Comparison 1999 Kubota L4200DT vs. 2004 Kubota L3130HST vs. 2016 Mahindra ProMax 26XLB

[ducatiduke]

Hi! I am a virgin to tractors. I did not grow up around them nor use them. I am a good with my hands though and do the maintenance work on my cars... I have also diagnosed too many odd stuff on my cars (I love the Internet and car forums) that I want to admit... I like to troubleshoot things and get my hands dirty. So I am planning on working on my new tractor. We finally moved into a place after a few properties fell through and are on 3 acres! Yea... I am now hunting for tractors. I am currently looking at the following - all with oader and backhoes...
1999 Kubota L4200DT 4x4 Compact Tractor with a little under 2000 hours
2004 Kubota L3130HST 4x4 Compact Tractor with a little under 2800 hours
2016 Mahindra ProMax 26XLB 4x4 Tractor with a little under 300 hours
We are going to put 100' mare motel in for 6 10 horses, an arena (20X40 meters), a 20 meter round pen, and a few other turnouts with 3 rail pipe fencing in. So I want to purchase an auger for all of the holes that I need to dig. I am also going to move/transplant some younger trees and do a bunch of gardening. Finally, we are also looking to purchase a tr3 arena drag (TR3® ESeries Arena Drag by ABI Equine® >>> Best Selling Arena Equipment).
I am leaning toward the Mahindra because it is smaller, newer and has less hours. My concern is it "strong" enough for all of the things I mention? The drag says it recommends at least 23 hp, while the Mahindra says it has 25.6 hp but I was told they really suggest more power... I want to say the rep I spw at abi attachments said he suggested at least 28 hp. So, I am a little hesitant. What does everyone think on this?

 

[Doc Snerdley]

The manufacturer recommendations on arena drags tend to be a bit optimistic, and assume everyone has followed the guidelines similar to those of Penn State: Riding Arena Footing Material Selection and Management The reality is that most of us have arenas built up over time that work for our purpose, and they are a heavier loam/dirt with less soft sand than recommended by the experts (afterall horses poop and it converts to a packed dirt). Therefore I would be looking for at least 36 taxable engine horsepower for the groomer you are considering. I also do not know where you are located, but if in the US make sure you have a very good dealer support for what you purchase. Also do not overlook tractors from Massey, Challenger, and LS. Get seat time in what you are considering, some tractors are much easier handling and have better ergonomics than others, and you do not want to end up with a price compromise you detest in a year.

 

[Wolfy]

My neighbor has a Kubota 4200 FST and it is a brute. The only thing I would say, is keep in mind you need to stop to shift it from low to high range. That would not bother me, but others could not tolerate it.

 

[nybirdman]

I owned a L3130 HST,nice tractor but a little down on power for a Back-hoe.The L4200Dt would be my choice of the three mentioned,the Mahindra is out classed by a lot.

 

[ericm979]

It's common to have to stop to change ranges. In compact tractors they usually don't put synchros on the range transmission. A three range transmission is more useful than a two range one. For the OP's use I'd get an HST tractor. Much easier to use for loader work and in close quarters like a barn. Also easier for beginners to operate.

Will you be lifting bales? If so what size?

The OP didn't mention back hoe. If he wants one he should price it. The factory ones are usually expensive and hard to find used. There's also generic three point back hoes, some of which use their own hydraulic pump off the PTO rather than the tractor's pump, which may be too small. But they stress the tractor chassis.

 

[ducatiduke]

Good point on the HST... Regarding lifting bales, no. Actually, i did say they all had back hoes and I really want to have one for transplanting trees, trench work, etc. One question is how hard are they to take off the L4200DT and L3130? Is it a major pain or semi? I do not think i am going to be swapping them out often but am curious to know this... BTW, I can't thank everyone's replies!

 

[nybirdman]

Kubota factory back-hoes come off pretty easy;what-ever tractor you purchased(equipped with a bh) you may have to purchase the three point parts if not included.They are not cheap.

 

[Grandad4]

I am leaning toward the Mahindra because it is smaller, newer and has less hours. My concern is it "strong" enough for all of the things I mention? The drag says it recommends at least 23 hp, while the Mahindra says it has 25.6 hp but I was told they really suggest more power... I want to say the rep I spw at abi attachments said he suggested at least 28 hp. So, I am a little hesitant. What does everyone think on this?

You are really comparing very different machines... about like comparing a Ford Ranger (Mahindra) and an F250 (L4200 and L3130). The bigger machines both have a fair number of hours, but should still have many years of useful life if they have been properly maintained.

It takes both weight and power to effectively pull a TR3 drag, which is somewhat reflected in the TR3 specifications. Either of the Kubota's would be better suited for that work than the Max26, which is pretty small to do that work adequately.

Backhoes come in many different sizes, a couple of different types, and OEM factory vs aftermarket, so you'll need to look at the details of what each machine comes with to make a valid comparison. The larger and stronger the backhoe, the more it will do, but it also costs more, of course. The Max comes with a 6 1/2 ft. backhoe (digging depth), I think. The Kubota backhoe for an L4200 was an BH4690, which was a 7 ft. size, but unfortunately was mounted to the 3 point system instead of having a subframe mount, making it a lighter-duty attachment. The Kubota backhoe for the L3130 was a BH90, a 9 ft. beast that weighed about 2,000 lbs. and capable of serious work. Among these possibilities, the BH90 wins by a country mile, even though the L3130 would work a bit to drive around with all that iron hanging off the back.

The backhoe adds a lot to the cost, both new and used. If you really need one, and the L3130 has the factory hoe, you should take a serious look at it. If you aren't quite that desperate for a backhoe, the L4200 would give you more power to pull the TR3 around. If you can get by without the backhoe and the L4200 looks pretty tired, you might find foregoing the backhoe would put you in a better tractor for the same money.

 

[ducatiduke]

Great feedback... The L4200 has a 4690 backhoe and the L3130 has a Woods BH90X.... Because the Woods is a subframe mount, would it be harder to take off and on vs the 4690? Also, I just found Kioti LK3054 4X4 KL1231 Loader KB2376 backhoe. From what i have read, this is an ok unit and might do the trick. What are your thoughts on Kioti's?

 

[Grandad4]

Attaching/removing a 3 point backhoe is generally more difficult than doing likewise with a subframe type, counterintuitive as it may seem.

The Woods BH90X is a very respectable 9 footer that would be competitive with the factory backhoe in general performance. The Woods and other non-factory backhoes are made as a generic design, with a customized subframe to fit each specific model of tractor. This is often not quite as well integrated with the tractor, but a Woods BH90X is still a very good choice.

Kioti is a popular Korean-built tractor with a good reputation. That particular model is just a bit smaller than the Kubota's you've mentioned, but still very capable, although it looks like it only has a 7 ft. backhoe. Definitely worth checking it out.

Size matters with backhoes. Not only is a larger hoe stronger, you also do your work faster because you don't need to re-position the tractor as often while you dig. Re-positioning is not such a big deal with a real commercial backhoe that has a swivel seat operator station, but these add-on backhoes have their own separate seat, meaning you've got to get out of the BH seat, go to the tractor seat, move the tractor and then change back to the BH seat every time you need to relocate. More reach means fewer moves.

Regarding brands, lots of people have their own brand preferences (it's a Ford vs. Chevy thing), but truth be told, there's good equipment offered by just about any of the major brands. Obviously, getting the right size tool for the jobs at hand is critical, but with used equipment, finding something that's been carefully used and maintained, irrespective of brand, should also be a top priority. Just an opinion.