L48 or L39?

[kolmstead]

Hi, friends! I'm looking for advice again.

I have an L39 TLB, and I've been really impressed with this tractor. Over 100 hours use in the past six months, and that's just weekends. 250 hours in two years. But the backhoe is too difficult to remove and replace. One pin is apparently misaligned. And I like having the backhoe installed; it's a wonderful counterweight for the loader, especially when I'm using pallet forks. I bought a 72" box scraper and a landscape rake and a land leveler for the L39, but they're sitting unused because I need and don't want to remove the hoe.

So... I've been looking at SoCal Craigslist, and I can buy a used L39 or L48 with QA loader and top 'n tilt 3-pt. for $22K to $26K. No backhoe. Less than 200 hours on the tractors, owner operated.

My question is which way to go. Gotta do it soon, for tax reasons. The L39 is a newer design, probably more compliant with California's diesel emissions regulations. And all my attachments will fit right on it. But the L48 is a heavier, more powerful tractor, which is a good thing when I'm running scrapers and graders. Being able to lift 3000 pounds with the loader would be nice; I've hit the L39's 2K (1.5K with forks) limit all too often. The L48 would probably cost $3K to $4K less. Maybe because it is considered obsolete or noncompliant with CA smog regs?

Transport isn't really a concern, and the L48 without hoe weighs about what my L39 TLB does, anyway.

I'm trying to decide which tractor would be best for me, assuming that it will only do loader/forklift and scraper duties.

I know and love the L39. I have driven an HST tractor, and liked it.

Is the L48 too old a design to even consider? Folks who've owned them either love or hate 'em.

-Karl

 

[MarkV]

Karl, just my opinion but with less than 200 hours, the extra capacities, HST and top n' tilt I would go with the L48.

MarkV

 

[Samandothers]

I would go for the heavier more powerful L48.

 

[gwdixon]

I would not advise an L48 for tractor duties. It is a great backhoe but the 3-speed HST doesn't lend itself to much else.

It sounds like you may be in the market for an L or M series tractor rather than a "backhoeless backhoe". Getting something designed for the job to be done, and much more if it ever comes up (discing, mowing, post holes, etc.), would seem to make more sense.

If the FEL's designation is LA1350 or above it is rated to lift 3000 pounds.

The M7040 and L48 have loaders rated for 2500 pounds at the top of the lift. I've lifted much heavier stumps a foot or two before the hydraulics stalled. The L35 FEL is rated 1000 pounds less than the M7040 and L48.

 

[Goodluck w/ That]

You aparently just have money to burn!!!! Buy another machine just because you won't take the time to file the the pin down or try to fix the problem. To me that's like buying a new car because the tires are bald. If you got the funds, by all means buy the L48, I think your just tring to make yourself believe you need another 20K machine.

 

[rbargeron]

Of the 2 choices the L48 makes more sense especially if you already see the limits of the L39's loader. If you have some money you can put into a second tractor go for it - Kubotas depreciate slowly so you'll get lots of use for small net cost. Sometimes there's a quick TLB job to do - other times there's mowing or scraping - very nice to have a 2nd machine ready to go without changing it over.

 

[captbluewater]

I have a L39 and now have over 700hrs in last 2 1/2 years. The first time I went to take backhoe off it must have taken me over an hr. I had one pin that I had to drive out where there is not alot of room. I found some corrosion on that pin. I cleaned it up and always put a little never sieze on both pins. I also always put blocks under the base which helps when putting the backhoe back on. Now it takes me 5 mins to take hoe off and the pins slide out with only finger pressure.

 

[kolmstead]

Good point about the backhoeless backhoe! The L48 seems to get rave reviews regarding the hoe, but some folks really dislike the 3-range HST. I haven't driven one, and that's one of the reasons I posted the question. I wouldn't hesitate a bit recommending the L39 w/o hoe as a loader/scraper tractor, but having HST would be even better. Assuming, of course, that there's a suitable range.

The mounting pins on my L39 backhoe are clean and lubricated, but the tube through which the right side pin goes is slightly misaligned. When I picked the unit up at the dealer, they had to remove the right rear wheel in order to get room to drive the pin in. They tried the usual fixes like grinding sharp edges off the pin. Things have improved with use, but I still don't dismount the hoe unless I REALLY need to. But you never know; my last project was replacing a septic tank and leach field in really nasty ground. Several days of heavy digging. Rocks and caliche. I could hear the ROPS creaking and feel the front of the tractor rising as I dug with the backhoe. By now, that pin may have plenty of clearance!

It means a lot to me to have a forum where I can bounce ideas off other tractor users. Is the idea of buying another L39, at about half what I paid for mine crazy? Some times it's hard to tell. Thanks for your replies!

I'm enjoying all the snow pictures. Two days ago, we had blowing sand here.

-Karl

 

[curtisfarmer]

I was in the same spot you where in. I had 1 L48 and the M59 came out. I thought about the L39/45....too small...and didn't want to pay $11K more for the M59 so I bought another new L48 for $27.5K without hoe. I don't need 2 hoes(have KX121-3) but I need 2 machines. I feel I made the best decision. I love the L48, which is a little slow, but does all of heavy construction I need which is 80% of the work I do, and the other 20% of regular tractor stuff like raking, mowing, and plowing just a little bit slower than say a Grand L40. I would rather do the other 20% slower than not being able to do the other 80% of real work. The comparison is always made of the L48 and other TLBs to the Grand L series.....but it is not really a comparison at all as the two series are two different class of machines. I say get the other L39 if you don't need the larger L48. If you do, go for the L48.

 

[kolmstead]

Good to hear from you, curtisfarmer. I know that you are a L48 proponent. Excellent point about comparing the light commercial TLB series with L or Grand L. They are designed for completely different tasks. No cruise control, no cab, but man, can they dig!

On the day that I bought the L39, I also tried out a L3240 and L5040. I was just about sold on L3240 until I spotted the L39. One test drive, and I forgot the other tractors existed. Hauled it home the day before Christmas two years ago, and spent my best Christmas ever, moving dirt with the new tractor.

Nice to hear from a guy who uses his tractors to make money!

-Karl

 

[two_bit_score]

Always go bigger.