Comparison Standard vs premium tractors

[flynlow8740]

Neither my Deere or Kubota dealer stock the premium models often. That's a big reason for this thread, I need to drive a little further to sit on and drive the deluxe models. I do a lot of work at night and the premium models do appear to have better headlight and also a wider pattern of light.

 

[LD1]

I suspect there are more standard tractor owners than premium tractor owners simply due to the costs. I don't have production figures to back this up, but judging by the number of people on this board that have standard Kubota's vs the number that own premium Kubota's I suspect more standards are sold.

Quite possibly. Not sure what way the balance tips....maybe some dealers could chime in? But in either case.....they sell alot of both I think. Which just proves the point that people want different things.

Sure....if money were no object, I'd own a grand for sure. But gotta balance features with price. I can only afford what I can afford. And if getting a luxury tractor means stepping backwards in the size/capacity/power department......thats a deal breaker. For others.....maybe they would rather do things a little slower, but do so in comfort.

 

[nybirdman]

We have one of each;L4240 HSTC and a L3000DT(which is a straight gear shift).They both have their place for sure;the DT is our woods tractor and does a fine job of it.The features of the Grand L are hard to compete with;air,cruise,heat,extendable end links,auto-throttle ect.Are they worth it;they are to me.

 

[dickfoster]

Neither my Deere or Kubota dealer stock the premium models often. That's a big reason for this thread, I need to drive a little further to sit on and drive the deluxe models. I do a lot of work at night and the premium models do appear to have better headlight and also a wider pattern of light.

If you do a lot of night work then you'll likely add your own supplemental lights anyway. Headlight on most tractors are pretty much useless due to where they are mounted. With a front loader on they are totally useless.

 

[k0ua]

Quite possibly. Not sure what way the balance tips....maybe some dealers could chime in? But in either case.....they sell alot of both I think. Which just proves the point that people want different things.

Sure....if money were no object, I'd own a grand for sure. But gotta balance features with price. I can only afford what I can afford. And if getting a luxury tractor means stepping backwards in the size/capacity/power department......thats a deal breaker. For others.....maybe they would rather do things a little slower, but do so in comfort.

I had a friend who was a music professor at the local university, who had a saying: "it would be a poor old world if everyone liked the same thing".

The good news is you can buy which ever model and brand you like, and there are many to choose from.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Neither my Deere or Kubota dealer stock the premium models often. That's a big reason for this thread, I need to drive a little further to sit on and drive the deluxe models. I do a lot of work at night and the premium models do appear to have better headlight and also a wider pattern of light.

I wouldn't let lights be the deciding factor as it's cheap and easy to add lots of light. Economics and ease of use are what I look for. When I was going between the kubota and Deere I hated the layout of the kubota. I don't what they were smoking on one of them. You have to lean way forward to reach the loader control? Absolutely blew my mind. For the Deere everything was right where you wanted it and it felt natural. These aren't the models you were looking at but giving you my input in what I look for and like. The smaller tractors are layed out pretty similar but I like the deletes hydrostatic pedal more than the treadle or whatever it is with the kubota

Brett

 

[k0ua]

If you do a lot of night work then you'll likely add your own supplemental lights anyway. Headlight on most tractors are pretty much useless due to where they are mounted. With a front loader on they are totally useless.

Agreed, I would not base my choice of tractor on OEM lighting. You can so easily rectify any shortcomings in the lighting department of any tractor for small money.
The real advantages of the premium tractors (and this various somewhat by brand) are usually increased weight, adjustable wheels, telescoping lower links and stabilizers (much easier hookups), Usually include SSQA which is an invaluable addition, a more advanced transmission, usually greater hydraulic flow, usually a beefier and better protected front axle and steering gear, and many other comfort and ergonomically advanced features.

I wrote this mostly with the Kubota lineup in mind, but it applies to other brands as well. Some of these features can be added to the standard tractors at a later date, but this is not always economically a smart option, and some things cannot ever be added. An example would be the HST Plus advanced hydrostatic transmission versus the standard hydrostatic transmission. Not the the standard hydro is bad because it is not, it is just that the HST plus adds many useful features that make operation faster easier and just overall more productive.

 

[big bubba]

lots of good advice above. the subject of standard vs grand is probably as much discussed and a personal choice of owner as the type oil you use in a tractor....
imho just as important is the actual size & weight model you are looking at for your needs. all too often (myself included) we think we know what model hp tractor we need, then regret not considering something "bigger & better". my point is to really look at the size tractor you need 1st (including future needs). choose what you think you need then go up a model in hp/wt. as the old adage goes.....then, whether to get all the "deluxe" features should be easy for you. just my opinion.

 

[art]

We sell over 400 tractors a year and the standard tractors sell at about two to one depending on the size. Many of the deluxe go to owner operator landscapers and commercial applications where snow plowing and poor weather make a big difference with the cab options as well as the standard features. I will state again that steering brakes were for two wheel drive tractors with far lighter loads on the front and four wheel drives don't make it for long! We did in the last month repair a fellows tractor for the second time who is an avid brake steer boy, the first time was repaired by the selling dealer who instructed him not to! I can just keep fixing as he pays well!

 

[TripleR]

Try both types as much as you can, you don't miss what you don't know. At one time I was happy to use a tractor with a steel seat, no power steering, four forward gears, one reverse and an external overrunning clutch. My brother still regularly uses one. I now only buy premium, full featured tractors, get what you like and can afford.

 

[flynlow8740]

Thank you everyone for the good advice and info. I need to get by some larger dealers and check the deluxe models.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Like most things in life, better quality = more dollars. I believe you get what you pay for. No such thing as equal tractor for less dollars. Something has to give.

 

[murphy1244]

Like most things in life, better quality = more dollars. I believe you get what you pay for. No such thing as equal tractor for less dollars. Something has to give.

To a point Yes. Some are more equal than others.

 

[RNeumann]

If you are going to travel to different dealers I have a wrinkle for this discussion. Some of the other manufactures have more features than the basic models without all of the cost of a full on premium.

I'm a part time user when it comes to the tractor so I couldn't justify the premium- if I was a full time user heck yes I'd have every option and the best of the best! However, after looking around, I found a happy medium outside the JD or Kubota. It has some of the premium features like the better loader control location, weight, tilt wheel, speed control, FEL lifting capacity etc.

 

[Wagtail]

I have been considering buying a new tractor. I have green and orange dealers locally. If you compare a 3038E to a 3039R or a L3901 to a L4060 there are lots of differences, not the least of which are more weight, better hydraulics, and higher lift capacity. There may be some I am missing. Are the premium models worth it for the most part? I will be doing mostly mowing and road maintenance. My current tractor is a 1960 MF 35 diesel, so anything with power steering will be a major upgrade.

I've gone all the way back to the OP (after having read all of the other posts). You're not a newbie but you obviously want the most bang for your buck for the size (HP) that you need.

You can ultimately decide for yourself as to what you need, plus what you would like to have, depending of the conditions that you're going to use the tractor in... that includes your terrain and conditions of use (yearly weather and fair-weather/anytime). If you use your rig daily, for extended periods of time or a physical requirement, then so-called luxuries will cut down on your own fatigue (which is a factor of comfort). That is a "premium" tractor where you can add 'goodies' to or truly up-grade.

I have a 'bare-bones' tractor. (the JD 4105) I have no 'goodies', although it does have power steering & is HST, 4WD via a lever, etc... There is no cab option with its environmental controls (but I'm somewhat of a 'fair weather' tractorer, so it's not a factor for me). There's no cruise control, no anti-vibration matting. BUT it is 41hp. Which is what I needed to handle round bales.

I could've bought 3039R (equivalent) at the time, but my salesman advised me on the less expensive option. He sold me the tractor I needed.

So, my advice is to purchase a modern tractor 'standard/bare-bones/non-premium' rig that has the minimum requirements that you want.

The pretties can wait 'til you're old and feeble.

[disclaimer: it's Saturday evening & I've consumed a bottle of quite excellent Shiraz! roposetoast:]

 

[daugen]

If most of the OP's time is spent mowing, a basic tractor would be great; really an issue if he wants a cab or not for hvac.
Personally I think the biggest issue is hydrostatic or not. I own both. My stick tractor is a beast to maneuver in tight areas vs the hydrostatic.
so if you have a fair amount of loader work, and don't want your left leg to fall off, a hydrostatic trans is super nice.
My Kubota is a premium model, and I admit I'm not sure if Stall Guard or some of those other features are really helping me.
three speed hydro is nice.
I'd start out determining use.
Then power needed and 2wd vs 4wd
then implements needed within budget
anything else is gravy
I happen to like gravy...

The pretties can wait 'til you're old and feeble.
and some of us happily resemble that :dance1:

 

[flynlow8740]

I had this same discussion with my Kubota dealer while getting some parts for my RTV and learned that the price difference is not at severe as I thought. The L3901 with a loader was priced around $23K, while the L4060 was $27K. Since the loader for the L60 is bigger, better, more expensive that is about $1500 of the difference. For the better hydraulic flow and larger tires that the L60 has, I think the cost is justified.

 

[LD1]

I had this same discussion with my Kubota dealer while getting some parts for my RTV and learned that the price difference is not at severe as I thought. The L3901 with a loader was priced around $23K, while the L4060 was $27K. Since the loader for the L60 is bigger, better, more expensive that is about $1500 of the difference. For the better hydraulic flow and larger tires that the L60 has, I think the cost is justified.

I dont now current prices so I cannot say....But I think either the dealer is offering a heck of a deal on that L4060......or charging too much for the L3901......or a little of both.

The L4060 sticker is about $6k higher.

Dont know what teir 4 prices have done, if they really added ~$3k, but the previous versions of the L3901.......the L3800 and L3400....could typically be had under $20k with loader and HST.

But as I have said all along.....different things matter differently to different people. Lets say you were shopping and in the market for that L3901. And found out you could upgrade to the L4060, which is overall a bigger, heavier machine and stronger loader. And that upgrade would only cost you $4k-$5k.

Then you found out....for the same $4k-$5k, instead of buying the luxurious Grand L series, you could get a MX5200. Which physically (weight, size) compare about identical to the Grand L........but you get an extra 12 ponies under the hood, Turbo, and a stronger loader?

 

[mike69440]

Not buying enough can be expensive.
My neighbor, an equipment newbie was going to buy a B seires, was convinced to step up to a L3901, Got into cattle, and ended up also buying an CTL SV90 he rented, as he found out being able to do heavier work is nice, vs hire out.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

My tractor probably isn't considered premium by most people. But it has a cab with heat and AC. That means my wife is comfortable working in 90 degree heat and 40 degree days with a bit of a wind chill. That means I have help when I'm working. In that regard, those premium features are worth every penny. In a typical weekend, she might spend 10 hours, actually in the tractor there have been days where she has moved rock or soil from dawn to dusk. No way we could accomplish as much without climate control.