Buying Advice Requsting Advice on purchasing new kubota tractor

[Chevyzr1]

Good Evening Everyone, I am new to t-b-n but I have read several posts and see that the advice given here can be way more help then the salesman at the tractor dealership thats just wants to make a sale. My problem is I am having a real hard time deciding on which tractor to purchase, the tractors I am looking at right now are the m6060 cab and grand l4760 cab. Both tractors are within a $1000 of each other with the 4760 being the more expensive. I own a 2.5 acre lot in the woods with a new house I built last year. The lot still has a lot of clearing i want to do and there are 2 200 yard piles of dirt left from digging the foundation. I plan on using the tractors loader to move the piles and fill in the low areas of the property. I also plan on maintaining the gravel driveway that about 2,000ft long and doing some snow plowing with it in the winter months. My concern with the 4760 is, it doesn't have as much loader capacity, its a lighter machine, and it feels just more light duty when operating it. My concerns with the m6060 are, it's a lot heavier than the l and possibly might make the yard sloppy when driving it on the grass, also It just looks really big compared to the smaller grand l line up. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated !

 

[oosik]

I have a 2009 Kubota M6040. With my Land Pride grapple, loaded rear tires and Rhino rear blade - 10,100 pounds. I would NEVER consider driving it on the lawn when it's soft. I don't see why you would. The Kubota M6060 is not really a lawn type tractor. For that matter, neither is the L4760.

Both are very nice tractors. The M6060, like you indicate, is simply a bigger, heavier unit.

I bought into the M series because I wanted a bigger, heavier tractor. I have a mile long driveway and 80 acres to look after.

The M series will handle Class 2 implements. I've found Class 2 is needed to maintain my driveway in the summer.

You very seldom, if ever, hear a person on TBN say - "Gee, I wish I had purchased a smaller tractor". A lot of folks, like me, have upgraded from a smaller unit to larger. All the small projects are completed - now I look forward to the larger ones.

BTW - - there are a few time I have needed a really large tractor. I borrow my neighbors 300hp Versatile. To exchange favors - I go over, once a year, with the bucket on my FEL and Rhino 950 on the 3- point. I clean and level my neighbors feed lots. I got a mound of cow manure, stock piled, that would sink the Titanic.

 

[Fallon]

I have a L4060 & 5 acres. Its plenty of machine for that acreage, overkill actually & both machines are smaller than what you are looking at on more acreage. I do side work with it, so it earns it's own keep. I previously had a L3200 that worked just fine. I upgraded to a cabbed machine because I started doing the side work.

Both machines have done some pretty hefty grading projects dozens of yards of dirt. Both would spread a dumptruck load of gravel or wood chips in well under an hour.

The medium loader on mine is weaker lift wise compared to machine stability, but entirely sufficient. The machine is rock solid stable at max lift capacity (the economy Ls get squirly). I occasionally wish I had the big loader option avalible on the L4760 & bigger, but not often.

Occasionally I miss the manuverability & smaller size of the L3200. The L4060 doesnt destroy grass, bit does tear things a bit when I turn sharp or its damp. The L3200 was even better. A M will be worse on all accounts.

If I were you I'd avoid the M as it's likely to much tractor. The bigger Ls have a bigger front axle & can take the bigger loader. But the extra HP wont do you a lot of good on 2 acres. You need the HP to run PTO impliments like a mower or drive uphill at max speed.

If anything I'd have a dozer or big payloader come in for a day & knock out the big pile for well under a grand. Then finish up any dirt moving, grading & cleanup with a smaller machine.

 

[PineBrookFarm]

Im not totally up all the specs on these new tractors but I can give you some good general advice.

Either machine will be MORE than enough machine to maintain a 2000' driveway, plow snow and assist in doing some clearing. Neither machine is well equipped to move 400 yards of fill, although with enough patience either will get the job done. I would always take a larger framed utility tractor over a compact tractor for the same money. More weight equals more work capacity with ground engaging equipment and with loader equipment. Also everything is heavier duty on a utility tractor when compared to a compact. Im sure there are some exceptions but thats a pretty fair rule.

Only time I would recommend the smaller framed tractor is when you need something to work in tight quarters or you can't tow the heavier machine yourself. Good luck either machine will suit your needs quite well.

 

[chim]

My L4240HSTC weighs in at around 1,400# heavier than my L3200HST but it has more rubber on the ground. The L4240 is my lawn mower and leaves the yard virtually unmarked. It turns 27" shorter than the L3200. Been mowing with RFM's on 3 different Kubotas since '02. Loaders are off unless I'm using them.

The L4760 has an extra 5 horses and only weighs in around 200# heavier than the L4240. Other than that the specs are pretty close to my L4240.

 

[rScotty]

If anything I'd have a dozer or big payloader come in for a day & knock out the big pile for well under a grand. Then finish up any dirt moving, grading & cleanup with a smaller machine.

I'd agree with that. Hire big machinery to do the gross moving and use your tractor to do the finish work. As to which tractor to get, I'd get the one that is most convenient doing medium sized jobs....the one that you find most comfortable and instinctive to use. Either one has plenty of power for the type of landscaping work that you envision. I like a lighter machine with industrial tires. Then I can drive on the lawn - carefully - just a little bit when we need to move something heavy.
rScotty

 

[Chevyzr1]

Thank you for the quick replys. I should add that when test driving the tractors, for some reason the m6060 was a lot more fun to drive. I dont know how other to explain it other than it just brought out the kid in me I guess. But as I get older I try to lead more with my head than my heart. I feel that the grand L will be enough 90% of the time but then it's really hard to ignore the fact that the m is just so much more tractor for less money. Why I do not know. Also I should note the m I test drove was an open station because they did not have the cab model at that location.

 

[jeff9366]

My concern with the 4760 is, it doesn't have as much loader capacity, its a lighter machine, and it feels just more light duty when operating it.

L4760 is equipped with LA1055 Loader with a lift capacity of around 2,300 pounds. That should be ample for moving dirt around 2.5 acres.
The HST/PLUS transmission equipping most Grand L models is the best tractor transmission in the industry.

Both models require considerable Three Point Hitch counterbalance for max FEL lifts. This make the tractor + counterbalance a fairly long unit, with the M6060 a longer unit than the L4760. ~~ PHOTOS ~~

Neither of these tractors will fit in a residential garage with a standard 84" header. Where do you intend to keep the tractor? Tractors are theft prone.

If you will be fueling out of 5-gallon containers as I do, fueling an M6060 will get old fast.

 

[rScotty]

L4760 is equipped with LA1055 Loader with a lift capacity of around 2,300 pounds. That should be ample for moving dirt around 2.5 acres.
The HST/PLUS transmission equipping most Grand L models is the best tractor transmission in the industry.

Neither of these tractors will fit in a residential garage with a standard 84" header. Where do you intend to keep the tractor? Tractors are theft prone.

If you will be fueling out of 5-gallon containers as I do, fueling an M6060 may get old pretty fast.

Good points all. Particularly the comment about the HST+ tranny. I've got that on the M59 and would agree that it is the best transmission I've ever used.
Oddly enough, my second favorite all time transmission was a 12 speed forward/4 speed reverse (4 ranges) power shift with creeper gears.
My third favorite was just a std. 4 speed manual transmission, foot clutch, with a floor lever for high and low range and a power reverser on the steering column.
I liked them all. A lot of times in tractor work you don't end up shifting to different gear speeds all that often. But I seem to constantly be shifting between forward and reverse.

Fueling any tractor can get old fast. It doesn't matter what size of diesel tractor it is, fueling seems a compromise. I fuel out of 5 gallon containers on the ground by using a submersible 12 volt pump with a clear hose up to the fuel tank. In my mind the hassle is worth it to always have new clean fuel. The hassle is reduced a bit by finding a good type of 5 gallon container with a decent leak-proof cap. I did, and bought six of them. Plus a clean 5 gallon pail with a screw top to store the pump & keep it clean. Add in some elbow length rubber gloves, and it's still a hassle.

I still say that you'll know the right tractor when you sit on it and run it around. Some just have all the parts in the right place. When you've got it narrowed down, I'd go with the one that feels right.
That said, we have one with a cab and one without. Our weather is pretty nice most of the year, and the open station tractor is by far everyone's favorite. It's just so much more convenient. It does have a large overhanging double thick insulated canopy. After trying that, we will never again have an open tractor without a canopy. Very nice compromise if you do a lot of on/off work.

The cabbed tractor doesn't need a garage; it IS a garage. The open station has that double thick insulated canope and a heavy fitted cotton tarp that fits over the instruments, seat and all the levers when it isn't in use. Mounts with 4 elastic cords. Yes, I do get tired of putting that tarp on and off, but it sure makes the tractor last longer.
rScotty

 

[Fallon]

Good points all. Particularly the comment about the HST+ tranny. I've got that on the M59 and would agree that it is the best transmission I've ever used.
Oddly enough, my second favorite all time transmission was a 12 speed forward/4 speed reverse (4 ranges) power shift with creeper gears.
My third favorite was just a std. 4 speed manual transmission, foot clutch, with a floor lever for high and low range and a power reverser on the steering column.
I liked them all. A lot of times in tractor work you don't end up shifting to different gear speeds all that often. But I seem to constantly be shifting between forward and reverse.

Fueling any tractor can get old fast. It doesn't matter what size of diesel tractor it is, fueling seems a compromise. I fuel out of 5 gallon containers on the ground by using a submersible 12 volt pump with a clear hose up to the fuel tank. In my mind the hassle is worth it to always have new clean fuel. The hassle is reduced a bit by finding a good type of 5 gallon container with a decent leak-proof cap. I did, and bought six of them. Plus a clean 5 gallon pail with a screw top to store the pump & keep it clean. Add in some elbow length rubber gloves, and it's still a hassle.

I still say that you'll know the right tractor when you sit on it and run it around. Some just have all the parts in the right place. When you've got it narrowed down, I'd go with the one that feels right.
That said, we have one with a cab and one without. Our weather is pretty nice most of the year, and the open station tractor is by far everyone's favorite. It's just so much more convenient. It does have a large overhanging double thick insulated canopy. After trying that, we will never again have an open tractor without a canopy. Very nice compromise if you do a lot of on/off work.

The cabbed tractor doesn't need a garage; it IS a garage. The open station has that double thick insulated canope and a heavy fitted cotton tarp that fits over the instruments, seat and all the levers when it isn't in use. Mounts with 4 elastic cords. Yes, I do get tired of putting that tarp on and off, but it sure makes the tractor last longer.
rScotty

Do yourself a favor & test drive both machines. As Scotty notes HST+ is great to operate. Its 15% less efficient than a geared (shuttle) tranny. But the ease of operation & operation, especially for loader work are worth it. I'll get my L4060HSTC within an inch or 2 of windows without much concern inching in with the HST to load/unload stuff. I'd never get that close with a shuttle.

HST is only an option on Ls or MXes & smaller, not on Ms. HST+ is soooooo nice & only an option on grand Ls.