Buying a new Sub Compact Utility Tractor

[Crazyjake8493]

I've owned both and prefer dual pedals. Its not a deal breaker though. Both designs work. The advantage of the rocker is that it's hard to have your foot on one pedal and think its on the other. The downside is that using your heel to operate in reverse can be uncomfortable.

But what's important is not what people on the internet say, it's what works for you.

I think a sub compact is not nearly as useful as a full compact but the stuff I do is likely different than the OP.

As someone who used a single rocker pedal riding mower for two decades before buying a dual-pedal tractor, there is no way I could ever go back to the single pedal setup. Terrible design if you ever need to move in reverse, and with a tractor I'm backing up far more than a riding mower.

 

[jives]

I'm in your boat. Have not read all the replies, so I may be redundant. First, Your current Ford is a Shibaru with a highly earned reputation. The current NH tractors are LS (unless something has changed in the past year). The Massey scuts are Iseki, and have been for 25+ years. A solid relationship. Near me are Yanmar, which has arguably the best diesel engine reputation.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Well I just got back from the kubota dealer and a test ride there. It rides nice the heel toe arrangement doesn't bother me. At this point it is between the kubota and the MF. Price is better on the MF the Kubota dealer is a little closer and been established in this area for a while. The MF dealer is part of a larger organisation but is some what new locally. I am leaning toward the MF but i am still undecided.

 

[Michigan Mike]

As to buying a bigger tractor. I would love to. But I can't leave it for any length of time at the hunting property so it has to be trailered and housed at my house. I have room for a sucompact here. If I get rid of my lawn maintenance equipment. So I will use it to mow my lawn. As I stated earlyer in this thread I realize it is not optimal for either use. But for me it seems to be a workable solution.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Oh PS I did stop at the John Deere dealer nice tractor but they are three grand more than the next tractor down the list. And the salesman didn't really seem interested in talking to me.

 

[readhead]

Have you given any more thought to looking at Kioti/Bobcat? I think it would be worth your time.

 

[PCustoms]

How close are your two properties?

Milage, not time.

 

[JeepYJ]

Oh PS I did stop at the John Deere dealer nice tractor but they are three grand more than the next tractor down the list. And the salesman didn't really seem interested in talking to me.

Are you getting serious written quotes with the attachments you want with each of these tractors? Kicking the tires price is usually different than out the door price.

 

[Michigan Mike]

The quotes are all with loader and belly mower and all except for the John Deere one were written. As far as extra attachments I have the brush hog already and a small disc The only other attachment I am thinking about is a box blade and I will probably wait till spring to get it as I don't want it sitting around. I am open to suggestions for other attachments but keep in mind I have been using the1210 with the loader brush hog and back blade to do what I want on the property for about ten years

 

[nmk_61802]

I know I've talked about the aftermarket accessories before. If you want belly guards for your trails, they are an aftermarket product. I know they are made for the BX, but I've never seen them for a MF. Maybe it doesn't need them with its design.

I will say that I know at least one person who has the Sub MF. It is an older one, and his son has the small Kubota B and has borrowed my BX. After using the two Kubota's and having his break down and couldn't source parts he was ready to trade it in. Unfortunately he couldn't afford to take the used hit on a second purchase.

What I am saying is carefully consider what you saving. You may spend twice or more later.

 

[scooby074]

Hard to beat a kubota

 

[scooby074]

Thanks for all the info. I fully understand the belly mower being in the way working at the hunting property. That is why it will stay at the house. The ease or PIA of putting it on and off is something I will check into when I go and physically try out the tractors. It is something I may just have to live with considering my situation. Thanks again everybody for all your input. Hopefully tomorrow (friday) I will get to actually operate these little tractors. We will see what I come up with then.

Go Rear mount mower.

 

[PCustoms]

Hard to beat a kubota

How much wood fits in that bucket?

I know what I can get in my CUT, and it ain't much. My father has a Mahindra CUT with a smaller bucket, I have to assume a SCUT is even smaller....

 

[JeepYJ]

How much wood fits in that bucket?

It’s a Kubota so it can’t pick up much, no need for a big bucket
But seriously, you can buy different sized buckets if you have different needs.

 

[PCustoms]

But seriously, you can buy different sized buckets if you have different needs.

I understand that.

I'm guessing a SCUT won't handle a 66" bucket though

 

[JeepYJ]

I understand that.

I'm guessing a SCUT won't handle a 66" bucket though

Depends upon what you’re filling it with and trying to lift.

 

[BruceMc]

Last night, while moving some trailers around the yard, I was trying to figure out why some folks are so dead-set against the Kubota pedal. So I took a quick video.

Maybe learning how to toe-shift a bike/ATV trans early on is what made the difference for me? IDK.

 

[PCustoms]

Depends upon what you’re filling it with and trying to lift.

Go back and read my question about how much wood it can carry....

 

[RPH]

Get a set of front forks for it at time of purchase. That will be the most useful.

 

[Firebrick43]

Last night, while moving some trailers around the yard, I was trying to figure out why some folks are so dead-set against the Kubota pedal. So I took a quick video.

Maybe learning how to toe-shift a bike/ATV trans early on is what made the difference for me? IDK.

Different strokes for different folks.

I don't understand why anyone would want to hold a pedal down for any length of time period (on any brand), or have to buy/retrofit the cruise control option????

 

[JeepYJ]

Go back and read my question about how much wood it can carry....

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck?
Once again depends upon how heavy the wood is. Is it dry seasoned wood or fresh cut green wood?
I’d prefer to use forks and have the wood on a pallet or in a IBC tote cage.

 

[scooby074]

How much wood fits in that bucket?

I know what I can get in my CUT, and it ain't much. My father has a Mahindra CUT with a smaller bucket, I have to assume a SCUT is even smaller....

You can load it by hand to a heaped bucketload. 26x47x24h . It can pick up about 800lbs when I have a counterweight (wheels are filled). Ive turned the pressure up a bit on mine.

Its too small to lift a full pallet of firewood or an IBC tote full. I really want to get something with more lift, 2500-3000 lbs to height would be ideal (about 1cd green wood) so I can reduce handling and comfortably go to IBCs

 

[JeepYJ]

Last night, while moving some trailers around the yard, I was trying to figure out why some folks are so dead-set against the Kubota pedal. So I took a quick video.

Maybe learning how to toe-shift a bike/ATV trans early on is what made the difference for me? IDK.

The detractors know how it works. Who wants to wear the top of your boots or shoes on a poorly designed pedal arrangement? If your feet are big it’s hard to get your foot in there too. I’ll stay in the “it *****” camp lol

 

[scooby074]

Different strokes for different folks.

I don't understand why anyone would want to hold a pedal down for any length of time period (on any brand), or have to buy/retrofit the cruise control option????

Kubota has cruse control. Its a manual ratchet style

 

[Firebrick43]

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck?
Once again depends upon how heavy the wood is. Is it dry seasoned wood or fresh cut green wood?
I’d prefer to use forks and have the wood on a pallet or in a IBC tote cage.

Most Sub compacts cant lift a small IBC tote filled with firewood, even dry pine.

 

[Firebrick43]

Kubota has cruse control. Its a manual ratchet style

Yes, as I stated, "cruise control OPTION"

It was an extra cost option on most of them a few years ago and still is an option on some models. Baffling that its wasn't always standard.

 

[JeepYJ]

Most Sub compacts cant lift a small IBC tote filled with firewood, even dry pine.

Use the baby IBC totes.

 

[AC-WC]

Oh PS I did stop at the John Deere dealer nice tractor but they are three grand more than the next tractor down the list. And the salesman didn't really seem interested in talking to me.

Glad you were able to try driving some it's really the only way to get a feel for them. Everyone has their opinions but seat time tells you everything you really need to know!

 

[PCustoms]

You can load it by hand to a heaped bucketload. 26x47x24h . It can pick up about 800lbs when I have a counterweight (wheels are filled). Ive turned the pressure up a bit on mine.

Its too small to lift a full pallet of firewood or an IBC tote full. I really want to get something with more lift, 2500-3000 lbs to height would be ideal (about 1cd green wood) so I can reduce handling and comfortably go to IBCs

I had a little under 4 face cord in the shed that I loaded in the bucket to take down to the house, took forever.

How do you plan to get a full cord on a pallet?

A couple years back I started stacking a face cord to a pallet. Fresh cut oak, I've had a few that I struggled to lift. First one where I tried 3 rows deep didn't go anywhere lol.

 

[RPH]

My bx 2680 came with cruise control and something that hasn’t been mentioned at all. Seat comfort, the bx has the upgraded seat. If you’re going to spend hours in the saddle. Get a high quality seat. Tractors can be rough riders.

 

[scooby074]

Yes, as I stated, "cruise control OPTION"

It was an extra cost option on most of them a few years ago and still is an option on some models. Baffling that its wasn't always standard.

Came standard on mine. Only optional on the BX1880 entry level machine.

 

[Firebrick43]

Came standard on mine. Only optional on the BX1880 entry level machine.

Yes, the current series is better, that is why I said "a few years ago". And its not just the sub compacts, many of the L series tractors didn't have cruise control standard either.

Google "Kubota cruise control kit" and see how many different model kits there are. I have installed at least half a dozen over the past decade from customers asking me if I would.

Sort of sad because the original hydros had cruise control.

 

[scooby074]

I had a little under 4 face cord in the shed that I loaded in the bucket to take down to the house, took forever.

How do you plan to get a full cord on a pallet?

A couple years back I started stacking a face cord to a pallet. Fresh cut oak, I've had a few that I struggled to lift. First one where I tried 3 rows deep didn't go anywhere lol.

I cant get a full cord on a single pallet. I guess I should have said 2/3 of a cord when Im eventually able to work with IBCs

Id eventually like to go with Double Stacked IBCs when I have enough tractor to lift them. A 1000l IBC holds about 50cuft. Doubled up would be 100cuft+ whatever heaped on top.

A lot of maple around here, around 4500lb/cd wet= 35lb/cuft x 50cu/tote = 1750lbs/tote green.

Dry maple is 3600/cd. = 28lb/cuft x 50cu/tote = 1406/tote dry. Id like to be able to move 2 totes at a time, so 2800-3000lb lift capacity required.

Ideally Id probably move away from a tractor, and go with a skid steer. Theyre hard to beat for lifting power in a small package.

 

[scooby074]

Yes, the current series is better, that is why I said "a few years ago". And its not just the sub compacts, many of the L series tractors didn't have cruise control standard either.

Google "Kubota cruise control kit" and see how many different model kits there are. I have installed at least half a dozen over the past decade from customers asking me if I would.

Sort of sad because the original hydros had cruise control.

Mines 10+ yrs old and came with it. Dont know when the BX25s didnt come with Cruse.

Optional on some Ls and Bs. Sure. Its only a $250 option regardless. But I agree, it SHOULD definitely be standard on all the HST models.

 

[JeepYJ]

I cant get a full cord on a single pallet. I guess I should have said 2/3 of a cord.

A cord is 4x4x8 or 128 cubic feet. So you can get 85 cubicle feet of wood stacked on a regular 40x48 pallet?

 

[scooby074]

A cord is 4x4x8 or 128 cubic feet. So you can get 85 cubicle feet of wood stacked on a regular 40x48 pallet

Double stacked IBC. 100cuft in a perfect world.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I am just getting back to this after supper and being gone this afternoon. The question was asked about the distance between the house and the hunting property. Less than 5 miles more than 3 and the roads are fairly busy. The rear mount mower is an attractive option but I need a side discharge mower and I think all the rear mount are rear discharge. As to firewood I only go through about a cord a year heating my shop. So how much I can carry out of the woods to fill a pickup bed or trailer is all I am concerned about. Cruise would be nice but from past experiance wouldn't get used much. Lots of starts and stops and turning. As far as parts availibilty later I would have thought MF being a long time tractor builder would be good? I would love to hear about long term parts availibility for MF.

 

[JeepYJ]

MF is part of AGCO. Here’s a link to their parts website. You might want to look up some older models and see what’s available for them. If you’re buying new I would expect to not really need anything other than maintenance and wear parts for the first 8-10 years.

https://parts.agcocorp.com/us/en/QRGsearch/model

 

[Michigan Mike]

Thanks YJ I don't really expect problems off the front. But seeing as parts availibility for the 1210 is part of the reason I am looking at new tractors the thought kind of hit a nerve.

 

[JeepYJ]

AGCO isn’t known for great long term product support. And MF compacts aren’t that common so there won’t be the aftermarket support or used parts available in the future.