M7040 Options? Needs verses Wants...

[SanDucerro]

I'm "tractor shopping" for a new M7040 this week. I have quotes on 2WD and 4WD models - both with front end loaders. They look great on the dealers lot and certainly satisfy the "want" part of the equation - but I'd like a second set of eyes to assist with the "need" factor.

A little background first...

I currently have an L3130, no CAB, with a front end loader. I believe I've stretched the tractor to its limits. It's 10 years old, been outside all its life, and I've been pretty rough on it. I've used it to clear brush, knock down trees, plow the field (single bottom disc), and shred the pasture. Right now it's got two blown seals on the front end loader - a result of me doing something I should not have. Point is, the L3130 has been put through its paces.

10 years ago - when we bought the L3130 - I figured it was "tractor enough" to do what I needed. Truth be told, it was a bit on the small size for what I did with it - but it was doable. As life would have it - our "needs" have changed. I've now switched from dreaming of raising horses to actually planting grapes. So I suppose you could say I'm no longer a rancher, but rather a farmer.

As a "ranch" tractor the L3130 was OK, as a "farm" tractor it's under-powered. I keep running into PTO power requirements on the attachments I want to run that the little L3130 simply can't meet. In addition, I'm older now and I'm not at all happy with the amount of dirt/dust I "exhaust" from my body for several days after I shred. I've even got dirt coming out of my tear ducts in my eyes! So a CAB is an ABSOLUTE must.

Now for the questions...

4WD verses 2WD: My property is not "hilly" - for the most part it's gently rolling (if it's even that). I do have a slope in the back that begins near the middle and slopes down to the back of the property. The "slope" isn't aggressive, but it does drop a bit. I have 4WD on the L3130, but I only recall switching into 4WD twice in the 10 years I've owned it. Each time I switched to 4WD it was to uproot a small tree - and even then I didn't see that it helped all that much. As such, I'm not convinced I need 4WD. Is there a "need" I'm missing here in regards to 4WD?

Rear Remotes: I'm at a total loss here. My L3130 has nothing but a PTO shaft in the rear and other than being under-powered I've not ran into any issues. I envision a 3 board plow, a 7' disc, and a 10' to 15' rotary cutter in the future. What else am I missing that would require rear remotes? How many should I get - 2 or 3?

Front End Loader: I find the FEL to be useful, but wonder if it's actually needed. I'm not planning on trading in the L3130, so I would have its FEL to use if the need arose. However it sure seems like everyone has a FEL on their tractor (and finding one to buy that doesn't have a FEL may not even be probable). I use the FEL on the L3130 to carry things more than I use it to dig. As such, it's a pretty expensive tool box. What else am I missing here?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[KYDan]

It sounds that you have it pretty well covered and have answered your own questions.

 

[foreman Etexas]

As to the remotes if your running a single deck mower one would be fine but if going to have a batwing two's a must,three would allow you to control each wing seperate and raise/low deck.

 

[case245]

i have a 7040sud get 3 remotes you never know when you will need them i have my rear tires loaded and cast centers wieghts and the thing still to light i say if you can afford an 8540 i would go with that i wish i would have

 

[TripleR]

Tough one, I have found that what I once thought of as "wants" and not "needs", turned out to really be "needs" after I got them. Oftentimes if you have something, you will find a need for it you didn't realize.

I started out with no rear remotes and didn't miss them then bought a tractor that came with one; wow I really found I "needed" a hydraulic toplink. Our big tractor had two rear remotes and we only used one with our pull type land scraper and rotary cutter. When I bought my last tractor, I decided I needed top and tilt, so got three and now use a box scraper with hydraulic scarifiers; wow, I can also use it on our other tractor as it has two remotes we didn't "need" for years. So, I can only echo foreman Etexas.

You can just about count the number of ag tractors without MFWD on one hand in my area, so people seem to prefer them, we have both, but our 2WD are the much older models. We had a 2WD MF375 we bought new in 86 that wouldn't pull a 3 bottom plow or much of anything else, so traded it in on a MFWD one which we still own. Some people find a 2WD fine, but we much prefer something else.

We have a FEL on all the recent tractors we have bought, but use them frequently, many ag users, our renters as well only have them on one tractor and just keep a single tractor with a FEL.

I had to go to all cabs too and you will love it.

 

[SanDucerro]

You can just about count the number of ag tractors without MFWD on one hand in my area, so people seem to prefer them, we have both, but our 2WD are the much older models. We had a 2WD MF375 we bought new in 86 that wouldn't pull a 3 bottom plow or much of anything else, so traded it in on a MFWD one which we still own. Some people find a 2WD fine, but we much prefer something else.

What kept the 2WD from pulling the plow? Was it just not powerful enough, heavy enough, or did the lack of MFWD cause the issue? This is what concerns me the most. It appears to me that the M7040 has more than enough HP to pull the plow, but is it going to require/need the MFWD?

I'm pulling the single bottom with the L3130 (which is VERY slow going), and it does OK - not perfect, not quick, just OK. I do have areas where the plow "surfaces" and won't stay in ground, but for the most part it's doing what I expected - and this is in 2WD with a whopping 31HP. The ground is sandy loam for the most part and pretty easy to flip with the plow (except for the afore mentioned area). I'm thinking the M7040 - with it's superior HP and added weight - would make this all seem like childs play - even if I went with 2WD only. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[xring100]

First of all the 7040 is a great tractor i debated for a while once in centered on kubota to get a M7040 and M8540 in the end my wife knows how i think and told me to just get the larger model the extra money over 30 years is nothing
IF your current FEL is adequate for your needs you might not need the Loader on your new purchase. however consider this the LA1153 has at least 1000 lbs more lift capacity and 2.5 feet higher lift height, things you might have never considered moving lifting are now suddenly available to you. If you do opt for FEL though i consider 4wd a must unless your never leaving pavement. I have loaded tires and generally 500 - 1500 lbs hanging on the 3 point depending on what i'm moving. and still need 4wd when moving in and out of piles or trying to back up on any kind of grade. In fact even with an empty bucket if the grounds is wet i need to engage 4wd to back up the drive to my barn which does not have much slope to it at all. You mention that 4wd didn't seem to help before when you engaged it this would definitely be different on a M7040 or larger as you get the added benefit of the Limited slip so with Diff lock on you can spin all 4 tires. With the extra weight and LSD you could push over much larger trees than your current tractor.

For brush hogging you mention a 15' in that case your going to probably want to step up to an m8540/8560 to get the hp you need 5 hp/ft puts you at 75 pto hp. You could easily pull a 10 ft with the 7040.

For plowing my buddy has an old john deere 3 bottom plow that someone cut to make a 2 bottom plow. I am on mostly clay the field had not been turned in 30 years the first time we tried to plow it my buddies 2wd JD2040 made it about 6ft with the plow 4 inches bellow grade before he lost traction. I hooked up to it and tried pulling in 2wd thinking i had twice the weight. I could'nt pull the plow any deeper than about 5-6" in 2wd engaged 4wd and went to town but still managed to be underpowered in 4th gear about 4.8 mph and under tractioned in 3rd gear at 3.5 mph to plow 10" in some spots just had to let draft control do its thing its the only time i wish i had bought the 12 speed. When we plowed it in the fall there were no problems turning it over as it was not compacted.

Consider Cast centers and loaded tires i wish i had opted for cast centers on my M8540. as far as remotes i would get at least 2 but 3 would be useful with a box scraper or back blade if you have top n tilt or a back blade with 2 circuits. Nice thing is that if you only get 1 or 2 you can add another in under 2 hours. If you get the FEL consider 3rd function this is on my wish list for a grapple and someday a snow plow for power angle.

 

[xring100]

Forgot to mention around here a newer 2wd is probably going to be a much tougher sell and at much more of a loss than a 4wd no one seems to want 2wd's anymore. I don't remember the last time i've seen a new 60 - 100 hp tractor for sale on any of the dealer lots. I've seen some of the dot mowing crews use 2wd but most of the time they are also 4wd

 

[TripleR]

What kept the 2WD from pulling the plow? Was it just not powerful enough, heavy enough, or did the lack of MFWD cause the issue? This is what concerns me the most. It appears to me that the M7040 has more than enough HP to pull the plow, but is it going to require/need the MFWD?

I'm pulling the single bottom with the L3130 (which is VERY slow going), and it does OK - not perfect, not quick, just OK. I do have areas where the plow "surfaces" and won't stay in ground, but for the most part it's doing what I expected - and this is in 2WD with a whopping 31HP. The ground is sandy loam for the most part and pretty easy to flip with the plow (except for the afore mentioned area). I'm thinking the M7040 - with it's superior HP and added weight - would make this all seem like childs play - even if I went with 2WD only. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

We have what is often referred to here for some reason as "buckshot clay" and it really takes some power to turn. Our 72HP 375 just spun the rear tires while creeping forward and they were loaded. In loam soils it would have done fine. I brought one of our tractors up from another farm to hook onto the plow as we had farmed with it, different soil, and it just spun the tires too.

Look on some Ag sites and others on desired performance, wheel slip, fuel efficiency etc., it is more complicated than one would think. I know you are not running the same kind of equipment that a regular row cropper would, but I prefer pulling plows etc in MFWD, getting less wheel slip and overall performance.

Yes, with Ag tires and sufficient weight, fluid in the tires, weights etc. you can probably pull a three bottom plow in your soil, but having MFWD opens up possibilities of no till drills, bigger disks etc.; never know what you will wind up doing and I look at a tractor as a lifetime investment. Some of ours are close to sixty years old.

No I don't wear a belt AND suspender, I just like to look ahead.

 

[xring100]

What kept the 2WD from pulling the plow? Was it just not powerful enough, heavy enough, or did the lack of MFWD cause the issue? This is what concerns me the most. It appears to me that the M7040 has more than enough HP to pull the plow, but is it going to require/need the MFWD?

I'm pulling the single bottom with the L3130 (which is VERY slow going), and it does OK - not perfect, not quick, just OK. I do have areas where the plow "surfaces" and won't stay in ground, but for the most part it's doing what I expected - and this is in 2WD with a whopping 31HP. The ground is sandy loam for the most part and pretty easy to flip with the plow (except for the afore mentioned area). I'm thinking the M7040 - with it's superior HP and added weight - would make this all seem like childs play - even if I went with 2WD only. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

What kind of soil do you have if your a sandy loam you might be okay but I'm severely traction limited in 2wd to pull a 2 bottom plow in soil that has'nt been turned in a long time. I would like to get a 3 bottom plow next

 

[SDT]

What kept the 2WD from pulling the plow? Was it just not powerful enough, heavy enough, or did the lack of MFWD cause the issue? This is what concerns me the most. It appears to me that the M7040 has more than enough HP to pull the plow, but is it going to require/need the MFWD?

I'm pulling the single bottom with the L3130 (which is VERY slow going), and it does OK - not perfect, not quick, just OK. I do have areas where the plow "surfaces" and won't stay in ground, but for the most part it's doing what I expected - and this is in 2WD with a whopping 31HP. The ground is sandy loam for the most part and pretty easy to flip with the plow (except for the afore mentioned area). I'm thinking the M7040 - with it's superior HP and added weight - would make this all seem like childs play - even if I went with 2WD only. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

MFWD is of VERY little use when plowing.

Proper set up, ballast and working draft control are entirely different matters.

SDT

 

[SDT]

Do not even consider 2WD if you plan to install a FEL, now or in the future.

Save the FEL cost if you are planning to keep the 3130/FEL.

Though most folks do not need MFWD (non loader use), few, aside from those with real ag experience, realize it and late model 2WD tractors do not sell well.

If you do not know what rear hydraulic remotes are needed for, you do not need them. If circumstances change in the future, you can add them later, albeit at increased expense.

Even a FWA 7040 is not adequate for a fully mounted HD 10 1/2' rotary cutter without 800 lbs or so of front weight and marginal on power unless you plan to avoid heavy cover and/or do not plan to travel as fast as the mower will cut properly. Do not even consider a 15' cutter unless you are mowing IDEAL conditions and have lots of time to mow.

SDT

 

[SanDucerro]

What kind of soil do you have if your a sandy loam you might be okay but I'm severely traction limited in 2wd to pull a 2 bottom plow in soil that has'nt been turned in a long time. I would like to get a 3 bottom plow next

It's sandy loam - just hasn't been turned in forever. We've had the property for over ten years and it was cow pasture for many, many years before we bought it. My best guess is that it's been 20 years since it was last turned. Having said that - I'm not having an issue with flipping it using the single bottom plow on the L3130 - it just takes forever. However, I want to disc it next and I have a feeling a disc with sufficent width to cover the tracks of the L3130 (70" - it's got R4 tires) is gonna kill the tractor.

In reading a lot of the replies, it seems future considerations are what most are concerned with (me too). Frankly, except for the disc harrow - I think the current tractor could finish what I need done this year. As for rotary width - well, a 15' rotary cutter is what I dream about when I'm shreding with the 5' Bush Hog I have now. The total acreage isn't all that large, so a 10' cutter behind the M7040 would easily surfice and still get the job done in half the time. There are areas in my pasture where the 5' Bush Hog on the L3130 will come to a complete hault due to the thickness of the grass - requiring me to lift the deck and lower back down again REAL slow. I have hopes the M7040 will not have this issue, but I can see where I might have issues if I go too large on a new shredder.

 

[foreman Etexas]

It's sandy loam - just hasn't been turned in forever. We've had the property for over ten years and it was cow pasture for many, many years before we bought it. My best guess is that it's been 20 years since it was last turned. Having said that - I'm not having an issue with flipping it using the single bottom plow on the L3130 - it just takes forever. However, I want to disc it next and I have a feeling a disc with sufficent width to cover the tracks of the L3130 (70" - it's got R4 tires) is gonna kill the tractor.

In reading a lot of the replies, it seems future considerations are what most are concerned with (me too). Frankly, except for the disc harrow - I think the current tractor could finish what I need done this year. As for rotary width - well, a 15' rotary cutter is what I dream about when I'm shreding with the 5' Bush Hog I have now. The total acreage isn't all that large, so a 10' cutter behind the M7040 would easily surfice and still get the job done in half the time. There are areas in my pasture where the 5' Bush Hog on the L3130 will come to a complete hault due to the thickness of the grass - requiring me to lift the deck and lower back down again REAL slow. I have hopes the M7040 will not have this issue, but I can see where I might have issues if I go too large on a new shredder.

I can only suggest to you to spend the extra on the 4x4,from my experience owning two,it makes these tractor alot more capiable to get stuff done. If its price step down to the 6040 with 4x4,it would be fine with a 10ft mower.How much land are we talking about mowing? If the grass is that thick, maybe think about baling it,running livestock on it, or other options. I had a 5040(4x4)before I bought my last 7040,it was also capiable of doing alot like pull a 15ft batwing...
Im am currently selling the 8ft shredder(purchased with the 5040)i have to buy new 15ft batwing to use behind the 7040,(the other batwing was my father-in-laws).

 

[SanDucerro]

If its price step down to the 6040 with 4x4,it would be fine with a 10ft mower.How much land are we talking about mowing? If the grass is that thick, maybe think about baling it,running livestock on it, or other options. I had a 5040(4x4)before I bought my last 7040,it was also capiable of doing alot like pull a 15ft batwing...

Price isn't the issue. The M7040 fully loaded is only $1906 more than the M6040. I figure the M7040 is worth the extra. Total acreage is 18+, of that we'll have 5 in vines this year and another 5 planned for the future. We'll also have several acres in food plots in 2014. The rest will remain pasture or be manicured for visitor access.

 

[case245]

i would step up to the 8540 if i were you its 2k more then the 7040 its a larger frame tractor it has a 1353 fel compared to the 1153 of the 7040 the 7040 would not lift a pallet of road salt to load in my truck i had to put it on the ground roll the bucket back they still struggled to lift it the 3pt on the 7040 lift 3300ibs the 8540 with the ex cylinders will lift 7200 ibs

 

[SanDucerro]

The more I toss this around the more I realize the "wants" out weigh the "needs". But a CAB is most definately a need - it's not a "want" as I originally mentioned. The dust and dirt is literally killing me when I'm out on the tractor (and the heat in the summer ain't fun either), so we're going to a CAB.

With that in mind I ran through the Kubota build site last night and priced out everything with a CAB that would work. Leaving a FEL off I come up with the following MSRP numbers:

M7040 $41,866 - 71HP / 64 PTO
M6040 $39,960 - 63HP / 56 PTO
M5140 $37,500 - 52HP / 46 PTO
L5240 $38,639 - 54HP / 45 PTO
L4740 $36,554 - 49HP / 41.5 PTO
L3240 $28,951 - 34 HP / 26.5 PTO

These are all priced in 4WD but without a front end loader.

In reviewing these numbers I would not consider the L3240 as it only gets me a CAB - no real power increase from my L3130. That takes me up to the L4740 as the next option, but it's a HUGE jump in price and I'm really wanting a minimum of 50 PTO HP. I can get close to 50 PTO with the M5140, and that might be the "right" tractor for my current needs. The problem is, it's only $4366 less than the M7040 and it doesn't address future needs. I made the mistake of buying the "right" tractor the first time when I bought the L3130. This time I want room to grow. The extra $4366 isn't any where near the cost of making a second mistake and having to buy a third tractor. But, having said that - I can find no known justifcation for going beyond the M7040. So, my thought is the M7040 is quite a bit more than I need today - but I'll grow into it over time. I just need to finalize "want" verses "need" within the M7040 itself...

 

[SanDucerro]

i would step up to the 8540 if i were you its 2k more then the 7040 its a larger frame tractor it has a 1353 fel compared to the 1153 of the 7040 the 7040 would not lift a pallet of road salt to load in my truck i had to put it on the ground roll the bucket back they still struggled to lift it the 3pt on the 7040 lift 3300ibs the 8540 with the ex cylinders will lift 7200 ibs

Interesting... This is why I started this thread to begin with. I looked up the weight of a pallet of rock salt and found they generally come loaded as 100 bags of 25 lbs or 49 bags of 50 lbs. Using the heavier of the two, we get 2500 pounds to a pallet of rock salt. The LA1153 FEL for the M7040 is rated at 2326 lbs, so it stands to reason you were over the limit. Not by much, but over none the less. The LA1353 for the M8540 is rated at 2866 lbs - so a pallet of rock salt should be within it's limits. I have no idea what the "real world" implications are of these figures - I'm just quoting web sites.

Now - this got me to thinking about the weight of the heaviest item I might lift - and that's a pallet of grapes - which just so happens to be sold by the TON. So, there is a possibility I would need to lift 2000 lbs plus the container they ship in - which is plastic so add another 50 lbs. That brings me to 2050 lbs on a loader rated at 2326. That's pretty tight... I had originally intended to purchase a fork lift for this work, but perhaps the FEL could same me that expense. Having said that - a used fork lift is likely to be less than or no more than the cost of a FEL...

 

[case245]

some of the bags were frozen so i figured 2500ibs the skid weighted and i think the 8540 is 500 ibs heavier then the 7040 i would recommed the power shuddle the mech shuddle gets tire some real fast

 

[foreman Etexas]

The more I toss this around the more I realize the "wants" out weigh the "needs". But a CAB is most definately a need - it's not a "want" as I originally mentioned. The dust and dirt is literally killing me when I'm out on the tractor (and the heat in the summer ain't fun either), so we're going to a CAB.

With that in mind I ran through the Kubota build site last night and priced out everything with a CAB that would work. Leaving a FEL off I come up with the following MSRP numbers:

M7040 $41,866 - 71HP / 64 PTO
M6040 $39,960 - 63HP / 56 PTO
M5140 $37,500 - 52HP / 46 PTO
L5240 $38,639 - 54HP / 45 PTO
L4740 $36,554 - 49HP / 41.5 PTO
L3240 $28,951 - 34 HP / 26.5 PTO

These are all priced in 4WD but without a front end loader.

In reviewing these numbers I would not consider the L3240 as it only gets me a CAB - no real power increase from my L3130. That takes me up to the L4740 as the next option, but it's a HUGE jump in price and I'm really wanting a minimum of 50 PTO HP. I can get close to 50 PTO with the M5140, and that might be the "right" tractor for my current needs. The problem is, it's only $4366 less than the M7040 and it doesn't address future needs. I made the mistake of buying the "right" tractor the first time when I bought the L3130. This time I want room to grow. The extra $4366 isn't any where near the cost of making a second mistake and having to buy a third tractor. But, having said that - I can find no known justifcation for going beyond the M7040. So, my thought is the M7040 is quite a bit more than I need today - but I'll grow into it over time. I just need to finalize "want" verses "need" within the M7040 itself...

I paid 40,000 7040cab/4x4/snyc.shuttle/ldr/2remotes/bigger front tires and believe the hyd.shuttle was 42,800. The 8560 was 46,750 hyd.shuttle/4x4/ldr,these prices 5mnths old...
I will add that I unload several tons of feed a year on pallets,thats why I added the bigger front tires cause I dont like the ones that they come with. newest one on right....