shopping for compact or sub-compact tractor
 

my father and i are shopping for a sub-compact tractor.
I'm on a small plot of 2-acres but have a good bit of work to do on it. move enough dirt to build a 50' long berm, rebuild a couple rock walls, some digging for the foundation, rip out a dozen stumps, etc.

I want a tractor large enough to do what we need it to without overworking the tractor, but I also want the tractor to be small and maneuverable to be able to mow the hill and between trees...

currently we are teetering between a Kubota BX2660 and a B2630...
whatever we get will have a front end loader, ~54" belly mower, and backhoe.
I have looked at and compared the Cub Cadet, Bobcat, and Massey equivalents online, but none have dealers in our area to go try them out and get a closer look.

What are your thoughts db?

:jump: HOPE U GET SOME ANSWERS NEED ONE TOO AND HAVE JUST TALKED WITH WIFE
& GOTTEN THE OK.:c:

Little update, after a LOT of research and test driving, we have settled on a Massey Ferguson gc2410.
It seems to have more lifting strength, larger backhoe bucket, better layout of controls and pedals, better price, and seems like a much sturdier tractor.
It basically seems like a mix of all the upsides and none of the downsides from the John Deere, Kubota, Cub Cadet, and New Holland we looked at.

the price weve been quoted is just under 18,000 :ouch: but thats for the GC2410 with loader, backhoe, 54" mid mount mower, and they throw in a 48" rear rough cut deck if you pay cash... :rocking:

all in all, were excited to make the deal finally happen! now were just kinda bouncing the final numbers off a couple dealers trying to get the best dollar, but should be pulling the trigger within the week! :jump:

ill be sure to post up pictures and such when we get it!

Can't beat a Massey. Best Hydraulics in the industry, until they need rebuilt. They are the strongest because they run such tight tolerances in the pump. But that will be a long ways down the road for you. I have a 1970's model and it's just now comin due for a rebuild.

They still build pretty much the same tractors now that they did then. Look a little different and have different model numbers but other then that they are pretty similar so parts are always easy as it gets older also. Good luck on it, even though I'm jealous as hell.:ouch::c:

so its been a while since we got it :jump: so i thought i'd finally post up about it!
ordered the massey ferguson 2410 with front end loader, 54" mid mount mower, and backhoe... skipped the rear rough cut since the fine print boned us. but they ended up delivering a 2610 instead of the 2410! so we got the $800 more expensive mower for the 2410 price! :yeah:

this thing is a blast!
backhoe has plenty of digging power if you use leverage of the arm to our advantage...
front bucket is plenty strong and has nice float and fast dump features...
all attachments are super simple to detach/reattatch...
overall, VERY IMPRESSED with this little tractor!

the old man and myself toolin around on it

if you ever take the backhoe off make sure to put the bypass hose in, if not you will burn up the hyd. pump by "dead heading" it. the line has constant pressure on it and the hose completes the circuit back to the reservoir. work at a massey dealership and have seen this problem three times in 6 months.:tu:

Re: shopping for compact or sub-compact tractor
 

Cool, thanks for the heads up! We've been having too much fun chewing up stumps to pull the hoe off, but come spring it'll be off. This thing is a blast! Anything else I should watch out for?

the three point hitch will not operate independently of the mowing deck, for example when you lower the hitch to put an implement in the ground the deck will lower also, so if you use it in the garden make sure to remove the deck. also check the oil in the gearbox for the deck often. that gearbox is several thousand dollars and when the oil leaks out the seal onto the blades and the bearings lock up you will scream when your quoted to repair or replace it! any other problems feel free to pm me and ask. ill do anything i can to help! :c: