New to the site, considering the orange machine for my very overgrown few acres orchard in northern Michigan, to include stump bucket, no need for mower, maybe a front snow blower if winter ever returns... expect very light use, mostly for fun. New or used? Model? My terrain make 4WD a must. Thanks
New or Used?
- Thread starter JCConTorch
- Start date
used b series, most people put so few hours on these tractors its easy to find a older one in excellent shape. For what you're describing I see no need to get a bigger tractor the way most people seem to recommend. They simply aren't as useful in confined spaces, and I would forgo bx series, they really aren't that much smaller.
Every area is different. In my area when I bought my MX6000 any thing low hour, clean and nice was as much or more than I paid for a new. Need to check and see what other folks are using in your area. If you want a front snow blower that will enter into what models will be able to have the PTO to run a front snow blower. Good luck and have fun shopping.
Like hedgerow said, in my area the used Kubotas are almost as much as new. I was looking for an L3800DT and most of them were as much as a new L3901DT. The L3800DTs were in the price range of $20,000. I paid $23,324 with FEL and 66" box blade. Went with the new for the warranty and being able to know that the tractor hadn't been mistreated.
This was in Dec of 2014 in Missouri.
This was in Dec of 2014 in Missouri.
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
My recent experience was that a used B7510 was 40% of what a new equivalent one lists for. Obviously 'used' encompasses a very wide gamut. I found an 18 year old B, with 1k hours in what seems to be very good, well-maintained condition, from an owner selling for the 'right' reason (downsizing after divorce).
If you go this route, don't be in a hurry, but be ready to make a move when the right one pops up. Good ones are not that common, and sell quickly, at least based on what I saw here in Indiana over the last year or so.
With my old B7100 still going strong at over 3k hours, I'm pretty sure this new one will do for my needs. That said, no guarantees on a used one - if you aren't willing or wanting to take the chance, just buy new and don't look back.
If you go this route, don't be in a hurry, but be ready to make a move when the right one pops up. Good ones are not that common, and sell quickly, at least based on what I saw here in Indiana over the last year or so.
With my old B7100 still going strong at over 3k hours, I'm pretty sure this new one will do for my needs. That said, no guarantees on a used one - if you aren't willing or wanting to take the chance, just buy new and don't look back.
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To me it comes down to money. A used B will probably do the work you need, albeit with some small risk of needing fixing. Taking care when you buy will reduce that risk.
A new Kubota is really nice. Nobody else has beat on it before you beat on it yourself. But they cost more.
So, depends on how much money you have, and how much you'd rather keep that money v's have fun with a shiny new tractor.
For me, for my first tractor, I bought an older and beat upon Kubota. Then I made all my mistakes with that, without feeling too bad. After 2-3 years, I got a new B. I haven't broken anything on it, given my experience from the first one, although I have put a lot of scratches on it. I think that's a good way to go - new tractor owners will always make mistakes (I certainly did), and it's less stressful if that's not on a new and expensive machine.
A new Kubota is really nice. Nobody else has beat on it before you beat on it yourself. But they cost more.
So, depends on how much money you have, and how much you'd rather keep that money v's have fun with a shiny new tractor.
For me, for my first tractor, I bought an older and beat upon Kubota. Then I made all my mistakes with that, without feeling too bad. After 2-3 years, I got a new B. I haven't broken anything on it, given my experience from the first one, although I have put a lot of scratches on it. I think that's a good way to go - new tractor owners will always make mistakes (I certainly did), and it's less stressful if that's not on a new and expensive machine.
I've done used on both the tractors I've bought. Saved quite a bit, but I'm also very mechanically inclined to fix little issues.
If you buy used you'll have to get used to the idea of fixing the odd thing to bring it up to standard. My first tractor had 600hrs on it, was always stored inside and maintained at the dealer. When I bought it there was nothing needed to fix.
My second, had only 250 hours on it but was stored outside and the previous owner did little maintainance so I picked it up and had to replace a few hoses and bushings and grease it up. Also refreshed the paint. But other than that it's running fine.
As noted above, be patient and the right deal will come along. It helps to have the cash or access to the cash - you won't be able to easily finance a used purchase from the guy down the street. If you need to finance, you're better off going with a new one.
If you buy used you'll have to get used to the idea of fixing the odd thing to bring it up to standard. My first tractor had 600hrs on it, was always stored inside and maintained at the dealer. When I bought it there was nothing needed to fix.
My second, had only 250 hours on it but was stored outside and the previous owner did little maintainance so I picked it up and had to replace a few hoses and bushings and grease it up. Also refreshed the paint. But other than that it's running fine.
As noted above, be patient and the right deal will come along. It helps to have the cash or access to the cash - you won't be able to easily finance a used purchase from the guy down the street. If you need to finance, you're better off going with a new one.
Jchonline
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
Kubota L6060, KX040-4, M7060, RTV X1100C, M62 (sold)
Get a cab. Stump bucket is a mistake. You can easily tear up your FEL. Consider renting a large excavator/bull dozer to take out the stumps in short order if you want to plant anything in that area.
Front blower make sure you get mid PTO (its not offered on many larger tractors). They are also very expensive...like 3-4x the cost of a rear new so see if you can find used. Most also have a subframe mount that has to be put on and off as needed. Its kind of a pain. For these reasons I went with a rear blower and got some cameras.
nbryan
Well-known member
Equipment
B2650 BH77 LA534 54" ssqa Forks B2782B BB1560 Woods M5-4 MaxxHaul 50039
Good luck with finding a used (sub)compact K in good condition, without a finding new one competing on price.
I looked for a couple years before giving up trying to find what I needed in used, as the new costs weren't much more.
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
It likely is a lot more difficult to find a good used Kubota North of the 49th parallel.
Ten times the population South, would logically suggest possibly 10 times as many used Kubotas available.
nbryan
Well-known member
Equipment
B2650 BH77 LA534 54" ssqa Forks B2782B BB1560 Woods M5-4 MaxxHaul 50039
True, yet would not 10x the # available be offset by 10x the population shopping for those used machines?
We've had Kubotas up here for decades, too!
GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
What kind of 'few acres of orchards' ? is kinda important. Xmas trees, apples, pears, grapes ?? Depending on the crop,different implements are needed.
See what others are using, what brand dealers are nearby. Fast,reliable service is key to make an 'orchard' sucessful
No soft fruits anymore near me,just apples and grapes.
See what others are using, what brand dealers are nearby. Fast,reliable service is key to make an 'orchard' sucessful
No soft fruits anymore near me,just apples and grapes.
GrassLakeRon
Active member
Equipment
B8200HST-DP , RC60-82h Mower Deck, Woods RB6 Rear Blade, Homemade Carry All
Used. I found my b8200 at Rosy Brothers. Look state wide. Btw, Rosy will deliver anywhere in Michigan.
Here is one on marketplace:
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fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Probably not really proportional, as more large cities in the USA, with city folk having zero tractors, and believing that eggs actually come from a supermarket.
Then too: If USA cities had Kubotas, they would likely all be stolen within a few weeks.
Can you expand on how a stump bucket will easily tear up a FEL..?
A grapple…used inappropriately…with a long/wide unbalanced load….Yes. But a stump-bucket..? How?
Jchonline
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
Kubota L6060, KX040-4, M7060, RTV X1100C, M62 (sold)
Stump buckets are designed for skid steers...that have a loader arm that sits on the frame when lowered. So when you go into a stump, you have a brace for the forces.
Tractor FEL has no such bracing, so all forces are put on the FEL arms that are freely suspended. Not a good combination. I have seen more than one FEL that was bent. Sure you can be careful...but you are pulling a stump!
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.