Newbie

[mmasters007]

I have several older tractors (8N, Jubilee, 641, cub) but not a new tractor or one with a loader. Need a loader for moving gravel, mulch, dirt, diggin and moving rocks, etc. on several acres. Looked at several brands and sizes. Landed on the L2502 for budget and watching videos online of it and smaller subcontract Kubotas doing what I need to do.

It will mainly be used for the loader and may pull 60" implements (box blade, rotary cutter, disk). I would go to a 3902 but that would only give more HP for the PTO and not help with loader work. Am I thinking correctly?

Thank you,

 

[fried1765]

I have several older tractors (8N, Jubilee, 641, cub) but not a new tractor or one with a loader. Need a loader for moving gravel, mulch, dirt, diggin and moving rocks, etc. on several acres. Looked at several brands and sizes. Landed on the L2502 for budget and watching videos online of it and smaller subcontract Kubotas doing what I need to do.

It will mainly be used for the loader and may pull 60" implements (box blade, rotary cutter, disk). I would go to a 3902 but that would only give more HP for the PTO and not help with loader work. Am I thinking correctly?

Thank you,

How much more is the 3902 than the L2502?

 

[ken erickson]

Welcome to OTT and yes, I think you're on the right track. Your loader capabilities will be very close when comparing the L2502 to the L3902.

I purchased a L2501 (2019) for a lot of same reasons , budget, size, lack of additional emission equipment, that your looking for in a tractor.

Good luck with whatever tractor you land on!

 

[mmasters007]

How much more is the 3902 than the L2502?

At my dealer there is about a $10,000 difference between the 2502 and 3902.
Dealer price on the 2502 with loader is 26,083. What is a realistic price to expect to pay?

 

[Alfred_2345]

I would go to a 3902 but that would only give more HP for the PTO and not help with loader work. Am I thinking correctly?

My understanding is that the L2501/2 are on a same frame(?) as the L330x & L390x but they all have basically the same loader & hydraulics. The L250x has a smaller engine while the L330x and L390x have the same engine tuned differently. There is a L470x that is on a larger frame with a larger loader.
(? : not 100% sure. If that's wrong, someone please let us know)

The Lxx02 is an update of the Lxx01 (i.e. some new features)

If you don't need the extra PTO power, I would go with the L250x. While I love my L3901, I kinda wish it was a L2501 as I mostly use the grapple/buck and backhoe and the extra HP is "wasted". But the L3901 was what available when I was needing to buy.

(Edit: PS: welcome aboard )

 

[fried1765]

At my dealer there is about a $10,000 difference between the 2502 and 3902.
Dealer price on the 2502 with loader is 26,083. What is a realistic price to expect to pay?

Sorry.....I can't help you!
I have NEVER bought a new tractor, and NEVER will.

 

[GrizBota]

The price sounds about right. I’m sure some folks have paid less, some more.

The L2502 won’t have the DPF or regen cycles that the L3902 would. So that’s not a bad thing. If you want more FEL capacity, the Grand L series can get that, but they do cost a bit more (and are a fair bit nicer tractor), although I believe all of those with have DPF, as the smallest one is 35 HP.

BTW, FELs do not excel at digging tasks.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The L2502 has no emissions devices.
The L3902 has all the emissions devices.

The L3902 has greater lift capacity and speed (larger hydraulic pump)
The L3902 has a huge jump in PTO HP
19 to 30.3
So much better for a Brush Hog.

But yes More money now, but also more money ( to sell or trade) down the line.

 

[mmasters007]

My understanding is that the L2501/2 are on a same frame(?) as the L330x & L390x but they all have basically the same loader & hydraulics. The L250x has a smaller engine while the L330x and L390x have the same engine tuned differently. There is a L470x that is on a larger frame with a larger loader.
(? : not 100% sure. If that's wrong, someone please let us know)

The Lxx02 is an update of the Lxx01 (i.e. some new features)

If you don't need the extra PTO power, I would go with the L250x. While I love my L3901, I kinda wish it was a L2501 as I mostly use the grapple/buck and backhoe and the extra HP is "wasted". But the L3901 was what available when I was needing to buy.

(Edit: PS: welcome aboard )

Yes, all are on the same frame. I appreciate your insight. I believe the 2502 will be all I need.

 

[fried1765]

Yes, all are on the same frame. I appreciate your insight. I believe the 2502 will be all I need.

The old refrain comes into play here:......"BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR"!
(clarification - trading/upgrading to a larger tractor, is VERY EXPENSIVE!)

 

[The Evil Twin]

Welcome! I think either will suit you. The 39 will run the brush cutter a little easier, but the 25 will do just fine.
Personally, I couldn't see jumping into all the emissions junk For a little bit more tractor. That's why I settled on the 25 for my needs.

 

[PaulL]

Main difference I think you'd see is taking things places. An L2502 can bog down pulling a heavy load, running up a hill with a bucket load of stuff etc. It'll make no difference in low ratio (you'll run out of traction long before you run out of power), but it will change how much pull you have in top gear. Brush hogging matters too.

But if you're solely doing dirt work, and you're not trying to do it at high speed, then you shouldn't see much difference.

 

[mmasters007]

Main difference I think you'd see is taking things places. An L2502 can bog down pulling a heavy load, running up a hill with a bucket load of stuff etc. It'll make no difference in low ratio (you'll run out of traction long before you run out of power), but it will change how much pull you have in top gear. Brush hogging matters too.

But if you're solely doing dirt work, and you're not trying to do it at high speed, then you shouldn't see much difference.

Thanks. Do you have a 2501/2. I’ve got several 20-30 hp tractors and pull heavy trailer up steep hills where I loose traction long before power is exhausted like you said. I would think this would transfer to the l2502. I e got a few Ford 8n s and a Jubilee. Never really need more power for what I do but it does happen but I can reposition and finish the job.

 

[KKBL]

We replaced an 8N with a L2501 two years ago. It was used but only had 69 hours on it and looked like new - even the bucket paint only had minor scratches on it. SQA, HST, rim guard in tires and included a new set of 42 inch forks for $18,500 out the door. It does everything we need it for around the compound so far. The 8N was better for grading our 1/2 mile gravel drive, and the governor would compensate when going up a steep grade and under load. We use a 60 inch bush hog rotary with no problem, but really don't need that attachment much. Over all I am pleased with the L2501 even though it would be nice to have a little more HP at times. Plus side is no emission and computer related things to go bad after a few years.

 

[PaulL]

Thanks. Do you have a 2501/2. I’ve got several 20-30 hp tractors and pull heavy trailer up steep hills where I loose traction long before power is exhausted like you said. I would think this would transfer to the l2502. I e got a few Ford 8n s and a Jubilee. Never really need more power for what I do but it does happen but I can reposition and finish the job.

I don't, they don't sell them in my part of the world (we don't have the emissions standards, so our base L is a 33HP machine, probably with the same engine).

There are a few threads on here from people with an L2501 who found they had difficulty pulling a box blade as fast as they'd like (grading a long driveway perhaps), or pulling a heavy load uphill. It all comes down to how fast you want to go and how much you want to pull - it'll definitely do the job, but I have seem some people complaining about power separate from pure PTO duties. To be fair, the biggest complaint seems to be running a brush hog uphill - there's not enough power to do that fast. If you're not planning to do that, then probably no big deal. And $10k more buys a lot of implements......

There is also a turbo kit that one of the members offers, so if you buy it and then find HP is a problem in a few years for some reason, you have a way out of it (and I think in total the cost of the L2502+turbo kit is less than the cost of an L3302). Last I saw that was a turbo for the L2501, but I assume he'll eventually offer it on L2502 too.

 

[tractorX]

hey i see you're in Rocky Face Ga. i live down the mountain in Rock Spring. you're more than welcome to stop by and test out my l2501. 02 is basically the same tractor other than seat, pedals (on hst model) and a few engine components relocated.
i did the shim delete and advance fuel mod on my tractor, which yields 26hp pto and ~32hp engine on the geared models. the mod is very easy and it cost under 100 bucks. the results were amazing!
i do mostly ground engagement and forest management work.... maybe 10% bush hoggin.
tractor operating weight is 4k.
budget, NO emissions, tractor weight, dealer support and kubota reliability... very satisfied with this little bull!

 

[Elliott in GA]

Choose your tractor size and HP carefully; it can be a costly mistake (to upgrade later).

That said, I have been extremely satisfied with my 25 HP tractor, and I cannot image needing/wanting to upgrade in the future. In less than 3 years (the tractor is at our property 250 miles away in North Georgia) only working a day or three a month, I have moved/spread over 100 tons of gravel, leveled 3 sites - 30x30, 15x30 and 12x12, redone the very steep driveway, reclaimed over 10 acres of over grown fields (weeds, briars and multiflora rose about 5 feet tall) and then regularly mow the fields as they return to grass.

You will probably want a toothbar for your bucket to help with digging; I went with Piranha from BX Expanded.

Good luck.

 

[Hkb82]

Sorry.....I can't help you!
I have NEVER bought a new tractor, and NEVER will.

Guess we know how ya feel about new tractors. Thanks for adding this I guess. lol
Keep in mind if people didn’t buy new how would YOU buy used?

 

[fried1765]

Guess we know how ya feel about new tractors. Thanks for adding this I guess. lol
Keep in mind if people didn’t buy new how would YOU buy used?

Oh.....perhaps you misunderstand!
I am very pleased that OTHERS buy new tractors!
I just don't want to waste MY available funds by paying for new.

If I needed equipment/machinery to provide livable income I certainly WOULD buy new.
Very few here on OTT use their tractors to provide that level of income.

I can have MUCH more fun/nice STUFF ( twin eng. airplane, motor yacht, Mercedes, tractors, houses, etc. ) if I buy high quality used STUFF.

 

[Hkb82]

I understood what you were saying just not why you’d add the comment. At the very least give reasoning so it’s a useful comment.