appgap

Just purchased my folk's homestead. It has 3 acres of lawn and maybe 10-15 of fields and meadows. Wife has 2 horses. Looking for an all purpose tractor for brush hogging, finish lawn work and loader for horse manure etc. Locally, there is a Kubota L2250 with loader and rake with ~1500 hrs for 10k, another with more hours, a Woods loader and a rear snow blower for 9K, a B7100 with Woods loader and Woods rear finish mower for 6.8k and a Deere 2210 with JD loader and belly mower with super low hours for 11k. I have been snooping around for a couple of weeks now on my own and haven't got far. All are slightly more $$ than we had hoped to put down right now with the recent move. ANy and all advice appreciated.

tractor beam

Welcome to the forum. First off, have you tried demoing any of them? Options such as transmission types are a big factor. I would prefer a hydro tranny over say a manual without synchro. That can make a real difference in a tractors user friendliness! A loader would be an absolute must have in my opinion too, especially one designed to go with the tractor, as is the case with the deere.

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Ed Hill

I would think you want to begin by locating dealers for the various makes, just to know how far you have to go for parts or service. Then drive each available unit and see which fits you best. I am on my second used Kubota B series. I mow about 5 acres of lawn, rake and grade a 650 foot driveway, and dig holes and move dirt with a front end loader. My local ubota dealer is in Orleans, VT, not too far away, and has been very good on parts, advice and equipment. Either a B or L series Kubota would serve you well. Drive the John Deere also. I have had good luck with buying used from private partys so far. My hope is that the dealer will take in a used B7800 with a backhoe so I can graduate from so much shovel work!

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Ed

appgap

Have seen a few and looking for more advice. The players right now are a B7200 with only 455 hrs and FEL that looks like it has been really babied. Hard to believe it's over 20 y.o. Seller is asking 9K. I would need to buy belly mower and bush hog to do what I want. It is a std 6 spd transmission. Have also located a JD 650 with ~550 hrs that looks very good although not as pristine as the Kubota. Again FEL only, no mower or BH. This one is being sold for 6700. Last and most tempting is a JD 4100 that has very low hours, looks newish, 4WD, HST with FEL and 60" mid-mower for 10500. Haven't been able to se it yet but working on it.

Again, any thoughts appreciated.

Thx