Kubota or LS

[Xc97700]

Okay here goes on this unfair comparison I am presenting. I previously owned an L3301 Kubota HST. Great machine but I out grew it and sold it.

I am currently on 55 Acre in Northern Michigan made up of rolling hills, hard woods and Red pines. Tractor will be used for personal firewood harvesting, trail maintenance/ new trails, food plots and other honey do items. Potential snow removal in the future

Kubota MX5400 HST (open cab)with loaded r4 tires
2 rear remotes
1 front remote on loader stick
7ft box blade
Loader with QA bucket
Block heater
$36500 w 6% sales tax and zero down 0% for 84 months plus KTAC Ins.

LS XR4150 HC with r4 loaded tires(cab model)
3 standard rear remotes
1 front remote on loader stick
6ft box blade
Loader with QA bucket
$36800 w 6% sales tax. I have not shopped financing

Kubota cab is additional 5k approx.

Thoughts, comments and concerns are welcome

Thx

 

[Peter 315]

Cab in the woods Ouch... I have no experience with LS but both great tractors.....

 

[Thomas]

Both are good makes but have you taken each model for test spin notice which one more comfortable to operate,also check out each dealer service department.

 

[fried1765]

Both are good makes but have you taken each model for test spin notice which one more comfortable to operate,also check out each dealer service department.

At TBN we are only here to help!
Why not get a size LARGE of one, and a SMALL of the other?:laughing:

 

[Thomas]

At TBN are only here to help!
Why not get a size LARGE of one, and a SMALL of the other?

----------------------
Just pointed out couple facts which just might come in handy down the road.
Long hours in seat you want to be comfortable also entering and exiting etc.
Doing little back ground check on service department could save one lot down time and money as some TBN tractor found out.

 

[mikester]

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/tym-tractors/423901-issue-getting-parts.html#post5706569

How is LS for finding parts? Around my neck of the woods the only dealers are Kubota, JD, MF, NH. If you cant find a critical part then you have a very expensive lawn ornament.

No service = no purchase IMHO

 

[jaydee325]

I agree a cab would be very nice. However, make sure you accurately evaluate the clearance necessary for the work you plan in the woods. Ever notice how heavily the operator station on forestry equipment is caged?

I own an LS R3039H (open station) and have no complaints what so ever. Very happy with it.

Make sure you operate both. And make sure you operate the Kubota with a cab before you commit. The MX series is billed as an economy tractor in the Kubota line. The LS XR series is a premium tractor in the LS line. So, make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

I see pricing as follows; The Kubota with cab is going to be $5000 more than the LS, but they offer 0%. How much is KTAC a year? The LS will have finance charges on the loan depending on interest rate. So the question becomes what is your total cost of each tractor at the end of the loan term?

 

[hks003]

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/tym-tractors/423901-issue-getting-parts.html#post5706569

How is LS for finding parts? Around my neck of the woods the only dealers are Kubota, JD, MF, NH. If you cant find a critical part then you have a very expensive lawn ornament.

No service = no purchase IMHO

If you have a new Holland dealer, you can get LS parts. At least for the models that have a new Holland equivalent. My LS G3038 is the same tractor as a NH workmaster 40. The users manual and parts manuals are even identical except for the logos and proprietary part numbers. I have an LS dealer in town, but if he doesn't have something in stock, I can go to the NH dealer in the town I work in and see if he has it.

 

[MaineGuy1]

Northern Michigan? I would go with the cab for sure. I have one tractor with no cab and now a tractor with a cab. I didn't realize how great the cab would be in the winter until I got one. For me it is a no brainer. I take mine in the woods and clear areas, I just make sure to pull or cut down any low hanging branches, not a big deal. I just ordered an EA grapple so this will make some of those branches much easier to get I have a bunch of buddies that have LS tractors and they love them, have had no problems with them. Do yourself a favor and get the cab

 

[paulfun9]

For 300 more you get a cab air in the summer and heat for in the winter when plowing or blowing snow and no awful single tredle peddle. The LS would most likely be on my trailer on the way to my place buy now!

 

[BRMyers]

I'm a big fan of the cab tractor. I have a Kubota and it has served me well. The cab is a very nice feature and makes dealing with the temperatures much nicer.

 

[Xc97700]

I’m am leaning toward the cab model.

KTAC is roughly $50 per month. I’ve heard it is worth it’s weight in gold.

When I look at financing for the LS I may be close to the same dollar amount for the Kubota with a cab.

With that being said at the end of the day same price with financing what would you do?

Kubota or LS?

 

[jaydee325]

LS was my choice.

Kubota has that awful treadle pedal (IMHO) for the hydrostatic drive. I never even considered Kubota or any other tractor with that setup when I shopped and ended up with my LS that has twin side by side pedals.

If either setup works for you, then go with comfort and dealer support. Both are good tractors.

 

[rgr33]

I have a Kubota (RTV 900) and an LS in my barn, both over 8years old, and both of them have been bulletproof for me. I don’t think you can make a bad decision here.
But living where you do, a cabbed tractor, with heat and ac would be pretty nice to have.

 

[riptides]

Cab...

You will not eat as many bugs, nor choke on a lot of dust. Also, sun protection.

 

[Racenut]

LS has been advertising 0% down for 84 months with 0 down. Though says "participating dealers only", so ask your local dealer about that one.

My local area, I had the same choice, Kubota or LS. The Kubota dealer isn't open on weekends when I'm most likely to need them. And the value of the LS was just hard to ignore. The local LS dealer was great to work with, and has techs on staff. But I know not all dealers are the same.

 

[Trillium Farm]

All the LS dealers I've seen (not too many here) did not have a service department or if there was one it was for small implements & machinery.
A 2nd point to be considered is resale value. IMO this is not even a contest, but a massacre.

 

[riptides]

In my immediate area, that's two hours via car one way, the dealerships just don't compare in size or numbers.

You have to start somewhere, but in the end your looking for value, dependability, service and possible resale.

Almost as bad as looking for a first SO. :smile: :shocked:

 

[Racenut]

I've not seen the resale value issue here. If an LS costs $5000 less than a Kubota at purchase, wouldn't it make sense that it cost less at resale? I've not noticed a significantly wider gap on used tractors. But I'm just one guy looking and in California where people are crazy.

 

[George2615]

I went with my LS cab tractor 6 years ago because 75-80% of my use is snow removal / plowing and they had the best price when I was shopping. Best move I made. Really enjoy plowing in a nice warm cab with the radio going. I did get insurance on the tractor which covers glass just in case I bust a window. So far I've had no problems with the tractor and have not been back to the dealer except to buy filters. Kubota brand is more well known but I went with LS because they have been building tractors for many years for other companies. New Holland, Massey Ferguson, McCormick, Farmtrac, and Montana come to mind.
Here a little history on LS
LS Tractors - Wikipedia