LS vs. Mahindra

MtnViewRanch · Feb 16, 2011

You can get the 5035 with a power shuttle trans, so no clutching for F-R, but that is more money.

I always recommend as many remotes as possible, minimum of 2. None of us are getting any younger and it is nice to have a hydraulic do the work for us. If you are going to do much if any grading, you will want to get top and tilt hydraulics at some point.

Glad that you looked at the 5035, to bad that the ergonomics don't work for you. They are a nice machine. Over the length of time that you will own it, that extra money may not be to bad, I probably would not pay it, but I know some that would.

Good luck with your decision, look at both again, or maybe go up a step in the LS machines to see how it would be.

DON'T RUSH INTO ANYTHING

rocknrod · Feb 16, 2011

timebak said:
Got to see a Mahindra 5035 4WD Shuttle w/FEL this morning. ...
We talked turkey. He got to within $6500 of the LS R4020.
...

Exactly - Imagine what LS Tractor you could get with that extra $6500.00
Then compare what you get for your money.

timebak · Feb 17, 2011

I realized that I wasn't really comparing apples to apples with the LS R4020 vs. the Mahindra 5035. The 5035 was a larger tractor. The closest thing Mahindra has to the R4020 is the 4035, and it's really a closer match to the R4010.

What I really needed to be doing was comparing the LS U5020 to the 5035. Now with that comparison, for me, my dollars, and what feels good to me, the U5020 is a no-brainer. Although the 5035 is a great tractor, and I'd be perfectly happy with it if I hadn't seen the LS. But when looking at what I was going to be doing, both the U5020 and the 5035 are just a bit too physically large. They just wouldn't have the maneuverability to get into the places I need to go.

That brings us back to the R4020. When compared to the Mahindra 4035, the R4020, for my money, purposes and comfort, pretty much blows it away. Another (for me) no-brainer for the LS. So I did it.

SPYDERLK · Feb 17, 2011

I would like to get an LS HST but they dont offer multi speed PTOs in that range. You have to go all the way up to HD utility to get it and youre stuck with cabin and no HST. I already have HD Utility in a Mahindra 7520, but if I were going for one now and looking at LS Id be stuck with cabin, lighter weight, and lower hydraulic flow to get what Iv got. Creeper gears and the 750 PTO speed seem to be the only advantage. ... Too bad.
larry

MtnViewRanch · Feb 17, 2011

timebak said:
I realized that I wasn't really comparing apples to apples with the LS R4020 vs. the Mahindra 5035. The 5035 was a larger tractor. The closest thing Mahindra has to the R4020 is the 4035, and it's really a closer match to the R4010.

What I really needed to be doing was comparing the LS U5020 to the 5035. Now with that comparison, for me, my dollars, and what feels good to me, the U5020 is a no-brainer. Although the 5035 is a great tractor, and I'd be perfectly happy with it if I hadn't seen the LS. But when looking at what I was going to be doing, both the U5020 and the 5035 are just a bit too physically large. They just wouldn't have the maneuverability to get into the places I need to go.

That brings us back to the R4020. When compared to the Mahindra 4035, the R4020, for my money, purposes and comfort, pretty much blows it away. Another (for me) no-brainer for the LS. So I did it.

We need pictures when you get it home. :thumbsup:

AlanMitchell · Feb 23, 2011

What a great thread! Thanks to all.

New here, I've been a 1957 Ford 640 guy (on 25 acres) for past 17 years. One re-build later, I'm looking forward to buying a late year, 4W, 40-horse. I'll keep the old Ford b/c the seat is embossed with my butt-cheeks and because I'm that sentimental.

This Mahindra-LS-Kub discussion tells me I have lot's road trips to put on my Kawasaki 1600 'scooter just looking at the dealers over seven states. Thanks to all of you on this board.

Alan

LittleBlueTractor · Feb 23, 2011

AlanMitchell said:
What a great thread! Thanks to all.

New here, I've been a 1957 Ford 640 guy (on 25 acres) for past 17 years. One re-build later, I'm looking forward to buying a late year, 4W, 40-horse. I'll keep the old Ford b/c the seat is embossed with my butt-cheeks and because I'm that sentimental.

This Mahindra-LS-Kub discussion tells me I have lot's road trips to put on my Kawasaki 1600 'scooter just looking at the dealers over seven states. Thanks to all of you on this board.

Alan

Welcome to the LS forum Alan, where you don't have to bleed any particular color. There's lots of choices out there so just do your research and you'll likely be happy with whatever you go with. At least with the 1600 you'll be doing it in style and the weather in Texas/Oklahoma has gotten a lot better than a few weeks ago.

Gary Fowler · Feb 24, 2011

Alan, go look at all the rest, take some notes, photos, prices etc and then go see the LS tractors. Be ready with your checkbook when you see the LS features compared to the other brands, because if you are like the rest of us, you will be hooked. Right now they are full featured for discount tractor prices. I am sure that as they gain popularity the prices will come up on par with the other brands, so now is the time to buy if you are considering a new tractor. I just hope the LS dealers dont get as snooty as the Orange tractor dealers are now after they get to be number 1.
Keep in mind that LS has already built tractors for many of the top brands and continues to build some for them. I think that may stop in a few years when there own brand starts selling out the new factory's full capability.

SPYDERLK · Feb 24, 2011

MtnViewRanch said:
Can you please tell us what models you are comparing. Nice to know just what it is that we are comparing too. There are HUGE differences in the Mahindra models, just as there are differences in the LS models.

For one thing, hydraulic flow capacity on the Mahindra 7520 is superior to any of the LS models.
larry

MtnViewRanch · Feb 24, 2011

SPYDERLK said:
For one thing, hydraulic flow capacity on the Mahindra 7520 is superior to any of the LS models.
larry

So are the loader capacities, and the tractor weighs more than their cabbed tractor. That's on an old 7520 model, the new 8560's spec out even better and weigh a 1000lbs more than the P7040S. But the Mahindra only has a 12x12 trans with syncro shuttle where as the LS models have a 20x20 power shuttle trans. I for one am satisfied with the 12x12 tranny, but it would be nice to have a 16x16 power shuttle. I'm not farming, so no need for the 20x20 tranny. I feel that LS is at the same position that Mahindra was back in 04-05. Very good machines selling for what is the best bang for the buck at the time. Anyone looking to purchase a new tractor is foolish to not at least look at and consider an LS tractor at this time IMO.

Just my :2cents:

LittleBlueTractor · Feb 24, 2011

MtnViewRanch said:
So are the loader capacities, and the tractor weighs more than their cabbed tractor. That's on an old 7520 model, the new 8560's spec out even better and weigh a 1000lbs more than the P7040S. But the Mahindra only has a 12x12 trans with syncro shuttle where as the LS models have a 20x20 power shuttle trans. I for one am satisfied with the 12x12 tranny, but it would be nice to have a 16x16 power shuttle. I'm not farming, so no need for the 20x20 tranny. I feel that LS is at the same position that Mahindra was back in 04-05. Very good machines selling for what is the best bang for the buck at the time. Anyone looking to purchase a new tractor is foolish to not at least look at and consider an LS tractor at this time IMO.

Just my :2cents:

Your posts are always straight up and fair. It was only after buying some land that I realized I was going to need a tractor. I began by researching pretty much everything out there. I had already decided to go with the Mahindra 2816 when I stumbled upon the LS S3010. They stacked up against each other pretty well in many areas, so the biggest determining factor for me turned out to be the price with the bundled FEL. If I am ever in the market again, I'll start the process all over again with some bias toward LS. I guess that's just how it goes once a brand has proven itself to you. I don't think I'll ever be as rabid about any brand as they are in the some of other brand's forums. Not saying it's bad, but it's not the way my mind works.

MtnViewRanch · Feb 24, 2011

LittleBlueTractor said:
Your posts are always straight up and fair. It was only after buying some land that I realized I was going to need a tractor. I began by researching pretty much everything out there. I had already decided to go with the Mahindra 2816 when I stumbled upon the LS S3010. They stacked up against each other pretty well in many areas, so the biggest determining factor for me turned out to be the price with the bundled FEL. If I am ever in the market again, I'll start the process all over again with some bias toward LS. I guess that's just how it goes once a brand has proven itself to you. I don't think I'll ever be as rabid about any brand as they are in the some of other brand's forums. Not saying it's bad, but it's not the way my mind works.

Thanks for your comment. When money is not a huge concern, it is a lot easier to consider some of the other brands. But for those of us that need to pay attention to where that money goes, we usually need to get the most bang for the buck and at this moment in time that happens to be the LS tractors. What I had seen at the Tulare World AG Expo earlier in the month was that all the Korean manufacturers, Kubota and Mahindra had about every model that they each make out on display. (Very nice ) New Holland had their LS models and their big stuff. All the other guys that have big farm equipment. None of the big guys had more than 2-3 compacts. It was very easy to see who was targeting what market. The big guys sure were not pushing any of their small stuff, that's for sure. Most of the implement guys where pushing the really big stuff, cat 3 & 4 and pull implements. Not much in the way of cat 1 & 2 stuff.

rocknrod · Feb 24, 2011

MtnViewRanch said:
...What I had seen at the Tulare World AG Expo earlier in the month was that all the Korean manufacturers, Kubota and Mahindra ...

Doesnt Mahindra build their tractors in India?
Billstractor.com in San Antonio got to tour their factory:
http://www.billstractor.com/mahindrafactory.htm

and heres a bit of news about cnh:
http://investors.cnh.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61651&p=irol-newsArticle_print&ID=1468935&highlight=

Interesting.

http://www.technicstoday.com/2010/0...es-150000th-tractor-made-at-its-indian-plant/

MtnViewRanch · Feb 25, 2011

rocknrod said:
Doesnt Mahindra build their tractors in India?
Billstractor.com in San Antonio got to tour their factory:
Mahindra Factory Tour

and heres a bit of news about cnh:
CNH | Investors | News Release

Interesting.

New Holland Celebrates 150,000th Tractor Made at its Indian Plant | Technics Today.com

Yes, Mahindra make their tractors in India and Kubota makes theirs in Japan. I said "(all the Korean manufacturers, Kubota and Mahindra had about every model that they each make out on display. (Very nice )" What's your point? Are you thinking that I was including Mahindra in with the Korean tractors? And if you were thinking that, then I would have thought that you were thinking that I thought that Kubota was Korean also? :confused2:

BleedGreen · Feb 25, 2011

MtnViewRanch said:
What I had seen at the Tulare World AG Expo earlier in the month was that all the Korean manufacturers, Kubota and Mahindra had about every model that they each make out on display. (Very nice ) New Holland had their LS models and their big stuff. All the other guys that have big farm equipment. None of the big guys had more than 2-3 compacts. It was very easy to see who was targeting what market. The big guys sure were not pushing any of their small stuff, that's for sure. Most of the implement guys where pushing the really big stuff, cat 3 & 4 and pull implements. Not much in the way of cat 1 & 2 stuff.

Let's really look at this here... It is an "AG" expo, not a "CUT" expo. To say that the "big guys" arent pushing their small stuff really misses the point of the show. What Korean / Japanese / Indian companies both manufacture large Ag equipment AND sell it in the U.S.? Let's not say that Deere, NH, Case and MF arent in the CUT business just because they do not prominently show them at an AG show. Not a very fair conclusion, IMHO.

MtnViewRanch · Feb 25, 2011

BleedGreen said:
Let's really look at this here... It is an "AG" expo, not a "CUT" expo. To say that the "big guys" arent pushing their small stuff really misses the point of the show. What Korean / Japanese / Indian companies both manufacture large Ag equipment AND sell it in the U.S.? Let's not say that Deere, NH, Case and MF arent in the CUT business just because they do not prominently show them at an AG show. Not a very fair conclusion, IMHO.

Well, of the past 5 years, this year was the smallest showing of CUTs that the bigger guys have had on display. Yes it is an AG show, and the bigger AG companies have had bigger displays of CUT tractors in the past years. I was not saying that the companies that you listed don't have CUTs, I said that they were pushing what their big machine market is. You know that with the economy down, they probably know that not many home owners are out looking at CUTs, so why bother taking them to the show. Now farmers are always looking at this stuff, so they concentrate on AG stuff vs home owner stuff. On the other hand the guys that sell the smaller machines each had very good displays IMO.

I was just basing my opinion on what I saw and have seen there in the past 5 years. Maybe my interpretation was wrong. :confused3: Have you gone to the show in the past? Did you go this year? I was just reporting on what I have seen past and present and how I interpret those observations. Keep in mind that this is for the West Coast and not in the Midwest. I'm sure that things may be different in Iowa.

AlanMitchell · Feb 26, 2011

Li'' Blue,

I appreciate the welcome. Yes, the looking on my MC will be good. Weather finally breaking - 10 days ago it was -31 F just one county over. No MC that day.

Best,
Alan

AlanMitchell · Feb 26, 2011

Gary,

Thanks for the greeting.
The closest LS dealer is about 60 miles south. I'll visit him soon - may be next week. How do you get your parts (filters, etc.)? Are they available online or do you buy from dealer.

Best Regards,
Alan

Dirt pile · Feb 26, 2011

I purchased my LS 4041 EZ at the World Ag Expo...$17,100. I'm happy so far, 10 hrs on it, list of dirt moving and no issues. Traditionally, the expo caters to more corporate farming, big equipment for big farms. I've been going for the past 19 years. It was nice to have All the models in one place to compare..fun day!