New Owner

[flagcraig]

Just bought 12 acres and approximately 8 of it needs to be brush hogged. No time to worry about that right now we have boxes everywhere and house stuff to do so I'm going to hire someone to brush hog the property. Wrong. One guy says he's 3 weeks out busy and charges $1 per minute. Other guy says $100 per hour and he never calls back. Talk to some locals and they say it's tough to get someone to brush hog. Now it's two weeks later and grass is growing so I bite the bullet and buy the Kubota package deal with great financing.
I have never owned a tractor before but I'm not the waiting around kind of guy nor accept whatever they charge. Did my research and Kubota was the choice. We got the L2501 with front loader and brush hog with trailer. Should be delivered this weekend or early next week and have to get to work. It's going to be trial by fire. Hope we can get that thing moving and cutting.

This looks like a great site. Thanks for having me.

 

[geoff]

Welcome to you, I bet your going to have good times with your tractor.

 

[D2Cat]

Welcome. Must be frustrating not being able to find someone do do work!!

When you get your tractor/mower be sure there are no unknown items the the tall grass. Walk through it to find out for sure. If you have a loader on your tractor put it about a foot off the ground so it will help you discover a fence post or something, and help you see your way.

Go slow the first round since it's so tall. Then if it seems like a lot of work for your tractor on the second and succeeding passes you don't have to take the full width of your mower. Just mow what seems to work good for your outfit.

Once you get it all down, you won't have near the work the next time you mow.

 

[jryser]

Welcome to a new freedom and a new happiness! There is NOTHING like having your own machine and man is it fun!!!


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[NBKubota]

Welcome from another relatively new guy! You will love having a tractor around. This is my first one as well, still go around looking for stuff to do with it!

Be sure to post pics when your new machine arrives!

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[Redlands]

Drive slow since unknown objects are expensive to find in tall grass. Fast driving for that matter is usally involved in almost all mishaps.
Keep that bucket low at ALL times when moving. When mowing it helps find items you missed in the tall grass.
Keep a close eye on the radiator screen and other cooling components. Seeds, leaves, dust, etc can easily clog up your cooling system faster than you would think.
Enjoy the new equipment and place you have

 

[85Hokie]

Glad to have you here!

As others have said - take it easy through the fields, look carefully for stuff that you cannot see.

Keep the bucket low at all times!

Take it easy with the machine for a while, allow it to work - DO NOT baby it!!! But then again, dont run the snot out of it right away!

The tractor will do more for you than you are thinking right now!!! As you learn one part of the machine, several more ideas will pop into your head!

Good luck and have fun - be safe!

 

[Forvols]

Welcome I also have the L2501 and LP cutter on 20acres of TN land. I bush hog about 4-5acres and the rest is wooded (except yard around house and shed). You will love the L2501, it also gets around great in the woods.

I also echo what everyone said and will add. If you have any steep areas or areas you just don't feel comfortable on try going up and down. I had to do one field that way the first time because it hadn't been cut in about 8yrs I didn't know what was in it, humps, ditches etc.

 

[Cathy Liebchen]

Just bought 12 acres and approximately 8 of it needs to be brush hogged. No time to worry about that right now we have boxes everywhere and house stuff to do so I'm going to hire someone to brush hog the property. Wrong. One guy says he's 3 weeks out busy and charges $1 per minute. Other guy says $100 per hour and he never calls back. Talk to some locals and they say it's tough to get someone to brush hog. Now it's two weeks later and grass is growing so I bite the bullet and buy the Kubota package deal with great financing.
I have never owned a tractor before but I'm not the waiting around kind of guy nor accept whatever they charge. Did my research and Kubota was the choice. We got the L2501 with front loader and brush hog with trailer. Should be delivered this weekend or early next week and have to get to work. It's going to be trial by fire. Hope we can get that thing moving and cutting.

This looks like a great site. Thanks for having me.

Inability to get anyone to do the work and show up when they said they would were big factors in just getting a better tractor to do it ourselves. Too much free welfare has sapped a lot of the work ethic out

 

[Stmar]

Just think of all the frustration you have eliminated every time you need something done on your property. Instead of waiting and wondering if the guy will show up or do a good job you can just put on your Carhartts and boots and go to work. I have had tractors for 30 years with property ranging from 5 acres to 50+ and can't imagine not having one. Welcome to the club.

P.S. And if you really want to feel good just think of your seat time as $100 per hour. I am at $4000 and have only paid $1500 so far, LOL. Great way to justify big boy toys, uh I mean tools.

 

[jmf78]

This!

Just think of all the frustration you have eliminated every time you need something done on your property.

I got mine to able to mow (3.5 acres) and plow snow (about 500 ft. Driveway). We since have taken on and easily finished so many projects that it really feels like it's paying for itself.
Welcome to the club!

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[flagcraig]

Thanks for all the great advice. I have walked the fields and looks good. And keeping the loader low is something I did not think of.

Slow going is the best advice for me. I have learned (through injuries) and age that safety is job one.

Suppose to arrive with brush hog hooked up. Taking it off after cutting will help me learn how to put it back on with instruction manual assistance.

 

[tlefire]

You will love the 2501. Will do anything you ask of it, but.......As Norm Abrams says........please read, understand, and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tool. Knowing how to operate your power tool will greatly reduce the chance of you getting hurt.....or something like that. Always wear your seatbelt and keep the rops up.

Ditto on what others have said. Congrats and pictures please!!

 

[Stmar]

Suppose to arrive with brush hog hooked up. Taking it off after cutting will help me learn how to put it back on with instruction manual assistance.[/QUOTE]

The guy that delivers it should go through the operation; unhooking and hooking up implements, fueling, starting, first service, etc. The guy that delivered mine made sure I was somewhat comfortable with the SSQA, the hydro tranny, etc. Make sure you ask all the questions you can think of. Also my sales guy got a few calls from me asking simple questions and he was very helpful. When I went in to get some fluids and filters for my first service the service manager was at the counter, it was a Saturday so they had a minimal staff, he told me to call him direct if I had any questions/issues at all. Hopefully your dealer is as responsive.

P.S. One issue most of us have had, leaving the brake locked on when driving, so get familiar with releasing before you start moving. Mine was first thing so I learned quick, lol.

 

[fatjay]

Sounds like a nice package. I would love a FEL on my tractor. Brush hogging when you don't know what's in the grass can be scary, lots of loud unexpected sounds. Have you thought about eventually finishing it? You could get a MMM for your finished grass around the house too.

 

[Grouse09]

Watch that temp gauge while mowing! It will get hot because your screens will clog up. Park it in the shade, gently wipe off you screens, have a cold drink, go back to work. Just watch that gauge.


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[Forvols]

OK HOWDY DOOS out of the way....now upgrades.

1. Piranha toothbar, way increased the work of my FEL straight edge bucket.
2. 3pt quick hitch, I went with landpride -- but lots out there(and you will get more implements...it just happens)
3. FEL Bucket hooks-- weld on or bolt, I have bolt on hooks and clevis. Use a step drill bit save yourself some work same for #1.

Butt loads more some spendy...some get the parts do it your self.

Sorry couldn't help myself..

 

[pgmrdan]

If the grass on the 8 acres is any sort of condition at all you could have someone come in and hay the place for shares.

Say that a big round hay bale is going for $50. Someone can come in and mow, rake, and bale those 8 acres. If they get 12 bales then you get $300 for your share and the other $300 worth of hay goes to the guy/gal that hayed the place.

It's like living in town and having someone pay you so they can mow your lawn, bag up the clippings, and haul them away.

I've had a couple guys (one retired and I found another) doing that to 14 acres of hay (out of 20 acres total) on my place for years. I get a few bucks every cutting and they get hay for feeding their cattle in the winter.

A few years ago hay prices went way up due to drought down south so they were buying hay here in Iowa and hauling it down I-35 to Texas and other areas on 18 wheelers. The local cattle ranchers didn't care for that one bit.

 

[flagcraig]

Attached pic of when it arrived. Salesman delivered and went through operation with me. He did a very good job through entire process.
Added another pic of the finished front part of property. Tractor ran good the entire way. The hours recorded for whole job was 4.7. I went slow because grass was high and first timer. Also took off front bucket to see better. Seems like the L2501 can handle what I need it for with no problem.
Won't be paying somebody $400.00 plus a pop.....if they show.

Couple things after the fact.
1. Did not check if seat went back any further? 6'2" and right leg hitting hydraulic bucket loader lever.

2. Gas gauge did not move off full the entire time and I added gas a couple times. Emailed my sales guy and he said because it's a V-Shaped tank it won't move until it gets a lot lower. He said this is a frequent complaint. Not sure I fully understand this.

 

[Tractor NUG]

Congrats! I just joined yesterday and bought my first tractor this morning. Pretty excited and I am waiting for delivery. B2601 with a loader, snowblower and a grapple. Looking forward to seeing the trailer pull up in a couple of weeks to drop it off. I have a lot to learn for sure and appreciate everyone's good advice (in advance. I acknowledge the notes earlier as I have always had to rely on neighbours in the area to borrow their kindness and tractors to help do things and today marks a day of independence for sure. Can't wait. I'll share the pictures when it arrives. Cheers!