To B or not to B, is the question.....!!!

[alia176]

IHello fellas,

Been reading all kinds of threads on which tractor to buy and lots of sage advice. I don't think my needs are any different than others but thought I'd pipe up and make sure that my wishes/wants are going to be practical. We all know, those two items are not mutually inclusive!

We live at 7,000' elev in NM on top of a very rocky hill. Two weeks ago, I hired an excavator contractor to do some property "massaging" and cut me a shelf road down to the well house, which sits 250' below the house. The guy did a fantastic job with his mini-ex and really opened up my eyes to the power of a back hoe. After 30 hours of work, he turned the property into a very useful space. Now my 7 year old daughter can actually have a playground in the back "yard". Did I say a back yard? Oh, that does sound kinda nice

I'm hoping to call the Min Ex guy back and have him create a future work shop pad. So, I'm guessing this summer I'll need to use the tractor for a shop buildout.

Anyway, I still have lots of work to do for which I need a TLB unit. My work includes digging, moving rocks, snow plow a gravel road, dig trenches and use forks for building/construction. I like the QA for swapping out the various implements.

I've borrowed a friend's older and a sub compact Kubota loader and found it to be too anemic. I then borrowed another friend's Montana loader and found it to be powerful but too big and uncomfortable to work on hills. Still, I loved the power it had, I won't lie. I'd like to see if any of the local rental places have compact TLB that I can rent to get a better feel for what I really need vs want.

I'm currently on vacation in Reno, NV so had a to chance to check out the local Kubota dealer to see what they had on the lot just to get an education. He had a BX25D and a L3800HST. The BX25D is a nice package but I fear it may be too low for my terrain and too weak to lift boulders. My local dealer in Albuquerque has a B2920 that I'd like to go check out when we head back home this weekend.

Of course, if money were no object, i'd go for the L series but alas, reality bites. I'd like to keep the purchase under $20k for a new loader and take advantage of the 0% financing. I've never bought a vehicle that's new or with a loan so this purchase is giving me pause. I suppose if I had to have a mid life crisis purchase, this would be it

I've been scouring the used market and am finding a fair amount of TLBs but not understanding the ramification of a 500 hr vs 1500 hr loader, I hesitate to purchase used. I'm mechanically inclined and have the usual fabrication tools in the shop. So, if I had to work on a two or three old tractor, I'm ok with it. However, in order to save some $$, I may have to spend lots of time and some more $$ to get an abused unit to work consistently isn't appealing to me either.

Attached are two pics to give you an idea of kind of terrain I'm talking about. I borrowed the contractors tractor to move a large rock on the third pic. I don't plan on working with boulders of this size with my tractor! The red dirt is calichi (?) clay that turns into snot when wet!

One of my first mod to the tractor will be to build a belly pan skid plate. I believe the BX and B series have rear locking diffs so that'll be helpful. I'd love a locking diff on the front but I don't think that is an option for the BX or B series.

Please share with me your insights.

Thanks!

 

[Eric McCarthy]

If you plan to move boulders the size of the one in the bucket of that Case front end loader then the biggest L series Kubota makes wont be big enough for you. You're probably looking at a good 800-900 pounds for that one bolder. That Case has a 6500lbs lift capacity.

 

[alia176]

If you plan to move boulders the size of the one in the bucket of that Case front end loader then the biggest L series Kubota makes wont be big enough for you. You're probably looking at a good 800-900 pounds for that one bolder. That Case has a 6500lbs lift capacity.

Thanks for your reply. No, I hope my days of moving boulders of that size are over! The Mini Ex contractor did all that heavy work so all I got left to do is to work with smaller size rocks.

 

[alia176]

Found a local CL add for a 1997 L2900 for $16,500

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/grd/4236522592.html

Up for sale is a 1997 Kubota L2900 4x4 29hp tractor GST transmission (auto trans) with front loader and backhoe. Comes with 10" and 16" bucket for backhoe (16" not pictured). This is a well maintained tractor and kept under cover when not in use. Drivers seat 2 tears and backhoe seat has several tears. Tractor has 737 hours.
Asking $16000.00 OBO.

Call: 505 six 0 three 8 seven 0 two

 

[gpreuss]

I'd price a new L3200 TLB, and figure about half of that. The tractor is over 15 years old; Kubota will say it is obsolete at about 30 years. 750 hours in 15 years is only 50 hrs/year - not a whole lot. Look for wear at all of the linkages. Most likely problems would probably be that they forgot to grease it for a couple of years.
You should go for an L. You will be pleasantly surprised at what it can do! I've managed to move rocks that size about with mine. In the long term you want it.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Make an offer of $14000 to $14,500 and see if he bites. Looking at the ones on Tractor House with just a loader are going for 12-12,5. To me 14k seem fair.

http://www.tractorhouse.com/list/list.aspx?ETID=1&catid=1111&Manu=KUBOTA&MDLGrp=L2900

 

[alia176]

Well, I had a chance to the local Kubota dealer and get some education. He had all sorts of tractors on the lot and it was a see of Orange!!

The guy was great to work with and showed me the three units that I might be interested in and was not a pushy salesman by any means. I had a chance to take a real close look at the BX25, B2920 & B3300SU units. I like the capacities of the 2920 & the 3300 over the BX25.

I learned that the loader LA364 & LA504 refer to the kilogram rating of the loaders. Now, that's cool!

Here are the numbers I got from build your own kubota:

B2920 - TLB package BH65 backhoe with a 12" bucket and a LA364 loader, $26,000
B3300SU - TLB package BH77 backhoe with a 12" bucket, LA504 loader with a 54" bucket - $27804

My dealer prices:
B2920 - TLB package BH65 backhoe with a 12" bucket and a LA364 loader, $22,000
B3300SU - TLB package BH77 backhoe with a 12" bucket, LA504 loader with a 54" bucket - $26,600

Both tractors are equipped with R4 tires.

Questions;

Is there no QA for the 2920 so that I can swap between pallet forks and a bucket? He quoted me a clamp on pallet forks by Landpride.

Looks like there is a QA for the 3300SU, correct?

Dealer also mentioned "kubota pallet forks with Quick Coupler". Is this his way of saying QA is the same as quick coupler?

What does the SU in 3300SU stand for?

I'm in Dallas this week for work and was thinking of checking out couple of Kubota places near Dallas if they're open on weekends. Found an used B2920 on CL that perked my interest, may not be around still. http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/grd/4232083783.html

If I were to buy something in TX, I may need to rent a Penske box van or something similar to haul it home, assuming I can find a way to load the tractor into the van!

Thanks for any insight.

 

[BAP]

There is a kubota quick coupler for the bucket and forks. It is not the "skid steer" style coupler. It uses the original pins of the bucket and forks. You leave the top pins in place. The coupler has a hook that the top pins sets in then you manually put the bottom pin in. I have it on my 2012 B2920 and it works great. Simple and easy to use. I have both a bucket and the Kubota adjustable with forks. It takes a few seconds longer to use than a "skid steer" style coupler that has one handle to lock and unlock the coupler, plus you have to walk from one side to the other. When it warms up here a little more, I will try to get some pictures of it and post them. I like it, the kubota forks a way better than those clamp on forks. You can see the fork better and the clamp bolts will loosen up as you use them and the forks will move around on you.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

alia176,
I do believe that the SU means Special Utility.
They usually have a lower profile and have wider tires.

 

[alia176]

Ok, thank you gents for the explanation. I agree, I prefer the Kubota forks over the clamp on type. I believe the quick coupler stays on the tractor and you simply swap the forks or the bucket as needed. Correct?

Seems like the 2920 does not have this feature, however

 

[BAP]

Here is some pictures of the Kubota pin type quick coupler on my B2920. The quick coupler unit does stay on the loader all the time. I swap between my bucket and forks all the time with ease. I included a picture of the model number plate.

 

[descanso1]

I have similar terrain to what you have and have had several different tractors some to small and had a Kubota l3940 which I felt was to large, felt unstable and too large to get into some of the small areas. Ended up with a used B7800 which is a 30 hp. Won't lift the large boulders, but can push them out of the way. I feel it is the right size tractor for my needs.
With the hills that I have and from the pictures that you have what ever you do get the hydrastatic (HST) transmission. When using it in the hills you never have to clutch it or go into neutral. Much safer.. Also spread your tires out as far as possible and have them loaded, filled. This will give you better traction and better stability. And last but most important read every thing you can on safety, ALWAYS carry you loader as low as possible. You would be surprised at how fast you can be up on two wheels even with the bucket 3 feet above ground level (been there, done that) Good luck
PS you are looking at the right brand......

 

[descanso1]

Forgot to mention, some people out there may disagree, but I always leave mine in 4 wheel drive except when I am transporting it on flat surface roads. When not in 4x4 you only have rear brakes and when going down a grade the weight is shifted to the front making the rear end lighter thus no or very little braking, found out the hard way....

 

[alia176]

Thank you all for the pics of the QA and for the education. I realize this subject had been beaten to death so I appreciate your input. Hopefully this thread will help out others!

Just spent another hour at the local dealer and pondered some more. I started up the B3300 and sat in it for a while and soaked up the vibration at 2000rpm. Cant say I am gonna like that for hours and hours. I do love the in between size of this unit very much however.

Also checked out the L3200 and of course loved it. Talk about beef, holy cow!

Decisions, decisions......

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I would not suggest transporting in a box truck as there is no way to secure the tractor down. Also they are not built heavy to take the weight of a tractor. They are designed a little bit different to haul furniture.

 

[alia176]

I would not suggest transporting in a box truck as there is no way to secure the tractor down. Also they are not built heavy to take the weight of a tractor. They are designed a little bit different to haul furniture.

They can certainly carry the weight, just need to pick the correct truck but agree on the lack of tie downs. Some of these trucks can carry 3000 lb+. Still, tractors not having any suspension and the bucket squarely planted on the floor might work out. I hope to avoid this nightmare all together though.

 

[StevenS]

Just spent another hour at the local dealer and pondered some more. I started up the B3300 and sat in it for a while and soaked up the vibration at 2000rpm. Cant say I am gonna like that for hours and hours. I do love the in between size of this unit very much however.

Also checked out the L3200 and of course loved it. Talk about beef, holy cow!

I bought a B3200 with LA504 & BH77 last spring.

I wrestled quite a bit about going to an L but in the end the L was just too big for what I was going to be doing with it. I own 4 acres and the tractor is used for basic stuff. Digging out stumps, plowing, landscaping, & just generally moving stuff around.
I've only had a couple of things that it wouldn't lift, and to be fair, they were asking a lot of the tractor. I am not disappointed with it in the least, and it's slightly smaller size has come in handy many times.

I believe the 3300 and B3200 have the same 4 cyl motor. After I bought mine I read about this vibration issue with that engine. To be honest it was a concern at first and I found myself looking for it. I've got 40 hours on mine so far and I don't notice any vibration at normal RPM's that I would be concerned about. I generally run it at or under 2000 RPM's and have no complaints with it.

Great tractor. I should have bought one long ago!

Here's mine

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