L3901 vs L4701

[Ortimber]

I think you would be disappointed with the L3901 during day two.[/QUOTE]

I had an L3901, and totally agree with Jeff. Dealing with 10 acres of pasture is reason enough for me to recommend going with a bigger machine.

 

[s219]

I generally agree to go bigger than you think, but I don't recall you mentioning any "heavy" tasks that require the increased loader capacity or traction that the bigger tractor will give you. Another consideration is whether the bigger tractor would allow you to work faster or easier. I don't think you can go too big, but if you are working in the woods on trails, then definitely make sure the tractor can move around without crashing into trees or making deep ruts.

I have an L3200 and it's used to maintain my 8 acre property and a 192 acre wildlife area. I run a 6' bush hog for mowing fields and trails. On paper, the L3200 seems awful small and underpowered for 200 acres. But I don't really do any tasks that require a bigger, heavier, more powerful tractor. If I run into situations that do, I already know the L3560 is my next upgrade. It's a great tractor with all the right improvements, but not so large that it will be tedious to use in the woods. But my point is to look at the tasks, and the weights, and the power requirements of what you will do and size to that, not the acreage. I think land acreage can really be misleading.

BTW, the L4701 is more of a deluxe tractor than the L3301/3901, so to me it is more of an upgrade than size. Look carefully at the features and the L4701 has some nice improvements over the smaller L models. I feel like the L4701 falls between the L3301/3901 and the L3560 in terms of content. The 3301/3901 are basic L tractors while the 3560 is a deluxe Grand L. The 4701 is somewhere in the middle in terms of features.

 

[Peter 315]

The l3901 is light in the rear even with loaded tires. I find that with my l3800 same tractor size ..always in 4wd

 

[dara1989]

We just bought a L4701 to replace a 3130. It had a bad connection of some sort that the dealer fixed and while it was in the shop we demoed a 3301. Piece of junk imho. Loud, under powered hst, and way to light in the rear.

Be sure to take a look at the 3560 as well. They are slightly cheaper then a l4701.

 

[tradosaurus]

Get the MX series tractor. It won't be that much more than the L4701. Ground clearance is your friend.

 

[ericm979]

I would look into the grand L series just for the additional shift on the fly two speed transmission part of the HST+. I don't care about the rest of HST+ but I could totally use that feature.

Messicks has a good video on youtube going over the HST+.

 

[gsganzer]

Another spec to look at is hydraulic flow (GPM). I'd give serious consideration to the L3560. It would allow you to run a FEL mounted auger or post pounder, if you have any fencing plans.

 

[chim]

I would look into the grand L series just for the additional shift on the fly two speed transmission part of the HST+. I don't care about the rest of HST+ but I could totally use that feature.

Messicks has a good video on youtube going over the HST+.

The HST+ / Dual Speed is a great feature that I use a lot. Handy for starting out in HI range in "turtle" then bumping the lever up into"rabbit". When a little more grunt is needed for a brief time, bump the lever down, etc. My setup is usually with the pedal controlling the RPM's. When mowing I still use that setting but increase the engine RPMS with the throttle lever to a bit over 2,000. Then I control the tractor speed with the pedal. I can slow the tractors for corners and the blades keep spinning at the desired speed.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I just took delivery of an MX5400 after considering the L3901 and going through the process you're going through (see https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...s/422474-kubota-l3901-l4701-l4060-mx5400.html).

Of course my uses may differ. I considered the L4060 as in the progression of sizes from L3901 to MX5400, as well as the L4701. Here were some of the conclusions I reached _for my situation_:

1. I was worred the L3901 (HST), with it's 32 or so PTO HP, might have been a bit thin for my needs, but it probably would have done the job.
2. I was very worried about stability for my hilly environment. The vehicles get progressively wider and have varying tire spacing options, but fundamentally the MX5400 is 20% (!) wider than the L3901.
3. Weight matters, I have a lot of "potential secondary goals" for the tractor, like logging (I have a lot of forest). The MX5400 is a stout machine compared to the L3901.
4. The price differential between the L4701 and MX5400 was small. If you're seriously considering the L4701, I'd just skip it and move to the MX5400 which I feel is a substantially superior machine.
5. Kubota dealers don't even keep new L4701's on the lot. It's an orphan, because of my preceding point.
6. The Grand L models (3560 and 4060) were substantially more expensive, and less power than the MX5400, if I recall correctly (would need to reread my old comparisons). I do not need those bells and whistles. The last thing I want is to download spreadsheets from my tractor. (all that computer stuff in the grand L's).
7. There's some peace of mind knowing I've purchased at least one level up from the minimum of what I need, my investment feels better ... future proofed ...

In the end though, it was probably test driving the vehicles that sold me. Driving the MX5400 and the L3901... just had to have the MX5400. The L3901 also felt cramped for my body, I was even getting strange cramps while driving it becaus of the way I was positioned on it.

Good luck in your decision. I'm feeling good about my purchase, even though after upgrading the tractor _and most of the attachments_, I probably paid nearly $10k more. However I view it as a lifetime investment. I also think the MX5400 will have more staying power if I ever need to resell it. Probably the biggest attachment upgrade was the rotary cutter, going from 5' to 6'. I also went with heavy duty implements, vs the least expensive ones in my initial quote (blade, bucket, rotary cutter - all medium+ duty models), which contributed to the price increase. Of course you don't have to do that, but if the extra rotary cutter foot saves me an hour or two on my field, hey, why not. The tractor will have plenty of power for it.

Caveat, I'm a rookie, I know nothing, this is just the path I traveled for the big shiny new toys in my garage.

[Check your dealers, my nearby dealers had traded in MX 4800 and 5200 models - maybe you can save money there].

 

[RonSwanson]

Im kind of leaning towards the L3560 after getting a quote. $2k less then an L4701. Obviously less power but the HST+ is interesting.

Dont know why my wife was looking or who she talked to or what but she was like we should get a New Holland Boomer 40 with a cab. They are cute. Lol.

Which actually isnt a bad suggestion. I was thinking I didnt want a cab because they add so much cost and I really wouldnt be putting a ton of hours on the tractor but might not be a bad idea.

 

[RonSwanson]

The MX5400 is really nice too though and that might be an option.

 

[Peter 315]

Nice his and hers tractors.............

 

[fried1765]

Good point. Thanks. They are saying $900 for either model for filled R4 tires too.

Buy the tire liquid fill valve at TSC...$10.
Then, small 110v transfer pump ($30), and windshield washer fluid @ approx. $1.50 per gal.
Probably $150-$180 total cost..... a whole lot less than $900!
WWF is not quite as heavy as Rimguard, but for it's weight per gal., it is VERY cost effective.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

The MX5400 is really nice too though and that might be an option.

Don't forget to test drive both!

 

[RonSwanson]

I just test drove a 3901 and 4701. 3901 was HST and 4701 was geared because thats all they had in the back. I really like the 4701. I dont think itll leave me wanting for more capability like the 3901 probably would.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I just test drove a 3901 and 4701. 3901 was HST and 4701 was geared because thats all they had in the back. I really like the 4701. I dont think itll leave me wanting for more capability like the 3901 probably would.

Yeah, pity you didn't get to drive the MX5400 too for comparison. But if you're seriously considering the 4701, you should really consider the MX5400 for the following reasons:

1. The incremental cost of the MX5400 is very small compared to the L4701, much much smaller than the cost of going from the L3901 to the L4701, i.e. you're in the fine-tuning territory, financially.
2. The L4701 something of a product orphan carrying potentially less resale value. There's a reason dealers don't carry them on the lot (at least the two vermont dealers near me), unless they're used. It's because they're so close to the MX5400 that for the price it's well worth the upgrade to 5400.
3. The L4701 is 62.4" wide. The MX5400 is 69.7" wide - more stability, and probably (guessing) more options on tire spacing if you want it.
4. The L4701HST is 37.8 PTO HP. The MX5400HST is 46.5 PTO HP. That's a nice step up, an extra foot of whatever PTO attachment you want to power, or more power to the smaller implement.

You can see I'm pushing the 5400, because that's what I chose in my own very recent purchase, for the above reasons and more. And I'm really happy with it, it is an awesome machine. Of course that extra $2k or so may be the deal breaker, and in my case I also upgraded some of my attachments from 5' to 6' with the extra machine width, which you don't have to do but may be a price or other consideration.

Good luck! (And test drive a 5400 if you can). All that said, I'm sure the 4701 is a fine machine too, but I'm definitely not having any buyer's remose about the extra money I spent on the 5400. I'm sure retirement is over-rated anyway, right? (As in I may just have pushed mine out, but the l3901 probably would have done that too).

 

[Milo]

Originally Posted by RonSwanson View Post
Good point. Thanks. They are saying $900 for either model for filled R4 tires too.

Buy the tire liquid fill valve at TSC...$10.
Then, small 110v transfer pump ($30), and windshield washer fluid @ approx. $1.50 per gal.
Probably $150-$180 total cost..... a whole lot less than $900!
WWF is not quite as heavy as Rimguard, but for it's weight per gal., it is VERY cost effective.

$900 for filled *R4* tires isn't that bad when you consider the R4 tires themselves cost an extra $532 over the standard R1's. So you're paying them $368 for Rimgard and labor to fill the things up.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

$900 for filled *R4* tires isn't that bad when you consider the R4 tires themselves cost an extra $532 over the standard R1's. So you're paying them $368 for Rimgard and labor to fill the things up.

If I had a leak I'd probably rather it was beat juice over windshield washer fluid, but perhaps I'm overestimating the environmental friendliness of the Kubota branded beat juice, and underestimating the environmental friendliness of windshield washer fluid.

 

[Peter 315]

If I had a leak I'd probably rather it was beat juice over windshield washer fluid, but perhaps I'm overestimating the environmental friendliness of the Kubota branded beat juice, and underestimating the environmental friendliness of windshield washer fluid.

How many gallons of windshield washer fluid are sprayed on car windows every year ....... I'm guessing a lot.....

 

[RickB]

If I had a leak I'd probably rather it was beat juice over windshield washer fluid, but perhaps I'm overestimating the environmental friendliness of the Kubota branded beat juice, and underestimating the environmental friendliness of windshield washer fluid.

Kubota branded beet (sp) juice?