I want a small tractor with belly mower and loader under $15K

Ikarus1

Ikarus1

Avtomat Krishna-kov
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Messages
11,128
Location
East of CLT
Rating - 100%
25   0   0
I'm contemplating buying a newer (or new) than 2014 compact tractor. Kubota or Deere most likely.

I've found some decent deals on the Kubota BX and B series and I like them alot. The Deere 1 and 2 series as well. I like everything about the Kubotas except the 3 point hitch setup, and I like the color of the JD but I hate that it's basically an imported Yanmar with a plastic hood.

I know this is a Ford vs Chevy thing but I'm going to basically be using it to maintain a driveway, haul logs, build and maintain berms on the range, and mow pasture. I would really like to try out a tilller that I don't have to walk behind. Food plots are definitely in the plan.

Really right now it's between the BX and B series Kubota but I do like the appearance and some of the features on the Deere.

Y'all give me experiences if you can, I got plenty of opinions already.
 
Have you looked at Mahindra, New Holland, Massey, Koti? What's the blue one made in NC? LS, that's the one.

What ever you choose look at #1 weight, #2 HP and capacity. I find that weight is the most important, you can't utilize the power if it's not getting to the ground.

Then pick one in your budget.
 
Last edited:
I disagree with the weight comment.
Mahindra weighs much more than kubota in the same frame/HP and everyone I know who own one regrets it.
It's the Polaris of tractors.
LS would be my first choice if a dealer is in your area if buying new.

Used, kubota is a great bet.

BTW, the made (assembled) in NC tractor was Farmtrac in tarboro.
They went under.
It was a rebadged LS.
LS imports directly now.
 
Last edited:
I recently bought a Massey from Joe's Tractor in Thomasville. I compared it to the Deeres and the Kubotas and Kiotis. It was about the same price as the roughly comparable Kioti but had fewer bells and whistles. On the other hand, it was significantly cheaper than the roughly comparable Deers and Kubotas and had a bit more power on top of it. This isn't the subcompact level, though. I bought a 1734e. You'd be looking at the gc1700 series to compare with the BX, or the 1500 series to compare with the B. https://www.masseyferguson.us/products/tractors/1500-series-compact-tractors.html

I have no regrets on going Massey, but I've never owned another brand apart from an old Power King.
 
Slacker said:
I disagree with the weight comment.
Mahindra weighs much more than kubota in the same frame/HP and everyone I know who own one regrets it.
It's the Polaris of tractors.
LS would be my first choice if a dealer is in your area if buying new.

Used, kubota is a great bet.

BTW, the made (assembled) in NC tractor was Farmtrac in tarboro.
They went under.
It was a rebadged LS.
LS imports directly now.
Click to expand...
Joe's in Thomasville is an LS dealer. (I'm not getting kickbacks from Joe's.)

I priced the LS, talked about it with the salesman, came close to buying because they were quite a bit cheaper than Massey, but they do not strike me as being as well made, IMHO. That's purely subjective, obviously and I can't defend it. :)
 
We picked up a medium sized Mahindra for about $15K so you should be able to get a smaller one in your budget. One trick, if you will, is that they will deeply discount older units that have been sitting on the lot and your dealer should be able to shop the area to see if anyone has one. We had to pay something like $150 delivery fee to get one shipped in from elsewhere but we saved several thousand dollars by buying one that had been sitting for over a year.
 
We purchased a Mahindra eMax20s in April.
FEL, 50" drive over quick attach belly mower, 4' rotary cutter and box blade for right around $20K.

Have been pleased with it's performance and have done a lot of work with it on our property that probably is over its capability.
Yes its a heavier tractor, but I have come to appreciate the weight when using the FEL and the box blade, it's very stable, even on our steep incline.
I would looks to see what dealers are near you and the availability of parts, etc as a factor.

Buy what features you want and not what color the tractor is painted....and whatever size you settle on...get the next one up.
 
Heavier tractors work better for pushing, scraping and pulling. If you’re worried about weight and mud. Stay outta the mud. I’ve had a Kubota, and a John Deere. They both had their benefits. I hate hydrostatic drive tractors, it’s for mowing and going in circles, not doing real tractor work. Check out the Kioti brand unless you just want one of the two listed above. They still have real hydraulic loader controls vs cable linkage that some tractors are going to for loader controls(they break)
 
If you decide on a kubota, I'd go with the B series just to have position control on hhe 3pt. As for not liking their 3pt setup, whats your complaint? Put a quick hitch on it and leave it, you'll be able to swap implements in seconds.
 
Diablos said:
If you decide on a kubota, I'd go with the B series just to have position control on hhe 3pt. As for not liking their 3pt setup, whats your complaint? Put a quick hitch on it and leave it, you'll be able to swap implements in seconds.
Click to expand...

Pat's Easy Change is the life.
 
I have a Kubota L3130 with FEL. I have had it about 5 years(?) now. It is the only “toy” that my wife agrees was a good idea. It has been great for all the crap I put it thru. It has been used more as a bull dozer than anything else. Other than the foot throttle cable getting pulled off from tree trunks, a valve steam getting ripped off and me running it dry and crap blocking fuel line, it has been bulletproof


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
For your stated purposes, I would want at least 40 hp and 4wd, but in a garden tractor sized frame. The front axle on a 4WD is much stronger than the 2WD models, and with a loader this is important.

Using a front end loader, a shuttle shift works best if it's a standard tractor. Personally I would not want a hydrostatic drive for the uses that you mention. Having the universal skid steer attachment on the front end loader opens you up to a plethora of accessories for a reasonable cost.

In my experience, turf tires are about worthless for anything other than mowing. Ag tires tend to leave dings in the ground. The R4 industrial tractor tires are the best compromise between the two, IMO

I have or had Kioti's, John Deere, New Holland, Ford, Hinomoto, and am probably forgetting some. The Kioti is the best bang for the buck, IMO.
 
The Kubota B will push/pull better than the BX due to the larger wheels and heavier frame. They just came out with a neat R1/R4 type tread tire. The New Hollands are nothing but rebranded LS or Montana depending on the model you choose. Back when it was still Ford, the small tractors were built by Shibaura. They were tough, quality made tractors and New Holland should have stayed with them.
 
Both Kubota and Deere make gear transmission versions of their compacts. I would anticipate 80% mowing, 10% FEL work and 10% 3pt hitch work.

I won't own any type of Indian or Korean owned anything so Mahindra and Kioti are out. That leaves New Holland, LS, and the 2 I mentioned. Then it comes down to servicing dealerships of which I have 1 of each within 15 miles of me.
The Deere dealer in Albemarle is one of the best around, but the Monroe Kubota dealer is the friendliest person I have ever spoke with over the phone.

It really comes down to money at this point. And whether or not they'll stand behind their warranty on a used vs new machine.

Kubota's financing makes the B or L series look really tempting if I was to buy new with 84 month 0% interest. https://www.kubotausa.com/finance/special-offers

Especially that L3301 with manual transmission. But it won't store well in a High Cube container while I'm away. That why I was looking at the BX and B series.

I know about the R1/R4 tires and I have seen comparisons......there are none. Those industrial tires simply have more traction without destroying your grass like an AG tire will.

You're right about the quick hitch...........I prefer the type of outside-hitch limiting chains like Deere uses verse the inside turnbuckle style like Kubota uses but a quick hitch eliminates that issue.

I do like the EZ drive over deck of the Deere but the Kubota deck raises and lowers higher and lower (along with the hitch height also). I don't anticipate needing to remove it alot and if I do, then it's just like my zero turn.

Anyone I have spoken to that owns a Kubota loves them. And they're made in the US.
 
Last edited:
Ikarus1 said:
Both Kubota and Deere make gear transmission versions of their compacts. I would anticipate 80% mowing, 10% FEL work and 10% 3pt hitch work.

I won't own any type of Indian or Korean owned anything so Mahindra and Kioti are out. That leaves New Holland, LS, and the 2 I mentioned. Then it comes down to servicing dealerships of which I have 1 of each within 15 miles of me.
The Deere dealer in Albemarle is one of the best around, but the Monroe Kubota dealer is the friendliest person I have ever spoke with over the phone.

It really comes down to money at this point. And whether or not they'll stand behind their warranty on a used vs new machine.

Kubota's financing makes the B or L series look really tempting if I was to buy new with 84 month 0% interest. https://www.kubotausa.com/finance/special-offers

Especially that L3301 with manual transmission. But it won't store well in a High Cube container while I'm away. That why I was looking at the BX and B series.

I know about the R1/R4 tires and I have seen comparisons......there are none. Those industrial tires simply have more traction without destroying your grass like an AG tire will.

You're right about the quick hitch...........I prefer the type of outside-hitch limiting chains like Deere uses verse the inside turnbuckle style like Kubota uses but a quick hitch eliminates that issue.

I do like the EZ drive over deck of the Deere but the Kubota deck raises and lowers higher and lower (along with the hitch height also). I don't anticipate needing to remove it alot and if I do, then it's just like my zero turn.

Anyone I have spoken to that owns a Kubota loves them. And they're made in the US.
Click to expand...

 
Ikarus1 said:
Both Kubota and Deere make gear transmission versions of their compacts. I would anticipate 80% mowing, 10% FEL work and 10% 3pt hitch work.

I won't own any type of Indian or Korean owned anything so Mahindra and Kioti are out. That leaves New Holland, LS, and the 2 I mentioned. Then it comes down to servicing dealerships of which I have 1 of each within 15 miles of me.
The Deere dealer in Albemarle is one of the best around, but the Monroe Kubota dealer is the friendliest person I have ever spoke with over the phone.

It really comes down to money at this point. And whether or not they'll stand behind their warranty on a used vs new machine.

Kubota's financing makes the B or L series look really tempting if I was to buy new with 84 month 0% interest. https://www.kubotausa.com/finance/special-offers

Especially that L3301 with manual transmission. But it won't store well in a High Cube container while I'm away. That why I was looking at the BX and B series.

I know about the R1/R4 tires and I have seen comparisons......there are none. Those industrial tires simply have more traction without destroying your grass like an AG tire will.

You're right about the quick hitch...........I prefer the type of outside-hitch limiting chains like Deere uses verse the inside turnbuckle style like Kubota uses but a quick hitch eliminates that issue.

I do like the EZ drive over deck of the Deere but the Kubota deck raises and lowers higher and lower (along with the hitch height also). I don't anticipate needing to remove it alot and if I do, then it's just like my zero turn.

Anyone I have spoken to that owns a Kubota loves them. And they're made in the US.
Click to expand...

The LS is made in South Korea.
The New Holland compact is a bebadged LS, as are several other "US" brands.
I agree with Scott, get a shuttle shift.
The hydrostatic isn't designed for FEL and ground engagement work.
 
Last edited:
I have a 37hp new holland and use it all the time. My new holland is shuttle shift, fel with skid steer attach, and industrial tires. I use it for moving logs, bush hogging and garden work. If you are mowing a decent amount of acreage you will regret going with a small tractor. I mowed 8 acres for another ccf member and it took me every bit of 8 hours with my 5ft bush hog. A smaller tractor would have taken much longer. No matter which brand or size you go with you will find more uses for it after it is home than what you think you’ll use it for now.
 
I have a John Deere 3025 compact utility tractor with 300 loader I purchaed a few monyhs back. No mower with it. It has only 8 hours on it.

I would like to sell as I am looking at a bigger tractor with loader so I can feed hay. I have gone to 5X5 foot bales and need bigger tractor.

Let me know if you have any interest in looking at this.

I am in Southeast Guilford county.
 
Kubota or Deere would be my prefered choices with solid resell with deere getting the win with just how easy it is to get decks and loader on and off. Normally I am against a hydro for anything but mowing but I will say they are not all equal when you start using one heavily and needing all the engine hp John Deere has or did have the hydro trannys figured out how to get most power out of them. Where most stall the ones on our jd 4300 and 4310 will keep going till you choke the tractor like a gear drive and do not seem to rob the power. We have a larger nh tc45 used for feeding and it struggles to spin the tires at times and thats been my experience with most hydros other than the JD.

I will say check on the service depts not just sales depts at dealerships if buying new. I have had a horrible time twice with that Albemarle JD dealership in years past trying to buy a used piece of equipement.
 
dman24 said:
I have a 37hp new holland and use it all the time. My new holland is shuttle shift, fel with skid steer attach, and industrial tires. I use it for moving logs, bush hogging and garden work. If you are mowing a decent amount of acreage you will regret going with a small tractor. I mowed 8 acres for another ccf member and it took me every bit of 8 hours with my 5ft bush hog. A smaller tractor would have taken much longer. No matter which brand or size you go with you will find more uses for it after it is home than what you think you’ll use it for now.
Click to expand...

I'll be mowing 5 acres max, but some of it is steep thus the reason I want to use a tractor and not my 42" ZT mower. Most of the tractors I am lookin at have a 60" belly deck.
 
Jp8819 said:
Kubota or Deere would be my prefered choices with solid resell with deere getting the win with just how easy it is to get decks and loader on and off. Normally I am against a hydro for anything but mowing but I will say they are not all equal when you start using one heavily and needing all the engine hp John Deere has or did have the hydro trannys figured out how to get most power out of them. Where most stall the ones on our jd 4300 and 4310 will keep going till you choke the tractor like a gear drive and do not seem to rob the power. We have a larger nh tc45 used for feeding and it struggles to spin the tires at times and thats been my experience with most hydros other than the JD.

I will say check on the service depts not just sales depts at dealerships if buying new. I have had a horrible time twice with that Albemarle JD dealership in years past trying to buy a used piece of equipement.
Click to expand...
This ..... Especially if it's a James River location.

Every JR service I have dealt with is extremely subpar. lying Taking parts off to fix another for someone with a bigger account

Caveat emptor
 
Jp8819 said:
Kubota or Deere would be my prefered choices with solid resell with deere getting the win with just how easy it is to get decks and loader on and off. Normally I am against a hydro for anything but mowing but I will say they are not all equal when you start using one heavily and needing all the engine hp John Deere has or did have the hydro trannys figured out how to get most power out of them. Where most stall the ones on our jd 4300 and 4310 will keep going till you choke the tractor like a gear drive and do not seem to rob the power. We have a larger nh tc45 used for feeding and it struggles to spin the tires at times and thats been my experience with most hydros other than the JD.

I will say check on the service depts not just sales depts at dealerships if buying new. I have had a horrible time twice with that Albemarle JD dealership in years past trying to buy a used piece of equipement.
Click to expand...

Yeah it was better when the Bowers family owned it. I will not deal with James River for anything. It's looking more and more like Kubota for the win and more than likely, a gear drive L01 with 34hp. But I'm busting my budget new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom