Kubota L4610 HST vs. New Holland TC45DA

[WM75Guy]

I have not had any issues with my two NH tractors. I do like the ergonomics of joystick and the side by side HST pedals. Mine does whine some especially at low speeds. The 16LA is rated for roughly 2000# at the pins, 1600# at 24" out. With SSQA and 300# of forks I can get a 1500# loaded pallet up and off the trailer. I get most of my parts from Messick's by mail order without any issues.

 

[OutBurst]

Thanks everybody! At this time, I am leaning towards the Kubota because of its greater loader capacity. I am currently in talks with the owner - hopefully we can come up with a deal! If not, I think the New Holland is a fantastic choice as well!

 

[woolyAcres]

I'm sure you'll be happy with either machine. Let us know what you end up with. Best of luck with the negotiations.

 

[OutBurst]

Does anyone feel the Kubota is worth the extra $2,000?

 

[4570Man]

Which backhoe is stronger? What kind of transmission is in both tractors? I think the LA824 loader could unload a 2,000 pound pallet without breaking a sweat. My LA724 loader can do that. Notice I said unload. My loader couldn't load a 2,000 pound pallet. It can lift 2,000 pounds just not to pickup truck height. The LA854 loader is rated to lift 2,500 pounds to full height at the pin, and 1,800 pounds to full height at 500mm. That is about 700 pounds stronger than my LA724 loader.

 

[OutBurst]

Which backhoe is stronger? What kind of transmission is in both tractors? I think the LA824 loader could unload a 2,000 pound pallet without breaking a sweat. My LA724 loader can do that. Notice I said unload. My loader couldn't load a 2,000 pound pallet. It can lift 2,000 pounds just not to pickup truck height. The LA854 loader is rated to lift 2,500 pounds to full height at the pin, and 1,800 pounds to full height at 500mm. That is about 700 pounds stronger than my LA724 loader.

Both HST's. I am having a hard time on specs for the Woods 9000 Groundbreaker backhoe... Any ideas? Woods' website sucks...

 

[woolyAcres]

Does anyone feel the Kubota is worth the extra $2,000?

Is the seller with the Kubota unwilling to negotiate? What about the NH seller? If they went down another $800-$1200 that could start to be noticeable. I'd say they are fairly equivalent- the kubota has higher lift capacity, the NH has SSQA. That leaves the $$ difference. I'd find plenty to do with that $2k. I suppose if you're constantly going to be lifting 2K pallets, the Kubota would be worth the extra money, but if you're unloading pellets 1x or 2x per year I'd be willing to sling a few bags into the bucket and move them off before coming back for the pallet. Speaking of which, I suppose you could use clamp-on forks, but a set of SSQA forks would go on/off that NH easily.

Do either have loaded tires? Have you worked out both machines? Which do YOU prefer?

 

[OutBurst]

Is the seller with the Kubota unwilling to negotiate? What about the NH seller? If they went down another $800-$1200 that could start to be noticeable. I'd say they are fairly equivalent- the kubota has higher lift capacity, the NH has SSQA. That leaves the $$ difference. I'd find plenty to do with that $2k. I suppose if you're constantly going to be lifting 2K pallets, the Kubota would be worth the extra money, but if you're unloading pellets 1x or 2x per year I'd be willing to sling a few bags into the bucket and move them off before coming back for the pallet. Speaking of which, I suppose you could use clamp-on forks, but a set of SSQA forks would go on/off that NH easily.

Do either have loaded tires? Have you worked out both machines? Which do YOU prefer?

I am working on getting the New Holland seller down another thousand - hopefully. If so, that might just make up my mind. The Kubota seller knows what he has and the machine is very clean. He is also throwing in a good amount of fluid/air filters, fluid, etc.

I will need a thumb so that's another $500-800 right there. I will need a SSQA so that's another $400 right there. (Essentially, do I need a thumb sooner than I need a SSQA....I say it's an even swap to me.)

I will be unloading 1 ton pallets of wood pellets once ever year - 5 tons a year or so. The New Holland comes with a set of dedicated pallet forks ($700 value). I will be helping a friend with round bails every season. Neither has loaded tires.

Honestly, I haven't driven either but that isn't a big deal to me. I have ordered $50,000 vehicles without ever driving it.

 

[woolyAcres]

If you're calling the thumb on the Kubota an even swap with the SSQA on the NH, I think that's fair.

Now if the NH comes with forks, that's another $600 in the win column for the NH. I haven't looked up the specs for the Kubota, but it seems like it will be close at lifting that full 2k pallet. If you have the bucket on the front AND clamp on forks that adds weight and pushes the load further out. If 2K is near the lift capacity, you'll be past it with the bucket and forks. IF all that's true, and you'll have to do the math, you'll be pulling bags of pellets off by hand regardless of which machine you use, unless you pony up for the SSQA AND forks on the Kubota, which would lower the overall weight up-front and move the load closer to the pins.

I don't know which is the better tractor, but in my opinion the NH is the better deal. And it only gets better the lower the price. See if you can get him to come down enough so that you can put an hydraulic thumb on it.

Does either machine include rear remotes? That's a pretty valuable item, IMHO.

 

[woolyAcres]

Based on this document for the NH loader and this info for the Kubota it looks like the Kubota has about a 300lbs advantage to FULL height (1540# for NH vs 1830# for K) with only a 3" difference in what is consider full height. At anything below full height, both loaders get more capable. It's too bad there isn't a curve for lift capacity for these. I hope you're not lifting your pallets down from a truck bed over 8' in the air.

I'd bet that the Kubota could lift those 2000# pallets off a pull-behind trailer (say less than 24" off the ground), especially if you had forks on it. Can the NH pick up an extra 700# of lift capacity at that much lower height? Sure wish I knew. Does the seller have anything to say about that?