JD4520 vs. KubotaL5030 vs. NH TC45DA

CWP37 · Nov 15, 2005

Been reading for a while, now I'm looking for opinions.

I have 13 acres along a creek in TX. 10 is healthy coastal that I may bale someday. My main uses are shredding 1-3 times per year, box blade to maintain about 1/2 mile of driveways, moving round bales, FEL to clear brush and generally maintain things. I may also look into planting food plots on ranches for deer hunters.

These tractors are more than I need right now, but I'm looking for something that I can use down the road. The quotes I've gotten for tractor, FEL, 6' shredder, 6' box blade, and canopy put all of these in the $28-30k range.

It seems like Kubota is the most tractor for the price, then NH, then JD being the priciest. I know everyone has their favorites and I'd like to hear all opinions. Also, anybody who owns any of these, what do you think?

wolc123 · Nov 15, 2005

I just completed a similar comparison, but at a little lower hp (jd 4120, nh TC40DA, kub 4330). At this level, I found the jd offered the most bang for the buck. When comparing specs, note the significant edge in hydraulic flow and lift capacity. Also note that the jd is considerably heavier than the competition which may be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your intended usage. For ground preparation and loader work, take the heavyweight. Although I have not had the 4120 long enough to give a complete review, I have used it for various front loader tasks, back blade grading, and chopping picked sweet corn with a 6 ft rotary cutter. The 43 hp jd powertech has handled these jobs with ease and so far I have not regretted my choice.

CT_Tree_Guy · Nov 15, 2005

CWP:

Welcome to TBN - great place, isn't it? I just joined a week ago after lurking for about 2 years.

I bought a 5030HST in April '04 after doing a LOT of research, including much reading here. I looked hard at Deere, NH and Kubota.

I went with the 5030 for a bunch of reasons. First, I became convinced that the Kubota hydro was the best and most reliable. I never read a post where anyone had a problem with it, and it has a reputation as being bomb-proof. The feather-step system makes for effortless operation.

I don't think the 4520 was out yet when I bought my Kubota, but comparing them now:

The 4520 has 2,500 lb. 3pt lift, the 5030 has 2,980.

The 5030 has a 75.4" wheelbase vs. 71.5, but the same turning radius.

The 3ph takes is cat 1 or 2 - the 4520 is cat 1.

The 4520 does have more hydraulic flow: 5.1 + 12.0 = 17.1, vs. 4.9 + 9.8 = 14.7 for the 5030 - but to me that doesn't mean much. The max operating pressure is just a little higher on the 5030, and the flow is just fine. I never wished that my loader or 3ph would operate faster. Maybe there's no point using engine HP to pump extra GPM that you might not need.

The weights of the tractors are almost identical, but the 5030 lifts more on the 3ph and might have a beefier front axle. And my 853 loader will pick up 3,200 lbs. including an 800-lb. brush grapple. Maybe the 400 loader can do the same, don't know.

And it just seemed that there had to be advantages to having one single company control all aspects of the design and production of the tractor, as opposed to Deere and Yanmar having to work together.

I don't mean to bash Deere or anyone else, I'm just telling you my reasons. And I don't have these opinions because I have a Kubota - it's the other way around.

The 5030 is an incredible machine, I encourage you to look at it long and hard before you decide something else is better for your needs. And if you want, check out some pics of mine doing tree work in Kubota Owning/Operating - "5030 'skidder' pics". With a brush grapple, you can do some serious brush clearing with the 5030.

And you mentioned haying. Some people might say not to get a hydro for haying, but there's a user named 5030 who does a LOT of haying with his. You didn't mention what tranny you were thinking about, but hydro is SO nice.

I got my 5030HST with 853 loader, HD bucket w/cutting edge, turf tires and a block heater for $24,950. No regrets whatsoever.

Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck with whatever you end up with,

John

HobbleCreek · Nov 16, 2005

I have been in the process of making basically the same choice for the last month or so. Here are a couple of additional thoughts:

1) On the 4x20 series, the engine is made by Deere, not by Yanmar. I'm not sure that's an advantage or disadvantage because I've heard nothing but good about engines made by either company.

2) You might be able to achieve a tighter turning radius with the Deere because you can (or at least I can) more easily use the brakes to assist in turning. The Kubota has both the brake pedals and the hydro pedals on the right side. I haven't yet figured out how to press on the brake pedal and the hydro pedal at the same time.

3) I think that 5030 (the guy on this list mentioned by CT Tree Guy) actually decided to go with a bigger tractor for his haying work. However, my local dealer assures me he has many customers in our area that have used their 5030s for hay work for many years without problem.

4) Another consideration on haying -- the JD website has a product selection tool. Anytime you indicate in their "needs analyzer" that you will be haying with the tractor the program eliminates hyrdo transmissions from consideration. I've asked for explanations of that and not gotten a satisfactory one from anybody. Same thing goes for the Cat I/II hitch issue. The 4520 (or the 4720) should have plenty of power for the heavier hitch or for haying, but there must be some reason that JD doesn't recommend their use in that application.

4) Price -- as you can see from CT_Tree_Guy's post, the prices that you're being quoted are a bit higher than he paid. They're also higher than I have been quoted around here. However, if I have learned one thing in this process its that there are regional differences in these tractors. My Kubota dealer quoted me $26,000 for the 5030HST with 853 FEL, industrial tires. The Deere dealer started out at around $29K for the 4520. I've been looking more to the 4720, and after a lot of work I've gotten a nearby dealer (not the closest one) to agree to $29,200 for the 4720 with FEL and one rear SCV. I am convinced that they will not go lower.

I have not pulled the trigger on this purchase yet, but I have been leaning towards the 4720. One comment somebody made on this board that has been a large factor for me is that at my elevation (about 6,000 feet) the turbocharged JDs will still make their rated horsepower while the Kubota will lose about 18%. That means that I'll end up in the neighborhood of 35 pto hp, while the 4720 will still be making 50.

We don't have a NH dealer within my normal driving pattern, so I've just not checked them out. I probably should.

-- Grant

slowzuki · Nov 16, 2005

I'll post as someone having just gone through this. To start I have an L5030 HSTC.

I hay small square bales, baled about 4000 this year. I did not do all the mowing or raking or tedding with the 5030. Its wheelbase is just too short to be driving fast in fields. The other tractors you mention would be the same.

If I planned to do all the activities for 4000 bales on one tractor, I would look at something like a M4900 or M6800 sized chassis. I don't like to be shaken around when rain is coming!

The L5030 could easily do all the tasks for say 1000 bales without too much discomfort. If you wanted to do lots of hay you could invest in say a 17 ft wide type tedder and wide rake. Our money is tied up in older 9 ft equipment that means high speed and many passes.

The steering sharpness is a moot point, the wheelbase is so short and the hydropedal so easy I have not encountered a huge need for brake steering. When scraping down something with the front tires in the air I just slide the cruise forward and steer with my brakes.

It is a great machine, but if Kubota built a 5030 in M6800 scale I would trade it in a minute given my tasks. We had a larger gear machine of M6800 scale and it left as it was great for haying but the 5030 runs circles around it for everything else.

CWP37 · Nov 16, 2005

Thanks for all of the detailed info. Just a couple of notes and clarifications:

The prices I gave included box blade, bale spear, and shredder. Will I get a better deal buying all at once or just buy the tractor and then buy implements separate? Here are the tractor/FEL prices I've been quoted to this point (all HST, I'll touch on that later):

Kubota 5030HST (LA853 w/ SSQA Coupler) $25,495.00
JD 4320 w/ 400x $25,850.00 (Haven't gotten 4520 quote back)
NH TC45 (16LA loader) $24,700

They're all in the same range, with Kubota being the most bang for the buck. My neighbor brought over his TC45 w/ FEL for me to use for the weekend (with Hydro), and it was slick. I did a lot of loader work and the hydro can't be beat. My only knock was that it was ROUGH riding through the pasture while I was shredding. Maybe it needed some more weight.

I'm going to drive the 4520 and 5030 within the next couple of weeks. I'll report back when I do.

As far as buying, I'm going to see if I get any phone calls toward the end of the year, prices seem to drop when salespeople need to sell one more unit to hit bonus. I may also wait and see if any better 0% financing comes out in the first quarter next year.

Grant, please keep me informed on what you decide. For sentimental and patriotic reasons, I want to go green. Unfortunately, logic, reliability, and value seem to be steering me towards Kubota and I really liked the NH I used. Oh well, the journey is always half the fun.

HobbleCreek · Nov 16, 2005

I think that if I were at sea level, or if the 5030 were turbocharged, I'd probably have bought that machine by now.

I agree that the braking while steering is a minor, and perhaps even non, issue. The 5030 and the 4520 both turn really tight -- even without the brakes.

I think that the backhoe attachment (which you're probably not interested in, but I am) on the 5030 digs a little deeper, and costs a little less, than the attachment available for the 4x20 series. I think the backhoe for the Deere will probably cost around $9,000. For that money, I might spend $20K for a mini-excavator and hire it out when I'm not using it on the farm.

I'll let you know when I finally make a decision.