New Kubota M6060 or New JD 5065E?

[daugen]

I'm old enough to remember when the cheap stuff came from Japan. Then Japan started building very high quality products; one only has to think of Honda, Toyota and Subaru to think of
the engineering quality involved. Now we can add Kubota to the list of name brand Japanese high quality products.
Germany never built junk, they set much too high standards it seems, and if something was made in Germany, didn't that give you a good feeling? (holocaust and wars aside...)

I think we can thank the Brits for bringing Perkins to India and helping advance that industry. My Indian tractor has an old Perkins design engine in it. And I have no concerns at all that if I order a Massey part for my tractor I'm going to get it.

Many of us old schoolers like to buy made in US gear. We all know that's hard if not impossible to find anymore. And honestly I'm not sure it makes a difference any more in the quality, it's more the feel good feeling we get... Please correct me if I'm wrong but I do not think you can buy a tractor today with a diesel engine made in the US under 75hp. So no matter what the OP is looking for, unless he goes larger into the 100hp range, he is going to get a tractor with foreign parts, if not foreign manufacture. I guess we have to get over it....

Buick is now bringing in SUV's built in China. Needless to say they are not advertising where they come from.
from Autoweek:
the Envision is a quiet, comfortable, well-equipped two-row crossover with what seems to be excellent build quality. Not that it should be any surprise -- Buick is an immensely popular brand in China, and its products are built by trained employees in state-of-the-art factories, just like they are here.
While it'll take more than a couple nights' driving to gauge long-term quality, I can say the Envision is a quiet, comfortable, well-equipped two-row crossover with what seems to be excellent build quality .[/B]


so if tractors come from true "state of the art" factories, other than being concerned where profits go, which I agree is an issue, should we care in this international market?

I would like to own a made in US tractor. But I can't. Assembled in US sure helps, because that assumes final QC goes on here. But is "here" really any better?
remember when BMW started to build their car plant here and everyone worried they will never be the same because there was a concern "our" workers weren't as quality oriented as
the Germans. But it all turned out fine.

I drove to the other side of my state to buy EA implements because they were built here in NC. But that's just feel good stuff...
Cost, capacities and ergonomics are more important. For me, since I am not a mechanic, I also need a very good local dealer.
Others don't.

one of the fun things about TBN is to look at the bottom of the page and see similar threads. Lot of discussion going on on tractors
in this range.

 

[Monster5601]

My 17 F450 was built in Kentucky.

It was assembled in Kentucky. Parts that went into it came from many countries. Wiring from Honduras, electronics from Mexico as did the engine and transmission. This argument about where it is built or assembled doesn't have value since these corporations are all global.

 

[paulfun9]

You seem to think that a windshield sticker or advertisement means its actually built here. Only building it here would make the statement true. Welding the frame together with stele shipped in from over seas and assembling a bunch of parts trucked up from mexico and down from Canada do not make an American built car or truck. Now if something was to be built here and have lets say one or two small parts on it like in your example of the radio I could accept you saying that its built here.

Something else to consider is when people say "but at least its an American company, the money comes back here and stays" in fact that is about as far from the truth as saying a motor assembled with the sum of parts being made someplace else is built here. In fact it has been proven time and again that to avoid higher taxes lots of that money never comes home.

 

[TheMadOne]

Getting back to the OP's question and getting off the color wars, the first youtube video for the 5065e is this
Deere 565E Update, Not Happy - YouTube

The first video that comes up for the M6060 is a dealer walkaround, and I can't seem to find anything like the first video.

This is all anecdotal, and if you watch the rest of the videos then you see that Tri-green does make things right for this guy and gets him into a 6 series, but of the two tractors listed in the OP I'd steer clear of the 5065e.

JD makes fantastic tractors-it just sounds like maybe the 5065e isn't one of them. If OP goes green then maybe something like the 5100e that Brett has would be better for his acreage anyway. If he goes Orange then the M5-111 might be the way to go. It sounds like the OP is teetering on the edge between needing a utility tractor and a small ag tractor to me, and nether the M6060 nor the 5065e would be quite enough tractor for shredding 70 acres. They'd do it, but the efficiency gained by jumping up a few models would pay for itself in fuel and time saved fairly quickly.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Sid Post]

As an owner of a Kubota who grew up on John Deere Ag tractors and operates my friends Kioti, I have decent idea of what I do and don't like about each of them.

My Kubota L4600 is a nice to operate tractor. I find the CG to be high, the tractor too narrow and, PTO power to be light (rated HP at an unusually high RPM). This tractor is a lightweight which can be good or bad depending on your use. It is a real fuel miser so it is a nice light chore tractor.

The Kioti is a nice tractor for my friend. He loves it but, doesn't know much else except for some itty bitty Kubota lawn mowers. I absolutely detest the hydrostat, he loves it. The loader bucket is small and lightweight. This tractor gets the job done but, if you need parts you are own your own. Don't expect to get filters and such from your local NAPA store either.

I have spent significant time on big green iron. My early youth (Grade school) on a John Deer 730 LP tractor with a mower which was my constant companion for many summers mowing pastures. A ~135HP John Deer 4620 and later a 4630 had me covering ~1,000 acres of wheat fields most summers of my later youth (Junior High and High school). Even considering the high horsepower, these tractors were fuel hogs by most standards. They were exceptionally strong pulling farm implements in very harsh conditions. Their build quality and reliability set such a high mark I don't see another brand surpassing them in my lifetime (though in all honesty, newer 'quality' tractors probably come close). JD tractors come dear with pricing towards the top of the respective market but, you do get a lot of value for you purchase if you actually need the features you are paying for.

With the little SCUT comments I see on this site, I think JD is comparable with everyone else for the most part with a few specific examples perhaps being a bit higher priced. The little JD SCUTs are nice enough and I think very similar to the corresponding New Holland options. However, it is hard to argue they are better than a similar Kubota, especially in the L-series for me.

When you need service, be careful of the newer John Deere's and their proprietary software which prevents you from doing your own maintanence - boo JD! An old school Massey, JD 4020, Case 930, etc. are often over looked but, they are nice when it comes time for service as you can get parts from the NAPA store in many cases and almost anyone can wrench on them if you need service beyond your comfort zone.

 

[Plantation Paul]

Wow, seems like a lot of green haters on here. Maybe they are green with envy. :laughing:

I like my 5075E. It works just fine. The AC will blow the hat off your head and it is quiet and comfortable. Some people talking about the PTO speeds and loader mounts need to do a bit more research before they fire up their keyboard.

My 240 loader has the global mount. I can get all kinds of accessories for it. It is not hard to locate them either.

As far as where is it made? Really? My combine has gear boxes made in Spain. My 685 IH Case was made in England. So if you are bitching about where they are made, utility tractors have been made over seas and imported to the states for decades.

And referencing Germans and then mentioning the war and the Holocaust, why not mention Japan was also involved in the war. How about the Bataan Death March?

And what is wrong with a dry clutch? Unless you are an idiot, they will last a long time. My 685 IH Case has the original and it was made in the mid '80s.

 

[art]

I know it is hard to find but if you can get these two together even the plastic hood can't make the deere quiet!! Get ear muffs included on the green!!!!

 

[daugen]

And referencing Germans and then mentioning the war and the Holocaust, why not mention Japan was also involved in the war. How about the Bataan Death March?

It gets sad listing them all...
only referenced because to a lot of older folk, it really still is an issue. Some things only die out by generation. Over a dozen of my very distant relatives with my last name went into the ovens at Belzec and were never seen again. So I'm not making up false sentiment. Isn't it sad that some of the countries most known for high quality and technical capability, Japan and Germany, have such a poor track record here. Of course other countries think we have issues too. You can't rule out emotion in tractor sales. I'm not sure I'd buy a Fendt...after owning a VW TDI.

It's politically incorrect to talk about this stuff and folks hold it in. They don't want to be criticized or thought of as racist. Neither do I.
And the OP is asking about features and performance, not country of origin.

I knew when I went shopping for a 50-60hp CUT that both the Kubota and the Deere were made in Japan. That told me they
were made well. The two models I looked at were so close it came down to the dealer, and one was much better than the other.
And also about 10 percent less for the Kubota. Have no idea how that stacks up now.

OP is looking at models larger than mine; again look to bottom of page to see other threads on same topic, maybe one will help

 

[Plantation Paul]

It gets sad listing them all...
only referenced because to a lot of older folk, it really still is an issue. Some things only die out by generation.

Yes it does. And I meant no disrespect, just mentioning one may as well mention the other.

My uncle, RIP, served in the South Pacific in WWII in the Navy. After he retired and was no long supplied a truck, he bought a Chevy Luv. His next truck was a Nissan Hard Body. The Nissan fared very well because like my father said, "Your uncle could tear up a Sherman tank!" :laughing:

I would love a Fendt. If you have ever driven one..... They are ahead of JD, but priced accordingly. And I am talking large ag tractors. Plus there is no local support here is another reason why I don't have one.

VW TDIs can be problematic, although a friend has one with over 250K on it. I have a Porsche; there is nothing like it!

Like I said, I have a 5075E and love it. Hydraulics are more than adequate. The AC will blow so hard... it is amazing! And despite what the previous poster said, it is NOT loud. It isn't as quiet as my 8310R, but it is definitely quiet enough you can hear the radio with no problems. The AC fan on high makes more noise than the engine.

I would suggest on either model to get an extended warranty. Primarily for the complex electronics and exhaust filter.

I was fortunate and bought mine with 180 hrs for one heck of a deal. I think the guy was just trying to get from under the note. Looking back, I would buy it again. :thumbsup:

 

[Turbys_1700]

Yes it does. And I meant no disrespect, just mentioning one may as well mention the other.

My uncle, RIP, served in the South Pacific in WWII in the Navy. After he retired and was no long supplied a truck, he bought a Chevy Luv. His next truck was a Nissan Hard Body. The Nissan fared very well because like my father said, "Your uncle could tear up a Sherman tank!" :laughing:

I would love a Fendt. If you have ever driven one..... They are ahead of JD, but priced accordingly. And I am talking large ag tractors. Plus there is no local support here is another reason why I don't have one.

VW TDIs can be problematic, although a friend has one with over 250K on it. I have a Porsche; there is nothing like it!

Like I said, I have a 5075E and love it. Hydraulics are more than adequate. The AC will blow so hard... it is amazing! And despite what the previous poster said, it is NOT loud. It isn't as quiet as my 8310R, but it is definitely quiet enough you can hear the radio with no problems. The AC fan on high makes more noise than the engine.

I would suggest on either model to get an extended warranty. Primarily for the complex electronics and exhaust filter.

I was fortunate and bought mine with 180 hrs for one heck of a deal. I think the guy was just trying to get from under the note. Looking back, I would buy it again. :thumbsup:

You were fortunate to be at the right place at the right time. Good deals are all about luck and timing. You make your money on the buy, not the sell. If I could get a smoking deal on a Deere I would have. Around here that is impossible. Along with Kubota, New Holland, etc. pretty much anything used is high. Deere has great specs on that series. If I had a dealer close by I would have looked real hard at them.