Lifestyle Tractor Talk

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sparkuri

Pulse on the finger of The Cimmunity
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
37,741
49,618
Input appreciated.

I haven't heard anyone complain about a Kubota.
Parts availability, customer service, options, Kubota seems to lead.

However in a terrible economy, paying up front is not wise.

Kubota offers a 5-year 0%apr.
New Holland offer a 10-year 0% apr.

Desired range is 25-45 hp with around 3/4 that on the PTO.
I'd like to have a cab, but only 5 acres of flatland to maintain.
Primarily this would be construction-oriented for another 10-acres.
Landscaping, trenching, leveling & moving material, in wooded environment, with hills.

Any thoughts on other tractors?
 

kvr28

Ghost of KVR
Nov 22, 2015
7,205
9,992
I had a kubota, wanted something bigger, looked at all the companies, went with a Mahindra and been very happy with it. Paid thousands less than an orange or green colored tractor.
 

sparkuri

Pulse on the finger of The Cimmunity
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
37,741
49,618
I had a kubota, wanted something bigger, looked at all the companies, went with a Mahindra and been very happy with it. Paid thousands less than an orange or green colored tractor.
What model?
 

White347lx

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2023
237
335
Sounds like you need a skidsteer. Tractors are great for mowing and working up the dirt but if you want to move much dirt then get a skid steer.
 

MountainMedic

Rock Kicker
Sep 28, 2017
2,592
5,257
I looked at everything for almost a year.
I almost signed on a really nice CAT when they were offering 0%.

I went in a different direction for a couple of reasons. Your "in this economy" point is one of them. I didn't want payments/obligations because the future Is uncertain.
I wanted something that could be serviced locally if needed.
I wanted implements and I wanted to be able to buy them today.

I settled on used/refurbished and once I did that it opened up the world of Yanmar gray market tractors.
Yanmar is out of Japan. They made all the small/med tractors for John Deer for like 30 years, so any place that works on JD already knows these units inside and out.
Japan has some weird emissions laws and basically you can only run a tractor for a couple years and then the govt wants it replaced. They have massive subsidies for this.
These rotated out units hit the gl9bal market in this way.

Theres lots of people that bring them in to the US for resale, of varying scruples. Some just degrease and spray a new coat of paint, some tear them all the way down and do a legit resto.
I chose the latter and had to drive to Alabama to get it, but it was worth the trip IMO.

I have Yanmar 2800. It's 28hp to the PTO (that's how they measure there) but it's 32 to the axle. They don't use buckets for alot over there, so fredricks adds that new with an OK bucket.

By buying refurbished I was able to get the tractor, forks, after market 3rd function kit, plow blade, a grapple, and a 16' car hauler for around $16,000 total via looking for deals and pouncing. All new except for the tractor.

Everyone has different needs and a different picture in their head, this is what I did.

Good luck.
 

sparkuri

Pulse on the finger of The Cimmunity
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
37,741
49,618
I looked at everything for almost a year.
I almost signed on a really nice CAT when they were offering 0%.

I went in a different direction for a couple of reasons. Your "in this economy" point is one of them. I didn't want payments/obligations because the future Is uncertain.
I wanted something that could be serviced locally if needed.
I wanted implements and I wanted to be able to buy them today.

I settled on used/refurbished and once I did that it opened up the world of Yanmar gray market tractors.
Yanmar is out of Japan. They made all the small/med tractors for John Deer for like 30 years, so any place that works on JD already knows these units inside and out.
Japan has some weird emissions laws and basically you can only run a tractor for a couple years and then the govt wants it replaced. They have massive subsidies for this.
These rotated out units hit the gl9bal market in this way.

Theres lots of people that bring them in to the US for resale, of varying scruples. Some just degrease and spray a new coat of paint, some tear them all the way down and do a legit resto.
I chose the latter and had to drive to Alabama to get it, but it was worth the trip IMO.

I have Yanmar 2800. It's 28hp to the PTO (that's how they measure there) but it's 32 to the axle. They don't use buckets for alot over there, so fredricks adds that new with an OK bucket.

By buying refurbished I was able to get the tractor, forks, after market 3rd function kit, plow blade, a grapple, and a 16' car hauler for around $16,000 total via looking for deals and pouncing. All new except for the tractor.

Everyone has different needs and a different picture in their head, this is what I did.

Good luck.
Good input, & Yanmar has been on my list, as well as Massey-Ferguson.
JD has those pin attachments though, specific, that's a no-go.
Yanmar the same?
 

MountainMedic

Rock Kicker
Sep 28, 2017
2,592
5,257
Good input, & Yanmar has been on my list, as well as Massey-Ferguson.
JD has those pin attachments though, specific, that's a no-go.
Yanmar the same?
Fredricks did the conversation for me so any standard skidsteer attachment works. That was on my "must have" list. Fuck those stupid pins lol. I can go rent any attachment for it.
The conversion exponentially increases what you can to with your machine.
 

sparkuri

Pulse on the finger of The Cimmunity
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
37,741
49,618
My must-haves are bucket, backhoe, with bush hog, box blade & forks used afterward.
 

MountainMedic

Rock Kicker
Sep 28, 2017
2,592
5,257
My must-haves are bucket, backhoe, with bush hog, box blade & forks used afterward.
With 3rd function you can run a front hoe that is easier to hook up, use, and store. Just my opinion. I chose not to buy one due to how much I'd actually use it and storage the other 350 days of the year. I just rent for a couple days.
 

MountainMedic

Rock Kicker
Sep 28, 2017
2,592
5,257
No. Skidsteers put the work area right in front of you. No PTO, only hydraulics.
View attachment 130435
Thats why I like my 3rd function.
I don't think I'll ever even use my pto. Unless I score a deal on a woodchipper attachment or something.

Only thing I don't love about my yanmar is the float could be a little more forgiving. And no cab, which I'd probably smash into a tree. They have cab models though. Only sucks in February lol.
Oh yeah, it's loud as fuck. I usually wear noise canceling headphones when I run it but it's bearable without.
 

MountainMedic

Rock Kicker
Sep 28, 2017
2,592
5,257
Hilarious... we're talking tractors in here with everyjuans favorite messican and an ad pops up on YouTube for "Prowler Manufacturing Tractors"