Will a 4240 Cab reliably handle all of this?

Lt CHEG · Oct 26, 2009

I've posted some other things about what tractors I am most closely looking at. I figured the 4740 that I was mostly looking at was overkill, but from the responses that I have seen it appears that even the 4240 may be more overkill than I originally anticipated. So will a 4240 with 854 FEL reliably handle all of the following?

-Run an 84" or possibly a 110" rear discharge mower while still maintaining good speed with the Air Conditioning on in the summer?

-Run a 7 foot bush hog? - Likely I would run a 6 footer but if I get a good deal on a used 7 footer I'd like to keep my options open.

-Run a 14" two bottom plow with ease?

-Run a 72" or 84" box blade with ease?

-Run a 72" front mount snowblower and/or an 84" rear snowblower?

-How big a tiller or disc could I run with a 4240 cab?

I would be running loaded R4 tires for the tractor. Also I want to be able to do these things without really working the tractor too hard, and I also want to be able to maintain a pretty quick mowing speed, as I plan on mowing 5 to 5.5 acres at least once or twice a week. I don't think that I would want to go down to the 3940 because I like the lifting capacity of the bigger loader that the 4240 offers as I may end up wanting to be able to lift 1 ton pallets of wood pellets off the back of a pickup truck in the future. I realize that I may have to remove a few bags in order to accomplish this task, but I figure my chances of doing this are better with the bigger loader. Also, if I can make a little extra money doing snow removal on the side in the winter, I'd be able to load taller trucks with snow using the bigger loader that the 4240 offers. I don't think that there is too much more that I would want to do besides what was mentioned. Would the 4240 be able to do these things for me? And more importantly would it be doing it easily enough that I could expect a good long life out of the tractor? If I can pull these things off with a 4240 cab, then it just may be the best value for me that I've found. Thanks in advance for your opinions and advice.

Big Bri · Oct 27, 2009

i am no expert but using the attachments you listed i would go with a bigger tractor, i like the idea of the 4740. I think the two bottom plow for one will be to big, a 84" box blade will be a lot to tote around with the smaller tractor.
i say all this because you say you want the tractor to work easily. I'm with you on this, i believe you should buy bigger if you can afford it. I know others will tell you different.
Good luck and i hope you enjoy what ever you get
Brian

Lt CHEG · Oct 27, 2009

Big Bri said:
i am no expert but using the attachments you listed i would go with a bigger tractor, i like the idea of the 4740. I think the two bottom plow for one will be to big, a 84" box blade will be a lot to tote around with the smaller tractor.
i say all this because you say you want the tractor to work easily. I'm with you on this, i believe you should buy bigger if you can afford it. I know others will tell you different.
Good luck and i hope you enjoy what ever you get
Brian

I know what you mean. I know a tractor is a tool that's supposed to be worked, but as expensive as these are and as unexcited as my wife is about getting one in the first place, I want to make sure that this baby is going to last at least 20 years. So I want to make sure that it isn't pushed to the limit often so that it makes that 20 years or so easily.

As for the box blade and double bottom plow, I don't think I'd mind using a 72" box blade if that was better, just so long as the blade completely covers up the wheel tracks. And the double bottom plow, I don't know how often that will be used quite frankly. I'm sure I'll use it to tear up the sod when I put in my driveway (about 600 feet) before I put down a crusher run base. I know I will also use it to put in the garden area at our new place. I don't know how much more I'd use it though. I'll probably just try and keep the grass that we have now mowed and spot treat some of the areas that aren't as nice as the rest, I don't think I'd ever tear up the whole 6.5 acres in order to re-plant grass. I just wanted to add this information as a bit of a qualifier to my original post.

art · Oct 27, 2009

Not knowing all the conditions to be sure, I'd still say you are in line. I would tell you to work a diesel engine is the best for it!!!!!!

_RaT_ · Oct 27, 2009

Lt CHEG said:
I know what you mean. I know a tractor is a tool that's supposed to be worked, but as expensive as these are and as unexcited as my wife is about getting one in the first place, I want to make sure that this baby is going to last at least 20 years. So I want to make sure that it isn't pushed to the limit often so that it makes that 20 years or so easily.

As for the box blade and double bottom plow, I don't think I'd mind using a 72" box blade if that was better, just so long as the blade completely covers up the wheel tracks. And the double bottom plow, I don't know how often that will be used quite frankly. I'm sure I'll use it to tear up the sod when I put in my driveway (about 600 feet) before I put down a crusher run base. I know I will also use it to put in the garden area at our new place. I don't know how much more I'd use it though. I'll probably just try and keep the grass that we have now mowed and spot treat some of the areas that aren't as nice as the rest, I don't think I'd ever tear up the whole 6.5 acres in order to re-plant grass. I just wanted to add this information as a bit of a qualifier to my original post.

It all depends. I use a L4850 that has 53 HP and there are times it won't pull a 72" box scraper. The soil conditions, the grass conditions will make as much difference in the tractors ability to do the job as the tractors physical properties.

nybirdman · Oct 27, 2009

I own a L4240 cab Kubota,I have 250 hrs on it brush-hogging(72in),snow plowing(8 ft.curtis),roto-tilling(64in),and running a two bottom 14 plow.
My rears are loaded,the 854 loader will still pick the back up if you over-do
it,this should be more than enough tractor for your purpose.
My implements were purchased for my previous tractor(L3130 grand),this tractor runs them with ease.

mark2610d · Oct 28, 2009

I have the L3240 cab and can answer some of these questions.

-Run an 84" or possibly a 110" rear discharge mower while still maintaining good speed with the Air Conditioning on in the summer?

84" no problem... 110" not sure??

-Run a 7 foot bush hog? - Likely I would run a 6 footer but if I get a good deal on a used 7 footer I'd like to keep my options open.

6 foot no problem... 7ft probably.

-Run a 14" two bottom plow with ease?

will pull a 14" no problem...

-Run a 72" or 84" box blade with ease?

will pull both no problem...

-Run a 72" front mount snowblower and/or an 84" rear snowblower?

have no idea???

-How big a tiller or disc could I run with a 4240 cab?

at least a 6ft tiller, not sure about the disc.

I have the smallest of grand L tractors and can pull a 2x14 bottom plow all day long. It pulls great will filled tires or without filled I keep the front loader installed. I pull a 6ft rear finish mower "woods prd 7200" at 4-6 mph with a/c running on mostly flat ground. I run a 5ft tiller and it doesn't know it's back there. I run a 6ft box blade and it doesn't know it's back there. I run a 6ft bush hog and It is a full load in heavy tall grass, but it still runs it ok, however I wish I had more hp when running the hog for faster cut speeds.

07 LMM LTZ · Oct 29, 2009

I currently have a L3940 with a cab and pull a two bottom plow, 6' bush hog and a 72" blade box with no effort. The soil in my area is mainly clay which tend to be a little tough. I don't see you having a problem with the 4240 trying to do what you want to do. I have the 72" belly mower on mine and I mow about 4.5 acres a week. I can lift a ton of pellet off my truck but I do have to remove about 10 to 12 bags as long as I have a counter weight on the rear. Hope this helps.