Help Me Choose What to Test Drive

[buck12]

Great info. Thank you for that!

The 5460 does not have a third function, but neither does any of the tractors I知 looking at. It will have to be added to any tractor I buy, along with the grapple, for a cost of $2,250.

I went back to the dealership today and test drove the L4060, as well as sat in a cabbed L5460. Man, these are sweet tractors. I知 sold on the Grand L series. The only other tractor I知 considering is a used (164 hours) 2017 L4701 shuttle shift that comes with a 6 cutter, 6 box blade, 7 grader, and 6 disc for $23,999. After grapple and sales tax would be $26,384.

Cabbed L5460HST loaded out with everything is is $35,000.

I assume you know this but you don’t have to buy the grapple from a dealer. My dealer even told the Land Pride was over priced and to go online and buy. I bought a Wild Kat several years ago for my Mahindra and last year bought a MTL for my Kubota. I’m sure the pricier grapples are built better but I have used both hard and not had any issues with the cheaper grapples. Good luck and I hope you find the perfect tractor.

 

[Maddog10]

I assume you know this but you don’t have to buy the grapple from a dealer. My dealer even told the Land Pride was over priced and to go online and buy. I bought a Wild Kat several years ago for my Mahindra and last year bought a MTL for my Kubota. I’m sure the pricier grapples are built better but I have used both hard and not had any issues with the cheaper grapples. Good luck and I hope you find the perfect tractor.

Well, I did but I didn't. I haven't priced grapples separately yet to really know if $2,250 for grapple and 3rd function installed was a good deal. On the surface it didn't seem to bad to me but that was with zero research.

If we go with the L5460 (which is the way we're leaning) we might hold off on buying the additional cutter and box blade for a while and just share with the cutter and box blade I currently have with my Mahindra. The two properties are about a mile apart and I'm pretty much the only one that uses the Mahindra so sharing implements between the two properties wouldn't be ideal but is doable. I thought $2,150 for a 6' brush hog seemed high? $775 for box blade seems a little high but not too much. Either that or may try to find a cheaper one.

 

[buck12]

$2250 doesn’t sound bad for the third function and grapple if it’s a decent grapple. If I remember correctly it was about $900 for the third function and installation. If you go with the Grand L ask the dealer to route the third function wires carefully my dealer left them exposed under the tractor and I had to reroute them.

Also if you get a Grand L and plan to use it in the woods you will need a little underbelly protection. I have a thread on the skid plate I had made.

 

[airbiscuit]

Well, I did but I didn't. I haven't priced grapples separately yet to really know if $2,250 for grapple and 3rd function installed was a good deal. That sounds like a very good price. On the surface it didn't seem to bad to me but that was with zero research.

If we go with the L5460 (which is the way we're leaning) we might hold off on buying the additional cutter and box blade for a while and just share with the cutter and box blade I currently have with my Mahindra. The two properties are about a mile apart and I'm pretty much the only one that uses the Mahindra so sharing implements between the two properties wouldn't be ideal but is doable. I thought $2,150 for a 6' brush hog seemed high? I'd wait on that, especially since you have one nearby $775 for box blade seems a little high but not too much Not bad for a LandPride. Either that or may try to find a cheaper one.

That Grapple AND 3rd function price looks good to me.

 

[jeff9366]

I thought $2,150 for a 6' brush hog seemed high? $775 for box blade seems a little high but not too much. Either that or may try to find a cheaper one.

Implements come in LIGHT/MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY iterations. Plus you have the option of heavy CATEGORY I implements or CATEGORY II implements. Unfortunately, you have to pay for every pound.

Light duty Rotary Cutters weigh 450 pounds, medium duty 650 pounds, heavy duty 1,000+ pounds.
If you buy too light, your banged up Rotary Cutter will be in the shop often for expensive repairs. Ask me how I know.
Maintaining trails through what was Florida jungle I now pull a 60" heavy duty Land Pride RCR2660 Rotary Cutter weighing 1,000+ pounds, equipped with chain guards front and rear. $3,120 in May 2018. I am sales tax exempt. No repairs.

When researching Rotary Cutters look at blade dimensions as well as weight.
You will often want to back your mower into thick stuff. In order to do so you need (costly) chain guards front and rear.


Box Blades cut/slice/peel/penetrate mostly proportional to WEIGHT PER UNIT OF WIDTH.
My 60" Box Blade weighs 630 pounds / 5 = 126 pounds per foot of width.
Three Point Hitch has no down pressure, only float, therefore Box Blade weight and gravity do the work.
Box Blades are the #1 implement choice as Three Point Hitch counterbalance for FEL lifts.
Buy as heavy as you can afford.

Shop your weight range within implement brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.

There should be an unusual number of used implements for sale at liquidation prices in coming weeks.

 

[Maddog10]

Couple changes since I thought I had settled on a tractor last week.

The L4701 I was considering sold quickly which was fine because I had pretty much decided on the L5460 with cab, but for whatever reason the guy seems reluctant to sell it and frankly is just difficult to communicate with. After some discussion I offered him full asking price if he would deliver (about a 1 hour drive, I don't have a truck/trailer combo to come pick it up) or asked him to knock off $500 and I'll pay someone to come pick it up. Said he'd get back with me and never has after several days.

I've now found a 2015 Kioti NX4510 HST Cab with KL6010 loader for $23K locally, low hours. I don't know a whole lot about Kioti tractors since I haven't spent the time yet researching them like I have Kubota. Features-wise it seems quite similar to the Grand L Kubotas but without some of the key features like HST+... I'm going to spend some time researching these but does anyone here have initial thoughts on how it compares to the Grand L? I'm a big fan of the Grand L series but trying not to buy new and they are proving tough to find used. Guess everyone loves them and keeps them.

 

[airbiscuit]

That sounds like a pretty good deal. Does it happen to have a 3rd function or rear remotes?

 

[Maddog10]

That sounds like a pretty good deal. Does it happen to have a 3rd function or rear remotes?

Does not have either best I can tell from the pictures. Trying to get ahold of the seller to go see it and test drive it today. Never been in a Kioti... We do, fortunately, have a dealer close by but I've never stopped in.

 

[jeff9366]

I've now found a 2015 Kioti NX4510 HST Cab with KL6010 loader for $23K locally, low hours. I don't know a whole lot about Kioti tractors as I haven't researched Kioti like Kubota.

I speculate Kioti is second to Kubota in manufacturing its own content for compact tractors, with Deere third.

Also right up there for quality control. I cannot recall a report of a "lemon" new Kioti which the dealer has been unable to fix under warranty.

Dealer network seems solid. Seldom read on T-B-N of a Kioti dealer suddenly closing the door. However, dealers are pretty widely disbursed. I have no idea where the nearest Kioti dealer is in agricultural north/central Florida.

I will speculate a second time. Kioti may have 2%+ of the compact tractor market.


NX5410 is a current Kioti model. Dealer should have a full spec brochure available.

Determine if rear wheel spread is adjustable with R4/industrial tires.

 

[Carl_NH]

Kioti are good machines and there are a number of threads on the NX4510 HST CAB from that timeframe 2014-2015. Back at that time they offered a free loader package. and the CAB HST model with 6010 FEL was around $30-32K range, so $23K is a very good price if under 500 hours, and in good condition and stored inside or under cover.

Here's a link to those discussions. https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-buying-pricing/330550-nx4510-hstc-pricing-2.html

Interesting about your dealing with buying the Kubota L5460 - either he is having seller's remorse, or looked at upgrade costs right now and decided to keep it near term. Good luck in your search and hope you find the right machine for you soon!