Should I trade in Kubota L2900 for Bobcat ct440?

[ghec369]

I have an offer to trade my 1999 Kubota L2900 with a loader for a 2013 Bobcat ct440 with a loader and cab. Offer I have would require me to put in an additional $11k. Although Bobcat has a bigger engine (5 hp) , the lift capacity on Kubota is greater both at PTO as well as with loader. I would appreciate any input anyone can provide on weather this would be a good deal. My Kubota has 500 hrs n Bobcat has 180 hrs. Both tractors are in excellent condition.

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[bucktail]

Are you looking at it for just the cab? In my mind, both have nearly negligible amounts of hours as long as they have been well maintained and the hours weren't put on 10 minutes at a time or something like that. You know the history, or at least some of the history on your tractor and don't on the Bobcat.

Upgrading on age is a two edged sword. The seals tires and other polymer items will be better on the newer tractor, but the older tractor will be more robust in design and easier to work on with less crap to go wrong. The newer tractor will have more features (crap to go wrong).

Kubota and Bobcat are pretty neck and neck on how many local dealers there are around here with a possible edge going to Bobcat, but Kubota is more vertically integrated. The Kubota tractor is made by Kubota with mostly Kubota subassemblies. According to tractordata, this bobcat is made by Daedong. If memory serves, previous Bobcat tractors were made by Kioti as well. In my mind, it is more difficult for the dealer to serve you when the manufacturer and dealer are different companies. This shouldn't be an issue as long as you keep newer tractors, and the quality of your local dealerships figure into this equation.

As far as hp goes, if you need more hp, 5 extra hp probably isn't going to cut it. I'd keep the tractor I had, but without knowing why you're looking to trade, it's hard to make the judgement.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

So the only thing you gain is 5HP and a cab and a couple less hours.
HUMMM
Diet and loose a couple pounds to make up the difference in HP.
Buy a new cab fully loaded for the L2900 for way cheaper than 11K.

Now for the serious side of this conversation.
Do you want to own an Orphan Tractor?

There are reasons why Bobcat dumped the line of tractors.

Give you a couple hints...
It wasn't because they were getting a good reputation for having a good product!
And it wasn't because they lasted a long time, were easy to get parts for, and easy and simple to work on.
I've heard several dealers will not even work on them and any of the available parts are getting scarce.

I have an L3450DT-GST, it's 25+ years old and I can still buy about 95% of the parts new to fix it, and there were enough made that used parts are fairly easy to come by.
Your L2900 will be the same way!
Your not going to be able to say that with a Bobcat Tractor.

And don't get me wrong I think Bobcat make some killer products, My 38+ year old 743 Bobcat, with a renewed power of a Kubota V2203, still out performs most other skid steers made in it class then and now.

 

[ghec369]

So the only thing you gain is 5HP and a cab and a couple less hours.
HUMMM
Diet and loose a couple pounds to make up the difference in HP. [emoji14]
Buy a new cab fully loaded for the L2900 for way cheaper than 11K.

Now for the serious side of this conversation.
Do you want to own an Orphan Tractor?

There are reasons why Bobcat dumped the line of tractors.

Give you a couple hints...
It wasn't because they were getting a good reputation for having a good product!
And it wasn't because they lasted a long time, were easy to get parts for, and easy and simple to work on.
I've heard several dealers will not even work on them and any of the available parts are getting scarce.

I have an L3450DT-GST, it's 25+ years old and I can still buy about 95% of the parts new to fix it, and there were enough made that used parts are fairly easy to come by.
Your L2900 will be the same way!
Your not going to be able to say that with a Bobcat Tractor.

And don't get me wrong I think Bobcat make some killer products, My 38+ year old 743 Bobcat, with a renewed power of a Kubota V2203, still out performs most other skid steers made in it class then and now.

I was looking at how old mine is (19 years) vs 5 years, seems pretty significant. Another thought was to get Bobcat n if not happy with it, I could then trade in for a bigger Kubota (without a cab). Bobcat name still appears to be in high regard, if u discount Daedong engine.

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[hodge]

I was looking at how old mine is (19 years) vs 5 years, seems pretty significant. Another thought was to get Bobcat n if not happy with it, I could then trade in for a bigger Kubota (without a cab). Bobcat name still appears to be in high regard, if u discount Daedong engine.

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It sounds like you want the Bobcat. Go for it.

There was a Bobcat dealership in our area, and they are now gone. I don't know where the nearest one is, but it isn't close.
I would rather have an older, simpler tractor, than a newer one. I'd also rather have local support.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Well good luck to you.

I will say, I'm always amazed when people come one here and ask for advice then completely disregard it.

Why even ask?

 

[D2Cat]

NIW, I think the ideas of why not to trade are disregarded because they do not agree with the answer they were hoping for. OP just wanting others to approve of what he wants to do.

I think if I didn't like my "old" tractor, I would not trade it for a different brand and hope I like it and if not go back to Kubota. Why not just trade the 19 year old Kubota for a newer Kubota with the features wanted? Then I'd know the quality, service, and what to expect.

 

[ghec369]

I decided to buy a new Kubota M62. Arrives tmrw!

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