Kubota B2910 vs. JD4200

[Anonymous Poster]

I am about to buy either a JD4200 or Kubota B2910 . I have the price negotiated close enough on the B2910 and the JD4200 (within $550 of the B2910) on a Tractor/Loader package.

My question is weight of the JD ? Is it better to have more weight when using the loader or not?? I will use the tractor for mowing more then use of the loader. I will be doing home landscaping and using a Befco 58" Tiller too. What you think??
Will the lighter tractor still do the job using the loader and tiller or should I get the JD for the weight?

Thanks Tom R.

 

[GlueGuy]

Other folks (on this forum) have a lot more experience than I, but I'll give you my opinion anyway./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

A tractor does its work through the benefit of two things: torque & weight. All else being equal (i.e. same torque, gearing, tires, etc.), the tractor with the higher weight will win. I think the main reason is that the higher weight will give better traction. It will also provide better stability when the FEL has a lot of goop in it.

That said, if your main purpose is mowing, the lighter tractor might have some asthetic advantages. You stated that you will be doing landscaping (sounds like a lot of FEL work), and a tiller. You did not mention mowing. I'd lean toward the weight.

What is the weight difference? What is the difference in torque?

The GlueGuy

 

[dsulli]

The weight difference is about 900-1000lbs, with the JD being heavier. I do plan on alot of FEL and Backhoe work. After trying both backhoes, I understand the value of weight. I'm leaning towards the heavier JD. thanks for info.
ps. I'm not sure what you mean by torque

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>The weight difference is about 900-1000lbs, with the JD being heavier</font color=blue>

I don't believe that is an apples-to-apples comparison. I've read (somewhere, don't ask me where /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif) that Kubota weights are w/o wheels & tires. You may want to confirm that, as I'm not sure where I heard that. Also, the JD information about that weight is "field ready".

The GlueGuy

 

[frank_f15]

TRISOLI: if u are going to be mostly mowing, then get the lighter machine(less wear on your ground) a heavier machine is great for other applications. i opted for the lighter b2400 over the heavier jd and i use the fel more than anything, and have not had a problem. REMEMBER THIS u can always ADD WEIGHT, IF U NEED IT AND WHEN U NEED IT. but is very hard to remove weight from a heavy tractor.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks for all the input. I am going shopping this weekend and will make up my mind Monday after looking over the price quote's I am getting from dealers in town. I am also looking over the Parts and Service shops during each visit to help me make the call which dealer I will buy from. I think that back-up after the sale is just as important as the price. I am planing to keep this Tractor for a long time. Thanks to all I will let you know how it went

 

[LarryT]

I don't know anything about a JD4200, but I'm very happy with my B2910 and I can't imagine that a few pounds (even a couple of hundred) would make any difference. I mostly use my tractor for moving dirt and other heavy things. Any compact tractor lacks for real weight. Mostly that is made up for by front and rear implements. Ballast in the tires helps, but that applies to all brands. If you are comparing apples to apples, I don't think weight is a big factor although weight clearly results in traction. What I'm saying is that the overall weight of either brand is inadequate without the additional implements, front and rear. All this is assuming that you are trying to do heavy work, like moving dirt. If you are mowing, lighter is probably better.

Larry...

 

[LarryT]

I guess I'm not totally sold on the "after sale" importance of the dealer. In the last 30 years, I've bought 10 or 12 new cars/trucks and have never taken one back to the dealer other than for warranty work, and that's been rare. Same for tractors. Taking a tractor to a dealer for routine maintenance is much more work than doing the maintenance yourself. I expect that most people that take on tractor ownership, which requires some amount of mechanical aptitude just to change implements, would certainly have enough mechanical aptitude to also do the routine maintenance. If so, and assuming that the dealer has little choice than to do warranty work, why is the after sale so important? Personally I'd be happy to buy my Kubota or John Deere from Sam's Club if I could. That way I'd know I'm getting a good price and not have to act like I'm buying a leather wallet in Tijuana going from stand to stand dickering. Better yet, if the manufacturers would set a reasonable price for their product and all dealers sold at that price, then we could truly sort out the good and bad dealers for their true merit, not their willingness to cut their margin on initial sales hoping they could make it up on service.

At least that's my opinion.

Larry...

 

[john_bud]

Larry,
I lifted this from Steve Carvers web page

http://www.carverequipment.com

Differences B 2710 B 2910 L 3010

Weights in lbs w/ballast... approx. 2950 3050 4050


My JD 4000 booklet lists the 4200 as 2675 pounds without ballast. I'd say the Kubota and the JD are about the same weight, if the data from Carver's is correct and the data in the JD sales brochure is correct. (And if I read it right[wink[)

Both are good machines. Me, I got a Kubota - so you know my bias.

Have fun shopping! Drive them both and see what you like. If you haven't already, try the Blue tractors at New Holland. I have read a lot of good things about the boomer series. It's not a Kubota, but if you don't look you will always wonder.

John Bud