Kubotas at play. Er, I mean work!

Same tractor…


The rear tires are 8’ tall. The front are 6’.

 

Nice to see a kubota thread on here! So I’m closing on a property soon and have started the tractor shopping process. Been looking at a few different brands. The prices on used compacts are crazy, almost enough to drive me into the new market for warranty purposes. However the budget isn’t going to allow me to get into a new kubota that I want so I’ve been looking at mahindra, kioti, and LS. I know those brands have been around long enough now and seem to have a good rep and also that all equipment will eventually have issues. I’m just still not sold on the reliability of them over orange/green. So I started looking at used L series. I like the idea of the 2501 not having emissions but I’m leaning towards a hydro tranny and worried it may be a bit underpowered. Then there’s the 33 which isn’t really that big of a step up in power, finally the 39. 40hp was the range I have been looking at on those other brands.

So who has any of those kubota models? Any real world feedback you can provide? You can only get a feeling for it so much by driving it around the dealers lot.

 

We have an '06 L3130 that has been our workhorse. Mostly used in our firewood business, but also used for foodplots and garden.

 

Only issue we've had was to replace front wheel bearings... ...

 

This was a big JD we saw not too far from Backwoods Savage house in 2019...

 

I just bought a L3902. Upgraded from a JD 1025R. I shopped JD but the Kubota fit my needs better than the JD models. The Kioti and Mahindra dealers near me are basically ATV dealers that sell tractors too so I didn’t even look at them. I was also set on a hydro. The dealer still had a 3901 available but I went with the 3902 because it has an independent PTO, and on the 3901 with the live PTO it puts the clutch pedal on the left side and so the rear brake is on the right side above the hydro treadle pedal. That is a very dumb design IMO and basically makes the independent rear brakes unusable. The 3902 moved the independent rear brake control to the left side since the independent PTO does not need a clutch. Planning on doing a lot of work in the woods and independent rear brake control gives way more maneuverability, it also helps when plowing snow. The 2501 still has the live PTO, so the rear brake setup on a hydro has the brake pedal on the right still. Also the PTO chipper I wanted needs 25hp at the PTO.

Just sold my JD yesterday, 4years old and 400 hours, I priced it and all the attachments I had (chipper, flail mower, plow, forks, box blade) based on the trade values the dealer gave me, I sold for considerably higher than the trade values but not too crazy, ended up getting about 75% of what I paid new for everything. The tractor sold with the plow and box blade as a package, the chipper and mower and forks sold basically right away, the tractor took a month to sell. All the buyers seemed ok with the price they got.

 

I got Mx5000 I bought in housing crash of 08-09 it’s still worth what I got in it…

 

I have a 2017 L3901 HST w/ QA bucket/forks and the backhoe which I bought brand new. Industrial R4 tires with the rear loaded with rimguard. I use it on ~25 acres of gently sloped land to grade dirt and gravel, brush hog, move various materials, collect logs, process fire wood, and dig ditches/holes/stumps. I've logged approx. 650 hours in the cockpit.

My review: This unit has been a workhorse and has performed flawlessly with only standard maintenance. With this said, I could absolutely use a bigger tractor.

Lack of weight, limited loader capacity, cramped cockpit, and cramped 3-point area are it's drawbacks.

The best analogy for "what tractor is best for me" I've come up with is that any tractor can plow a big field, dig a basement, or harvest timber. It's just a matter of how fast your want to do it.

My neighbor had a bx23 with loader and backhoe. This is a great unit for working in tight areas or not destroying your lawn. I've logged some hours and it's a great unit for what it is.

My buddy has a M5000 4x4 gear driven kubota which I've also logged some hours on aswell brush hogging and plowing. Also a great unit for what it is but too wide for wooded areas IMO.

The biggest thing for me is: I want my machine to work at my pace without requiring me to "beat" on it. For example, I once had to pull out a stuck dual axle dump truck. My 3901 did it but it was NOT happy doing so. I also tend to like to harvest long log sections and the 3901 will do it but I have to push it. I max out the loader near every time I use the tractor.

All in all, you have to match you choice to your budget, your actual needs, and how fast your would like to accomplish them.

 

Yes sir...sure did...

 

Cracks me up on here..guys saying you just can't get much done with a bx..go bigger lol.
A good operator makes things happen..more than a bigger machine does.
Every size tractor has a place...you just need to know what your place is . It does not go by acres so much in my book. It's where is the bulk of your work. You can deal with a tractor being too small 25 percent of the time...and 75 percent it's perfectly sized. You guys with the bigger tractors aren't gonna sneak in my woods...go into un thinned areas and grapple firewood ..while not making hardly a foot print . I'm not talking twigs either...nice firewood logs.
Just like my bx won't be baling hay..or brush hogging a 10 acre field or moving tons of dirt..in a timely fashion...but I can still do it.....


Everything has its place. Not everyone needs to be pushed up to bigger.

 

Amen

 

All I’ve tried to say is it’s gotta be able to lift an ibc tote of hardwood safely…

figure no less than 1500-1700 lbs. at ~40 lbs per cubic foot, it adds up.

every 25 hp tractor I’ve looked at don’t even come close to that and most are rated for half that amount.

 

It's ridiculous to think a 25hp tractor would or should lift an ibc tote full of anything . So that means you needed to select a tractor that could.
But that doesn't mean everyone else uses ibc totes ..and needs a bigger tractor also.
My "sub par" bx ends up moving about 20 cords of firewood ..per year. Not an exaggerated amount. And im talking...my bx goes into the woods and grabs every stick of it..brings it out to an appropriate spot to process it into smaller sizes.
Not one ibc tote is used in the making of that wood. That's our usage....not anyone else's.

What I'm saying simpler is...just because a 25 hp tractor doesn't work for u..doesn't mean it won't for anyone else.

It's the operator that's more important. And looking ahead at how things are to be done on YOUR individual property.

 

Seems like it's always the guys with "bigger" tractors trying to "push" others into feeling inferior for wanting or having a smaller tractor.

While the guys on the smaller tractors are just busy working there "sub standard "machines...and happy to just show what a good operator can accomplish with one.

Nothing personal of coarse ..just an observation at 430am lol !

And this is from a guy who has definitely run much bigger equipment....and enjoys them.
Wouldn't mind having a bigger tractor myself someday..
But if I dont..the bx will still be doing what it's always been doing.......everything I need it too

 

These are just some of the things I've done..with zero problems..compromising nothing ! No front axle problems..no broken loader arms....im not even flipping over on every turn like an idiot !
I still had plenty of time to get married..have kids..provide for my family...have lots of hobbies...sleep...even have time to take a shower every Monday !
Things dont take all that long when u plan ahead.
I'm a good operator...and know how to manipulate my machine to accomplish my goals. Takes skill and planning..always. I have to use my brain..not a bad thing.
These aren't just quick photo ops...this tractor has been worked hard..not "beat" on to accomplish them. I can't lift full ibc totes..so I don't use them. I can't lift 4ft diameter logs..so I don't seek them out. I can't lift high enough to dump into a dump truck too well..so I don't.
Almost 700 trouble free hours in 4 years..plus mows two properties.

Plus I can trailer it with my 1/2 ton truck..no problem. Not squattin....no problems. Can your m or mx mow grass on a small lot like my bx ?
Nope.

But you can buy a separate zero turn..get done faster..spend more money...and do more maintenance on two machines ....and your faster. I do wish I could do stuff faster ..no doubt.

I can't move ibc totes....and I guess it takes me longer doing tasks..while I fit in tight spaces better..and don't have ruts to fill in when I'm done.

While not pushing a bx on anyone.
What I push is for a person to not go forward with ignorance when they chose a machine. Go with reality....whatever that is for each individual.

My tractor works great for me..not for others .

I use my dad's kubota l3940 sometimes for power raking..which would be a bad thing to do with my bx lol. Try to go in the woods..and you'd better have wide trails..or your gonna bang on trees and skin em up...which for me..is important not to do. But that L will move some stuff in the wide open...and lots of it quickly !

Everything has a trade off. It's better to give realistic pros and cons before denouncing someone's thoughts..choices and needs. I've already put more effort in these ridiculous comments....that I feel bad for not doing something else !!! Lol

Go have fun on those tractors !

 

HoneyFuzz that's a nice little workhorse of a tractor. I agree with what you said...every machine has it's place...
The comment earlier about farming 160 acres cracked me up...I used to help my cousin farm, he had 1 field that was way bigger than that. He had 4 JD's, drove a 4840 for many hrs.
Beck, I couldn't buy the fuel for that beast now...

 

Hey thanks..I appreciate that !
I hear you on the fuel ! My lil bx sips fuel...and I still cringe when I buy a 5 gallon jug of it lol

 

This is the L3240 at work. If you take too big of a bite of wet chips it won’t budge it. 5’ bucket
It’s been rock solid dependable except for the control arms that no longer work.
I will eventually get a tractor for moving logs and brush, but it’s going to have to be at least 50hp.

 

Nice tractor there ! Is it a grand L ?