am leaning toward the L2501 is the financing and the fact that it's <25 hp motor doesn't have the EPA equipment and less maintenance as a result.

 

[greeninfarming]

My original post was a bit misleading. While it's true that our 20 acres has nothing but Juniper trees on it, I don't plan on removing more than a couple. There's a clearing where we plan on building our house/barn, and another ~1-2 acre area where we'll plant fruit trees and have a large garden, so the majority of the work I'll be using this tractor for is trenching, post hole digging, rototilling, and moving dirt. There won't be any serious lifting like those giant round hay bales as we only plan on having a few animals. I suspect we'll have no more than 5 acres that the tractor will ever have to work. We like the idea of having a few rows of trees as a cushion between our home, garden, and whatever animals we have, and the rest of the world.

 

[greeninfarming]

Thank you sir. Honestly, I'd love to have a "big boy" tractor, but, as I clarified in a recent reply, my original post was a bit misleading. Sure, we have 20 acres, but we'll only develope about 5 of it, and that 5 is already cleared, so it's mainly trenching, post holes, and tilling that I'll need my tractor for.

 

[greeninfarming]

Sounds like a great way to clear some land, and provide nutrients for the ground. Thanks for sharing.

 

[NWAZL3560]

You're correct in that the backhoe performance is dictated by the hydraulics in your tractor. My BH77 is fine for me and probably for you. The BH92 has a longer reach but you'd have to go bigger than the L2501 to have one.

From your recent posts it sounds like the L2501 would be a good choice. I wanted the heavier tractor weight in my L3560, but it is a lot more money!!

 

[TwoKowner]

I just took delivery of an HST L2501 and I also have had and still do have a BX 23 w/ BH for 12 years. I am in Pennsylvania so our conditions are different but the 2501 is way different than the BX23! I did not get a BH with the 2501 as I kept my BX23. I used the BX23 this spring to prep @ 5 acres of food plots much of which was on very sloped ground. The BX did the job of raking and disking just took more time with more pucker factor. The weight and wheel base of the 2501 is the big difference... it has plenty of power!

 

[greenacresnorth]

having owned bigger 40hp plus tractors I opted for the 2501 for the same reasons as you, small and nimble enough to go places and more mass and stability than the smaller B machines and no emission equipment, I have the BH77 on mine and have met only a few large oaks and one pine that I had to really work at to get the stump out. I would tell you to go for it, get 2 different size buckets for the backhoe, I have the 8" and 16" buckets, the 8" is great for stumping and trench digging, also will break through hard ground with less struggle (lots or granite up my way) and the 16" is great for digging large holes, sculpting and ditch clearing.

 

[Cathy Liebchen]

having owned bigger 40hp plus tractors I opted for the 2501 for the same reasons as you, small and nimble enough to go places and more mass and stability than the smaller B machines and no emission equipment, I have the BH77 on mine and have met only a few large oaks and one pine that I had to really work at to get the stump out. I would tell you to go for it, get 2 different size buckets for the backhoe, I have the 8" and 16" buckets, the 8" is great for stumping and trench digging, also will break through hard ground with less struggle (lots or granite up my way) and the 16" is great for digging large holes, sculpting and ditch clearing.

with the minimal difference in price go for an L3301 or L3901/ The pollution control is a nothingburger, and there is a reason Kuboa has to offer incentives on the 2501.

 

[Hydro556]

with the minimal difference in price go for an L3301 or L3901/ The pollution control is a nothingburger, and there is a reason Kuboa has to offer incentives on the 2501.

What do you perceive the reasons to be?

I bought and love my 2501 for similar reasons that others love it. It's the heaviest thing I could get, that would do what I needed while avoiding the epa bullshit.

I deal with regens and particulate filters daily in my job. They're bs that aren't ready for prime time yet the gov forces us to beta test at great cost. In both initial purchase cost and down time /maintenance costs.

Absolute garbage. From the institution that specializes in it. Government.

But hey. Lots of folks in high places make millions from it.

 

[greeninfarming]

You're correct in that the backhoe performance is dictated by the hydraulics in your tractor. My BH77 is fine for me and probably for you. The BH92 has a longer reach but you'd have to go bigger than the L2501 to have one.

From your recent posts it sounds like the L2501 would be a good choice. I wanted the heavier tractor weight in my L3560, but it is a lot more money!!

Thanks Bruce. Since we're starting this project from scratch, we have to keep an eye on all costs so I think the L2501 will have to do. I thank you for sharing your thoughts.

 

[Mainah]

What do you perceive the reasons to be?

I bought and love my 2501 for similar reasons that others love it. It's the heaviest thing I could get, that would do what I needed while avoiding the epa bullshit.

I deal with regens and particulate filters daily in my job. They're bs that aren't ready for prime time yet the gov forces us to beta test at great cost. In both initial purchase cost and down time /maintenance costs.

Absolute garbage. From the institution that specializes in it. Government.

But hey. Lots of folks in high places make millions from it.

I’m a former HD tech and factory rep, now retired, and I agree 100%. All the systems I’ve seen so far are troublesome to say the least and very expensive to maintain and repair. If you trade tractors like many people trade cars you may not have a reason for concern. If you’re looking for long term service you will eventually. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

 

[PaulL]

I'll go out on a limb and say you could get away with smaller for the jobs you describe - a B26 perhaps. Still a good machine, a bit cheaper, it'll drive an auger and the backhoe is capable enough for trenching. The tasks you describe don't need an L2501 as such - although one would probably be nice. If cash is tight, you might be better putting the extra towards some implements.

 

[greeninfarming]

I just took delivery of an HST L2501 and I also have had and still do have a BX 23 w/ BH for 12 years. I am in Pennsylvania so our conditions are different but the 2501 is way different than the BX23! I did not get a BH with the 2501 as I kept my BX23. I used the BX23 this spring to prep @ 5 acres of food plots much of which was on very sloped ground. The BX did the job of raking and disking just took more time with more pucker factor. The weight and wheel base of the 2501 is the big difference... it has plenty of power!

Thank you for the comment. I'm going to do some research on the diesel particulate filter and everything that I'll have to deal with if I go bigger than a 25 hp motor but I'm pretty set on getting the L2501 because of price alone and the fact that everyone is saying it will do the jobs I need it for. I understand the main drawback is the time it will take to get these jobs done, but I'm semi-retired and not too worried about that. To me, the worst day of being up on my property beats the best day of living in Henderson (think, Las Vegas) Nevada.