MX5000 2wd vs L3400 4wd

[V8ZRACER]

We am purchasing one of these, but would like some advise on which one. We have 20+ acres and would primarily be using the tractor for mowing. I'll be adding a loader in the next year. The 50 horse will pull a bigger mower but is it worth the loss of 4wd. We live in FL and the land is fairly flat.

 

[tjkadar]

Are you going to be doing a lot of FEL work?

If you have a FEL, then I strongly suggest FWD. If not, then it depends on your soil conditions. But I suspect you can get by with a 2wd tractor.

 

[btolle]

Is the land subject to getting pretty wet? If so, the 4WD can be a life saver.

If it drains well and mowing is the primary use the 2WD should be OK.

You might want to consider getting the loader with the tractor. It may be cheaper than buying it later and if Kubota is still offering 0% financing you would save some money. I suspect you would have to pay interest on the loader if you bought it later.

Bill Tolle

 

[V8ZRACER]

I'll be doing some FEL work, but primarily mowing. Our ground drains very well and I do have my old 9N if the tractor does get stuck

 

[grandad]

How much of the 20 acres do you expect to mow? And is it a) just keeping the weeds down maybe 3-4 times a year, b)grooming a pasture with regular bush hog mowing or c) turf-type finish mowing?

The L3400 is just big enough to run a 6ft bush hog type mower or a 7ft finish mower, which are probably the smallest you would want to use if you are cutting more than, say, 10 acres. The MX5000 would open the possibility of getting a smaller wing-type mower - around 10ft cutting width - that could dramatically reduce your mowing time, although batwings are expensive.

On the other hand, if you will only be mowing a few of those 20 acres, you might appreciate the smaller size of the L3400.

Regarding the FEL, the Kub loader for the MX5000 has a much larger capacity than the one for the L3400, but you would be handicapping its usefulness quite a bit with a 2WD machine, even with plenty of weight being added in the back. The issues are traction and front axle capacity.

 

[V8ZRACER]

I'll be mowing most of it (15 acres)several times a year with a finish mower and keping about 5 acres of pasture mowed. we also may be purchasing the 12 acres next to ours for additional pasture. This would give me almost 30 acres to mow. I am leaning towards the 3400 4wd and possibly a FEL. I can get this for the almost price of the MX5000 2wd. But the MX5000 will pull a bigger mower. Thanks Rick

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Have you considered the L4400? That would be HP wise right between the L3400 and MX5000.

 

[MTM1930]

Take a look at the m4800.I was going to buy a mx5000 and went with a 4800. about a thousand dollars difference and a lot more tractor. When you get a loader it will have more capacity also. i would recomend fwd on whichever you buy. good luck

 

[V8ZRACER]

I am going with the L3400 4wd for now. I had my wife at the dealer and she could not reach the pedals on the MX5000 even with the seat all the way up. In a year or so we may upgrade to the 4wd Mx5000 or the M4900. Thanks for the help guys.