Buying Advice First tractor - Kubtoa vs John Deere

[derekn]

I'm looking to buy my first tractor. I've got about 10 acres that needs to be mowed at least once a year (for fire prevention), and I'll probably end up doing at least part of it more often than that. From talking to local friends (and the guy I've been paying to mow it the last couple years), I'm planning to go with a flail. I've also got a bunch of miscellaneous utility work that will make good use of a loader. And in the long run, I'll probably want a tiller and/or disc harrow. And maybe a post hole auger. And probably lots of other things I haven't even thought of

Multiple people have told me that harvest lease returns are the best way to go.

Anyway, I talked to two local dealers -- one handles Kubota and New Holland, the other is John Deere. Here's what they ended up quoting me:

Kubota L3901 (30.6 PTO hp), 4WD, HST

• lease return (100-150 hrs)
• Kubota LA525 loader, 66" bucket
• Landpride FM2172 72" flail mower
• third function valve kit

John Deere 4105 (32.5 PTO hp), 4WD, HST

• new
• John Deere H165 loader, 73" bucket
• Braber EFCG175F 68" flail mower

I mentioned that one of my friends has a 4-in-1 bucket that he loves, and the Kubota dealer suggested that I might prefer a grapple (so that's another potential future purchase). The third function valve kit requires installation at the dealer, so he added that into the quote. I forgot to ask the Deere dealer about that.

The prices are really close (the Deere is $700 more) - they're both within my budget.

The Kubota has a 3-range HST, the Deere is 2-range. Some of the comments here suggest that 3 ranges comes in really handy.

The Deere doesn't have a fold-down ROPS, but I have a 10' door, so I don't think that matters.

The Deere is obviously a little more powerful. Looking through catalogs, it seems like the implements I might want to buy tend to require 25+ hp at the PTO, so I'm thinking 30 hp will be fine.

The Deere has an older diesel engine without the filtration stuff, which I guess is a good thing? Then again, getting a less polluting engine also seems like a good idea.

I'm leaning toward the Kubota. I felt like the John Deere dealer was pushing me toward equipment he wanted to get rid of (only two 4105s left on the lot, and then they're gone! great deal on this Braber flail!), while the Kubota dealer quoted exactly what I asked for (lease return).

Should I go with my gut feel here, or is there some reason to prefer the Deere?

 

[ultrarunner]

I've had very good luck with my L3800 Kubota lease return...

Have you been able to spend any seat time in either?

 

[Tractorable]

Kubota. The L3901 is kind of bare bones. Have you considered the L4701, MX4800, or a Grand L?

 

[derekn]

Have you been able to spend any seat time in either?

No, I haven't. To be honest, I wouldn't really know what to look for. I'm completely new to the tractor game.

I've spent a little time on the neighbor's tractor, and on another friend's tractor, but that's it. This will be a learning experience for me.

 

[derekn]

The L3901 is kind of bare bones. Have you considered the L4701, MX4800, or a Grand L?

I'm not sure I want to move up to something more expensive. Can you expand on what you mean by "bare bones"? What is the L3901 missing?

 

[jeff9366]

With ten acres you may find traveling your property with a two-speed HST very tedious.

 

[jeff9366]

No, I haven't. To be honest, I wouldn't really know what to look for. I'm completely new to the tractor game.

I've spent a little time on the neighbor's tractor, and on another friend's tractor, but that's it. This will be a learning experience for me.

The operating station on standard L tractors is a little tight for men six feet tall and taller, especially if you will spend a lot of hours in the seat. Go "try one on." You do not need any prior experience to know if it is comfortable to you.

Kubota standard L tractors are high sales volume Kubota models. Not real heavy but reliable and adequate for ten acres as a first tractor.

Kubota MX is the next heavier model after the standard L. MX is spartan.

Four cylinder "Grand L's" share the same heavy chassis with MX series but come with every option standard.
Dream tractors.....but you have to pay.....

MX and all Grand L's have spacious operating stations.

WE EXCEL AT SPENDING YOUR MONEY HERE.

 

[BigBoyToys]

Here's a couple good videos reviewing the L and the MX series.
Both are Messick's Equipment videos which are pretty good.

L... Kubota Standard L-Series. L251 L331 L391 L471 features and operation. - YouTube
MX... Kubota MX series walk around and features by Messicks. | MX48 MX52 MX58 - YouTube

I picked up a B3030 used, which fits my needs. At the time the "30" series was an "upgraded" 4 cylinder series with things like adjustable 3 point arms, tilt wheel, upgraded seat and nicer operator station. Are they necessary, no, but they are nice to have. You can expect to pay a fair bit more to upgrade to a Grand L4046 over a L3901. As others have mentioned you'll just need to park your butt in a few and see what you can and can't live without.

Good Luck!

 

[Steppenwolfe]

The operating station on standard L tractors is a little tight for men six feet tall and taller, especially if you will spend a lot of hours in the seat. Go "try one on." You do not need any prior experience to know if it is comfortable to you.

Kubota standard L tractors are high volume Kubota models. Not real heavy but reliable and adequate for ten acres as a first tractor.

Kubota MX is the next heavier model after the standard L. MX is spartan. Four cylinder Grand L's share the same heavy chassis as MX series but come with every option standard. Dream tractors.....but you have to pay.....

MX and all Grand L's have a very spacious operating station.

WE EXCEL AT SPENDING YOUR MONEY HERE.

Yes, the L's are a bit short on leg room, simple to modify. I had to move my seat back from farthest factory adjustment another three inches to be comfortable. No big deal... 10 acres, an l3301 or 2501 might work for you. They are great little tractors.

 

[TheMan419]

I would absolutely test drive. I am 6'7" so I have to try everything on. For me a kubota was cramped.

More important to me was the dealer. To the local kubota and deer guys I was not worth the time of day. That is how I ended up w a new holland.

 

[Tractorable]

Check out the new Yanmar YT235 while you're shopping around. Yanmar has built a lot of the smaller John Deere's and provides most of their Diesel engines. The new YT's are nice machines.

 

[rScotty]

I'll second that on the Yanmar. Their quality is too often overlooked, but there's a reason why JD chose them to manufacture (and design??) most if not all of the JD compact tractor line.

Some general observations. ...Right now we are in the golden age of compact tractors. There are half a dozen excellent brands on the market and all competitive prices and performance. Not a dog in the bunch.

Transmissions.....the more gears the better. A diesel doesn't have the wide RPM range of a gasoline engine, and you will enjoy using the extra gears. IMHO, 2 speeds in HST is simply not enough.

In operating tractors it is common that you won't be shifting very often, but instead you will pick a gear and stay in it as long as the torque is suitable. My particular favorite is a 3 speed Hydrostat with 2 ranges. This gives you a selection of six speeds forward. 5 of those gears are suitable for doing loader work at slow speed. The 6th gear is a "road gear".
Although I like Hydrostat transmissions (HST), there are those who prefer the automatic power shift. Try both. The old fashioned fully manual transmissions are not so popular anymore. Nothing wrong with them, the the consensus is that the newer transmissions are preferable.

Get the third option for the front end loader. Always a good idea. But hold off on 4n1 vs grapple until you use the standard bucket for a year. You'll learn more, a simple bucket will be perfectly adequate - and at the end of that time you will know which other type bucket will suit your land the best.

Do get the quick attach bucket for the loader (often an option)...manual lever type is OK. And make sure that it is the "skid-steer" compatible quick attach mechanism. That will open up a world of optional loader attachments.

Old style diesels versus the new particulate-reducing schemes?? Your choice. The new technology adds complexity to manufacturing but seems to be working out surprisingly well.
best of luck,
rScotty

 

[dalola]

Agree with the suggestion to test drive....you don't need to be a tractor pro to understand what feels right to you. This step should produce a winner for you. The good news, there are no bad choices, just better ones! But only you can really determine that. Either rig should perform well for your needs. Good luck!

 

[derekn]

Get the third option for the front end loader. Always a good idea. But hold off on 4n1 vs grapple until you use the standard bucket for a year. You'll learn more, a simple bucket will be perfectly adequate - and at the end of that time you will know which other type bucket will suit your land the best.

Do get the quick attach bucket for the loader (often an option)...manual lever type is OK. And make sure that it is the "skid-steer" compatible quick attach mechanism. That will open up a world of optional loader attachments.

Yup, that's my plan. I'm going to wait until I have a better idea of what I'm doing before I buy a grapple or 4-in-1, or maybe just pallet forks.

The quote I got for the Kubota includes the quick attach bucket. I'll need to check and see if it's skid-steer compatible.

 

[ultrarunner]

We use the L3800 for a 65 acre tree farm... bought it from Green Valley Tractor not all that far from you as a harvest return... no regrets and not a single issue in 3 years... had 105 hours on it with full warranty. We jumped on it because it was the last without all the emission equipment.

The quick attach is nice and we go between the bucket and forks often...

I also have a Deere 110... love the backhoe and there is no comparison to the L3800 hoe... except they are hoes.

L3800 handles the Woods Mower just fine

 

[Wagtail]

Well, I can certainly vouch for the JD 4105 as I've had mine (new) since Jan of 2013. They don't make that model anymore, probably due to the Tier 4 filtration add-ons. There are people who would love to get their hands on a Tier 3 tractor!!!

Heaps of room and independent FWD/REV pedals. Having just High/Low has never been a problem and I have never found it 'tedious' to drive it distances (15km one-way) on public roads... just put into 2WD, select High, Revs to 2400 & foot down on the FWD pedal = too easy. Honestly, I wouldn't know what to do with a Medium selection.

I operate a JD 655 tiller or a 6' slasher off of the PTO. They have never bogged down. The 41hp YANMAR donk has plenty of power for what I need in a tractor. I've done all of my own maintenance & fluid/filter changes by myself (it's all in the Owners Manual)... and I was a newbie like yourself. That includes the hydraulic fluid/filter change.

Yep, the 4105 is a 'bare bones' rig. That just means that it's open-station, no cruise control, side-view mirror or rubber mat on the station deck. Big whoop.

Strange that the ROPS doesn't fold down. :confused3: Mine does.

I have a 4in1 bucket. It's come in handy for me every now and then so I'm glad that I have that option. Where I live, a grapple isn't a 'needful thing' but, were I to get one, the 3rd function hydraulics are already there. In fact, the rare time that I've needed a remote at the back of the 4105, I've simply unhooked the 3rd function from the FEL and snaked back to the rear = worked perfectly fine!

My dealership has backed me 100%, but as TheMan419 says, not all dealerships are the same.

 

[Wagtail]

Oh, and why do you need a SSQA for the FEL? There are other less 'weighty' QAs available... including the JDQA that my 300CX FEL has.

My 4in1 bucket and fork/bale-spike combination fits great and, if I were to get anything else for the FEL, can get it in that configuration... and I live in Tasmania. :laughing:

 

[Spanner]

Foldable ROPS was an Australia-only option with a split at S/n 410000 where the later production had the anti-rattle screws on the hinges.

We get them also as our supply is via Aussie.

I would second the lack of need of a 3-stage transmission. High/Low is perfectly fine for most work. The Hydrostatic transmission covers the revs/load equation.

To have a simple engine configuration is a plus-point in todays' computerised world.

Hi/Lo is fine for the average small-block owner. The extra 'Low' range is effectively your 'Creeper' gear range for Sports Turf-specific applications. eg. Coring golf greens.

Keep it simple and since you spelled "Kubota" incorrectly I feel you are a born JD owner!

 

[chim]

The Kubota has about 8 more HP than you listed.

 

[KennyG]

I also have never understood the 2 speed/3 speed HST controversy. On my JD, the ranges have an overlap and I don't think the minimum and maximum tractor speeds are different from other tractors. We've had these discussions before and it seems most people with 3 range tractors think 3 ranges are better but no one with a 2 range tractor sees a problem. I guess it's all good because everyone is happy. :thumbsup: