New here first post

[Lowlysubaruguy]

I own two Kubotas now. A B7800 30 Hp and a L4701 40HP both with what im calling quick disconnect backhoes.

I need another tractor. Thought I wanted an excavator but I rented a B26 tractor from Home Depot for a month and figured out I have more need of a tractor then the size excavator Id end up with. I’ll either rent a much larger excavator or hire someone to do this type of work.

Having 1500 hours tractor experience I thought I knew about tractors. WELL UGH. I headed to the Kubota dealer. And looked into purchasing a new tractor here. My first impression of the B26 was it’s just a little low on HP for my needs but I like this size or id just ship my L4701 here and find something back home. But I really want something a little smaller here. Was looking at the L3902 39HP. Funny not to talk smack about dealers but they had that unit and all attachments but one item in stock and unspoken and all they didnt have was a box scraper. I came home uninformed and without a new tractor. Instead of the sales guys putting that thing in my hands that day i left with no actual price or much information short of one tid bit about the B26 being slightly stronger in some aspects than other tractors in that HP and size.

So I did some digging the B26 is more construction oriented and has some things that are interesting to me even though its lower on power than id like. Then i read about differnt types of drives loader operations and one thing that im really looking for answers on. The main uses of this unit will be the loader bucket a grappling attachment and a box scraper while I will use the backhoe often enough to cover the costs its probably the least used item on it for me. What tractor in this size around 30 HP ish will allow a fairly easy removal of the backhoe and installation of the 3 point hitch. I can tell you the L4701 is much easier to perform this task on than my B7800 but the B26 looks like it’s much more time consuming to swap out? Any information here is great.

Now that my rental is almost over both my son and I think we could be happy with a B26 if the backhoe could have a thumb and also be removed and a 3 point hitch installed fairly easy. i will most likely buy new it seems there really are no used units with all the attachments for sale that are low hours or low enough in price. With Kubotas low interest and warrantee on a new unit saving $6000 on a $60K purchase for something out or almost out of warrantee that I have to pay cash for isnt worthwhile and by the time I load a used one up with the accessories I want well I should just order a new one.

 

[PaulL]

The B26 is a heavier duty B2601. One key difference is that the loader is not removable, and I think I recall no mid-PTO so no MMM.

Options are:
- B26. The backhoe comes off and you can mount a 3pt hitch kit. I don't know how hard this is, but I have a B2601 and nothing about the 3pt linkages looks hard, I believe it's the same
- B2601. The loader comes off which may be useful for some tasks. ,It's the same base tractor, but a bit less heavy duty. Not sure if it's the same backhoe
- LX2610 or LX3x20. A little bigger than the B, and I think I recall the backhoe has a greater range of swing. I think the B2601 (and maybe the B26) are restricted in angle of swing, and some people find that to be a big compromise. I think I recall the LX and the small L have the same backhoe.
- L2502, or L3302. The L4701 you have is the oddball L, it's actually a bigger frame than the lower HP L series (where's @Cathy Liebchen when you need her?). The L costs about the same as the LX, but it's a bigger, heavier machine, and more of an economy build. It has more heft to it, so whilst on paper it looks similar to an LX, it's quite a bit more machine for your money.
- Grand-L (Lxx60). Not because it meets any of your desires - it's bigger than an L4701. But it's an awesome machine, so you should buy one.