L48 or L5030 - My Jump Into The Tractor World?

Ursushorribilus · Oct 8, 2004

Gray, $33,800 for an L48, Wow, thats almost 5 grand more than I was quoted. Was it a new one?

gray · Oct 9, 2004

Yes, it is a new one. It is in an add in Midwest Equipment. D@B Equipment in Lena Wi. has it. I saw this one about 3 months ago as I went by thereon my way to GreenBay, Wi. I paid 37500 for mine with the 4in1 bucket and hydraulics for the bucket. Mine is from Service Equipment in GreenBay.

Too bad you didn't get a chance to use the L48 BH. It is strong and smooth. I think It has about 10% more ratings then the 110 and a 1 ft more reach. Reach was a big factor for me and I am glad I got the greater reach.

I priced a 110 at a dealer in Mason Wi., they are a good outfit and gave me a price of 35600 with the 4in1 and hydraulics. I thought it was a good number. I liked the 110 alot but not the flip over seat system vs the rotation seat on the L48.

Either one is a good choice. These machines are able to load over the side of a full sized truck unlike many of the smaller CUTS. Good luck with your choices and shopping.

Ursushorribilus · Oct 9, 2004

I saw a hydraulic thumb on a Kubota excavator while talking to the dealer yesterday, he told me the L48 could be outfitted with one for around 3 or 4 thousand $ Question: What are the capacities of the thumb:? How much weight will it lift at different angles? Thanks...Tony

txdon · Oct 9, 2004

Ursushorribilus, About a year ago I was also looking at the JD110 And the Kubota 5030 with the BH90. I test drove both and the Kubota 5030 seem tighter and more responsive. I have had it for a year and I am still happy with it. I saved about $5,000 at the time. Kubota 5030 with the BH90

gray · Oct 10, 2004

On the question of a thumb. I ordered one this week. It is a mechanical thumb at 550 with shipping. I expect an hour to install. I also looked at hydraulic ones. I found them from 780 to 1600 for the L48 BH. Adding the hydraulics to run one is about 700. It would be foot triggered. I chose to go with the mechanical one for now. A model from CDP is convertable to hydraulic but it is a kit that would take some assembly and time I don't have right now.

I have read many posts that claim 200% increase in funtion of a BH with one. I tend to beleave it. I think a close in lift will be in the 1500lb plus range and 1000lbs at a long reach. More based on the specs of the BH then the thumb.

The thumbs range in wieght from 63lbs to 160 for the mechanical and 110 to 190 for the hydraulic thumbs that I have seen.

I can't wait to try mine out. I will report what I find as soon as I have used it.

Ursushorribilus · Oct 10, 2004

txdon, that is a sweet looking machine. With those teeth on the FEL bucket it looks like a hungry dinosaur looking for dinner /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gray, I like the sounds of that thumb, and am looking forward to hearing how yours turns out...Tony

txdon · Oct 10, 2004

Ursushorribilus, If you have to have, or want, a thumb on the BH then forget about the 5030 and the BH90 until you check with Kubota about the warranty on the modification. There was a thread about a year ago where there was a warranty issue with a person who put a thumb on a BH90. ( Was the guys name Stevenson?) The JD110 does have a thumb as an option. Does the L48 have a thumb as an option or is it a add-on?

Ursushorribilus · Oct 10, 2004

txdon - I went to the Fryeburg Fair today in Maine, and looked at the dealers implement book, and yes, the thumb is an option. I also asked about the hydraulic hammer on the BH, just like the L35 and 110 have as options, and he said that they can do it if they add extra lines and controls. I also want a hydraulic posthole digger on the FEL, which is an option. But I'll start with the thumb.

Oh, I forgot, I have decided to go with the L48. One of our fellow members had generously offered to let me try his L48, which I will tentatively do next Saturday - an extremely nice thing to do, I might add. Of course, by then, as I PMed him, I may already own one - even though I may not see it at my place for a while if they add the thumb.

Question: I talked to a landscaper at the Fryeburg Fair today, and he told me that the reason he didn't get a machine the size of the L48 was because he didn't think it could lift a pallet of stone off a flatbed (about 3000 lbs.) I know the specs show 3000 lbs. at the pivot pin and about 2500 lbs. 24 inches back. Do you know if it will will a 3000 lb pallet off the back of a truck? Tony

gray · Oct 10, 2004

I will try to answer your question from experience and the spec book on the loader I have.

Yes, I beleive it will if you do it right. Here is why I say , yes.

First- I have lifted a hole lift of OSB off the ground a few inches and moved it around on a sloped job site. About 4000lbs.

Second- I lifted a hole lift of 5/8 t@g subfloor by running the forks in and tilting back to about 15* thus bringing it off the ground enough to move it. This method used the rollback force more than the vertical lift force of the loader.

Third- The vertical lift is rated at 2800lbs at 19inches ahead of the pivot pin at 59inches off the ground. It is also rated at a roll back for ce of 6900lbs at the same height. So, useing the rollback strength you should be able to lift the pallet a few inches off the flat bed deck then back away and slowly lower it to a working height for travel.

You are at the limits but if you do not need to lift high then you can make it work. Just my opinion.

I was surprised to find I was able to lift those products at all let alone enough to shift them around. I have found using the rollback power in many ways has allowed me to do many things that lift alone is not enough for. I am sure others have done the same things with their loaders.

Good luck.

gray · Oct 10, 2004

Forgot to mention my findings on a Hydraulic FEL auger system.

After searching and pricing all over the place, I found a unit that will work with the GPM flow and provide the needed functions. This unit is priced at 1100 for the head / quick tach / hoses. Most of the others were very good industrial models but for the same peices they were all in the 1700 range. Two other nice things about the unit from SSS, the auger head is removable from the mounting plate by pulling a pin which leaves the plate usable for other needs-( boom pole system) and the augers are less expensive then all the others.

SSS is Skid Steer Solutions.

When money alows, I am going to pick one of them up. Don't tell the wife?