Buying Advice I was wrong. L3800 too small for my needs.

[crazyal]

If I was going to get a cab with AC then I think the 4240 would be a little too light HP wise.

 

[sixdogs]

...


...

... because I surely didn't need 3 tractors.

Gary, does your wife NEED all those shoes? Or NEED all those purses? I'm thinking we banish those words forever. We all NEED as many tractors as we can afford---and then one more.

Man, I wish!

Mark my words here because in 10 years you'll wish you had both tractors and most people reading this would agree.

 

[xring100]

Have you priced out a cab M5140 versus an L5240. The M list for about $1000 less than a compatibly equipped Grand L by the time you add a Quick attach bucket ,A must in my opinion. and a Remote for the back both of these are standard on the the M series but for an L you pay about $1200 for them. a swinging draw bar is also standard on the m series. Which is much more capable. With the amount of land you have i'd rather have and M series versus and L series with hydrostatic trans. If the L3800 isn't big enough i would not look at anything smaller than the L5240. I might be biased towards going big as i have a M8540 for 10 acres of land although i intend to own more in the future. Although if all your. Don't get me wrong the L5240 is an awesome tractor and Kubota's HST is Unmatched in performance by anyone else that i looked at before buying my M series. Compacts have a lot of bells and whistles but often lack the features i deemed necessary where as the Utilities lack the bells and whistles but add the stuff i wanted standard

 

[nybirdman]

If I was going to get a cab with AC then I think the 4240 would be a little too light HP wise.

I have 600+hours on my L4240 HSTC and have never found it lacking in HP.I have two bottom plows,roto-tiller,8ft.snow plow ect.I work ten acres a year for food plots.HST+ in medium for all work,I never use low range.

 

[nolewatcher]

I had a JD 790 compact tractor before I got my JD 5420. I love having both of them as they both have their uses(I used them both today...). The 32 hp 790 is the perfect size for my wife's gardening, the 81 hp 5420 does my haying and plowing. I am so glad I didn't trade in the 790. Both have FEL's. One thing I will say about the John Deere it is heavier than the same horse powered L5240. If you ever think you will be plowing or discing, you may want to think about that. RpSr

 

[xring100]

I had a JD 790 compact tractor before I got my JD 5420. I love having both of them as they both have their uses(I used them both today...). The 32 hp 790 is the perfect size for my wife's gardening, the 81 hp 5420 does my haying and plowing. I am so glad I didn't trade in the 790. Both have FEL's. One thing I will say about the John Deere it is heavier than the same horse powered L5240. If you ever think you will be plowing or discing, you may want to think about that. RpSr

Sometimes i wish i had a smaller tractor as well as the big one but so far i have gotten by just fine with the larger tractor. I have not needed to use any of my neighbors smaller tractors but they have needed mine.

And your Definitely right about the weight more is better but 700 lbs is not much $ to add in terms of tire ballast or wheel weights. Hydraulic flow and 1000 - 3000 lbs 3pt capacity on the other hand not so much The cost of green Paint is more than the cost of ballast

If you look at a new JD5075E v M7040 The weights are nearly identical It. JD and NH have made their new utility models close in terms of weight to the Kubota's The new T4's are much lighter than the old TN4000's

From tractor data
M8540
85 hp
Weight: 5005 to 6065 pounds
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 4,630 lbs [2100 kg]
7,275 lbs [3299 kg] (optional)
Pump flow: 17 gpm [64.3 lpm]
Total flow: 23.1 gpm [87.4 lpm]

JD5420
81 hp
4285 to 6740 pounds
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 3,374 lb
Next smallest Kubota is 71 hp 10 hp less than the JD.

 

[TripleR]

Just my opinion and l learned like many others by experience and $$$$. We used a Case Case CX80 for 12 years then bought an M8540 without a rear windshield wiper but ordered one on our L5740 and use it a LOT to clear dirt and debris off. I went until three years ago without a hydraulic top link and it is one of the handiest things I ever bought.

No doubt two tractors are ideal, but there is that old money thing.

I bought an L5740, but the L5240 is the same tractor. For some a L4240, but I wanted a bit more power.

I got all the bells and whistles on mine, but there is a cost; worth it to some and not others.

 

[gocards1177]

Just my opinion and l learned like many others by experience and $$$$. We used a Case Case CX80 for 12 years then bought an M8540 without a rear windshield wiper but ordered one on our L5740 and use it a LOT to clear dirt and debris off. I went until three years ago without a hydraulic top link and it is one of the handiest things I ever bought.

No doubt two tractors are ideal, but there is that old money thing.

I bought an L5740, but the L5240 is the same tractor. For some a L4240, but I wanted a bit more power.

I got all the bells and whistles on mine, but there is a cost; worth it to some and not others.

Does the rear wiper use washer fluid too or is it just a wiper?

 

[Buppies]

The rear wiper shares the same fluid tank as the front wiper. Mainly use rear wiper in snow am on second cab tractor had rear wiper on first so wanted it on second one. The top n tilt function is really nice never had until recently and wow

 

[flusher]

37 acres to mow? I'd upgrade to a tractor with 60 hp (pto), sell that 6-ft cutter and find a 10-ft unit.

BTW: spent two enjoyable years (1963-65) in Rolla at UMR (now renamed) in grad school (engineering physics).

 

[Bluegill2]

Sounds like you really don't 'need' a tractor at all.

But would like one with a cab anyway.

 

[TripleR]

Does the rear wiper use washer fluid too or is it just a wiper?

What buppies said, I use mine more than I thought I would. I also got the TNT and love it, you might check on the cost, it was worth it to me, but won't be for everyone.

 

[xring100]

What buppies said, I use mine more than I thought I would. I also got the TNT and love it, you might check on the cost, it was worth it to me, but won't be for everyone.

I would love a TNT kit definitely useful for dirt work. have to wait to pay off the tractor for that addition

 

[TripleR]

I would love a TNT kit definitely useful for dirt work. have to wait to pay off the tractor for that addition

I can sure understand that, I don't have it on our M8540 either; maybe some day.

 

[gocards1177]

Sounds like you really don't 'need' a tractor at all.

But would like one with a cab anyway.

True. I can't argue with that!

 

[DieselnHooters]

Sounds like you really don't 'need' a tractor at all.

But would like one with a cab anyway.

He could do worse as an investment

 

[TripleR]

Heck I don't "need" half the stuff I have. If asked, our renters would do everything I do on our main farm with the L5740.

Last year while I was in the hospital, they mowed our yard and bush hogged everything; can't beat people like that.:thumbsup:

 

[gocards1177]

I hope I don't get flamed for this, but I'm taking this a whole 'nuther direction. After some PM's with TripleR (Thanks!) and talking to my wife, mother, banker, and farming uncles (not in that particular order), I'm going to focus on a utility tractor. I know I'm not comparing apples to apples, but I drove a JD 5083E and Kubota M7040 this morning. I like both of the dealers and they have solid reputations. The Kubota dealer is where I got my L3800. I'll be trading in my L3800, loader, and 6 foot cutter. Here are the stats that I would like comments on (I'll try to put them both in the same format):

The JD dealer is 10 miles away. They have 3 5083E cab, with power reverser, ag tires. PTO is 69 HP. 2 rear remotes. MFWD. 553 Loader (3604 at 800mm). MX10 pull-type mower (can go to 8' for $900 less). Price includes radio, fluid filled tires, and block heater (I think I would delete the radio (get aftermarket) and heater). 0% financing for 60 months. Insurance is $100 per year. 41,800 after trade-in. 696.70 per month.

The Kubota dealer is 40 miles away. They have 3 M7040 cabs, with hydraulic shuttle, ag tires. PTO is 60 HP. 1 rear remote. MFWD. LA1153 loader (2326# at 500mm). Land pride 10ft pull type cutter (8 ft 3pt cutter for 2600 less or 3900 less used). Price incluse fluid filled tires. 0% financing for 60 months. Insurance is $500 per year (dealer thought that high). 32,200 after trade in. 536.67 per month.

I liked both of the cabs, seats, and how they drove. I like both of the dealers. The JD had another remote, more HP, dealer is closer, and it had some sort of "efficient PTO" for 540 RPM at a lower engine speed. Some sort of gearing thing. I also noticed that the gears were synchronized and I could shift on the go. The Kubota dealer said that the M7040 can't do that, that the gears will grind? I didn't try it, but I'll PM some M7040 owners on here to see if he was right.

Is the JD $10K more tractor? I didn't do any negotiating on either - just did my test drives, got my quotes, and headed out. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[gocards1177]

Never mind on the M7040 shifting, I got my answer. It can shift on the fly like the JD.

 

[sixdogs]

I have a Deere5520 which is your tractor in earlier version. My neighbor has a Kubota M7040. My Deere will out pull his because it's heavier and has radials on it but the Kubota is just a more refined version of what a tractor should be. Nice loader; intuitive controls.
They are both good but if a general utility tractor was my goal I would buy Kubota.