Tractor & hoe...Deere 4105, Bota L3800, LS R4041, Mahindra 4025, or?

[fbulldog]

Hey everyone. First post...Actually 6th i see as i edit. Don't remember what the heck i posted about previously. Member since 2010.


My needs are varied so sorry for long post.

I want a compact tractor to do a variety of things. I have rental property. Houses in the city and several small mobile home parks. I have a zero turn for mowing but...

I dig up utility lines quite a bit. For example, 2 projects waiting on my decision...need to run 2 new lines in 2 separate locations. Both sewer. Both down to about 6'. Also have a 6 acre lot and a 3 acre lot that need to be bush hogged. We could use forks to move things often...rolls of carpet, appliances, etc. I remove small dead trees, top, trim up quite a bit. So far I have hired out the big tree jobs. Spent 5k last year on that and would like to cut that expense down . I have tree climbing gear and cut out dead limbs that I can cut up and move by hand. Would like to take on whole trees...cut in pieces and move by tractor.

***Need to bush hog, trench for utility lines, maintain gravel parking lot, move heavy items, haul off small trees/logs, and much more. Hopefully for the next several decades. I like to buy right and hold on!***

I have rented skid steers and mini ex's before. Had a fire at one house that was a total loss and tore down. Was a 1500 sq ft house and did that with a yanmar mini ex. Yes...not the best tool for the job but couldn't rent a track ho. Was fun but frustrating at same time. Also had a mobile home totaled by a tenant that ran through it coming home wasted. Knocked it off it's blocks. Hired that tear down out. Guy took apart by hand, scrapped what could and I hauled off rest.

H#ll, I need a tractor, skid steer, fork lift, dozer, and mini ex. All for under 30k .

In reality will continue to hire out big jobs and need a stout compact tractor with backhoe, bush hog, box blade to tackle random projects.


Priced so far. All new. Thinking around 40hp, hydro, 3000 or 4000 series. Leaning toward the Deere because fairly small but stout:

John Deere 4105 Hst with 375 hoe.
Kubota l3800 Hst with BH 77 hoe
LS 4041 Hst with LB2101 Hoe
Mahindra 4025 with ANBH86 Hoe---gear transmission
Mahindra 3616 Hst with Hoe

Any other good ideas? Kioti, New Holland, Massey and more within an hour from me.

They are 25 to 35k. Need help analyzing. Want to buy now. I have a thousand different spec and model numbers going through my head. I might be missing the forest for the trees.

I welcome any advice!


Not sure how a tractor would have helped the teardown but i'm going to tell the wife it would have saved us enough to buy a new wardrobe .

 

[jenkinsph]

Look at a Kubota M59 tlb I think it would be the best fit for your needs. This is a 12' hoe, 4 post rops, 3900 lb loader, 45 hp pto and can be equipped with an after market cab if you wan't from Laurin-inc.

You might think it is too big or too expensive but I think it is the right machine for you. I would add that an L45 or the 110 tlb are my second choices (I have a JD 110) but both are a little bit too small and short on pto power. I do a lot of the same work as you mention above with the 110 and really like it but if I were to replace it tommorow I would go out and buy the M59.

I would not buy any of the tractors on your short list for the work you outlined as they are all too small and poorly equipped for the long haul you stipulated.

 

[TheGoose]

My vote goes to the Kubota L3800 with a grapple for the FEL. I also have rental property and have an L3400 and I cannot put a value on how much help the tractor has given me. I did demo a trailer with the Kubota but suffered several flat tires. I hired out another demo and the guy did it with a bobcat with a grapple.

For the back-hoe go with the Woods BH80X with independent hydro. That's the one I want for my rig. It allows you to run the hydraulics from the PTO and not have to use the tractor hydraulics, which really aren't enough to run a hoe like you should.

I disagree with the poster above that the tractors are too small. The "small" aspect is one of the better properties. You will be able to get in/out of areas more easily and it is much easier to tow/transport than a bigger tractor like the JD110 TLB etc.

Also you should look at the Kubota L4400 (if they still make it) as it would compare more favorably to the JD you listed I think. I do not have any experience with Mahindra or the others but I haven't heard anything bad.

The only thing to watch for on the L3800 is make sure you can live with a jerky hitch. Test the tractor out before you buy.

 

[jenkinsph]

You can transport the 110, L45 and M59 with a 3/4 ton pickup.

 

[hhsco]

I think all of those tractors could do the work you want- eventually.
I agree that a dedicated tractor/loader/backhoe would probably be better for your needs though. So much more hydraulic power. Probably these new ones make it pretty easy to get the ho off to run pto implements. Also, running 6 ft trenches for any appreciable distance is going to be a total pain with a tiny 3pt backhoe.
I think you're right-on in getting a hydro for your application. I don't have one but they are really handy when working in tight spaces ESPECIALLY near buildings/trees/etc that you DON'T want to run into.

All that said, I'm rather partial to JD but I've got a relative with a 3800 that can do a whole lot of work for a compact machine. No personal experience with LS or Mahindra but people on here seem to like their machines.

Good luck, hope you get what you need and maybe what you want too!

 

[TheGoose]

I agree with this post except that if you go with a TLB then you won't easily be able to remove the hoe. TLB's like the JD 110 and Kubota L38/L45 are supposed to be difficult to separate from the tractor.

If you're like me, you would need to use the hoe about 2-3 times per year and don't really need to dig 6' but simply here and there. If you're digging 6' trenches 100+ ft long several times a year I don't think an add-on hoe to a CUT will do a good job. On the other hand, if you need to brushhog and grade often (like me) get something like the L3800.

FWIW the hoe attachement will cost you about $8-10K, depending on how you set it up. Home depot rents mini-excavators for about $300/day and I think they would do a nice job.

I think all of those tractors could do the work you want- eventually.
I agree that a dedicated tractor/loader/backhoe would probably be better for your needs though. So much more hydraulic power. Probably these new ones make it pretty easy to get the ho off to run pto implements. Also, running 6 ft trenches for any appreciable distance is going to be a total pain with a tiny 3pt backhoe.
I think you're right-on in getting a hydro for your application. I don't have one but they are really handy when working in tight spaces ESPECIALLY near buildings/trees/etc that you DON'T want to run into.

All that said, I'm rather partial to JD but I've got a relative with a 3800 that can do a whole lot of work for a compact machine. No personal experience with LS or Mahindra but people on here seem to like their machines.

Good luck, hope you get what you need and maybe what you want too!

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with this post except that if you go with a TLB then you won't easily be able to remove the hoe. TLB's like the JD 110 and Kubota L38/L45 are supposed to be difficult to separate from the tractor.

If you're like me, you would need to use the hoe about 2-3 times per year and don't really need to dig 6' but simply here and there. If you're digging 6' trenches 100+ ft long several times a year I don't think an add-on hoe to a CUT will do a good job. On the other hand, if you need to brushhog and grade often (like me) get something like the L3800.

FWIW the hoe attachement will cost you about $8-10K, depending on how you set it up. Home depot rents mini-excavators for about $300/day and I think they would do a nice job.

The 110, L45 and M59 are as easy to change out the hoe on as the other compacts. Not an issue that I can see. All three of the models I suggested can dig a 6' trench unless you are in bedrock.

I agree that backhoes can cost a significant amount and that a mini excavator rental may be a good alternative. The OP presented a desire to buy a tractor with the digging in mind and I suggested what I felt was the best way to go. If he is digging a 6' trench he needs a hoe that can lift and move the dirt and stack it far enough away from the hole.


It isn't that an L3800 can't do the work rather it can't do these jobs nearly as well as a good tlb. I recommend that the OP buys the right machine the first time, it is cheaper.

 

[GManBart]

Look at a Kubota M59 tlb I think it would be the best fit for your needs. This is a 12' hoe, 4 post rops, 3900 lb loader, 45 hp pto and can be equipped with an after market cab if you wan't from Laurin-inc.

You might think it is too big or too expensive but I think it is the right machine for you. I would add that an L45 or the 110 tlb are my second choices (I have a JD 110) but both are a little bit too small and short on pto power. I do a lot of the same work as you mention above with the 110 and really like it but if I were to replace it tommorow I would go out and buy the M59.

I would not buy any of the tractors on your short list for the work you outlined as they are all too small and poorly equipped for the long haul you stipulated.

^^^This^^^

For someone who might have to tear down a house, or dig long trenches a couple of times a year, a dedicated TLB is the way to go....especially when you factor in that it's a long-term purchase. I've had to do several similar tasks (demo'd two houses last year), and I often wonder if I shouldn't have looked at a large TLB, or a nice used full-size backhoe.

For the folks suggesting the smaller machines, like the L3800, you have to realize he's doing this on a commercial basis, not a hobby, and time has to be a factor. As nice a machine as an L3800 is, the FEL can't compare to machines even a little bigger, much less a dedicated TLB. My loader can lift 1,500lbs more than the FEL on an L3800, and I run out of lift capacity when moving trees I fell all the time. I have 8-9" more lift height, and can just load a 30yd rolloff dumpster or small dump truck, so an L3800 wouldn't be able to manage it....and that's a common need if you tear down a house, or do a remodel and order a rolloff for debris. Sure, an L3800 could handle the brush hogging, gravel work, and some of the lifting, but that would still leave him renting larger equipment more frequently. His example of spending $5K on larger tree removal, in one year, shows how he could pay for the larger machine pretty quickly.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

The way to take down houses is with an excavator period.

Consider a backhoe against a smaller excavator, and the smaller excavator will do more than the backhoe as well as be able to be gotten with high flow hydros for more options on attachments.

 

[fbulldog]

Great advice so far. Please keep it coming.

Edit***Teardowns are so seldom. Will probably rent track ho with thumb or hire out teardowns in future. Hopefully no more tear downs though ***

A tlb would be nice to have but i'm thinking too big. The previous park owner had one. He installed all the utility lines. I need a hoe to dig here and there to maintain those lines. Also, a couple times a year run new utility lines that might go 6' deep at the end, but most of the 40' on average runs would be around 2-3' deep. Didn't mention before but will be removing tree stumps several times a year too.

Like Goose said, relatively small is important to me to be able to get in tight spots. Also need to be able to switch to box blade, mower fairly easy. Will likely use a hoe 15 times a year. Tired of renting mini ex's and skid steers and want to put that money toward something I own.

I drove the L3800 and the Deere 4105 and like both. Going to drive an LS xr4046 which is basically same tractor as LS listed below but more hp. Bota is the smallest with more bells and whistles than deere. The 4105 is more capable with no cruise, no mid mount option, no draft control, and 2 speed on the hydro. The LS is more tractor than both and has bells and whistles of L3800.

With backhoe----LS R4041H is $2000 less than L3800 HST. L3800 is $2000 less than 4105. LS dealer is 10 minutes away. Kubota and Deere are 30. All close enough i think.

Really like the deere. Want a JD 4120 but probably $5k more than 4105. Has john deere engine, 3 more pto hp, 400cx loader, mid mount option, hoe has foot more depth and 1000lbs more force, and bells and whistles of Kubota L3800.

Would a thousand lbs more bucket force make a world of difference? The best route might be buy JD 4120 and loader and find used hoe or aftermarket. Really want to stay around $30k.


All hydro...

L3800: -pto 31.5- -3pt lift 24'' behind 1435 lbs- -LA524 loader @pivot 1131- -2650 lbs (tractor only)

JD 4105: -pto 32.5- -3pt lift 24'' behind 2200lbs- -300cx loader @pivot 1393- -3000 lbs(tractor only)

LS 4041H: -pto 33- -3pt lift @ pivot 2755lbs- -LL4101 loader @pivot 2500- -3800 lbs(tractor only)


***JD 4120: -pto 35- -3pt lift 24'' behind 2500lbs- -400cx loader @pivot 2194- -3800 lbs(tractor only)

You can talk me into the JD 4120 if you want to