Help Me Choose What to Test Drive

[Maddog10]

I priced a MX5200 HST while there the other day, which was just $500 more than the Gran L4060. However, it weighs the same as the L4060 and has 400 lbs less lifting capacity on the three-point compared to the 4060. It does have the extra horsepower and the LA1065 loader though so maybe it would be a better fit? Gotta admit though, for the same money I sure liked the features of the Grand L, but that's when I thought 40 hp was plenty.

Also found a used 2016 Grand L5460 for sale with 200 hours for $30K. Only issue is it has the cab which I didn't want for working in woods. Seems like a solid deal though. Are cabs removable?

 

[Citydude]

40 horses isn’t enough for 18 acres? Really? Not buying that logic. It’s plenty.

 

[jeff9366]

Are cabs removable?

Impractical. A Grand L cab weighs around 800 pounds. The heat and AC ducting and electrical is too complex.


I have owned two economy tractors and now the Grand L. I wish I had started with a Grand L. As you age, you will appreciate the de luxe features standard on the Grand L more and more.

 

[Maddog10]

Impractical. A Grand L cab weighs around 800 pounds. The heat and AC ducting and electrical is too complex.


I have owned two economy tractors and now the Grand L. I wish I had started with a Grand L. As you age, you will appreciate the de luxe features standard on the Grand L more and more.

I'm sold on the features of the Grand L. I loved everything about it. Now I'm just struggling with which hp I need and if 40 is enough. To be honest, I was considering the 3560 but moved to the 4060 for the bigger loader.

 

[Milo]

In all honesty I would not get too obsessed with size and HP, I think any of the tractors you're looking at will be plenty capable for all your needs. You're not pulling a big plow or moving lots of round bails. Any of them will lift an 8-10' long 24" diameter log, a grapple full of about anything, FEL bucket heaped with stone, run a fence post digger, pull and run a rotary cutter. The advantage a heavier, more powerful tractor offers is doing your tasks just a bit faster, such as requiring a few less scoops to move a pile of dirt, or pulling a larger RC so a few less passes in cutting your field. But don't discount the advantages a smaller tractor offers as well; more maneuverable, less money to buy both tractor and implements, use a little less fuel, and as Jeff pointed out will fit in a standard garage.

 

[Maddog10]

In all honesty I would not get too obsessed with size and HP, I think any of the tractors you're looking at will be plenty capable for all your needs. You're not pulling a big plow or moving lots of round bails. Any of them will lift an 8-10' long 24" diameter log, a grapple full of about anything, FEL bucket heaped with stone, run a fence post digger, pull and run a rotary cutter. The advantage a heavier, more powerful tractor offers is doing your tasks just a bit faster, such as requiring a few less scoops to move a pile of dirt, or pulling a larger RC so a few less passes in cutting your field. But don't discount the advantages a smaller tractor offers as well; more maneuverable, less money to buy both tractor and implements, use a little less fuel, and as Jeff pointed out will fit in a standard garage.

My thoughts as well. I don't see a task that 40 hp won't handle, but I'm also somewhat green in the tractor world.. Being able to get a 4 year old low-hour cabbed 5460 for the same price as a new 4060 with no cab is really tempting me though. Just have my concerns with the cab in the woods. Seems an investment in a pole saw and a little mindfulness would make it work just fine but I've never driven a cab before. I would gain the following for the same money.

- 14 extra hp with turbo
- Larger loader
- 600 lbs tractor weight
- Cat I & II hitch compared to just Cat I (*edited* originally typed Cat II)

Feels like a no-brainer. Just the cab holding me back.

 

[jeff9366]

- Cat I & II hitch compared to just Cat II

A matter of semantics. Kubota's Cat I/II TPH, at least on the MX and I expect on all models, is a Cat II TPH for which Kubota places adaptor sleeves in the toolbox, to fatten Cat I implement pin diameter to Cat 2 pin diameter. So most or all Cat I implements can be used behind a Cat II TPH equipped tractor. (I cannot think of any exceptions but there may be a few.)

We occasionally read on T-B-N where someone with a new, 6,000 pound Cat II tractor, moving up from 2,000 pound Cat I tractor, mounts their light Cat I implement behind the new 6,000 pound tractor, encounters an obstruction, breaks up the Cat I implement, ------then whines on T-B-N.

 

[airbiscuit]

40 horses isn’t enough for 18 acres? Really? Not buying that logic. It’s plenty.

I wonder that also. A 40hp hydro in low range is going to stall out pulling a rotary cutter uo a hill? Most of your anticipated work looks pretty tame to me. The work in your hilliest forest will be done in low range. Ask the dealer if you will feel underpowered in your most demanding uses. Maybe they can give you the name of a customer with an L4060 with similar hills and see what they say.

The L4060 sounds like a good fit to me.

 

[Maddog10]

A matter of semantics. Kubota's Cat I/II TPH, at least on the MX and I expect on all models, is a Cat II TPH for which Kubota places adaptor sleeves in the toolbox, to fatten Cat I implement pin diameter to Cat 2 pin diameter. So most or all Cat I implements can be used behind a Cat II TPH equipped tractor. (I cannot think of any exceptions but there may be a few.)

We occasionally read on T-B-N where someone with a new, 6,000 pound Cat II tractor, moving up from 2,000 pound Cat I tractor, mounts their light Cat I implements behind the new 6,000 pound tractor, encounters an obstruction, breaks up the Cat I implement, ------then whines on T-B-N.

Curious to get your thoughts, Jeff, considering you had concerns about 40 hp and suggesting I consider moving up a little. For the same money would you suggest the 200 hour cabbed 5460 over the new 4060 open-station for my use, assuming it's been properly maintained. Price difference new-to-new is over $16K according to Kubota's site... For open field work I think it's an obvious yes. For a mix of woods and open, I'm not sure.

 

[jeff9366]

You have to evaluate structure of your order relative to your budget. I have no change to my recommendations. Buy enough tractor.

HST on Hills - TBN ARCHIVE: HST on hills site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search



Replacement glass for Kubota cabs, like all Kubota parts, is ungodly expensive. AC is worthless without intact glass. You need functioning AC in a glass-cab fishbowl.

All three of my tractors have been open station. Florida weather is lovely. In summer I start volunteer tractor work at 6:00 AM and quit by 11:00 AM/DST.

When contributors descry cab tractors in the woods, others post in high dudgeon that cabs are FINE in woods. (Some may not work their tractors much, or may have open woods relative the the Florida jungle I operate in.) So, NO COMMENT from me except: $16,000 is real cabbage.

Consider acquisition cost of cab L5460, then ask Kubota dealer what trade value cab L5460 would have viz a new open station Grand L. (Tractor arbitrage.) The economy is not great but during Spring buyers are seeking cab tractors and the two Kubota manufacturing plants in Georgia are shut. Who knows? Dealer may have a customer impatiently waiting for a cab L5460.