Buying Advice It keeps getting bigger and more expensive...help!

Dan62 · Jul 10, 2013

I backed out of the MX5100 because it was too big and the salesman was giving me that feeling without saying it. He has an L3200. He's got two months in sales.

I changed to the L4600 and read it was manufactured in Thailand and backed down from that one. If I wanted a China tractor, I could buy a cheaper tractor. I spoke to a Houston neighbor who has a place near me in Livingston. He has a L4740 and said it was enough for all he did but had run across some things that it would not do. Mostly regarding the lift capacity. He also said he uses grapple all the time.

I have read more, revisited another dealer in Houston and researched again and now looking to buy the L4760 because of its compact size and lift capacity or possibly L4060. It has a lot of nice feartures but is expensive. I do not like the hydro lines outside the lift arms for the FEL but everything else is sweet. The dealer has an L4060HST with the LA805 and its 5 grand cheaper than the L4760 with the LA1055 front end loader. They act like they have less haggling room on the L60's. Maybe an allocation thing. The MX5100 is 8 grand less than that and is a real value. It was my original choice. It's a big long term decsion for me and I want to get it right. I am going with a Grapple-probably a Long OBG 1 or possibly 2. I like the 3rd quick connect on the L60 for that. I am sticking with my attatchments: Land Pride- Hog RCR1872, Box BB1572, Auger PD-25 9" , Armstrong Pallet forks SBPF-48-Skid-D and an OTH Landscape Rake LR6-C2.

The dealer has been really patient and I'm sticking with them. I prefer to do business local if at all possible. I am waiting to see the availability of the L60's and the price. I am usually very decisive but am a fish out of water on this purchase. I feel like a flake. There is a lot to know and more to learn. My dealer did not know the L4600 was put together in Thailand. I learned that right here. I want to thank all for your input. This is a great community. I also want to note there are many great safety videos on Youtube for tractor operators.

Hopefully next post will be final on purchase!

I wonder if you can spread deer corn with a fertilizer srpeader? Just a thought since I will use this tractor to work up an hunting area.

I have a 16 foot 7,000 lbs capacity flatbed trailer. I need twenty for the implements but think I can transport the tractor on my current 16 with te BB, so may hold off on a new trailer.

dstacy · Jul 10, 2013

Nobody has ever been upset that they owned a quality piece of equipment. Dan, just go buy a John Deere and be done with it.

TripleR · Jul 10, 2013

No doubt John Deere is a quality piece of equipment, but so is Kubota. The L60 has a lot of nice features and if you ever use the HST+, you will really appreciate its versatility. They are new models and a little slow getting a full range to dealers, so prices may stay high for a while, L40's are getting scarce too.

Your equipment selection looks OK though I would go with a heavier box scraper, weight is your friend on these things. I use an HR3584 and an HR25 or even BB25.

rjwerth · Jul 10, 2013

Well, if you are insisting on Kubota, you are going to pay big bucks. That's all there is to it. With that said, you need to have your sales guy define "too big" because really, there is very little difference in size between the two tractors you are looking at....8 inches longer and 10 inches wider... In the great outdoors, this is nothing. They both have the same turning radius and nearly the same wheel base. The MX has a couple extra inches in ground clearance but really isn't any taller spec-wise. So to be honest, I have issues with your sales guy. He wants to up-sell you on a Grand L that is way nicer but not what I would consider all that much smaller for way more $$$$. Good luck!

MtnViewRanch · Jul 10, 2013

Dan62, I truly hope that your next post is not after you have made your purchase.

You have admitted that you are new to this. I would think that you would have many many more questions to ask. Don't get in a hurry, do your research and ask lots of questions.

As a bit of advise, IF YOU CAN AFFORD to do so,(in other words, a few thousand $ one way or another "really" doesn't matter) forget about the cost and just find the tractor that fits your wants-needs the best. When you are out on a tractor all day, it really is nice to have the machine that you need-wanted vs one that just works for you.

Good luck and ASK SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

bcp · Jul 10, 2013

It isn't like a shop. I've NEVER heard anyone complain their shop was too big. I have heard people wish they had a smaller tractor for most of their work.

That's a good idea! You need two tractors!

Bruce

bcp · Jul 10, 2013

It isn't like a shop. I've NEVER heard anyone complain their shop was too big. I have heard people wish they had a smaller tractor for most of their work.

That's a good idea! You need two tractors!

Bruce

TripleR · Jul 10, 2013

Dan62, it may help you in your thought process to go rent something for a weekend and use it on your property.

"Too big" or "too small" is often subjective.

dstacy · Jul 10, 2013

rjwerth said:
Well, if you are insisting on Kubota, you are going to pay big bucks. That's all there is to it.

Obviously you've never bought a Deere. A Kubota is a cheap purchase after you've bought your first Deere.

Dr_Zinj · Jul 10, 2013

Get rid of most of the lawn.
If you can't mow it with a push mower in 2 hours or less, you have too much lawn.
NOTE: If you have your own private putting green, then that's just too evil!

Dan62 · Jul 10, 2013

All good advice. Ok, there's no Deere dealer in Livingston, but I'm going to expand my search by visiting a dealer near Houston.

I qualified for pretty much anything I want to buy from Kubota and did not hear from local Kubota dealer on price and avail of L60's today after a short email yesterday and call today inquiring. A car dealer would have put me in a head lock. I like the laid back sales in tractors but hope they don't slip into a coma while I slip away.

I see your point on the box blade and will take that advice.

I thought Deeres were more expensive for similar machines. I was told they are assembled in Mexico. I have not fact checked.

I'm not in any big hurry, plus it's hot here in Texas.

I took my dear ole dad to dinner tonight and gave him the tractor low down. He laughed and reminded me that my family operated a feed mill in Ireland without a tractor for many years. The mill had plenty of trucks and tractors when I last saw it.

Learning tons on YouTube about safety and tractor stuff.

Thanks again.

Dan62 · Jul 10, 2013

All good advice. Ok, there's no Deere dealer in Livingston, but I'm going to expand my search by visiting a dealer near Houston.

I qualified for pretty much anything I want to buy from Kubota and did not hear from local Kubota dealer on price and avail of L60's today after a short email yesterday and call today inquiring. A car dealer would have put me in a head lock. I like the laid back sales in tractors but hope they don't slip into a coma while I slip away.

I see your point on the box blade and will take that advice.

I thought Deeres were more expensive for similar machines. I was told they are assembled in Mexico. I have not fact checked.

I'm not in any big hurry, plus it's hot here in Texas.

I took my dear ole dad to dinner tonight and gave him the tractor low down. He laughed and reminded me that my family operated a feed mill in Ireland without a tractor for many years. The mill had plenty of trucks and tractors when I last saw it.

Learning tons on YouTube about safety and tractor stuff.

Thanks again.

jenkinsph · Jul 10, 2013

Dan,
You should check out what some of the materials weigh before you go too small. A typical pallet of paver stones from Lowes or Home Depot weights 3500 lbs. So for this size of pallet you would need to break it down, 1/2 to 2/3 of a full pallet. A pallet of sackcrete is 2800+ lbs. and this is being increased to 3400+lbs in my locale now. I mention this because it was a requirement when you started this thread. If the selected tractor can only lift a half a pallet of materials you will be loading/unloading and restacking which I find a pita.

dstacy · Jul 11, 2013

Dan give Kevin at Fish & Still in Crockett a call. He'll sell you a Deere. They have 0% financing going on right now. Oh, my 5093 was assembled in Augusta Georgia, not Mexico. (besides where do you think Kubota comes from?)
Will a Deere cost you more? Yep. Cheaper doesn't equal value and only you can decide where that line is. You could get a 5000 series open station tractor with a loader that would do everything you want to do around the price range you mentioned. If you want to get serious and spoil yourself at the same time you could get a 5100 cab'd tractor like mine for the low 50's. And remember it doesn't matter what they cost if they last 30 years. Frankly I think you need to figure out what size tractor you need then go look at a few manufacturers and compare quality, build, and value. Price is the last thing you should be looking at right now.

dstacy · Jul 11, 2013

Oh and by the way Dan, don't bother with Brookside Equipment in Houston. They are the worst John Deere dealer I've ever seen. Every time I've priced them they were at least 10 to 15% higher than everyone else and they never have stock on hand.

WilliamBos · Jul 11, 2013

Dr_Zinj said:
Get rid of most of the lawn.
If you can't mow it with a push mower in 2 hours or less, you have too much lawn.
NOTE: If you have your own private putting green, then that's just too evil!

LOL.. It takes me 8-9 hours to do all the trimming, if by myself, and a few hours to cut the grass with a 60" RFM.

Nothing like having a nice sized lawn, or two.

Dan62 · Jul 11, 2013

I really want to have a local dealer. I bought my yard stuff based on service reviews of locals. I skipped Gravely and bought Exmark based on that rational and do not regret. I have a good connection to the El Campo JD dealer if I go that route and pretty sure I can get in-law deal there but really prefer local. I know that Kubota is made in Japan but so is Lexis. I drive a Ford everyday but love my German toyz. I reward quality with my business. I think the standards for manufacturing in Korea, China and lastly Thailand are not at the levels in the US or Japan. Still have not heard from our Local dealer.

GManBart · Jul 11, 2013

Dan62 said:
I think the standards for manufacturing in Korea, China and lastly Thailand are not at the levels in the US or Japan. Still have not heard from our Local dealer.

I don't think you can lump Korea in with China and Thailand...the Korean car companies have pretty much proven they're close to parity with Japanese manufacturing, and better than the U.S.

Still, I'm not aware of a single U.S. tractor brand that makes anything in the U.S. under maybe 80-90hp. Korea, Italy, India, Poland, Mexico, etc, are where they're actually made.

Dan62 · Jul 11, 2013

Let me apologize to my Korea. They have come a long way. I thought JD was made in Georgia. Reading online brochures now. They have more lift capacity over Kubota on comparable models.