L2501? B2650? What type/how large of a tractor to buy.?

henrycooper

New member
Apr 8, 2020
1
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0
Vermont U.S.
I realize that this is probably a question that is asked daily, but I am trying to decide what size tractor to purchase. I have about 10 acres of land most of which is relatively flat with a few hills throughout the property. I need to brush hog, and do light bucket work, eg; mulching, mucking out the barn, firewood transportation, and gravel driveway maintenance. I am also hoping to pull a box blade to maintain my driveway. Most of the brush is long grass and small bushes, very little heavy brush. I was looking at the L2501, but it is only approved for a 60" brush hog. Is it worth the price jump to the 3301 or 3901 to pull a 72" brush hog? Also, standard or hydro transfer box?

Thanks anyone for your input, I am new to the forums, and really appreciate anyone helping me out!
 

SDT

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multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
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I realize that this is probably a question that is asked daily, but I am trying to decide what size tractor to purchase. I have about 10 acres of land most of which is relatively flat with a few hills throughout the property. I need to brush hog, and do light bucket work, eg; mulching, mucking out the barn, firewood transportation, and gravel driveway maintenance. I am also hoping to pull a box blade to maintain my driveway. Most of the brush is long grass and small bushes, very little heavy brush. I was looking at the L2501, but it is only approved for a 60" brush hog. Is it worth the price jump to the 3301 or 3901 to pull a 72" brush hog? Also, standard or hydro transfer box?

Thanks anyone for your input, I am new to the forums, and really appreciate anyone helping me out!
Unless you plan to use a MMM, an L series will be better suited.

SDT
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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I realize that this is probably a question that is asked daily, but I am trying to decide what size tractor to purchase. I have about 10 acres of land most of which is relatively flat with a few hills throughout the property. I need to brush hog, and do light bucket work, eg; mulching, mucking out the barn, firewood transportation, and gravel driveway maintenance. I am also hoping to pull a box blade to maintain my driveway. Most of the brush is long grass and small bushes, very little heavy brush. I was looking at the L2501, but it is only approved for a 60" brush hog. Is it worth the price jump to the 3301 or 3901 to pull a 72" brush hog? Also, standard or hydro transfer box?

Thanks anyone for your input, I am new to the forums, and really appreciate anyone helping me out!
You've already answered your own question, as a b2650 will not handle a 72" brush mower.

If you want to deal with emissions equipment go L3301, or 3901, if you don't stay with a L2501.
 

Fordtech86

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L3200
Aug 7, 2018
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I don’t think the 3301 would run a 6 ft hog well in the conditions you describe. 3901 may be marginal. My 3200 specs out pretty similar to the 3301 and 5 ft in those conditions can be rough. Might be easier with HST ( mine gear drive) but you also lose a little hp with HST.

From your intended uses the L series seems to a good choice (heavier then the b2650 in your title). The 2501 may be a little weak with the bush hog in the conditions you state?? For your other uses the heavier L would probably be better.
 

Brazos

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L2501DT
Jul 12, 2016
113
2
18
Texas
I have a 2501 here at my house which is on 10+ acres and it is about perfect. Sure there are times I wish I had a bigger tractor (not 3301 or 3901 but physically bigger) and sometimes I wish I had a smaller tractor. Overall the 2501 does very well for my needs. I picked the 2501 over the 3301 as the 2501 doesn’t have all the emissions crap.
 

SDT

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multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
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SE, IN
I don’t think the 3301 would run a 6 ft hog well in the conditions you describe. 3901 may be marginal. My 3200 specs out pretty similar to the 3301 and 5 ft in those conditions can be rough. Might be easier with HST ( mine gear drive) but you also lose a little hp with HST.

From your intended uses the L series seems to a good choice (heavier then the b2650 in your title). The 2501 may be a little weak with the bush hog in the conditions you state?? For your other uses the heavier L would probably be better.
Agreed.

I use a Woods BB720X, 6' rotary cutter with my L6060 and it's all it wants in many conditions.

No, there is nothing wrong with my 6060.

SDT
 

Oliver

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L2501, JD 3520
Feb 2, 2011
526
120
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Preston County, WV
I think an L2501 would work well for you and since you don't need a mid PTO better than the B2650 in your title. But yes 60" would be the limit for a RC or flail, I run a 58" flail with my L2501.
 
Apr 7, 2020
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Whatever you decide to do, don't procrastinate too long because all of them will soon be teir 4 compliant...[emoji107]

Sent from my C6743 using Tapatalk
 

Dunbar

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L2501 LA525 QA PFL2042 Forks RCR1860 FDR1672 BB1560 EA55 WR Grapple FitRite TnT
Aug 2, 2018
215
6
18
Texas
With my L2501 I run a 60" Rotary cutter but a 72" finish mower. It works like a champ with both.
 

chim

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L4240HSTC with FEL, Ford 1210
Jan 19, 2013
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Near Lancaster, PA, USA
Brands / types of mowers vary in weight and HP requirements. I've mentioned before that I've had different Caroni and LandPride rear mowers. There's no doubt the LandPride decks are a bit heavier. In my experience, the Caroni decks are easier to pull and cut every bit as nice as the LandPrides. When the grass is on the wet side, the Caroni decks do better than the LandPrides.

Still have the little Ford 1210 and it handles a 5' Caroni RFM very well. I tried using the 5' LandPride RFM on it and it was way too much deck for the poor thing. Currently refurbing another 5' Caroni for it to replace the one that I beat the snot out of since around 1991. When we got the first Kubota in 2002 the Ford and original Caroni became the beater for the rough stuff.

With the heavier 5' LandPride RFM the B7500 was maxed out. It would handle a 5' rotary mower, but no power to spare.

The L3200 / 6' Landpride RFM combo was OK on the flat but could have used a few more horses on hills.

The L4240 with a 7-1/2' Caroni RFM is happy on flat or hills and has plenty of power.
 

Dunbar

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L2501 LA525 QA PFL2042 Forks RCR1860 FDR1672 BB1560 EA55 WR Grapple FitRite TnT
Aug 2, 2018
215
6
18
Texas
Both my rear finish mower 72" and rotary cutter 60" are Land Pride, models in my equipment list, left <--
 

tawood

New member

Equipment
L2501
Apr 18, 2020
29
3
3
Lapeer, MI
My L2501 handles the 60" brush hog no problem, and with the 60" finish mower it never bogs down, ever. I have even run both at high speed/3rd gear (no HST for this country boy) without issue.
 

Timmer92

Member

Equipment
2019 L3901 (former - BX2370), 72" Brush Hog, 72" Hydraulic Snow Blade, 3pt Auger
Dec 4, 2019
121
15
18
Minnesota
I bought a L3901 in December, along with an RCF2072 72" rotary cutter. I used the cutter to cut dried grasses in our fields and it worked just fine. We haven't used it in deep green grass or on actual brush yet, but I don't anticipate any problems.
 

miketrock

Member
Nov 25, 2019
162
18
18
Pa
If you might want to run a Front snowblower you would need a B tractor …. L's don't have a mid PTO to power a front snowblower.
 

Bmbbm

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Equipment
Bx2370 land pride box blade 60"mmm kubota fel
May 29, 2016
282
6
18
Chillicothe mo
Everyone has a opinion and they don't always agree. If it was me i would opt for the L2501 to avoid the potential emissions problems and buy a Brush Hog sized to it.
 

OakLeaf2501

New member

Equipment
2017 L2501 HST LA525 FEL LP1260 Brush Cutter LR1272
Oct 9, 2017
1
0
1
Oak Leaf, TX
Have 25 Acres of Half Pecan Trees and half native pasture. My 2501 HST with Land Pride RC1260 does it all! Sometimes in tall grass after a lot of rain, will have to run the brush cutter half way down previous pass. But it'll cut about 4 acres in an hour!
The 2501 HST also has no trouble grading out 800 ft plus of gravel driveway or using the landscape rake either!
Have only ever had one hiccup, in regards to diesel fuel line getting clogged.
I also had them fill the tires with sealant since some brush in Texas has 3 inch thorns!
HST whines at low rpms, but when mowing the diesel rumble overpowers it.

Glad I went with an Orange machine!
 

AlaskaKubota

New member
Oct 24, 2015
13
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1
Interior Alaska
Stay away from the emission crap unless you are really working the tractor. I would normally say go 1x size larger to allow for some growth but the emissions take that out of the picture for me. I grew up on non-emissions and the ones I have dealt with emission were really being worked. Cutting hay etc.
 

nbryan

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Equipment
B2650 BH77 LA534 54" ssqa Forks B2782B BB1560 Woods M5-4 MaxxHaul 50039
Jan 3, 2019
1,161
705
113
Hadashville, Manitoba, Canada
I realize that this is probably a question that is asked daily, but I am trying to decide what size tractor to purchase. I have about 10 acres of land most of which is relatively flat with a few hills throughout the property. I need to brush hog, and do light bucket work, eg; mulching, mucking out the barn, firewood transportation, and gravel driveway maintenance. I am also hoping to pull a box blade to maintain my driveway. Most of the brush is long grass and small bushes, very little heavy brush. I was looking at the L2501, but it is only approved for a 60" brush hog. Is it worth the price jump to the 3301 or 3901 to pull a 72" brush hog? Also, standard or hydro transfer box?

Thanks anyone for your input, I am new to the forums, and really appreciate anyone helping me out!
A 72" bush hog is overkill for 10 acres. And you would need a 30+ hp tier 4 machine to run it.
I run an old 60" Woods M5 behind my B2650HSD and it handles it well.
The hydrostatic drive gives me fine speed control to creep along as necessary in heavy brush. I love it.
And every winter I look forward to swallowing snow drifts whole with the front mount blower. Not sure how the snow goes where you are, but the blower sure beats the loader for snow removal in my Manitoba winter world.