John Deere vs Kubota

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SunTzuMD

SunTzuMD

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Just about closed the deal on a new place - 4.6 acres in western North Carolina. Has about 1.5 acres in grass with 3 acres in trees. Mostly level. Snows a lot.

I'll definitely need a lawnmower and was looking at a 48" or 54" deck John Deere. But, I was wondering if I should just step up to a small tractor with a mowing deck instead? John Deere 2000 series or Kubota BX series?

I'm wondering how much more utility I could get out of the small tractor with the available attachments and durability over the long term.

Any thoughts?
 
We've got 4 JD, 4200 series, run 40 hours/week (older two for 5 years now). Overall, fairly bulletproof, the only complaint would be the body parts. Made out of cheep plastic which goes south within a year in the Arizona sun.
We changed over from Kubotas because of the mantainence costs were killing us (not to mention downtime waiting for parts to be shipped from Japan). Other than that, imo Kubota builds one of the best small 4 cylinder diesel engines out there.
 
Just bought a JD2520 with a mower deck and 54in snowblower. Wanted a smaller diesel to supplement a larger Kioti DK35 .. I looked at them all - Kubota, MF, Deere Kioti etc and being very new to this type of purchase - I read a lot and hit the sites. My neighbours are committed JD users and I had no particular bias (in fact was pretty impressed with the Korean Kioti that came with the farm and was looking at adding another one)

What sold me on the Deere was/were the JD dealers I spoke with. ALL were very helpful and answered questions thoroughly. I am in Canada and deal with a firm called AgraTurf. I can honestly say that they have provided me with the BEST dealer experience I have EVER had. When my machine was late arriving I got a "loaner" delivered to my door, they go out of their way to answer my questions and are very responsive - I have my contacts cell number in case I have an issue - doesn't get any better imo.

JD 2520 is the smallest model with direct injection and even my kids have learned how to start/run/stop the machine (hydro tranny) although they are not old enough to work it yet. The big thing to consider with the 2000 series is height when you are working around trees. None of the 2000 series are particularly low and the ROPS up - or down - can catch low branches which is where the little 7xx series have an advantage.

I would buy this again .... also like the fact that the dealer also handles Stihl!

Both excellent products that work as advertised - or better - and hold their value!!
 
Kubota dealer is about 6 miles away. John Deere is about 30 miles away. It may be overkill for a tractor. But by the time you buy a nice riding lawnmower - you are well on your way to the cost of a tractor!

Was looking at the JD 324 with a 54 inch deck as mower if I don't go with a tractor.
 
I'd go with the tractor over a riding lawn mower. I really don't think you'll regret it. Once you have one, you'll be amazed you ever did without it.

Do you have a Bobcat dealer nearby? I've been impressed by their compact tractors when I go in for parts for my skidsteer and excavator.
 
Do you have a Bobcat dealer nearby? I've been impressed by their compact tractors when I go in for parts for my skidsteer and excavator
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The small Bobcat tractors are built by Kioti .. they are Korean. I have a Kioti DK35 ... they are very well built! The little machines are heavy and "maybe" a touch underpowered although that is conjecture as I have not driven one. All reports are that they are very good! I was looking for a small Kioti based on my experience with my DK before I settled on Deere. They are definitely worth a look.

BTW ... you should also see if you can test a JD X7xx series. They are wonderful machines when equipped with diesel, 4wd and 4 wheel steer. 4 wheel steer is very very slick when mowing around trees!!!! And the lower height of the X700 series is a plus in those situations.
 
batcon said:
I agree 100%
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When I built my shop, I sat down and looked at renting a Bobcat vs. buying one. By the time I totalled up renting one for a weekend here, there, and everywhere and time spent either waiting for them to deliver it or picking it up myself as well as the times one wasn't available, I decided it was easier to purchase a used one and then sell it again when the project was finished. It was likely that I could sell it for about the same price as I bought it for and at the very least I'd lose a lot less than the money I'd spend on renting one.

Well, twelve years since the workshop was built and it's still sitting out there... :lol:

It has been so handy I wouldn't think about getting rid of it now. Actually, if anything I've been considering upgrading it. I've now got a snow bucket and pallet forks in addition to a 4in1 dirt bucket. In addition to my own projects and moving things around in the shop I've put in four patios for neighbors, a couple driveways, pulled out bushes and shrubs, and anytime we get more than three or four inches of snow I clear the whole neighborhood out.

Mind you, I live in town and do my lawn mowing with a push mower... :hillbilly:

The other year I picked up a Bobcat mini-excavator to do some more work around my property. It was in WV and needed some work, so I was able to pick it up for about half of what I've seen them going for around here. I've already used it for a few projects for neighbors. Again, the plan is to sell it after the work is done, but check back with me in a few years to see if it is still around... :D
 
JD had a sale on rental returns when I bought mine in 02. basically alot of these tractors are used by the vineyards around here for harvest and returned to JD. JD sold me my tractor with 67 hrs on it with the full factory warranty and 3yr 0% interest. I added the implements I needed as the tractor was used for pulling a trailer in the field. You might want to see if JD still has this offer.
 
If I were in your shoes (and I was in a similar situation), I would seriously consider getting a 35-40 hp. I had 5 acres, approx 1 acre in lawn, approx 500' of driveway, 4 acres of heavy timber. I bought a Kubota L3940 (40hp), hydrostatic trans, QD loader w/1/3 yd bucket. I bought a 84" back blade and a grapple bucket for it.

Mostly, I was using it to clear snow, move brushpiles, firewood, etc. It didn't take long before I was moving trees (whole) to new locations for limbing and bucking, moving topsoil and gravel, and reshaping my road. In your position, I would recommend getting one bigger than you think you need now, because you will find additional uses for it and then be glad you have the extra ponies. To mow, just get a mowing deck for the 3 pt hitch.

FWIW, in 2008, I got my 2007 L3940 off the local CL with 850 hours on it for $19250 without the back blade and grapple bucket. Two years later, after getting a new job and knowing that I was moving to a place I wouldn't need it, I sold it for more than I paid for it with the back blade and sold the grapple bucket for $450 more than I paid for that. Deals are out there, just look.

Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't be scared of a tractor with 1000 hours on it IF IT HAD GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORDS.

Edit: as for the JD vs Kubota line question.....I tested out some JD tractors in the same hp classes as the Kubotas and they didn't feel as solid as the Kubotas did. One of my neighbors had a Kioti that he was very happy with and it was a pretty good machine, but at 30 hp, wasn't in the same class as my 40 hp Kubota. Honestly, I wouldn't have wanted any bigger of a tractor, either.
 
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My FIL bought a kioti 30 hp to use on the farm for shredding and odds and ends stuff. We have 300 acres with approx 75% clear for raising longhorn and the rest is thick mesquite trees. I found a old 25 hp kubota and it would run circles around the kioti. After running that kubota for almost ten years I was in the market for upgrading to a newer / larger tractor. I ended up with another kubota, 45 hp, 4x4 w/ a front end loader and several other attachments. I never thought I would use the tractor as much as I do as Bigndn has mentioned. I've knocked down brush/trees and piled it up to burn, rebuilt roads, building my barn, shred and build fence. The only thing I would change is the ass end on mine is a bit light so I leave the shredder or other attachment on it to kinda keep it balanced.

GL
 
John Deere 455 garden tractor with a 3-cyl diesel. Bigger than a riding mower, smaller than a utility tractor. 4-way hydraulics for a front end loader. 3 pt hitch. 54 or 60" belly mower. 1.5 acres of mowing is a bit small for a utility tractor.
 
I was in the same boat as you 3 years ago. I wanted to get a 2305 JD but I let every one talked me out of it and I went with a JD x500 with 54" cut. I have kicked my self ever since and have been looking at getting a small backhoe. Dont get me wrong the x500 cuts my 2 acres great, it will move any of my cruisers around the yard and I havn't had any problems with it. Every time I am out side working in the yard I could use a bucket on a small tractor.
I looked at all of the brands and the JD dealer was the best to deal with. I travel a lot for work and I would stop at dealers that were within 800 miles of the house and again JD was the better ones. I have found the dealers that sell large farm equipment were the ones that had the best deals.

So If you think you will use a tractor or even want one you better get it. Not sure how far away you are from Hickory but there used to be a decent size JD dealer there.
 
I'm leaning towards the JD as I can get a drive on mower which I think would be easier to use and setup / take off. I'll have to look at the deals once I get out there. I'm closer to Wilkesboro and I think there is a dealer there.
 
I am in complete agreement that a tractor rather than a lawn mower is the better option here. However, I may be considered old school so my input may push this discussion in an undesired direction.

I grew up on a farm; so before leaving for college I had operated a spectrum of tractors from all the manufacturers. If it were me; the best match of quality (construction & reliability) and performance (design, features, ...) in tractors were built from the mid 50s to mid 70s. They normally have live power (PTO & hydraulics), power steering, good ergometrics, ample power, well geared transmissions, stout construction (normally all steel), 3-point hitch, available in gas or diesel ... with parts readily available. No plastic or light duty construction. Additionally, tractors like these still appear to go for reasonable prices which may result in lower upfront cost (some already restored for the same money).

FYI I have an Allis Chalmers CA with a Woods finishing mower in my shop that I use for light duty around the place. Dad could not part with it when he retired from farming and sold the other equipment. Later I picked it up from him. It is still very reliable and does a fine job mowing the small pasture (and what ever other chore that I want to use it for). I enjoy working on it; operating it; owning it. Probably not the correct choice for the needs of SunTzuMD but there are a lot of good 'vintage' (old school) tractors that could be a great fit.
 
The drive on/off mowers from JD are slick and work as advertised.

I had an FEL already so didn't need another but did want a CUT to act as backup in a small vineyard and be able to pull a brush hog and push a snow blower which is why I started down the CUT path.

The CFO (my wife) also had to approve the numbers and JD got the nod cause of the colour :doh: And the resale value she perceived based on the neighbours comments and other research etc. etc. BUT as I said the clincher was the dealer - in fact all the JD dealers I spoke with gave me lots of their time to answer questions.
(Don't know about you but I am tired of dealing with sales people with an "attitude" ... and it seems to be everywhere! Its my money and I expect that for this kind of outlay I ought to be able to get 20 or 30 minutes of someones attention to answer my questions even if they are a little "uninformed" - and I react well to someone who has the patience to explain - knowledgeably - about a product.)

For me another factor was that I was also going to use this unit to cut the grass over a very large (B&B/commercial use approved) septic bed. I did not want too heavy a footprint and the 2520 had large tires and a reasonably low PSI ground pressure when running without loaded tires or weights

As LDowney says there is lots of merit in finding an older unit or buying a good used unit. One piece of advice you will find often given by men who have been around tractors a lot is to "buy by the pound" ... a heavier machine (in theory ... and maybe in fact) is frequently a better built machine. Later units do use plastic although the thick fiberglass rear "fenders" on some units like my Kioti are much TOUGHER than the old metal they replaced.

Consider your requirements carefully ... the 455 that MoJ mentioned is excellent - you will note when you shop for one that no one is exactly giving them away these days - which should tell you about the quality and desirability of these units. Same for the 748 and other machines in that class. Those "little" units should not be underestimated - they are CUT's masqueraded as ride-ons and they do a heck of a lot with the appropriate attachments.


BTW .. if it is JUST lawn grass .. look seriously at a "zero" turn unit
 
What good is a thread without pics? I bought a JD2305 with loader, box s****er and backhoe 3 years ago. It has done everything I've asked it to do (build roads, dig big holes and tear down sheds). The only maintenance has been oil and filter changes. Great product.

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The only problem I have had was with a cat that decided the seat was a scratching post. If he hadn't run off he would be residing at the bottom of a 6' hole that the tractor is capable of digging.:mad:

I'd cast my vote for a tractor and implements. Buy used if you can find a deal and I think any of the brands are pretty good. I think the JD is made by Yanmar.
 
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