Upgrading to L39 or L48?

[Doug Sinjem]

Found this forum when I was doing research. So this is my first post. Currently I own a 3130 hst(265 hours) with front loader, BH90 and three way gannon. It's been a great tractor but I need to up grade. I need a bigger loader and bigger backhoe. My use is primary for home construction...footings, trenching, grading etc. I've narrowed it down to the l39 or l48.

What I like about the L39 is the low center of gravity which is especially good for digging footings on hillsides etc. I'm not sure if the GST is a plus? I have used a shuttle transmission on full size Ford skip loaders and the seem to work well. The L39 only has a few more hp than my current 3130 so that was my thinking for also considering the L48 because of the higher hp. In comparing the l39 and l48 the capacities on the hoe and loader aren't that much different with the edge going to the L48. I would think for loader work the HST would be better than the GST. Again I do like the compact size of the L39 for getting into tight places and am wondering if the L48 is getting too big.

Any help, comments or advice would be appreciated. My salesman has an L39 on the lot and says he can still get a leftover new L48. But I need to sell my 3130 first. Btw the BH90 on my 3130 is a pretty good hoe overall and very well balanced on the tractor. But for what I do the LA723 FEL just doesn't have enough capacity.


Doug

 

[MarkV]

Hi Doug welcome to the forum. I have an L39 with about 300 hours on it at this point. If I were in your position I would be looking at the L59 rather than considering the L48. The L48 is a great tractor from what owners say here on the forum but the difference in capacities between it and the L39 just were not enough for me to pay the extra price for the HST tranny. Now before we start a gear verses HST thing, I like HST and have it on another tractor we own. If I were buying today, now that the L48 has been discontinued , it may be there are some deals out there that would have changed my mind. At the time I was buying there was a 10K difference and that was too much for me.

The L39 may only have a few more hp than your 3130 but there is a big difference. It is all about hydraulics and weight when you talk loader capacity and backhoe. I think if you compare those numbers you will get a better comparison between the two than you will comparing horsepower.

Good luck on your hunt and let us know what you decide.

MarkV

 

[Doug Sinjem]

Hi Doug welcome to the forum. I have an L39 with about 300 hours on it at this point. If I were in your position I would be looking at the L59 rather than considering the L48. The L48 is a great tractor from what owners say here on the forum but the difference in capacities between it and the L39 just were not enough for me to pay the extra price for the HST tranny. Now before we start a gear verses HST thing, I like HST and have it on another tractor we own. If I were buying today, now that the L48 has been discontinued , it may be there are some deals out there that would have changed my mind. At the time I was buying there was a 10K difference and that was too much for me.

The L39 may only have a few more hp than your 3130 but there is a big difference. It is all about hydraulics and weight when you talk loader capacity and backhoe. I think if you compare those numbers you will get a better comparison between the two than you will comparing horsepower.

Good luck on your hunt and let us know what you decide.

MarkV

Thanks for your input MarkV. I saw the M59..too expensive and too big. If I need a hoe the big I can rent one. I still want to stay somewhat compact and that why I was leaning towards the L39. I also like the low center of gravity for those hillside jobs. I also am not crazy about buying a tractor that's been discontinued(L48). I guess when you get right down to it your right, I am looking for bigger capacity and bigger hydraulics like they offer on the L39.


Doug

 

[Chuck K.]

Thanks for your input MarkV. I saw the M59..too expensive and too big. If I need a hoe the big I can rent one. I still want to stay somewhat compact and that why I was leaning towards the L39. I also like the low center of gravity for those hillside jobs. I also am not crazy about buying a tractor that's been discontinued(L48). I guess when you get right down to it your right, I am looking for bigger capacity and bigger hydraulics like they offer on the L39.


Doug

Really tough choice IMHO.. I started out with the L3400 and LA463 loader. The loader was far to weak for me.. I was looking hard at L-39 impressive FEL and BH numbers but did not like the ~32 PTO hP. The new HST plus is truely awesome after test driving one at a local dealer.. I ended up with L5240 with with Woods BH90x.. The 90x is an improvement over the little BH-75 but not as much as I expected. As luck would have it months after my purchase out comes the M59 dont know if I could swing the additional money but its a mute point at this time. The LA-854 FEL does a good job but still wish I had a little more at times.. Best of luck what ever route you take..

Chuck.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I don't find the M59 to be too big, its really not a whole lot "bigger" feeling than my B3030. And it hugs the side of the hills I'm on beautifully with loaded tires.

And I love the heavy duty loader. Spread 20 tons of gravel nicely yesterday in an hour and a half. Then raked it with the b3030, and it was beautiful, and quick.

 

[bandit67]

Blah, blah, blah, my new M59 this, and my old reliable B3030 that.

Give me a break! Mr. I'm not a contractor, but I have all this cool equipment.

Quit bragging, pal!

 

[Carpenter]

Doug,

I was in the same position as you a couple of months ago. I was able to demo an L48 and L39 and ended up with the L39. The L48 was a great machine but I wouldn't have been able to haul it with my current PU and trailer and it was hard to find a used one in my area. I bought a new L39 @ 0% for 42 months because it penciled out about the same as the used ones I looked at.

So far I've dug up and removed a 400 gal. fuel oil tank, replaced a septic tank, removed apple tree stumps from the orchard, repaired a broken water line and have moved a bunch of dirt and gravel. I'm happy with it so far.

The advantages of the L48, IMHO, would be it's greater weight (except for towing) as the L39 can be dragged around by the hoe and the HST vs GST. I've used HST for the last 7 years and the GST has taken some getting used to.

I don't think you'd go wrong with either. The L39 just happened to fit my needs and finances better at this time .

 

[Chato]

Doug, I'm new to the forum too. Looks like many experienced folks here.

When I bought my L39 three years ago like you, I considered the 48 but decided on the L39 because it offered just about as much, cheaper and the L39's hydraulics cinched it for me.

I use my L39 in very rough country. It's a first class and durable tractor hands down. While I'm trading it with 240 hours on a nw M59 (better/heavier machine for tight back country work), I wouldn't hesitate recommending the L39 to anyone. Easy to service and so far has good resale market in the SW.

 

[Charlesaf3]

just the truth bandit!

And I was going to get rid of the 3030 until the people on this site convinced me the only sane thing was to keep it... my gf remains unconvinced that this is a sign of sanity, but then she's hard pressed to say anything I do is a sign of sanity...

 

[Doug Sinjem]

Thanks for all the input. It's going to be a tough decision to make. Guess I'm going to have to make a pro and con list between the l39 and m59. Need to sell my 3130 first.

Doug