Hey everyone! Currently in the middle part of Vermont on just over 10 acres that is pretty hilly with about 1100 foot uphill driveway. Looking to get a tractor for general use and snow removal. I see using it to maintain the gravel drive and plow in the winter as well as tackle the chores around the property. Have 4 goats and would like to be able to haul water and brush hog our smallish fields not in use.I have been concentrating on the L3901 as well as the 4701 but have been thinking after driving the 4760 about a 4060 as well. The property is pretty tight with trees and available space to maneuver and I would also like to use it to till our smallish garden in the back yard area. I have operated both the 3901 and a 4760( same as 4060 size wise) but the dealer didn稚 have the 4701 in stock. Just wanted to get some opinions on which way to go.
Buying Advice Looking to get first tractor
- Thread starter leningrad
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nybirdman
Super Member
All are pretty close in size and capability with six foot implements(of course the higher HP units will handle a little better).The L3901/L4701 are standard "L's",where the L4060/L4760 are Grand L's and have a lot more bells and whistles+cost.I have owned two Grand L's and feel the added features are worth the cost.
The L4701 seems to be in low demand ;kind of an odd spot in the line-up between the L4760 and MX4800.
That being said;a friend just purchased one with a back-hoe and really likes it.
The HST features of the Grand L's are really nice;more comfortable work platform;so my choice would be the L4760.I run six foot implements with 44 H.P.(L4240 HSTC) with no problem;we use five foot on the smaller 32 H.P. tractor.
The L4701 seems to be in low demand ;kind of an odd spot in the line-up between the L4760 and MX4800.
That being said;a friend just purchased one with a back-hoe and really likes it.
The HST features of the Grand L's are really nice;more comfortable work platform;so my choice would be the L4760.I run six foot implements with 44 H.P.(L4240 HSTC) with no problem;we use five foot on the smaller 32 H.P. tractor.
jeff9366
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- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
Vermont soils are pretty tough. Pay for weight for capability and stability.
The L4701 is a bit of an orphan in Kubota's lineup. Consider the three-model MX series too, if you want a heavy basic machine with an assured future.
Consider the L3560, the smallest of the Grand Ls, along with the L4760. I work in woodland. My L3560 is 62" wide with R4 tires. An L4760 would be 69" wide and would not fit through many Florida tree gaps. (Buy a stick of 1-1/4" PVC pipe. Cut at 69". Mark at 62". Walk around comparing PVC to tree gaps and your gates.)
All the Grand Ls have adjustable rear wheel width with both R1 and R4 tires. You may want to set rear wheels wider for stability on slopes.
I recommend Kubota optional SSQA L2296 heavy-duty, round-back bucket for your FEL in Vermont.
L3560 has 37-horsepower. It will power a 60" Bush Hog with ease. I cut jungle with a commercial spec Land Pride RCR2660 which weighs 950 pounds. L3560 powers it through Florida jungle with no strain.
The Grand L HST/PLUS transmission is worth its big price in enhanced productivity.
VIDEOS: Kubota HST Plus Transmission Features - YouTube
Kubota Grand L Series VS. Kubota MX Series - YouTube
Grand Ls will not fit in a garage with an 84" header, with ROPS folded. L4701 and MX series have lower folded ROPS and should fit under 84" header.
The L4701 is a bit of an orphan in Kubota's lineup. Consider the three-model MX series too, if you want a heavy basic machine with an assured future.
Consider the L3560, the smallest of the Grand Ls, along with the L4760. I work in woodland. My L3560 is 62" wide with R4 tires. An L4760 would be 69" wide and would not fit through many Florida tree gaps. (Buy a stick of 1-1/4" PVC pipe. Cut at 69". Mark at 62". Walk around comparing PVC to tree gaps and your gates.)
All the Grand Ls have adjustable rear wheel width with both R1 and R4 tires. You may want to set rear wheels wider for stability on slopes.
I recommend Kubota optional SSQA L2296 heavy-duty, round-back bucket for your FEL in Vermont.
L3560 has 37-horsepower. It will power a 60" Bush Hog with ease. I cut jungle with a commercial spec Land Pride RCR2660 which weighs 950 pounds. L3560 powers it through Florida jungle with no strain.
The Grand L HST/PLUS transmission is worth its big price in enhanced productivity.
VIDEOS: Kubota HST Plus Transmission Features - YouTube
Kubota Grand L Series VS. Kubota MX Series - YouTube
Grand Ls will not fit in a garage with an 84" header, with ROPS folded. L4701 and MX series have lower folded ROPS and should fit under 84" header.
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oosik
Epic Contributor
Good morning leningrad and welcome to TBN and the forum. I have 80 acres and a mile long gravel driveway. I started out with a brand new Ford 1700 4WD in 1982 ~ 26 hp. It worked just great for the following 27 years. Plowing snow - moving rocks - moving trees for firewood, etc, etc. Then in 2009 I traded it in for a brand new Kubota M6040. Bigger tractor - bigger implements - bigger projects.
When considering a tractor - look to the future. What will you be doing in ten, fifteen or twenty years. Remember - if you choose wisely and do routine maintenance - your first tractor will, easily, last your entire lifetime.
When considering a tractor - look to the future. What will you be doing in ten, fifteen or twenty years. Remember - if you choose wisely and do routine maintenance - your first tractor will, easily, last your entire lifetime.
I second Jeff9936's feedback about weight. If you're going to be engaging the ground traversing hilly terrain...weight should be a consideration, all else being equal. Lots of opinions on here, but I've got my rear tires loaded with RimGuard for both weight and ballast (FEL). I also had the dealer configure the R1 AG tires (aggressive tread for the hills) in a wide stance configuration (both front and rear) to increase stability on the hills. My dealer added the RimGuard and configured the wide stance for me at no charge.
nybirdman
Super Member
TheMadOne
Platinum Member
No. The L4701 uses LA765, rated to 1684lbs at 105.2".
The L4760 uses the LA1055, rated to 2361lbs at 112.7".
All measurements at pin.
A closer comparison would be LA805, rated to 1715lbs at 104.7". That's the FEL used on the L4060 and can be optioned onto the L3560.
I also would seriously consider the practicality of a cab. Vermont winters are cold.
shooterdon
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Think about your snow situation. How much do you get a year. What is the largest "dump" you will need to deal with. With a plow, you need space to move snow to. I have over 6' banks currently. I use a truck plow, but when it was down for a bit used my back blade and FEL. The tractor was twice as slow but my tractor is smaller than what you are looking at. Still....worth considering. Talk to your neighbors on their snow solutions.
I am currently shopping for a new tractor and have decided a cab and front blower are worth the investment. But I am an older man (late 60's) with neck issues. Compromising on ease of use and comfort would mean struggling in a few years as I get less able. In your situation, be wary of a rear mounted blower. 1100 ft in hilly terrain will not be fun if you are doing it often.
I am currently shopping for a new tractor and have decided a cab and front blower are worth the investment. But I am an older man (late 60's) with neck issues. Compromising on ease of use and comfort would mean struggling in a few years as I get less able. In your situation, be wary of a rear mounted blower. 1100 ft in hilly terrain will not be fun if you are doing it often.
The Fred
Veteran Member
Where are you in VT?
Buy a Kioti you'll love the thing. Dealer here is great!
Buy a Kioti you'll love the thing. Dealer here is great!
If you can afford to go bigger, by all means go bigger. I've never heard anyone ever say they wish they had a smaller tractor. That being said I have an L3800, very similar to the L3901 just no bells and whistles. It's a good sized machine for any of my projects. I have 30 acres in minnesota so I know snow and it does a fine job with removal. Also do a lot of brush hogging and grapple cleanup for pastures. I purchased that particular unit used for a good price with alot of attachments. But if money were no issue, I would have gone a little bigger.
Well that may have made my choice easier as I have all 84 inch garage headers! How far off are the grand L from going under the 84 inch header? I definitely need something that will fit in one of the garages.
TheMadOne
Platinum Member
No tractor you've listed is going to fit under 84". You'll have to lower the ROPS on whatever model you end up with, and won't be able to have a cab. That means that any standard L or open station grand L will have the same amount of hassle.
Top of ROPS:
Standard L(all models) 91.7"
Grand L(all models) 97.6"
You have to drop all the way down to a BX to find a model that would fit under 84" without lowering the ROPS.
Fallon
Super Member
I had a L3200 (L3301 now, same as a L3901 minus a few HP) & upgraded to L4060HSTC. I upgraded for the cab & bells/whistles.
The Grand has a noticably WORSE power to weight ratio (8 more hp but double the weight). But as weight does the work it will pull a box blade or push a snow plow circles around the old machine. Stability due to a 72" wide machine (adjustable) over a 60" machine (only adjustable if you have R1 tires, fixed for R4s) is way better. The loader is only a bit better, but the machine is very stable with improperly light or no 3pt ballast. The L3200 is sketchy at max lift with heavy 3pt ballast.
I got a 3pt blower for the L3200 as heavy wet snow or packed drifts stopped it with the smaller SSQA plow on numerous occasions. The 8' SSQA plow on the Grand pushes me around a bit & gets fiddly. It's so problematic I've thought about putting front chains on. I've even tossed the chains in the cab this year. Still have yet to put them on in 3 years other than a test fit in the barn though.
Drive a machine with HST & shift it between ranges a dozen times then drive a HST+ Grand. Shifting ranges is craptastic on both (as is every other HST CUT on the market). When you realize you can just stay in medium 90% of the time & toggle high or low on the fly you see the value of HST+.
The economy machine was a good machine. It was a hair more maneuverable & useful morning stuff in my low shop with the ROPS down. My cabbed machine wont fit & I miss getting a loader in there moving hundred or 1,000lbs tools around on occasion. My wife hates climbing into the cab on the Grand but was only annoyed climbing onto the old open station. I dont deal with lots of trees, but have smacked the glas with branches a bit. No broken glass yet, but also no desire to face the heat, cold, snow or dust either. Different equation for others on that front.
The Grand has a noticably WORSE power to weight ratio (8 more hp but double the weight). But as weight does the work it will pull a box blade or push a snow plow circles around the old machine. Stability due to a 72" wide machine (adjustable) over a 60" machine (only adjustable if you have R1 tires, fixed for R4s) is way better. The loader is only a bit better, but the machine is very stable with improperly light or no 3pt ballast. The L3200 is sketchy at max lift with heavy 3pt ballast.
I got a 3pt blower for the L3200 as heavy wet snow or packed drifts stopped it with the smaller SSQA plow on numerous occasions. The 8' SSQA plow on the Grand pushes me around a bit & gets fiddly. It's so problematic I've thought about putting front chains on. I've even tossed the chains in the cab this year. Still have yet to put them on in 3 years other than a test fit in the barn though.
Drive a machine with HST & shift it between ranges a dozen times then drive a HST+ Grand. Shifting ranges is craptastic on both (as is every other HST CUT on the market). When you realize you can just stay in medium 90% of the time & toggle high or low on the fly you see the value of HST+.
The economy machine was a good machine. It was a hair more maneuverable & useful morning stuff in my low shop with the ROPS down. My cabbed machine wont fit & I miss getting a loader in there moving hundred or 1,000lbs tools around on occasion. My wife hates climbing into the cab on the Grand but was only annoyed climbing onto the old open station. I dont deal with lots of trees, but have smacked the glas with branches a bit. No broken glass yet, but also no desire to face the heat, cold, snow or dust either. Different equation for others on that front.
Got that for sure, but in another reply someone said that even a folded ROPS would not clear a 84 inch door? Maybe I misunderstood his post....
^ this is what I was referring to..
jeff9366
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.
About 4" in my case. I had 4" sectioned out of the ROPS by my local welding shop.
Rural Florida cost in 2013: $200.
When I bought my early L3560 in January 2013 Kubota had not updated the ROPS height in specs and folded ROPS height was a big surprise to the Kubota dealer and me. You need to measure your header height and whether or not your garage door impinges on the 84" height. Mine does. My electric garage door anchors 2" higher with a manual assist. (Tire selection affects ROPS height.)
Fueling at ground level is a plus for me at age 71 but ground fueling convenience increases tractor height.
Fueling from five gallon cans while standing in the operator's station is OK for younger people but requires more strength and balance than I have during a hot Florida day.
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jeff9366
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- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
Standard L, L4701 and MX series will clear 84" header with ROPS FOLDED.
LINKS (2): https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...bota-l4701-folded-rops-height.html?highlight=
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/409678-kubota-mx-4800-5200-5800-a.html
Unmodified L3560 with R4/industrial tires will NOT clear 84" header even with ROPS FOLDED.
Trust me, I put modified L3560 ROPS up and take ROPS down each working day, including today.
As tractor market has evolved to satisfy customer demand for Backhoes, both at time of tractor purchase and as later additions, ROPS have become higher.
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"The L4701 is a bit of an orphan in Kubota's lineup. Consider the three-model MX series too, if you want a heavy basic machine with an assured future" Leningrad
absolutely
sounds as if you're getting good advice here for the difficult (& expensive) decision. personally, i would be selecting a model based on your future needs & tasks. purchasing a tractor based on it's storage capacity to me is a backwards approach. lots of affordable options of storing elsewhere
get the biggest one possible then step up a size
no really, don't limit yourself w/garage door height. it's too important a decision
best regards on your decision
absolutely
sounds as if you're getting good advice here for the difficult (& expensive) decision. personally, i would be selecting a model based on your future needs & tasks. purchasing a tractor based on it's storage capacity to me is a backwards approach. lots of affordable options of storing elsewhere
get the biggest one possible then step up a size
no really, don't limit yourself w/garage door height. it's too important a decisionbest regards on your decision
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