So I'm a newbie buying a new machine for my personal use. Dirt work/grading, moving large rock (with pallet forks, brush clearing, using a chipper attachment. I'm considering these 3 machines. Cat seems expensive, but sure runs quiet & has a really nice interior (if you're on the smaller side - which I am). JD's claim is highest lifting capacity with many devotees. Kubota - love the orange, seems noisy, and many people seem to love it. I can learn from the wisdom and experience of those here. Could you help me out with some advice between these 3 & selection tips? Thank you!
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Kubota svl95 vs JD 333G vs Cat 299
- Thread starter Bradley_D
- Start date
lumberjack
Senior Member
Why not the TL12 R or V 2?
heymccall
Senior Member
My Kubota SVL-75 has gone 3k hours with the only issue issue being the AC plugged with dirt (several times) from the craptastic filter setup.
If you're going EROPS (heat/AC), Kubota & Takeuchi are the only two with self storing windshields.
If you're going EROPS (heat/AC), Kubota & Takeuchi are the only two with self storing windshields.
Having gone thru the same thing back a few years ago that you are doing now, I will give you my experience as I tested the 299 and 289, SL95, TL10 and 12, NH C238 and Bobcat 870 and 770. BTW- do not get hung up on lifting capability. For farm use, a good all around unit is best.
If money is not an object, the Cat 299 is the Cadillac and rides like one but you pay for it (I almost bought the 299 but a bad dealer experience turned me away). I really like Kubota and have a shop full of them but the 95 just did not seem as refined as the price states but a good unit and I liked the vertical door (local dealer is iffy at best). The C238 was tested but kind of out of it league with the others but a capable unit for its size, not considered in the end. The TL-12 is a beast and workhorse moving dirt (TL10 just a smaller version that is all) but still was not comfortable in the cab to me but liked the vertical door as with the SL95, local dealer treated me like I could not afford their equipment and we never did come to a final price but I did put the 12 on my final consideration list. I did not test the JD CTLs as the local dealer only wanted me to come to the dealership to test, not bring it to my property as everybody else did.
I ended up with the Bobcat 770 (870 was more than I needed) as it had most of all the features I wanted and it fit my farm use with a little outside work on the side. Any of the units is capable of doing what you want, so for me it came down to comfort in the unit, servicing dealer/support and then price for features wanted. The local dealer brought out units every time I told him I was testing the others so I would get a side by side comparison with Bobcat. I ended up with the 770 loaded with every option available including suspension undercarriage for several $K less than the next unit and due to the fact the local Bobcat dealer had a good reputation and a good history with me, other dealers not so much. The roller suspension is a nice ride over rough ground...
Really comes down to what is your gut telling you (wants and needs) and testing them, not what others think, they will not be using it, you will...
If money is not an object, the Cat 299 is the Cadillac and rides like one but you pay for it (I almost bought the 299 but a bad dealer experience turned me away). I really like Kubota and have a shop full of them but the 95 just did not seem as refined as the price states but a good unit and I liked the vertical door (local dealer is iffy at best). The C238 was tested but kind of out of it league with the others but a capable unit for its size, not considered in the end. The TL-12 is a beast and workhorse moving dirt (TL10 just a smaller version that is all) but still was not comfortable in the cab to me but liked the vertical door as with the SL95, local dealer treated me like I could not afford their equipment and we never did come to a final price but I did put the 12 on my final consideration list. I did not test the JD CTLs as the local dealer only wanted me to come to the dealership to test, not bring it to my property as everybody else did.
I ended up with the Bobcat 770 (870 was more than I needed) as it had most of all the features I wanted and it fit my farm use with a little outside work on the side. Any of the units is capable of doing what you want, so for me it came down to comfort in the unit, servicing dealer/support and then price for features wanted. The local dealer brought out units every time I told him I was testing the others so I would get a side by side comparison with Bobcat. I ended up with the 770 loaded with every option available including suspension undercarriage for several $K less than the next unit and due to the fact the local Bobcat dealer had a good reputation and a good history with me, other dealers not so much. The roller suspension is a nice ride over rough ground...
Really comes down to what is your gut telling you (wants and needs) and testing them, not what others think, they will not be using it, you will...
Legdoc
Senior Member
I used to take for granted reasonable Kubota support. Due to changes in management and a total cluster f74k on a recall service on my SVL-90 I will not go back to that dealer. As said many times on this site dealer support is of paramount importance. I now get all Kubota parts 100 miles away and they have an experiences service manager that is willing to help.
