Is a John Deere really worth 24% more that a Kubota

[JeepHead]

No, when comparing competitive models a Deere is not worth 24% more than a Kubota. Some people might be more bias to Kubota, and feel that it's the better value. If you take brand bias out the equation is a Stihl saw worth any more than a competitive Husqvarna saw? Is a Silverado 1500 LTZ worth more than a competitive F150 Lariat? Is a **** worth more than a competitive **? Maybe, maybe not, but without bias you have to weigh, features, specs, and figure out which you prefer when testing out both. Generally speaking when talking brands as established in their respective industries as much as Deere and Kubota are in the compact and utility tractor markets, either choice will work just fine, and they're usually selling products that are very competitive with their competitors equivalent models. Most people I know with either brand are very happy with that brand, with a few exceptions.

With that said, bias's, brand loyalty, and brand recognition are factors. Personally I haven't seen the JD tax in my area that most claim to see. If I cross shopping competitive models of Deere against other established brands in my area like Kubota, MF, NH, CIH, etc then they all usually come with prices that are pretty close to one another. Don't get me wrong there are online prices listed way high on any model JD, but when I ask my local dealers for quotes is usually withing a few hundred dollars of their competition price, and sometime the Deere's actually the lower price. When I've looked at less established brands, with smaller dealer networks, with competitive models, that should come with lower prices to incentivize buyers away from the established brands, rarely do I see enough of a costs saving to make me want to consider them over a Deere or Kubota. Especially when considering the dealer network in my area. I've got 5-6 JD and Kubota dealerships closer to me than the nearest KIOTI, LS, TYM, etc. (At least that I know of.) Their is a Deutz Fahr dealer fairly close, but that's a Linder dealer that sells Komatsu industrial equipment, that over the last year or so has had a new Deutz Fahr or 2 Ag Tractors parked out in front of their business, but they'll also be happy to get you a Kubota. There's several closer Deere and Kubota dealerships to me before my nearest CIH dealer, and since Fairfield Tractor closed over 2 decades ago my nearest NH dealer that I know of is in Aiken, well over an hour drive for me. Nearest MF dealer is an honest 45 minutes for me on the other side of Columbia. Similar with the Mahindra dealers I know of. So for me unless it's a substantial cost saving going with another brand, the JD and Kubota are my best, and most convenient options. They're just the players with the most name recognition in the game, with the largest and usually most established dealership support setups, and are going to get the most sales unless the other brands are willing to undercut their prices enough to incentivize consumers to try something other than what they're used to, and potentially have to travel farther to cater to that newer brand, and trust that they'll be there in the future. This isn't me knocking any brand as being bad or anything, or saying that people shouldn't buy other brands just recognizing truths about what people consider when investing in a new expensive tractor.

Oh come on now... We all KNOW that a *** is worth much more than a ****.

 

[Hodado]

Hope you checked out the TYM before you jumped

 

[nforktractor]

A fun drinking game is to take a shot of whiskey every time Neil Messick says "little bit" in his videos.

Also a fun game, watch "Deadwood", my buddy and I would take a shot of whiskey every time Al Swearengen, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and the rest would say "cook-sooker", translate as needed! Needless to say, we were snookered by the end of each hour long episode.

 

[Graybeard315]

View attachment 3276657 Thank you!

 

[Pleease]

Height: 71"/72"

The Kubota is shorter, and can lift less on both ends. 3pt capacity is 11% less, and loader is 13% less. So depending on your uses the JD could be worth 24% more. If space is a concern then the Kubota is better. Overall they are very similar. Tractor Time With Tim is bias towards green.

I operated my friends new Kubota this past week with a pto rear phd. Nice small tractor, everything worked well except the treadle pedal. This one was not smooth in application, poor control of tractor movement. I used the low range to position for holes and that helped a little.

I admit my own equipment all have the same pedal layouts with L forward and R reverse with pedals being electric control hydrostatic. Much easier to operate for me.

I operated my friends new Kubota this past week with a pto rear phd. Nice small tractor, everything worked well except the treadle pedal. This one was not smooth in application, poor control of tractor movement. I used the low range to position for holes and that helped a little.

I admit my own equipment all have the same pedal layouts with L forward and R reverse with pedals being electric control hydrostatic. Much easier to operate for me.

The treadle pedal works terrifically when you’re used to it - very intuitive then.

 

[generic farmer]

Really you have to sit on it to figure it out. the jd 1025r i had was so confortable. I was originally going to buy a Massey, but i sat on it and hated it, it was so weird feeling. When i upgraded to ta 2038r, it was the same. I wanted the kubota lx4020, the fender where the step was was so flexible, it felt cheap. i ended up with 2038r. It comes down to personal preference. I personally do not like the bx line of kubota. The b2601 is very nice though. It is pretty rock solid without any bells and whistles.

 

[Pleease]

Really you have to sit on it to figure it out. the jd 1025r i had was so confortable. I was originally going to buy a Massey, but i sat on it and hated it, it was so weird feeling. When i upgraded to ta 2038r, it was the same. I wanted the kubota lx4020, the fender where the step was was so flexible, it felt cheap. i ended up with 2038r. It comes down to personal preference. I personally do not like the bx line of kubota. The b2601 is very nice though. It is pretty rock solid without any bells and whistles.

I believe the JD 1025 is more comparable to the Kubota B series than the BX series size-wise.

 

[KennyG]

I believe the JD 1025 is more comparable to the Kubota B series than the BX series size-wise.

The 1025 specs are almost identical to a BX23xx. The current B series is equivalent to the JD 2xxx series. Looking at the history, I think the old Kubota B1 series was similar to the JD 1 series, but that goes back a ways. Just look at the rear tires. That tells you if it's a subcompact or a compact.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Check this head to head comparison ... He does a series as he has both tractors for a couple of months ... He covers a lot of areas ... They are both good, in there own way ...

 

[Tx Jim]

I've owned a Kubota M7040 since 2012. It has nearly 2000 hrs with no problems & has handled several 1000's of 4X5.5 rd bales, pulled a Krone hay cutter & pulled my JD 4467 rd baller when AC clutch failed on my JD 4255. My Kubota M7040 70 engine hp & JD 5075E according to Tractordata weights very similar #s. I read on tractor discussion forums that JD 5075E are far from trouble free.

 

[LightningCamaroGuy]

I've owned a Kubota M7040 since 2012. It has nearly 2000 hrs with no problems & has handled several 1000's of 4X5.5 rd bales, pulled a Krone hay cutter & pulled my JD 4467 rd baller when AC clutch failed on my JD 4255. My Kubota M7040 70 engine hp & JD 5075E according to Tractordata weights very similar #s. I read on tractor discussion forums that JD 5075E are far from trouble free.

Luck and proper maintenance are also factors. I know people who double down that Toyotas are the only reliable vehicles, and that they're pretty much trouble free, even when they need an engine replacement they still push that same narrative. Both my 17 F150 3.5L, (which introduced the 10R80 in Fords) and my 18 F150 5L (which introduced the 10R80 with the Coyote) have 10 speeds that work awesome, and my 3.5L is still operating quiet as a mouse with OE cam phasers, and my 5L has 0 noticeable oil burn off. According to the internet these are all major issues. I try and keep up with their maintenance, and don't extend out fluid and filter changes, etc.

My 18 5075E has about 500 hours. Other than the starter it's been very reliable. The O.E starter on the 5E, 3 cylinder tractors are a Bosch unit, and it's fairly beefy, but it's know to be a weak, slow starter even new, and is known to go bad. Other than that my tractor hasn't had a real issue. My transmission started humming, and I was told the the screen filter in it was getting clogged, and to change the fluid and clean the screen. They were correct. Other than that no issues. If you frequent any forum you're going to read about issues with any mechanical machine as it's where people go to try and troubleshoot issues for free. Early, pre-TIER4 5E's could have brake issues if you were a heavy brake steerer. I've heard 7060 guys complain that their machines wouldn't stop constantly regenning every 10-15 hours. JD's seem to regen like clock work every 100 hours. That one YT'er that grew a very large channel as a welder, turned hay farmer, that eventually got kicked off of YT for his views, (I think his name was Chuck something another) bought a new 17 or 18 M7060, and had issues with oil draining out his gearbox air bleed valves, and getting all over the place. My supervisor, who's also one of my best friends tells me his brother-in-law has a Kubota (not sure what model) that has had all kinds of rearend issues, and everytime they try fixing it, it's full of metal shavings. I'm not a Kubota hater. My parents bought a new Kubota a few months ago, but just like Deere or any other tractor, Kubota's are prone to have issues from time to time. Do I think generally speaking that Kubota's are well built, reliable machines? Absolutely, but I feel the same about Deere as well.

Here's my issue with people who have an issue with Deere, and this whole right to repair stuff. I understand people don't like it, but you sort of misplace your distain for it. The issue that makes it different for Deere than any other OEM, is that Deere is the only OEM who says aloud, that which is not to be said aloud. Basically they went to court for the right to not hand out their software. Okay, but what OEM does hand out their software? Does Kubota, AGCO, CNH? What about GM, Ford, Toyota? How long did it take the aftermarket to break into the software of the C8 to tune on it? Even a 20 GT500's DCT isn't fully tuneable as it's so tightly locked up. If your Grand L 6060, fresh out of warranty has an issue that goes back to needing the ECU software reprogrammed, is Kubota just going to hand over the software to break into it, and reprogram stuff, to Joe Blow mechanic? IDK, but I doubt it. JD will happily sell you a new starter, or radiator, or 3PH arm, or lug nut, or hydraulic valve, etc so you can fix your tractor yourself, they're just not going to sell you the software to break into your 8345R, and turn it into a 8400R, or turn your 5050E into a 5075E. I'm not saying I like it, but I get it. It's pretty common with most OEM's to lock up the computers that control the drivetrain components and tuning, in the vehicles they sell.