JD 5083E vs M7040

[charleyfarmall]

Personally, I think LS has a ways to go to match Deere. I have a Kioti which is already a step up from the LS and while I think it is a great tractor, I also have two Deere's and they are much better tractors. I also have a small Kubota which never ceases to amaze me...

 

[JD3520Turbo]

Don't forget resale value. If you are ever thinking of trading, green paint brings more money!!!

 

[jordanw]

Don't forget resale value. If you are ever thinking of trading, green paint brings more money!!!

If for no other reason, that's the reason to buy John Deere. People seem to forget that angle of things.

 

[Greg RT]

I have owned both. I have around 600 hrs in a Kubota either M7040 or a M6800. I can tell you this the Kubota is a fine machine and if you can't afford a John Deere 5083E I would suggest the Kubota 7040.

The Kubota does have a "light" feel when you operate the machine. If you have a 4X5 round bale of hay and you get it very high with the loader it will make your butt pucker for sure. Also, I have a disk that weighs around 1700lbs and the Kubota will pull it pretty good. It will need to be put in 4WD if it starts digging deep. The Kubota 7040 will also run a 9' hay cutter fairly well. If you get in thick grass if will load up some but will still operate. The Kubota has somewhat of a bumpy ride but does have a in dash AC on the cab model.

The 5085E has a heavy feel rides better and will pull my plow like a tank. You can see where the weight comes in makes a difference. It will pull my 9' hay mower with no problem again the weight seems to make a difference. The cab has more room and seems to be quiter. The Kubota 7040 steering wheel does not let down as far as the John Deere and if you're in the tractor for 6 or 7 hrs that kind of stuff matters. The one think that I really did not like on my Kubota was the throttle location. When I was in a bumpy field my leg would hit my throttle and change my RPM's. I actually had the Kubota engineers at my place to talk to me about the problem.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages over all the John Deere is just a more heavy duty tractor. Keep in mind it is also more expensive. I only bought a JD because they had a $4K competive trade allowance and I got an additional $3K because I had bought a JD Gator in the last 12 months and I got an additional 5% off in addition. If you engauge the ground (plow) buy the John Deere if possible. If you are just a hay cutter the Kubota will do just fine. The JD is a heavy tractor and more refined. That said I liked my Kubota it is a fine machine. It was $7K cheaper than the JD.

 

[trook]

I believe the Kubota 8540 would be a much better comparison for the JD5083E. Can anyone compare these two?

 

[bunchgrass]

I think I started this thread and I ended up with a Kubota 8540. My understanding is that the Kubotas have a full synchro transmission while JD "E" series has a "partial" (only certain gears). That said, I haven't found the synchro trans to be of significant value.

The 8540 - plenty of oomph.

Previous posts have mentioned that the JD is heavier (heavy duty).

 

[canoetrpr]

I suppose with a bale of hay, things are rather relative. I used to pick my 4x5 rounds with my Kubota L3400. I thought I was doing fine. Then I got my M7040 and have no idea how I could have used too much less of a tractor for the 4x5 rounds.

Personally I think a tractor in the size of a M7040 or GL4240 and up is more than adequate for what I would do with 4x5s. I'm not in the hay business - I'm talking moving 100 or less bales from trailer to where I store them.