Buying Advice 3700 vs 4400 or L3940

[PHILIP8N]

1) I got heavy duty round back, more indestructable. Depends on your uses, but I am hard on mine.

2) Quick attach a must.

3) Do you need top and tilt? If you do, you must have 2 remotes. I bought hyd top link seperately from ccm. I do have 2 remotes. 2nd remote is to angle rear blade.

5) Mid pto is for mower, snowblower, and broom. With the later 2, you need sub-frame assy. Have you priced sub-frame? I would wait on this and see what you needs are.

7) I would do my own lights, OEM's are kind of crappy. You would be happier with your own, I can help.

8) I like my turfs. Kubota has 3 styles of R3's, if you get R3's be clear to dealer of what you want. My turfs are great for mowing and moving snow, do good on dirt, and okay in mud. Cannot comment on wear, not enough time. Pic is pulling 8000 pounds thru sloppy mud, R3's got job done.

Philip.

 

[Mike Costello]

Just some practical information which is not intended to to be influential. I have a 10 acre property with about 8 acres in flat pasture. My tractor of choice was the Kubota L4400HST with LA703 loader and R4 tires. I also purchased Kubota's QA system. Also bought a 6' medium duty rotary mower and 6' box blade. The tractor has performed well in all the tasks done with it.

Pasture mowing--lots of power, mowing is fast & efficient. Cruize control nice.

Loader work--plenty of lift for all needs. QA very useful, so a must.

R4 tires--no sliding or stuck yet. Easy on grass if necessary to drive on.

Maneuverability--Tight spaces or corral work (4 horses) no problem. Always think about your surroundings.

Fence lines--I can get real close. Haven't hooked any posts yet! Take your time.

Gravel drive work--excellent.

I'm not one for extra frills because a tractor is a piece of working equipment first and a toy second. I buy my equipment for what my needs are, plus a little extra power for durability, longevity, and safety. Price is important also--paying too much or buying add ons you won't use all that often is just waste.
In the end, I bought my L4400HST because it was priced right and is a good basic solid tractor that can be upgraded as needed. Bells & whistles such as remotes, work lights, radios, etc. are all easily added if I develop a burning desire to do so or if there is a need.
My wife loves driving the tractor because of its ease of use. She has low vision, but can handle the L4400HST very well. So, I wouldn't worry about anyone's wife using a tractor such as the L4400. Hope this real world information helps in your decision. Mike.

 

[TripleR]

Ah, "frills"; many once viewed anything without a steel seat, manual steering and transmission as having "frills".

I have a couple "no frill" work tractor and they don't see much use any more.

 

[beppington]

I'm not one for extra frills because a tractor is a piece of working equipment first and a toy second. I buy my equipment for what my needs are, plus a little extra power for durability, longevity, and safety. Price is important also--paying too much or buying add ons you won't use all that often is just waste.

I'm the opposite: I buy my vehicles/ machines/ toys with as many frills/ bells/ whistles/ options as they offer & that I can afford! (unless they're completely useless or hair-brained). Keeps me as comfortable as possible! Keeps the machines as flexible as possible. Why not be as comfortable as possible when you're working?

As for the money, they tell me you can't take it with you anyway. And, it's he who dies with the most toys (not money), wins :laughing:

 

[sbohan]

I was debating the 4400 or the 3940. IT is a serious investment, and 4400 has no CAB available. With months of days over 90 and 90% humidity, the A/C is a little more than tempting. Without the cab, I'm pretty torn, but the telescoping links, dual range on the hst, and everyone has raved about them; leads me towards the 3940 even without a cab. The 4400's extra horsepower makes it a strong candidate though. Guess I could do 4240. But with a CAB, that ones jsut getting out of reach.

 

[Mike Costello]

I was debating the 4400 or the 3940. IT is a serious investment, and 4400 has no CAB available. With months of days over 90 and 90% humidity, the A/C is a little more than tempting. Without the cab, I'm pretty torn, but the telescoping links, dual range on the hst, and everyone has raved about them; leads me towards the 3940 even without a cab. The 4400's extra horsepower makes it a strong candidate though. Guess I could do 4240. But with a CAB, that ones jsut getting out of reach.

Have you checked for after market non-Kubota cabs? I've worked my tractor in 90 degree heat and humidity pushing 80% here in Mo. As long as I have my straw hat and plenty of water, I'm good to go. Moderation and good sense also come into play. Either that, or hot and humid agrees with me!

Other posters--I'll agree, no frills can be drab, but bells and whistles can sure get addicting. And yeah--you can't take it with you (money) so why not spend it on the ole tractor. Besides, no one has ever said their aren't any fields in the great beyond to work! Or, just leave it all behind when you kick off and watch all the relatives turn your possessions into a blood sport!

 

[sbohan]

Well Cab vs. no cab is about $83 a month on the 5 yr 0% interest special right now. So for $ a month I will probably do it. The question now is 3540. 3940 or 4240. I've decided against the 4400 only because with my horrible allergies hours of mowing without a cab will hurt me for days. That and my father will also be using it and he turns 71 this year. While he'd never say he'd like it, I"ll feel a lot better without him in the sun for hours.

Views on a 4 in 1 Kubota bucket? Worth the $? Seems like that and the bush-hog and I'll be set for 70-80% of what I'll be doing. I can always acquire a flail, scraper, box blade, and the rest later.

Mid mount PTO and Trim-tilt. Hmmm Still trying to decide on those.

Has anyone here used the grand's mid mount mower? More trouble than it's worth for small stuff?

 

[TripleR]

Well Cab vs. no cab is about $83 a month on the 5 yr 0% interest special right now. So for $ a month I will probably do it. The question now is 3540. 3940 or 4240. I've decided against the 4400 only because with my horrible allergies hours of mowing without a cab will hurt me for days. That and my father will also be using it and he turns 71 this year. While he'd never say he'd like it, I"ll feel a lot better without him in the sun for hours.

You are a good son. My father in law bought a cabbed tractor when he was 71 and it kept him going for many enjoyable years. He could not have continued to work on tractors as much without it and literally died in the seat working on a road behind our house on a very cold day in January. It kept him busy and active when he could not have been out there otherwise. I am "only" 63 and my health demands a cab, but my wife sure likes them too though she spends most of her time on our BX2660 or JD2305.

With a cab, I would definitely go with the L4240 due to the power demands of the AC and extra weight. On an open station, it would be a toss up for me. Though I must confess a love for "more power", there comes a point which it is really irrelevant.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Well Cab vs. no cab is about $83 a month on the 5 yr 0% interest special right now. So for $ a month I will probably do it. The question now is 3540. 3940 or 4240. I've decided against the 4400 only because with my horrible allergies hours of mowing without a cab will hurt me for days. That and my father will also be using it and he turns 71 this year. While he'd never say he'd like it, I"ll feel a lot better without him in the sun for hours.

Views on a 4 in 1 Kubota bucket? Worth the $? Seems like that and the bush-hog and I'll be set for 70-80% of what I'll be doing. I can always acquire a flail, scraper, box blade, and the rest later.

Mid mount PTO and Trim-tilt. Hmmm Still trying to decide on those.

Has anyone here used the grand's mid mount mower? More trouble than it's worth for small stuff?

You CANNOT get a mid mount mower on a L4240!!! Double check me on this, but I am sure I am right. The only reason I got a L3940 instead of a larger L series is because the L3940 is the largest L series you can mount a MMM on. Hindsight now, I will probably never mount a MMM on this tractor, so I wish I would have gotten a L4240 or larger. The L4240 and larger have a more powerful FEL than the L3940. But, it all worked out in the end, I purchased a good used FEL from Barlow's for my L3940 for $3000 (local dealer was $5000 plus). I would probably still be loaderless if I had gotten another tractor (at least that is what I tell myself, and I will not hear otherwise). Philip.

 

[beppington]

You CANNOT get a mid mount mower on a L4240!!! Double check me on this, but I am sure I am right. The only reason I got a L3940 instead of a larger L series is because the L3940 is the largest L series you can mount a MMM on. Hindsight now, I will probably never mount a MMM on this tractor, so I wish I would have gotten a L4240 or larger. The L4240 and larger have a more powerful FEL than the L3940. But, it all worked out in the end, I purchased a good used FEL from Barlow's for my L3940 for $3000 (local dealer was $5000 plus). I would probably still be loaderless if I had gotten another tractor (at least that is what I tell myself, and I will not hear otherwise). Philip.

I have the Grand L brochure right in front of me. The Implement Chart on page 23 lists MMM model #RC72-38 for the 3240, 3540 & 3940, but shows dashes for the 4240 - 5740. However ... to the left on page 22 there's a big picture of a dude driving a 5740 & mowing with a MMM!! :laughing:

I actually asked my salesman about this (I just thought it was curious, never was buyin' bigger than a 3940) when I was buying mine, & he kinda grinned, shook his head, & said, "Yeah, I know, once in a while they mess up. It's not available for the big ones. They probably took that picture at a time when they thought they actually would have a MMM for the 5740, then something ended up changing."

So ... I happen to believe the chart & the salesman ... not the picture.

When they released that brochure, they may not have realized a nerd like me would scour the thing with a fine toothed comb