Price Check for L4400 Gear Tractor

[have_blue]

With loader and standard 72" bucket. Plane jane, no extras.

I was quoted $20,325 plus tax.

Seems awfully high for a plain gear tractor. Dealer has a store in 3 closest towns, so he has me by the short and curly's.

I would hate to drive 60mi to the only other store in the area not owned by that dealer.

Thanks,,,

[rickguns]

Wow!My dealer qouted 17,500

[have_blue]

Originally Posted by rickguns

Wow!My dealer quoted 17,500

For tractor AND loader?

[N80]

I got mine for just less than $19K, with a rear remote installed, but that was close to 3 years ago. At the time, that was the best price I could find in 2 states. So, $20k+ 3 years later is not unreasonable, but it probably isn't the best deal you can find. If the dealer is good, and you like him, I'd say go for it. If you can get it a lot less somehwere else, well, tell the local guy about it and see if he can come down enough to make it worth your while to do business with him. I don't think that is an unreasonable approach.

If someone is selling a 4wd L4400 gear drive with loader at $17.5K, buy every one he has and sell them to your best friends for $18k. $17.5k is a little hard to believe, I'd read the small print.

[have_blue]

Originally Posted by N80

I got mine for just less than $19K, with a rear remote installed, but that was close to 3 years ago...If someone is selling a 4wd L4400 gear drive with loader at $17.5K, buy every one he has and sell them to your best friends for $18k. $17.5k is a little hard to believe, I'd read the small print.

I know Kubota is proud of their tractors, but $20K for a plain 43hp gear tractor is breathtaking. I can get a 40hp JD hydro for less than that.

I rather have the Kubota, as it's a bit more ruggedly built. But I'm reluctant to pay that much for a plain tractor that doesn't have an up front reverser or even a folding ROPS.

[N80]

Hmmm. I don't share your assessment of the L4400 price point. When I was looking I could not find any tractor in that hp range for that price. Not JD, NH, or even some of the 2nd tier brands. The JD 990 is comparable, but is not made by JD, has slightly less hp and hydraulic capacity and cost more than the 4400 (in my local market.)

The L4400 is a 4wd tractor with live independant PTO, power steering, bevel gear front axle and a proven Kubota 45 hp diesel. It comes with a decent loader and in general costs less than $20K. The truth is that it is one of the best deals on the market. And you may need to do a little more homework, the ROPs is foldable (mine is anyway) and the up front reverser is not an issue. The range lever, which sits in your left hand, has lo and reverese directly opposed. Back and forth, easy as pie. (you do have to stop, but that's just the nature of a gear tractor. And for my experience 4th gear is as fast as I want or need to go in reverse anyway.

If you can find a 40 hp JD with HST, 4wd, and loader for less than that, well, you'll have to show me before I believe it. What model? Who has it for this price? Make sure you're comparing apples to oranges. But if its true, get the JD and do it quick before the dealer wises up!

[L4400]

I paid 19.5 for mine, but got a killer deal on my trade in. The dealer I went with ended up being 4K cheaper than the worst deal. I price shopped at 5 dealers and brought pics of my trade in to them to get a firm price for each. My tractor price is with AG tires and the LA703 loader. Mine has a foldable ROPS, which I wasn't looking for, but the dealer said that he'd throw it in as it would take some work to find one that didn't have one. If your buying one without a trade, this info won't help much, as you may be able to get a better price. I bought mine in Nov. of '07.

[have_blue]

Originally Posted by N80

Hmmm.
If you can find a 40 hp JD with HST, 4wd, and loader for less than that, well, you'll have to show me before I believe it. Make sure you're comparing apples to oranges. But if its true, get the JD and do it quick before the dealer wises up!

JD 4105 has 40.4hp, hydro, and HD 73" bucket $21K. I think I can get it for $20.5K. Prices being equal, it's a tough call. The JD has more features, the Kubota has better bones.

[N80]

Originally Posted by have_blue

JD 4105 has 40.4hp, hydro, and HD 73" bucket $21K. I think I can get it for $20.5K. Prices being equal, it's a tough call. The JD has more features, the Kubota has better bones.

If the 4105 is 4wd and you want HST (I did not and still don't) and you don't mind the 3 cylinder Yanmar (nothing wrong with it) and you don't mind slightly less performance (hp, loader, 3 pt) then I don't see it as a tough call at all. Get the JD, it looks like a great machine and has many nicer features (better seat, HST, etc). As far as 'bones', well, not sure what you mean. The L4400 is heavier than the 4105 but they're both light and lightly built.

[have_blue]

Originally Posted by N80

As far as 'bones', well, not sure what you mean. The L4400 is heavier than the 4105 but they're both light and lightly built.

Ya, that's a pretty vague description, isn't it?

I guess you would have to get a good look at both of them to see what I mean. The K looks like a more massive tractor where it counts, plus the wheelbase looks ~6" longer than the JD. The K has 43 net hp, the JD has 40.4. The K has way more HP at the PTO partly because it's a gear tractor. The K is a loud son-of-a-gun, and wearing hearing protection will wear thin.

If the K dealer won't give me a decent price, I guess I'll fall back to the JD. I think you call that shooting yourself in the foot for a few hundred bucks. No really, unlike you, it's still too close for me to call. Everyone's priorities are a bit different.