Buying Advice Grand L versus M

TripleR · Nov 24, 2011

dougrout said:
The question of why I should upgrade is a good one. There are a couple of reasons. I do use the tractor for snow removal and I'm not happy getting covered with snow and frozen on my tractor all winter. For this reason I have been wanting to upgrade to a tractor with a cab. I will also be getting into ploughing, disking and seeding my fields as well as doing backhoe work around the property and I'm concerned that my 3320 might not be up to the task. It's already at the limit of its power for hauling logs out of the bush.

My JD dealer has a 3720 on the lot with cab, but I'm not sure it has enough power? And if I get a GL Kubota I have to pay the extra 13% HST here in Ontario. I really need to check the relative prices of the GL versus the M7040 (the smallest Kubota that would qualify for no tax).

I do agree that I am considering a tractor that is bigger than I need but the price might be right?

Just food for thought, several years ago my father in law decided to upgrade to a cab tractor and trade in his old tractor. Having grown up farming, I advised him that while it would be really nice, he would need to keep his old, smaller tractor as the cab Case CX simply would not fit in many places on the farm. He ignored my advice and a few weeks after the trade, had to buy his old tractor back for a significant cost.

A couple of years ago, I got to the point to where I couldn't drive our old MF 375 open station and bought the Kubota L5030 to fit in places where the bigger tractor won't go.

I will add that after doing a full day of tight in loader or mowing work on the M, I am worn to a nub. The L is much handier and easier to use, plus my wife can use it when I am out of commission or when I am on the M.

Now with plenty of room and pulling a 10' cutter or even hauling dirt/rock etc., the ride on the M is great as is the extra power.

HST/Hydraulic Shuttle Shift will never be equal in ease of use, but can be acceptable with practice/regular use. The occasional user will probably never like it or be proficient; wife really doesn't care for it due to having to use it and ride the brakes for precise control or estimating how far the tractor will go when you hit the clutch.

I realize I am swimming upstream here, but you can quite easily go too big and a tractor that doesn't fit your needs is no bargain. I happen to love the 6000 and 7000 Series John Deere for some reason, but...

Just a thought which may or may not apply.

Martian · Nov 24, 2011

dougrout said:
The question of why I should upgrade is a good one. There are a couple of reasons. I do use the tractor for snow removal and I'm not happy getting covered with snow and frozen on my tractor all winter. For this reason I have been wanting to upgrade to a tractor with a cab. I will also be getting into ploughing, disking and seeding my fields as well as doing backhoe work around the property and I'm concerned that my 3320 might not be up to the task. It's already at the limit of its power for hauling logs out of the bush.

My JD dealer has a 3720 on the lot with cab, but I'm not sure it has enough power? And if I get a GL Kubota I have to pay the extra 13% HST here in Ontario. I really need to check the relative prices of the GL versus the M7040 (the smallest Kubota that would qualify for no tax).

I do agree that I am considering a tractor that is bigger than I need but the price might be right?

Just as you never want to go too small to big is never a good thing either. You will not be nearly as maneuverable with the GL or especially the M as with your 3320 solely due to size. If you were to get the GL I think you could get away with only having one tractor for your needs, but if you got the M I would be sure to keep the 3320 to due some of the small stuff.

And take it from experience, when you have this huge tractor with a gear transmission going up to a garage door, and you hit the RPM accelerator instead of the clutch, it will really do some damage to a garage door... I was lucky the who f******* garage didn't end up on top of me. I use the hydrostatic 3120 now...

canoetrpr · Nov 24, 2011

Doug - how much land are you planning to disk etc.? The farming type work would lead me to suggest the M over the GL.

The point the others make about size is important but for my application I've found that bigger was fine especially when it cost the same or less.

I found it was really hard to to stare in the face the fact that I'd be throwing away money for the smaller tractor on taxes. I would have had to convince myself that I REALLY REALLY needed the smaller size and only the OP can tell if this is the case for him. In my case it was hard to believe that except for one known height limitation, that I'd be taking the GL5740 some place that the M would not fit.

TripleR makes an excellent point that for a truly occasional user, it's going to be very hard to get as proficient with the hydraulic shuttle vs HST.

Johnbro · Nov 25, 2011

If you're planning on a lot of loader work, get the HST and don't look back. I spent 20 years with a shuttle tranny on my old tractor (non-hydraulic, so you had to push in the clutch). The HST is so much better than the shuttle for loader work you can't believe it.

Hard to believe a 5740 won't farm 40 acres.

dougrout · Nov 25, 2011

I believe that the 5740 is plenty big enough but then I end up spending an extra $5300 in tax!

canoetrpr · Nov 25, 2011

Johnbro said:
If you're planning on a lot of loader work, get the HST and don't look back. I spent 20 years with a shuttle tranny on my old tractor (non-hydraulic, so you had to push in the clutch). The HST is so much better than the shuttle for loader work you can't believe it.

The hydraulic shuttle on the M allows clutch-less direction changes (fwd-rev) and is quite nice for loader use. I agree with you that HST is the best when it comes to loader work but a clutch-less shuttle is FAR better than a plain old shuttle.

mcd176 · Nov 25, 2011

Im getting confused, why are some of you saying "GL" ? I just looked on Kubota's website and I only see "L" series which I own, am I missing something?

Martian · Nov 25, 2011

mcd176 said:
Im getting confused, why are some of you saying "GL" ? I just looked on Kubota's website and I only see "L" series which I own, am I missing something?

Grand L

Johnbro · Nov 25, 2011

mcd176 said:
Im getting confused, why are some of you saying "GL" ? I just looked on Kubota's website and I only see "L" series which I own, am I missing something?

If the model number (currently) ends in 40 (eg 5740) it's a Grand L, which is a completely different tractor than a standard L series. The GLs are heavier, have bigger hydraulics, and a lot of improved features. They are the top shelf line of the mid-size tractors. So if you compare the specs for a L4400 and an L4240 you'll see the 4240 is a lot more tractor.