New Kubota BX24 or clean used Kubota L3010?

I've been kicking this around and would like to hear somebody else kick it around some.  Here's my needs:

~2 acres, half lawn, half wooded.  I have a lot of landscaping upgrades that my wife wants done, including 2 large patio/walkway areas, a deck (need to dig post holes, clean out the wooded area, remove small/med stumps, and possibly dig the foundation for my new 24x36 garage (4' frost walls) 

Here's the choices:

Kubota BX24, new $16000.  This is a subcompact TLB.  Turf or R-4 tires (loaded).  All indications are that it would meet my needs.

Kubota L3010 HST, 2002 or 2003? with ~800 hours.  Has Kubota FEL and 6ft 3-pt hitch mower.  Turf tires (loaded). $13,000.

Kubota L3010 DT, 2002 or 2003? with 194 hours.  Has Kubota FEL.  Ag tires (loaded).  $14,000

Obviously, I'd need to consider adding a backhoe to either of L3010's if I wanted to dig, but I'm not sure if I really need it.

Your thoughts?

Welcome to the forum. 

My 2-cents (and you get what you pay for...).

From reading your post, there doesn't seem to be any urgency to your projects and you can pick at them at your own pace.

In general, I normally recommend the highest HP tractor you can get but in this case, the BX24 sounds like the best fit.

My reasoning:

- With 2 acres (and one being wooded), a 3010 with mower is a bit overkill.  

- Adding a backhoe to either of the 3010's will probably put you over the price of the BX.

- The yard won't like the AG tires on the 3010 DT unless it's very dry.

- If you're not in a hurry, the BX will do the chores mentioned. 

- Thinking long term (once you get past these initial projects), the BX would most likely be the best size for maintaining a 2 acre area. 

Thanks for the input...that's the way I was leaning, and I pulled the trigger on the BX24 this morning.

Congratulations!!  You've made a fine choice.

If you can, hang around as we would like to hear how your new tractor and the projects are doing. 

I will be hanging around...both for advice and to report on the tractor.  Sometimes it seems reviews are either wildly enthusiastic or bitterly pessimistic (exaggeration mine), and I'd like to present an accurate representation of the tractor's capabilities and limitations to better help others who face similar decisions.

 Thanks again, Brad

cbhillman:

and I'd like to present an accurate representation of the tractor's capabilities and limitations to better help others who face similar decisions.

Great! Thats way more helpful than the guys who post after owning somthing for two days, or those who are online looking for stuff because they are having trouble with somthing and have an ax to grind.