4330 or Used 5030

[Western_NYer]

I have been looking at purchasing a Kubota 5030 for a while now. I recently located a used 2004 5030 with about 300 hours on it. The price on the used one would be about 4500 less than a brand new one similarly equipped. My dilemma is whether to buy the used 5030 or purchase a brand new 4330 which is about 3500 less than the brand new 5030. I tend to like to buy things new with the warranty in place but I am wondering if there are things that I will not be able to do with the 4330 that I could do with the used 5030. I have 180 acres in Allegany County, New York and the tractor would be used for bushogging approximately 20 acres a couple times a year and planting food plots on approximately 10 acres. At some point I might think about renting a no till drill for the food plots and I have heard they are pretty heavy so I am not sure if there is a big difference in the weight that can be lifted at the rear between the 5030 and the 4330. Otherwise pretty normal stuff like clearing brush and saplings etc. Would like to eventually get a grapple for it for the front end loader. Any thoughts on limitations of the 4330 against the 5030 would be greatly appreciated.

 

[riptides]

Well, to me 300 hours in two model years is *like* new,

I'd have to say that 4.3k less than price would sway me. Heck, most stuff I had new, either self-destructed in two years or broke in right.

Tough choice, but I'd lean to the 5030.... and put the 1 k "saved" towards your grapple.



Good luck,

-Mike Z.

 

[Runk]

my 2 cents:
first of all you have not told us what trans you are considering.
from all the discussion on here it is pretty clear that if you are buying a 4330 with HST you will suffer for power. take that into consideration. the 4330 with GST (which I have) is pretty good on power.
if we are talking 3 to 5 thousand dollar difference i would think you can wheel and deal at the dealer, get a new 5030 with the setup you want and all of the attachments you want and come out in good shape financially. probably it would be close to evening out.
assuming you have no idea how the previous owner maintained or drove that used tractor, there is some risk at the 300 hours. how often did the previous owner grease that machine? did it get the hydraulic oil change on time? how often did the engine oil get changes? how do you know??
I'd much rather have the peace of mind knowing my tractor is new, under new warranty, and being maintained correctly from the getgo.
again, just my 2 cents.
best,
max

 

[InlineDieselFan]

Is the 5030 for sale at a dealership or private sale?

On the used 5030, was it dealer maintained?

Does the owner have records, receipts for filters and such.

300 hours is not much on a tractor, look for any signs of real hard use on the 5030.

If the 5030 does not seem to have had a hard 300 hours put on it, I would try to get them to come down even more, and if at a dealership have them throw in a 30 or 90 day warranty.

180 acres is a lot of land, when you get a tractor you will find more and more to do so IMHO bigger is better.

steve

 

[machmeter62]

We need more info on the used 2004 Kubota 5030: To give you a better response; we need more information. What tires (R-1's-TURF'S, or R-4's) Also, GST, HST, or GEAR TRANSMISSION? And why is he/she (pvt party?) selling, after two years of ownership? The more info we get, the more piece of mind you will have on your purchase with our feedback! Loader included????

Also, for that amount of acreage, BIGGER IS BETTER!

 

[Western_NYer]

In response to the requests for more info both the new 4330 and the used 5030 have the HST transmission. The HST is the main reason I am going with the L class instead of the new M class. This will be my first tractor and I want it to be as simple to operate for both me and my wife and father in law as possible. The used tractor is at a dealership and I believe it has been maintained by that dealership. It does not look to have been used hard other than the tires are showing a little wear but I don't really know if the wear is unusual for that many hours or not. Otherwise a little rust on the bucket and obviously the hydraulic hoses don't look new but again I don't know that they don't look normal for that amount of time. It may be a sign that the tractor was left outside as opposed to stored in a barn or enclosure. The used 5030 has Ags and the new 4330 would have industrial tires unless I make them switch them out for Ags. I would probably prefer Ags since most of my work is going to be in fields brushogging and food plotting but the sales guy at the dealership for the new tractor told me that they really don't order many tractors with Ags on them because everyone wants industrial tires and since they are so close I assume that everyone buying from them has the same type of terrain that I have (hills but not too steep). My understanding from the dealer on the used tractor is that the existing owner is a doctor that trades out to a new tractor every two years for tax purposes. Any additional thoughts are appreciated. In addition to the horsepower difference I understand that the 5030 has the option of category I and II implements where the 4330 only takes category I implements. Is there any significance to this? Thanks as always for all of the thoughtful responses.

 

[MadReferee]

We need more info on the used 2004 Kubota 5030: To give you a better response; we need more information. What tires (R-1's-TURF'S, or R-4's) Also, GST, HST, or GEAR TRANSMISSION?

According to the Kubota web site and pricing books, the Grand L5030 does NOT come with a gear transmission. Just GST or HST.

 

[npaden]

I was looking at about the same tractors you are looking at. I ended up finding a 1996 L4200 GST (45 hp) with 925 hours for a really good price ($12,000) and jumped on it.

I still find myself wishing that I had bought a 5030 sometimes because the L4200 has a lower lift capacity on the FEL and I've found a few rocks on my place that it won't pick up. Now I realize that I would still find some rocks that I wouldn't be able to pickup with the 5030 but I still sometimes wish for a bigger tractor.

Of course having the $12,000 in my pocket to spend on other things was nice too.

It will be a tough decision I'm sure.

 

[art]

I wonder why the fellow traded the 5030 in! That might tell you more if it might have been to small for what the use was for. If it was it might have been used to it's fullest and then some from time to time. Ask to talk to the prior owner! The 5030 should do fine for you and the ag's are not the fastest movers on that series of tractors because many choose to use them for lawn work and they will mark more then the industrial tires. For training, safety and different operators you are right that the hydro is the easiest to learn.

 

[Western_NYer]

Decided to buy the used 5030. Does $21,000 sound like a good price for a 2004 L5030HST with a front end loader and Ag tires with less than 300 hours. Probably going to buy a brush hog, roto tiller and grapple to go with it. I don't think it has the quick attach bucket. Can that be added now or did it have to be ordered with the tractor from the factory? Don't know about whether the tires are filled or not either. Again can this be done now or did it have to be done at the time the tractor was originally ordered.

 

[npaden]

You can get the tires filled anytime. You can get the quick attach bucket anytime also, but it is going to cost you. You might see if they can work that in as part of the deal if you think you will be using the front loader with a hay spear or pallet forks very often. Also does it have any remotes?

$21,000 sounds like a decent deal to me, not a red hot smoking deal though.

 

[Runk]

since you are buying hst the 5030 is better, imho....
sounds like the doctor left the tractor outside. hmmmm.
with as much land as you have the R1 tires would be the chioce i'd choose.
wonder if the used 5030 has been maintained properly.????hmmmm.
that price (i am in calif) sounds highish, but not bad...altho for the cost dif i would go for a new 5030. yr just not saving enuf $$ over the long haul to justify buying that used tractor. again, just my opinion.
one thing that comes to mind is to see if you can at least get the dealer to throw in a COMPLETE service.
all that being said, dont forget to go with a TnT and if at all possible a 4in1 bucket. (quik attach fel goes without saying).
good luck to you, let us know how you fare.
max

 

[machmeter62]

R-1 tires are at least $400 less, less than R-4's, and R-1's also offer greater traction, if that is an issue with hills and wet conditions? I have both types, on my tractors, and in muddy conditions, the R-4's become "slicks," with very little traction!! If possible get some over the phone quotes on a new 5030, but now being replaced by the 5040, I believe, and base your decision on the purchase of the used one with that info. I understand there is still new 5030's available at some dealers?? Give CARVERS TRACTORS a call, (they have a web site also, with great prices on new and used Kubota tractors), talk to them, and you will know for sure if the used deal is fair. They also advertise on this site. Good luck!