Looking at the L4060 have some Questions

[NordicTractor]

Hi Group,

We are looking at upgrading our Tractor to a Kubota L4060 and think been going through it pretty well, but looking for some real Life experience with this Setup.
Main question is around the Loader, all the specs are great.
Not looking to Lift 1700 to max height, but have a few things would need to push it to the limits and wanted to see what others think.

One Job; Lifting Pallets (max 2000 lbs) down from Semi (est. 4Ft) to the Ground and then moving them on Solid surface.

Second Job; Moving IBC Crates filled with Firewood (est. 1500-1800 lbs max), moving around the Yard and stacking on top of each other (est. 4Ft).

For everything else the L4060 would be a great Fit to our Property and match the wallet as well, but also don't want to buy Undersized. Understand that enough counter Weight needs to be on the Tractor.

Thanks for any advice

Mike

 

[ning]

Remember that the lift capacity includes the weight of the bucket or forks. If you have a capacity of 1700 and forks are 400, you will only pick up a pallet that weighs 1300... and that capacity is at the pins.

Thehe capacity 500mm from the pins (about 20") is about 1300#, so if it's stacked closely and not spread out on the pallet you've got (1300-forks) or about 900# of cargo if stacked nicely close; if you have a load that's evenly weighting a 48" pallet your max lift is closer to 7-800# (of stuff on a pallet, lifted with forks).

I don't think you'll be picking up 2000# pallets from a semi bed with a LA805 loader... probably not with the next bigger one, either, because you have to pick up the forks too.

IBC totes full of dry wood are much lighter than green; take that into account too.

 

[DieselBound]

My NX5510's loader is spec'd for 2,700 lbs. [Forks are somewhere around 250 lbs] Lifting a 2,000 lb pallet is something I do quite often and I can tell you that it's as much as I really dare manage: I've had well over this, but closer to the pins, which is where the rating is made. The weight really feels springy (flex in thnigs, forks, loader and tires). I doubt that the loader on the L4060 is going to be able to do a 2,000 lb pallet (perhaps just above the ground), certainly not from the deck of a semi. Keep in mind that lifting is one thing, moving with a heavy load is another: I had to dump a 2,000 lb pallet load as my NX5510 started to tip over- was going over a bit of a dip and in slightly soft ground; not a fun experience and unless one is quick to respond it can get really ugly.

Stacking can be really a challenge. If one has to do a lot of this then a forklift might be the best solution.

DO NOT try to do any significant weight without adequate ballast! (rear tires ballasted; I also have a good 1,000+ lbs of implement hanging off the 3pt- even with this, a 2,000 lb pallet load feels a bit tippy).

If you still find that you need to do this with a tractor I'd look for a loader that's spec'd for at least 3,000 lbs (for 2000 lb pallet loads). You can go a bit less, but one has better not have soft nerves.

 

[sea2summit]

One Job; Lifting Pallets (max 2000 lbs) down from Semi (est. 4Ft) to the Ground and then moving them on Solid surface.

Second Job; Moving IBC Crates filled with Firewood (est. 1500-1800 lbs max), moving around the Yard and stacking on top of each other (est. 4Ft)

Rated capacity of the loader is 1,715 pounds and you’ve listed two tasks that exceed that weight. There’s no question that if those are your tasks, this isn’t your tractor.

ETA the 500mm forward of the pins weight (close to pallet planning) is less than 1,300 so that’s a bigger no.

 

[jeff9366]

What is your altitude in north Idaho?

Over 1,500' above mean sea level you lose 3% of horsepower for every 1,000' increment of height with a naturally aspirated diesel, such as the L4060 and L4760.

The L5060/L5460/L6060 have the same engine with added turbocharger, which compensate for thin air conditions.

If you are considering a cabbed Grand L be aware the cab adds 600 pounds weight to lug around, plus the A/C requires some power to operate.



One Job; Lifting Pallets (max 2000 lbs) down from Semi (est. 4Ft) to the Ground and then moving them on Solid surface.

The more capable LA1055 FEL is available on the L4760/L5060/L5460/L6060.


I am old and increasingly breakable. I consider operating safety first. Consider a 5,300 pound bare weight, turbocharged M6060 with LA1154 Loader over a 4,000 pound bare weight 'Grand L'. I recommend a 5,000 pound bare weight tractor when I see the word "pallet" and the words "one ton" or "2,000 pounds" in the same sentence.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR!​

 

[DieselBound]

One approach might be, if one were able to use ramps, 3pt forks. I once planned on this with my B7800 (unloading from my utility trailer) only to find that I could only seem to lift a 2,000 lb pallet load ONCE. Ramps, however, present challenges with regards to 3pt geometry and ramp angles.

 

[Fallon]

I have a L4060hstc & the medium loader. My flail mower on the pallet allegedly weighed 1,900lbs. I gad to remove the PTO shaft from the pallet to lift it a few inches & get it down the driveway. It was hanging a ways out on the pallet forks.

I believe the flail weighs 1,700lbs. With it mounted to my home made SSQA to 3pt adapter (I can lift it, so maybe 100lbs) I can barely lift it to hood height.

I just helped some guys pull some 10,000' (I think) conduit reels off a flatbed. I couldn't lift them. Lifted the boom as much as I could then was able to curl enough to get them off.

I go with heavy ballast, usually the flail or an old heavy Gannon box blade. I also have loaded R4s. The machine has never felt unstable. Even lifting heavy with little ballast or ballast forgotten sitting on the ground instead of in the air.

The hydraulics are the weak spot on the machine. Unlike my old L3200 which couldn't keep the back end on the ground, even with a few heavy sacks of stuff 6' back on the rotary cutter for overkill ballast. My hydraulic pressures were good whenever I last checked them. Around the top 75% of the spec range if I recall.

The L4760 & bigger have a beefier front axle & are able to be speed for the bigger loader. So I assume pushing the limits constantly on my machine will do bad things to my front axle. Kubotas seem to crush front axle seals a lot & bearings occasionally.

If you need to lift 1,700lbs it will be sketchy, depending on how far out the load hangs. If you need to lift 2,000lbs, it's unlikely to get the job done. You need to look atva bigger Grand L with the bigger front axle & big loader or look at a MX or something.

I'm happy with my L4060hstc generally. I wish it had more power for roading it up hills & spinning the huge flail mower. Colorado lack of oxygen cuts into power a lot too. I may upgrade to a L6060 once supply chain craziness sorts itself out. More for PTO power & road speed than lift capacity. I will spec the big loader rather than the medium one if I ever upgrade.

 

[RjCorazza]

I've had my L4060 HSTC for 4 years and change, and it's been a great machine.
I would not consider the L4060 for your pallet lifting requirements.

 

[BeezFun]

It sounds like you would be better off with a skid steer or a compact telehandler. I've been looking at telehandlers as an alternative to buying a larger tractor. They'll lift 3500-5000#, raise it 15-20 feet, and extend the boom 8-12'. They'll take any quick attach implement, there just isn't anything like it for handling hay, pallets, etc. They have enough hydraulic flow to mount a snowblower on front or a mower. And they're only about 6' tall so they'll fit in a standard garage. My favorite is this Manitou. Like everything else right now, good luck finding one.

 

[NordicTractor]

Thanks everyone for your Input.

We are at approx. 2200 Ft. Elevation

For our 2 Challenges;
Looks like the moving Firewood in IBC (est. 83% of half Cord + the weight of the Container) isn't the biggest challenge. Though would be pushing the L4060 to its Limits, depending on the kind of Wood and moisture level. So going up to the L4760 with the bigger Loader would be a good Idea and put us into safer level of operation.

For unloading Pallets from a Semi.
Currently this is a one time a year, problem and might be pushing a Tractor (in the Sizes we are looking at) beyond its Limits and we should keep renting a Forklift for the Day of unloading the Semi.


For the Tractor we are looking at a Open Station with a Canopy (so no extra weight there). Was looking at filling the Rear Tires with Beet Juice. Still going back and forth on the the Backhoe Attachment, which would be a great counter weight.

Am I heading down the right track?