Help to determine HP needed

[rmaa]

So we checked out a couple of dealers in the area. We are really getting the feeling for the Kubota. I always thought that the NH was less expensive than the Kubotas, but we had two dealers say the actually they are more. Plus, neither of them had hardly any in stock though they were willing to bring one in for us.

One tractor that we really like was the Kubota L3700 HST. With 66" loader (QA bucket), 4x4, and R4 tires they wanted $17,900 before tax. From what I can tell, that seems to be the going rate for that tractor, but if we decide to go with it, should I try to get him down more or throw in a bush hog with it? Or would that be pushing it?

I am terrible for negociating, so a little help here on what I should do

We will be going back again to test drive it some more before making a decision, but so far we are leaning towards the 3700

 

[Grandad4]

I'm thinking that's a pretty good price, but maybe someone who has done more recent shopping or bought that particular model could give you better advice. Regarding the bush hog, it's up to you, but you would probably get the chance to roll the bush hog purchase into your financing if you bought it as a package with the tractor. Maybe save a few $ also.

Two more suggestions, if you can work out the $ for them:

As long as you don't have a jungle with all kinds of low hanging branches to deal with, I would also suggest you get a ROPS mounted canopy. It's a few hundred $, but makes a real difference when working in the summer. I have one tractor with and one without a canopy, and I can tell you which one I prefer to use when it's hot and sunny.

And get a toothbar for the front edge of the loader. It will improve the digging ability of the FEL by at least 50%. Also a few extra bucks but well worth it.

The L3700 looks to be a good mid-size tractor. You'll get a lot of capability for your money. Good luck... you know pictures are expected upon delivery!

 

[kday64]

Just as an update, I went back to Kubota dealer and this is what I may be getting.
MX5100 HST
4x4
FEL
Box Grater
Rear Remote
Tires filled(Some Kind of Methanol mix or something, said it was kinda like the stuff you clean windows with)
All this for 28,000 out the door, tax and all.

BB,

Congratz! We are all not egerly awaiting picuters Good price as well!

~Kevin

 

[k0ua]

Thats a good price on the L3700 HST. I gave a little more than that for my L3400, and did not get the removeable bucket. I think you said the bucket was QA.. All the loaders are QA on this series. but it is worth the money if the bucket can come off easily to put on pallet forks. blades etc. Also make sure you get the cruise control. the L3400 comes with it but the L3700 is an $200 option.. even if you have to pay for it, get it., and oh get the drawbar also. again it comes with the L3400, but I think it is an option on the L3700. You need it too. You have chosen well, I think. I would have looked at LS and Kioti/Bobcat. But I havent made up my mind about them. They offer a lot of tractor for the money, but I worry about Dealer support and resale value. I just am not sure. LS is new, and I dont think they have a lot of dealer network yet, but they are growing, the other 2 have been here a long time. I am a R4 tire kind of guy, but in your situation, not worried about tearing up a lawn, you should probably get AG tires (R1) if you have a choice. All in all a good machine at a good price. my 2 cents.
James K0UA

I reread, your post, about the R4, they will be fine, I like mine but they are a compromise between best traction and least damage to the ground. But they are also more puncture resistant. Life is a compromise. but be sure to get that cruise control installed you are going to need it for the mowing.

 

[bigbull338]

ive got a MX5100 HST an it comes with cruise control.an you will love.mine has the R4 tires as well.

 

[rmaa]

Thats a good price on the L3700 HST. I gave a little more than that for my L3400, and did not get the removeable bucket. I think you said the bucket was QA.. All the loaders are QA on this series. but it is worth the money if the bucket can come off easily to put on pallet forks. blades etc. Also make sure you get the cruise control. the L3400 comes with it but the L3700 is an $200 option.. even if you have to pay for it, get it., and oh get the drawbar also. again it comes with the L3400, but I think it is an option on the L3700. You need it too. You have chosen well, I think.

I am a R4 tire kind of guy, but in your situation, not worried about tearing up a lawn, you should probably get AG tires (R1) if you have a choice. All in all a good machine at a good price. my 2 cents.
James K0UA

I reread, your post, about the R4, they will be fine, I like mine but they are a compromise between best traction and least damage to the ground. But they are also more puncture resistant. Life is a compromise. but be sure to get that cruise control installed you are going to need it for the mowing.

Sorry, I am still learning the terminology, The bucket is the removable bucket where you could change and put on forks or spear or something, like the skid steers.... I thought that QA loader was for the whole thing (which they all are like you said) and QA bucket was simply for the bucket like the quick attach for the skid steer.

Initially we wanted the Ag tires, because of the better traction, but I read here that the ply was more on the R4 (so less likely to puncture) and when we got to thinking about it, we will be driving a lot on the driveway (that we share with about 5 other homeowners) since we have property on both sides of the road, and we don't want to tear that up. Plus, we wouldn't likely be out bush hogging when the ground is too wet anyways, because we don't want to tear up the pasture..... I am sure there will be times when we wished we had Ag tires, and if we were to go with Ag tires, there will be times when we wished we had R4's.....


So before the year ended, we went ahead and decided on the package I state above. :thumbsup: We wanted to make sure we got the 0% financing and since we didn't know if they would extend it to this new year, we did everything before the year ended. Looking at it now, I see we still would have gotten it, though I am not positive since we are not financing the entire thing (what we are financing is under 10K, and at the bottom of the page it says that the max term right now is 48 months). I don't recall if Kubota had that before, but we were approved for the 60 months, which got our payments under $200.

We also got the Kubota insurance since in the past when we had my dad's tractor, we had neighbors asking to hire to cut their land too. Might be a good way to help pay for the tractor payments! At least a little bit!


The draw back is that we have to wait a couple of weeks. We really wanted that QA bucket and they didn't have any more in stock, so we are waiting for that to come in. The tractor is still in the box, so we will be getting one that hasn't been test driven by others!


As far as the cruise control.... I am not really sure we would use it considering our pastures are not flat and definitely are not straight. However, just to know, is that something that can be added later, if we decided we would like to have it?


Yeah, yeah, I know, I will post pics once it arrives :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

Initially we wanted the Ag tires, because of the better traction, but I read here that the ply was more on the R4 (so less likely to puncture) and when we got to thinking about it, we will be driving a lot on the driveway (that we share with about 5 other homeowners) since we have property on both sides of the road, and we don't want to tear that up. Plus, we wouldn't likely be out bush hogging when the ground is too wet anyways, because we don't want to tear up the pasture..... I am sure there will be times when we wished we had Ag tires, and if we were to go with Ag tires, there will be times when we wished we had R4's.....

Yeah, yeah, I know, I will post pics once it arrives :laughing:

Tire selection almost always seems to be a conundrum when a tractor is to be used for a variety of applications. We have tractors with all types of tires and for your application, I believe you will be happy with your choice. I have Industrials on my L5030 and the traction is excellent in everything but soft ground and mud; even then the traction is better than one might think.

 

[rmaa]

Tire selection almost always seems to be a conundrum when a tractor is to be used for a variety of applications. We have tractors with all types of tires and for your application, I believe you will be happy with your choice. I have Industrials on my L5030 and the traction is excellent in everything but soft ground and mud; even then the traction is better than one might think.

Thanks for the reassurance! I wish we had enough money to buy a tractor for each application :confused2: Until then, like you said, it is a single tractor for a variety of applications and I hope we are getting what we need!

 

[TripleR]

Thanks for the reassurance! I wish we had enough money to buy a tractor for each application :confused2: Until then, like you said, it is a single tractor for a variety of applications and I hope we are getting what we need!

We have several farms spread out with different terrain, so one tractor simply isn't an option for us. Some of our tractors are 60 years old with one having been bought new in 1955 by my father and another cost us a grand total of $1800 with yet another $2500, so it sounds more expensive than it really is.

 

[Grandad4]

"As far as the cruise control.... I am not really sure we would use it considering our pastures are not flat and definitely are not straight. However, just to know, is that something that can be added later, if we decided we would like to have it?"

If you're getting an HST model, I believe it will have cruise control built in. Handy for mowing or anything else where you go at a steady pace. On rough ground and when turning a lot, I find the foot pedal seems to work better. When the front tires hit a bump, you instinctively ease up a little before the back end does the same thing.