The Plot Thickens: Enter the Kubota L3010

[Hook]

When last we heard from our hero (me , he was all but committed to the JD 4200, over the Kubota B2910. But, something was holding me back.

So, today I just "happened to" drive by the Kubota dealer & decided to see if they had an L3010 I could test drive (the last time I was there, they only had an L3410).

Well, they happened to have one they had just finished putting together. So I drove it. Things are getting mkore interesting now ...

This is a much better model to compare to the JD 4200. The ergnomics are much better for me than the B2910. They're still not quite as good as the JD, but very close. The difference is not worth quibbling about. The ride was very similar to the JD4200: nice & solid feeling, less rattling than the B2910.

I just finished looking over the specs again & it compares very favorably to the JD 4200. In fact, I'd say it beats the 4200 on most counts.

The Kubota dealer offered me the L3010 (with its own loader, much heftier than the B2910) for only $500 more than the B2910. This makes the L3010 $800 less than the 4200.

I'm now leaning strongly towards the L3010. I'm gonna sleep on it, ...

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[cowboydoc]

Hook,
To compare now you really have to step up to at least a 4500 to get into the size that the L3010 is. The L3010 goes up in size from the 2910 like the 4500 goes up in size from the 4500. You are now in the next grade of tractors. HP, etc. may be similiar but the tractor frame is bigger and heavier.

 

[Hook]

Poster: cowboydoc
Subject: Re: The Plot Thickens: Enter the Kubota L3010

> To compare now you really have to step up to at least a
> 4500 to get into the size that the L3010 is. The L3010 goes
> up in size from the 2910 like the 4500 goes up in size from
> the 4500. You are now in the next grade of tractors. HP,
> etc. may be similiar but the tractor frame is bigger and
> heavier.

Here's the specs on the dimensions for the JD 4200 & Kubota L3010:

Weight
JD: 2,675
K: 2,745

Width
JD: 50
K: 56.7

Length
JD: 117
K: 110.8

Hitch lift capacity 24 in behind link ends
JD: 1,700
K: 2,000

These look very similar to me. Am I missing something?

Hook

 

[cowboydoc]

Hook,
What you are missing is that first you were comparing the same size tractor with a 4200 and the 2910. When you went to the 3010 you jumped a class of tractor. Same with 4000 series. You aren't comparing apples to apples anymore. It's like comparing a half ton pickup to a 3/4 ton pickup. Kind of the same but a step up. When you get to the 4500 you physically get into a bigger tractor, same with 3010. You physically go up in tractor class from between the two. You need to compare that 3010 to a 4500.

 

[Hook]

Poster: cowboydoc
Subject: Re: The Plot Thickens: Enter the Kubota L3010

> What you are missing is that first you were comparing the
> same size tractor with a 4200 and the 2910. When you
> went to the 3010 you jumped a class of tractor. Same with
> 4000 series. You aren't comparing apples to apples
> anymore. It's like comparing a half ton pickup to a 3/4 ton
> pickup. Kind of the same but a step up. When you get to
> the 4500 you physically get into a bigger tractor, same with
> 3010. You physically go up in tractor class from between
> the two. You need to compare that 3010 to a 4500.

If the specs of 2 tractors are similar, in terms of size, weight, etc., aren't they in the same "class"? If not, what determines the "class" of a tractor?

Hook

 

[cowboydoc]

Hook,
You went from the B series to the L series. JD jumps in series from the 4400 to the 4500. To get an accurate feel of the tractor in that series you need to go to that tractor. Here's another example. My neighbor has a Sears 23 hp lawn tractor. Kubota has the B 2410. Can you even try and compare the two of those? No way. They are completely different classes of machine. Same way the 3010 feels different than the 2910, you went from B to L series. The 4500 is going to feel different than the 4200 because you are going to a different series.

 

[Hook]

Poster: cowboydoc
Subject: Re: The Plot Thickens: Enter the Kubota L3010

> You went from the B series to the L series. JD jumps in
> series from the 4400 to the 4500. To get an accurate feel
> of the tractor in that series you need to go to that tractor.

Well, I'm very new to tractors, so there's lots I don't know. But, let me try to address this again.

> Here's another example. My neighbor has a Sears 23 hp
> lawn tractor. Kubota has the B 2410. Can you even try and
> compare the two of those? No way. They are completely
> different classes of machine.

Excellent example, as it makes my point very clear. These are in different "classes" because the specs are very different in some key points. E.g., the Sears tractor weighs 682 pounds, the Kubota B2410 weighs upwards of 1,400 pounds. That's enough to show they're in a different class. (There are lots of other differences, of course, but I could only find the weight on the Sears site.)

> Same way the 3010 feels different than the 2910, you went
> from B to L series. The 4500 is going to feel different than
> the 4200 because you are going to a different series.

You seem to be implying that there is something outside of the specs, something intangible, that puts tractors in a different class. It can't be the name that the manufacturers give the tractors. I don't get it.

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[kerr]

Hey,RECLINNING CHAIR! A/c!!!Heat!!!!!! Hydrostatic steering! I heard about that.Maybe a little narrow for hilly work.L 3010? maybe.Im thinkin a 4300.

 

[Hook]

Poster: kerr
Subject: Re: The Plot Thickens: Enter the Kubota L3010

> Hey,RECLINNING CHAIR! A/c!!!Heat!!!!!! Hydrostatic
> steering! I heard about that.Maybe a little narrow for hilly
> work.L 3010? maybe.Im thinkin a 4300.

Let's see ... the L3010 is 56.7 inches wide, the 4300 is 50 inches wide. So, if that's a consideration, the L3010 is the winner.

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[kerr]

Yer rite read it wrong.In my 2000 bota pamplet 3010 looks like a bigger little tractor.With killer options+cab!I tell ya what,800 cheaper than a 4200?All equipted the same.Sounds like a ho-lot a rig for less.If you say it rides as good as the deeres and has that more solid feel to it , .Can i get a free years worth of svc. outa ya?Where is my new hat?!