Help me decide - Massey vs Kubota - 40-50hp

[Mich4x4]

Mitch4X4...it makes me smile. You may buy this as a "forever" tractor and may well keep it forever but this will almost surely not be your last. These things are like rabbits and one often begets another. You'll see when your future thread of which M Kubota to buy pops up. Don't think so? I used to be more than happy with my 8N and separate 9N loader tractor. It was all I would ever need. But not want. Stay tuned.

You can get extendable 3pt arm ends as a dealer option on an MX. It's a nice thing to have, and my MX5100 has them, but not all that vital I only use them maybe once a year on something difficult. Second, 16% off is as good as you'll get. It's extra good since it's from a nice dealer that will keep an eye out for you. Dealers need to make a living.

Thanks guys. And thank you six dogs.
Yes. This tractor stuff is addictive. I'm already researching Adding LED lights, brush guard mods, carry all builds...you name it.

I did add the $300+ telescopic lift arms and pinned stabilizers. The mx4800, unlike the rest of the mx series, doesnt come with them for whatever reason.

I do think this tractor will be perfect for me and my property. More than enough power and capabilities for the time being, and probably just enough for whatever the future holds.

I have two young sons...a 3.5 year old and 1.5 year old. The oldest is obsessed with tractors. He cant wait to go for his first ride and I cant wait to give him that ride. Unfortunately the wait will start tomorrow. Signing off on the deal and the dealer has to place an order. The next month is going to feel like an eternity. But, when the tractor finally comes home, it will be that much better.

Thanks to everyone who offered up an opinion, advice or first hand experience

 

[sixdogs]

When you do the lights, search threads for ideas. Kubota has a hot wire ready to go at the rollbar rear on both sides. I've done threads on my M7040 rear lights that is almost the same install as yours. Use LED.

Keep those kids off the tractor until you know what you're doing, maybe longer. It's easy to kill kids with tractors and easier if you're a pilgrim at it. Lots of tales of woe and I know you know that so don't let your guard down. Bad things can happen to good people and little kids need to be protected and educated in the perils of life.

 

[Mich4x4]

When you do the lights, search threads for ideas. Kubota has a hot wire ready to go at the rollbar rear on both sides. I've done threads on my M7040 rear lights that is almost the same install as yours. Use LED.

Keep those kids off the tractor until you know what you're doing, maybe longer. It's easy to kill kids with tractors and easier if you're a pilgrim at it. Lots of tales of woe and I know you know that so don't let your guard down. Bad things can happen to good people and little kids need to be protected and educated in the perils of life.

Definitely. Safety first.

I've been reading tons of threads lately. Lots of good ideas. I have 4 high dollar baja designs LED pods left over that I plan on using for lights. I need to figure out where to mount them and how. Not sure if I want to use the top of the ROPs or not. I do know that holes shouldnt be drilled in the ROPs for safety reasons.

Plan on fabbing up a screen for the front brush guard as well. Not enough protection there.

 

[dodge man]

Lights on top of the ROPS are vulnerable to tree branchs but you can fab some guards.

 

[sixdogs]

Lights on top of the ROPS are vulnerable to tree branchs but you can fab some guards.

Smart advice. Also, lights on the front of the roll bar cast shadows that can be so annoying it's better with them off. Search what manufacturers do and do the same.

For me, lights on the rear fender work best for the back. Kubota says to use only one but I think you could do two LED's. I have two conventional in back and just switch one on at a time. Rather than running all sorts of wires to the dash, drill a hole in the light and put the switch there. It's clean and easy. Here's the install thread on lights for my M7040. MAke stuff look like it belongs.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/372671-worklights-added-my-kubota-m7040.html

On the front it's not easy which is why so many wind up on the roll bar. I would search thoroughly and also check what manufacturers do. Search in Europe too since there are some pretty clever people there as well. On this board and YouTube is a guy name 4shorts that has some great ideas so maybe look him up. He is the master at mods. Hope this helps.

 

[HEC]

You mentioned snow removal .How do plan on doing that ? If with a snow blower for instance the hst will be much better . I had creeper gears put on my M5700 as it couldn't go slow enough otherwise in large amounts of heavy snow . With the creeper gears it works great . I use the newer hst 2650 on most storms now as it has a cab and the m5700 does not . I do get the m5700 out once in awhile when I have to move large amounts of snow . I do like the shuttle shift very much on the 5700 . Good luck

 

[kthompson]

Saturday evening had oyster roast with some old and new friends. My wife was asked do I like to go shopping. The topic had been items for the house and my wife began to nod no as I quickly asked: "what brand of tractors are you talking about". Had other men to join in agreement. Find I enjoy looking at tractors more than I ever did vehicles.

For those near Stuckey SC there is a good furniture store next door to a Case and MF dealership. Smart setup. One is Stuckey Furniture and other is Stuckey Tractor (think have that name correct).

 

[djefferis]

Let me start by saying personal preference is Kubota - based solely on resale/depreciation. Differences in quality overall between the 2 machines is naught. Find 100 Kubota loyalist and 100 MF loyalist, they will all say the same things in general - my preferred brand is best and I find them well built. Only difference, you will find 100 Kubota loyalist before you probably hit 50 MF loyalist, simply more people drinking the Kubota kool-aid these days.

Kubota has very strong financial deals in place which enables them to provide attractive financing rates. Agco is not as well connected (but still very strong financially) and is unable to extend out the same special deals to buyers in the US/Canada. Kubota holds a 40-50% market share in the states for this very reason...easy approval and friendly terms. Deere is much the same in my opinion for this reason. AGCO holds a much larger share of market in developing markets due to their focus on these areas.

Either way you go, you are assured of dealer support SOMEWHERE close in the future. While we all love to say go with the closest dealer who you feel most comfortable with - keep in mind family shops are being bought out daily, and salespeople/parts guys change shops regularly or retire all the time. Buying solely based on one person/shop's reputation can be a slight risk. Personally feel Agco parts are overpriced compared to Kubota, Deere is bad as well - but Agco seems to be next level. This is solely my opinion, every maker has stuff that is costly compared to generic counterparts - but overall I find Agco to be worse. Of course with all 3, you still have access to parts and will for the future. Some of these smaller brands still scare me..yes, the internet makes finding parts easier, and these are not small companies worldwide...but still never a guarantee that parts will be available 15 years from now.

 

[rScotty]

I have two young sons...a 3.5 year old and 1.5 year old. The oldest is obsessed with tractors. He cant wait to go for his first ride and I cant wait to give him that ride. Unfortunately the wait will start tomorrow. Signing off on the deal and the dealer has to place an order. The next month is going to feel like an eternity. But, when the tractor finally comes home, it will be that much better.

Thanks to everyone who offered up an opinion, advice or first hand experience

Waiting for your tractor is difficult, but for the kids it's an eternity. The time-honored rural tradition is to get the kids a diecast replica of the new tractor. In fact, you might like it yourself.....
I think that most of the major manufacturers make those diecast replicas.They are good quality toys but not cheap. If Kubota doesn't have a diecast model of the MX4800 they'll have something close.

Speaking of kids and tractors, tractors can be dangerous - but on the plus side they do tend to be slow moving. All in all tractors can be a good teaching tool because they definitely capture a kid's interest, and it is fascination that is priceless as a teaching aide. Use their Interest to teach them caution. Tractors are a great teaching opportunity for kids. Maintenance, too.
rScotty
rScotty