L4400 vs Mx5100

[Atobuk2001]

I have a 4 acre field I am going to plant hay in and harvest it myself, then there is the neighbors field that is 8 acres that I am going to try to lease to grow hay. I know I have to prep the ground, since both mine and his are just weeds. I have a bush hog, and roto-tiller both rated for 40hp. I know I still need to buy/rent other equipment to deal with the planting and harvesting of the hay, but since I am not going to do any of this till 2011, that can wait. I narrowed my choice to the L4400 and MX5100, these are also the tractors that are at the max of my budget. Until I do all the stuff listed above, I would be using it in a barn to haul away Alpaca manure, move hay/straw bales and plow the drive way in winter and pull a sled behind with the kids on it. Both tractors are 4wd, the L4400 is HST and the MX5100 is Gear. Right now I have a B7500, that I plan on trading in. I am leaning toward the Mx5100 power/cat I/II 3pt, but I would prefer the L4400 if it can do everything I listed above. Any advice would be welcomed. Also this is just a hobby, I am not a farmer for profit.

 

[QTIP]

Well, I fially registered to this forum after lurking for about two years !! I will need to post some details about myself, but I'll start with this reply. For the last ~2yrs, I've had a Kubota B7800 that I bought new. It was a nice tractor, but not really what I needed, as I needed something bigger to pull/push stumps and other earthmoving. The 7800 was just too light. Three months ago I traded the B7800 in on a new MX5100. It is a very nice tractor.
If you want a Hydro tranny, then you have no choice - the L4400 is available with one, while the MX5100 is not. I went with the MX5100 because with all the shopping I did in Wisconsin, the MX was the better deal. Even if it wasn't, I still would have gone with the 5100 due to the larger size and horsepower. I liked that it is turbocharged,although this can be both good and bad. Pretty cool to listen to the turbo spin down, though.
The 5100 has very good power, starts well in -5 degree weather with no engine heater, and I have no problems with the shuttle shift. In fact, I prefer it. It just seems to me to be the way a tractor should be. Granted, clutches can go and they are expensive to replace when they do, but I think a gear drive is generally more effcient and durable. You'll probably find the 5100 a bit more capable in every respect, at least on paper. If the 4400 is a better deal for you; it too, is a very nice machine.
Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll try to answer. "Try" because I've only put 7hrs on it and I don't use it to plow... Can't wait for spring !!!

 

[Atobuk2001]

I have no preference on transmissions, the Mx5100 is $1000 more than the L4400, and that's not an issue either. My concern is whether the L4400 will have the weight/power to pull/operate a baler. I am pretty sure the baler is going to be the machine that will tax the tractor the most. I keep reading on the post that the L4400 is very powerful, but almost every one says it's a little light. I would like the L4400 because I can tow it myself to the dealer for repairs, the MX5100 it's just over my towing capabilities and too long for my current trailer. The land I am plan on planting is slightly hilly, nothing extreme, but I know my B7500 even though a good tractor, does not have the weight/power to do what I want to do in 2 years. Also is there a spell check when writing these post? I checked all the icons here and none are identified as a spell checker.

 

[jsborn]

Hello and Welcome
I have a L4400 Gear with loaded rear tires and have no problem doing every job you listed with the exception of baling hay . I don't bale so you need someone else to help with that but as far a moving bales and manure and general barnyard and driveway maintenance you can't beat the L4400. If I could go up to the Mx5100 for $1000 I would have done it just for the hp and weight but it is not necessary unless you need it to bale. Just my opinion but for 12 acres of hay field I would probably find some one local that would contract bale it for me as the cost of the rake and baler will probably price you out of the market unless you can find a real deal on used equipment and then I would be very careful used balers can cause a lot of grief.

You can download the Google tool bar and it has a Spell check feature that will check anything you type into any form.

Good luck

 

[Negligence]

I used to own a MX5100 and it worked fine for baling squares with a thrower. I even had it hooked up to a NH648 round baler and it did most of the work but couldn't finish the bale.

So its a more than capable tractor. You're getting a lot, but I can't speak for the L4400. Remember that the 4400 is considered a compact tractor, while the 5100 is closer to an ag tractor.

 

[pitt_md]

I have the MX5000 which is the same HP as the 5100 just not a turbo model.
It will bale hay and till ground and do most every thing safely. The one area of concern that I would have is pulling a loaded hay wagon. I should have said controling a loaded hay wagon. My MX will pull it with ease. Stopping one going down hill could get a bit dicy . My tractor weighs in around 4K with loader and a loaded hay wagon can be 5 to 6 thousand pounds.

 

[Atobuk2001]

Thank you all for the advice, I'm going to go with the MX5100, so hopefully in three weeks it will be siting in my barn, taking up more space than the B7500, that I barely have space for.

 

[tallyho8]

Also is there a spell check when writing these post? I checked all the icons here and none are identified as a spell checker.

To use the spell checker, click on MY HOME near the top of the page, then click on EDIT OPTIONS on the left side of the page, then scroll down to the bottom and under Miscellaneous Options, click on STANDARD EDITOR and then when you reply to a post there is an icon in the top right side with an ABC that you click on for spell check.