Hello all. Rookie to Kubota's and tractors in general. I'm sure that I'll have a ton of questions from here on out and hopefully this forum will be just as informative as the others. I don't know much, well in all honesty, absolutely nothing about tractors. LOL. I have about 6 acres that I live on and am in the market (this summer/fall) to purchase a new or used Kubota small tractor. My question to you is what size is comparable to the old Ford 9n? Thats probably the size that I'll go with or possible a size comparable to the Ford 8n. I've looked through Kubota and not quite sure of what I'm looking at involving hp or size. Like I said, I have approx 6 acres. The duties that this little tractor will do is discing/tilling garden, grading the drive, grading snow, and also doing small food plots. I'm looking from early/mid 90's to early 2000s. Something that isn't going to break the bank, but is going to be a very solid tractor to do these things with. Thank you for your time. - Jack
New to Forum & Kubotas
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85Hokie
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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jack,
first - welcome to OTT - great folks here, and we'll answer a TON of questions....or two tons.
I had a 53 ford - a hair better than your 9n ..... It was great for 2 wheel drive and rarely got stuck ....
I went and bought a new BX25D ...there is NO comparison between the two....the BX will work circles around the old 53....but, the 53 had larger tires, gear driven, no power anything......
the BX has power everything - smaller footprint too.
If you need/want a backhoe - think about the BX25D - if not, think about the BX series or the B series,
However - finding one "cheap" will not happen.....a ten year old tractor with a K on the front will be 50%-70% of what a new one costs.....sometimes it is better to get new!
first - welcome to OTT - great folks here, and we'll answer a TON of questions....or two tons.
I had a 53 ford - a hair better than your 9n ..... It was great for 2 wheel drive and rarely got stuck ....
I went and bought a new BX25D ...there is NO comparison between the two....the BX will work circles around the old 53....but, the 53 had larger tires, gear driven, no power anything......
the BX has power everything - smaller footprint too.
If you need/want a backhoe - think about the BX25D - if not, think about the BX series or the B series,
However - finding one "cheap" will not happen.....a ten year old tractor with a K on the front will be 50%-70% of what a new one costs.....sometimes it is better to get new!
Welcome!
Since you haven't purchased yet, and it sounds like your only criteria is size (in reference to an 8N or 9N, which are the same relative size- one is a 4 speed, the other a 3 speed), you should not look at size. You should make a list of all of the expected duties, what type of implements you want to pull, what your land is like- will a 2WD do, or will you need 4WD- do you want a loader, gear or hydro, and other stuff I haven't thought of. Once you have a good picture of what you want to do and how to do it, you can then focus in on the right tractor for your needs. Plus, you should go a little bigger than you plan- most folks buy a size tractor, then eventually wish they had gone a little bigger.
Chances are, you will be able to find a tractor in your budget. There are a ton of Kubota models to pick from, and many older tractors that have a lot of life left in them. Educating yourself is the most important step in the process, both in reference to your needs and what tractor can fill them.
Since you haven't purchased yet, and it sounds like your only criteria is size (in reference to an 8N or 9N, which are the same relative size- one is a 4 speed, the other a 3 speed), you should not look at size. You should make a list of all of the expected duties, what type of implements you want to pull, what your land is like- will a 2WD do, or will you need 4WD- do you want a loader, gear or hydro, and other stuff I haven't thought of. Once you have a good picture of what you want to do and how to do it, you can then focus in on the right tractor for your needs. Plus, you should go a little bigger than you plan- most folks buy a size tractor, then eventually wish they had gone a little bigger.
Chances are, you will be able to find a tractor in your budget. There are a ton of Kubota models to pick from, and many older tractors that have a lot of life left in them. Educating yourself is the most important step in the process, both in reference to your needs and what tractor can fill them.
Will do. Thanks for your help. I starting my list of what things that I'm going to use. I figured that I'll be using a disc/tiller, probably bush hog, grader. That's about all I can think of right now. However, that could change. LOL. I guess that'll be my research for now. I just don't know what years to start looking at though. I'm thinking a 4x4 would be good, just incase if I use it on a food plot. I'm sure I'll get back to all of you. For sure, thank you for pointing me in the right direction. Now, the research begins.
Jack
Jack
Welcome to OTT forum Jack. Hodge is very right about the next size bigger. No one ever complained about buying too big a tractor. But most, including me, even though I took the next size bigger to start with, I now wish I had gone even bigger.
Thanks for the help and information. I went and looked at some Kubota's the other day and was pretty set on what I wanted. Then I kept hearing "go a little bigger than what you need". So Im looking at the BX2370. Took it for a test run and I believe it'll do the trick and then some. However, not going to pull the trigger just yet. Still going to do a little more looking. LOL
Take your time to make sure that you get it right. You should also drive more that just a couple to check out what the differences are between them.
Grouse Feathers
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You didn't mention a loader, is that because it is a given or because you don't think you need one. If you don't think you need a loader start thinking about all the things you will be doing with a wheel barrow. Now think about doing those things with a powered wheel barrow. And that doesn't begin to include all the lifting, digging, and the many times a loader helps with the grading.
It's difficult for someone without a loader to imagine how much it will get used just loading and unloading items that one use to do with their back.
CaveCreekRay
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What D2 said...
A loader is 75% of what I use a tractor for. It's like having a "super wheelbarrow" at your beckon call. I haul dirt. I haul rock. I haul stone. I haul boulders. I haul cement bust-outs. I haul cardboard boxes full of stuff to the barn or to the house. I haul tree trimmings. I haul stuff to the dumpster. I started out with this machine watching my wife haul tile to the dumpster.
A 3pt is essential for farmy-doodly stuff like scraping, plowing, tilling, and raking. But being able to haul stuff is so much more of what I use my Kubota for. Without my FEL, I'd be at a loss for most of the jobs it does with the front end. You can even "float" the FEL and finish off stuff you dumped on your driveway. Money spent on an FEL is money well spent.
I bought a used L3800HST that had been outside its whole 9 month life and had been dented up pretty severely in the hood. It had run pretty hard its whole 126 hours with zero service. I did an oil change on the engine, and checked the other fluids, pulled the hood off to figure it out later and put the machine to work in a pretty huge remodel I have been doing for the last couple of years. I don't use my Kubota every day but when I get finished using it, I wonder how much it would have cost me to "hire out" what I just did? My wife and I figure, when we get our back yard done, the L3800 will have completely paid for itself in less than three years. And the FEL was most of that.
Good luck!
Ray
A loader is 75% of what I use a tractor for. It's like having a "super wheelbarrow" at your beckon call. I haul dirt. I haul rock. I haul stone. I haul boulders. I haul cement bust-outs. I haul cardboard boxes full of stuff to the barn or to the house. I haul tree trimmings. I haul stuff to the dumpster. I started out with this machine watching my wife haul tile to the dumpster.
A 3pt is essential for farmy-doodly stuff like scraping, plowing, tilling, and raking. But being able to haul stuff is so much more of what I use my Kubota for. Without my FEL, I'd be at a loss for most of the jobs it does with the front end. You can even "float" the FEL and finish off stuff you dumped on your driveway. Money spent on an FEL is money well spent.
I bought a used L3800HST that had been outside its whole 9 month life and had been dented up pretty severely in the hood. It had run pretty hard its whole 126 hours with zero service. I did an oil change on the engine, and checked the other fluids, pulled the hood off to figure it out later and put the machine to work in a pretty huge remodel I have been doing for the last couple of years. I don't use my Kubota every day but when I get finished using it, I wonder how much it would have cost me to "hire out" what I just did? My wife and I figure, when we get our back yard done, the L3800 will have completely paid for itself in less than three years. And the FEL was most of that.
Good luck!
Ray
Wow, good to see this discussion as am still looking at tractors for me four acres. I am also looking at B2650 which is as small as I think would like to go. I did look at an LS ( sorry folks) as it was 35HP and around same price also brand new. I have now come across an M6040 but that seems like too big a jump and too heavy for mowing my grass. I definitely want an FEL . I just bought zero turn as need something to mow with and have not pulled the trigger on tractor yet. Figured can always use the mower. What are thoughts on M6040 seems pretty big to me. I am very new with this tractgor stuff . Looking mostly at the Kubota and correct when you guys say wont find much cheap$$ wise and that seems to go for most tractors.
CaveCreekRay
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L3800 HST, KingKutter box scraper, KingKutter 66" rake, County Pride Subsoiler
gmbc,
Choices...choices. Funny how things of value hold their value.
The M Class 6040 is a very capable machine with more hp and more weight but still a pretty small package.
How big is your property?
What do you want to do with it?
Do you have inside storage for it?
How many hours on the one you mentioned?
You'll see a little more in fuel costs (minor) but you'll have a very capable machine. My L3800 (38 hp) does me fine most of the time on my 5 acre location doing ranch and remodeling stuff. The 6040 has more power and capability. The key is finding one in great shape with a service history.
Ray
Choices...choices. Funny how things of value hold their value.
The M Class 6040 is a very capable machine with more hp and more weight but still a pretty small package.
How big is your property?
What do you want to do with it?
Do you have inside storage for it?
How many hours on the one you mentioned?
You'll see a little more in fuel costs (minor) but you'll have a very capable machine. My L3800 (38 hp) does me fine most of the time on my 5 acre location doing ranch and remodeling stuff. The 6040 has more power and capability. The key is finding one in great shape with a service history.
Ray
A M6040 is too large for a 4 acre situation. You won't have the flexibility you would have with, say an L.
CaveCreekRay
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L3800 HST, KingKutter box scraper, KingKutter 66" rake, County Pride Subsoiler
Ooops. 4 acres... Missed that.
Yeah... that machine might be a tad large. Dimensionally Its a foot or two larger in each direction. If a slightly larger turn radius isn't a problem, you might be able to still use it. IF the price was right. The height may be an issue for where you plan to store it.
I only have tractor access to half my five acres and my L3800 is the perfect size come time to roll it in the barn.
Ray
Yeah... that machine might be a tad large. Dimensionally Its a foot or two larger in each direction. If a slightly larger turn radius isn't a problem, you might be able to still use it. IF the price was right. The height may be an issue for where you plan to store it.
I only have tractor access to half my five acres and my L3800 is the perfect size come time to roll it in the barn.
Ray
Yeah all, sort of thought the M6040 was a bit big. Really about 3.5 acres as it is 4 acres with house on it and a little tree bush area. I will also be planting trees so that will take about .3 acre but will need to mow so the zero turn is likely good purchase. I am looking still at the B2650 with cab, heat, a/c, definitely want to add the FEL as the one I am looking at does not have one. With Ab, FEL, Front snow blower, mmm and rotary brush they want almost 38K incl taxes ( 10%). Seem pretty steep but have been pricing and new is about 10k more. What they are asking is $5000k extra for FEL installed.