Replacing L3901 with MX5400

[TX Chris]

My L3901 recently succumbed to a fire (more details after insurance claim is resolved) and I'm replacing it with an MX5400. I've been doing a lot of reading about the MX series and I'm stoked to bring the larger, much more capable machine home soon.

The L3901 was a great tractor, though I have wished for a bigger tractor quite a few times. Whether it's lack of FEL capacity to lift a loaded pallet, lack of oomph pushing over large clumps of privet, etc. It wasn't enough that I would've sold the L3901 to upgrade though. But now that it was lost in a fire, I decided to take the opportunity to upgrade since I've paid off so much of the L3901 loan. The upgrade is a fairly negligible hit in the grand scheme of things.

The basics: MX 5400 ROPS HST, R4 tires, adding 1 rear remote. LA1065 FEL, adding third function for future grapple purchase. BH92 backhoe, adding QA coupler + hydraulic thumb.

I have yet to find a BH92 with the QA bucket and hydraulic thumb online so I'm excited to use it and will definitely share pictures when everything arrives.

We live on 8 acres in the city. My tractor is used predominantly for clearing land, grinding stumps, digging up concrete road bed that was dumped all over the property (hello hydraulic thumb), etc. I don't do any agricultural work or regular large acreage mowing, etc. at this point (would like to have some country land on a lake some day).

I'm a very low hour operator at this point. My L3901 had less than 150 hours in roughly 4 years of use. Between 5 young children and running a small business, I just don't get much seat time. We just bought 2.5 acres next door and I plan to do some minor work around the pond and then the next big task is clearing 3+ acres of insanely thick privet so we can use more of our property.

The attached images show my oldest boy next to an L3901 and next to an MX5400. It gives a pretty decent idea of the size difference between the two tractors.

 

[deezler]

Congrats! Thanks for the size comparison with your small human.

 

[Fladogman]

You'll love the MX series. Since I got mine I've never looked back. BTW my bh92 has what they claim is a quick attach bucket. Just curl it in and remove one pin, then uncurl it and it's off. Takes no time to switch out.

 

[diesel85]

Gosh... I now want a MX5400 now instead of a L3901... LOL I need to stop browsing some of these threads...

 

[Newby first timer]

Congrats on the upgrade
Sorry to hear about the fire loss
I have an MX and they are a GREAT size tractor The Hydro. Thumb on the Backhoe is fantastic You will Love it

 

[sea2summit]

Gosh... I now want a MX5400 now instead of a L3901... LOL I need to stop browsing some of these threads...

They are actually pretty dang close in size when you put them side by side but a world apart in capabilities. Both great machines unless you need the FEL capacity and speed with BH then it’s a no brainer MX.

 

[TX Chris]

You'll love the MX series. Since I got mine I've never looked back. BTW my bh92 has what they claim is a quick attach bucket. Just curl it in and remove one pin, then uncurl it and it's off. Takes no time to switch out.

I bought a QA coupler and 6" trench bucket for the BH77 from Bxpanded. Within a few days of receiving those, the tractor was gone. I never even installed them. I'm really looking forward to being able to swap buckets in less than a minute. I'm on the prowl for a root ripper and a 10-12 inch bucket (for trenching) that'll work with the QA on the BH92.

Gosh... I now want a MX5400 now instead of a L3901... LOL I need to stop browsing some of these threads...

You and me both. I've spent more money than I care to admit after reading tractor forums, truck forums, Mustang forums, motorcycle forums... and on and on.

Congrats on the upgrade
Sorry to hear about the fire loss
I have an MX and they are a GREAT size tractor The Hydro. Thumb on the Backhoe is fantastic You will Love it

Reading about the MX on here is what led me to the decision. If it weren't for these forums, I'd quite probably be back in another L3901.

They are actually pretty dang close in size when you put them side by side but a world apart in capabilities. Both great machines unless you need the FEL capacity and speed with BH then itç—´ a no brainer MX.

Having sat in the seat of an L3901 and then an MX5400 seconds later, the difference is very noticeable for me - I'm 6'-3" tall and the L3901 was a little cramped to say the least. The MX5400 feels like it was made for me. I even found a simple tech tip on youtube to move the seat on the BH92 back roughly 2" to make more leg room on the hoe so hopefully that will feel much more spacious than the BH77.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I traded my L3901 in for a MX5400 and it is now my favorite Kubota tractor. I go into the woods with it and small trees just fall over when attacked by the MX5400 where the L would have stopped and just spun the tires. Actually pushed over a couple of fruit trees day before yesterday that were probably 10 years old but in the way of where I'm going to add another 12'x48' shed on the side of my originally 24'x48' barn but added a 10'x48' shed roof down one side and added another 8'x48' inclosed room down the other side where I am about to add the 12' shed roof and also added a 24'x12' room on the back. I keep adding onto the original barn because I can do most of the work by myself.
The hydraulics on the MX are also much stronger than the L and the extra weight and bigger tires makes a much more stable and better traction tractor.
Think you'll appreciate the all around move up of the MX5400 over the L3901 as I have.

 

[deezler]

Gosh... I now want a MX5400 now instead of a L3901... LOL I need to stop browsing some of these threads...

Seriously, same here. Maybe the OP will chime back in with the price for his sexy new machine, and slap us back to reality. :laughing:

 

[TX Chris]

I traded my L3901 in for a MX5400 and it is now my favorite Kubota tractor. I go into the woods with it and small trees just fall over when attacked by the MX5400 where the L would have stopped and just spun the tires. Actually pushed over a couple of fruit trees day before yesterday that were probably 10 years old but in the way of where I'm going to add another 12'x48' shed on the side of my originally 24'x48' barn but added a 10'x48' shed roof down one side and added another 8'x48' inclosed room down the other side where I am about to add the 12' shed roof and also added a 24'x12' room on the back. I keep adding onto the original barn because I can do most of the work by myself.
The hydraulics on the MX are also much stronger than the L and the extra weight and bigger tires makes a much more stable and better traction tractor.
Think you'll appreciate the all around move up of the MX5400 over the L3901 as I have.

You've pretty much summed up my thinking - between the extra weight, the increase in HP and the significantly more capable FEL + PTO, this was a no-brainer for me.

Seriously, same here. Maybe the OP will chime back in with the price for his sexy new machine, and slap us back to reality. :laughing:

Full MSRP is pushing $50k, but that's tractor, FEL, BH92 + added options on each. Between dealer discount (or current equine 20% discount), manufacturer rebates and the fact that KTAC is buying my L3901 and LA525 back from me for what I paid for them, my cost is 30-40% of the $50k. I'm also selling my BH77 (with sub-frame of buyer's choice) as soon as the insurance claim is resolved, so there's that. I'll take a small loss on it but it won't be bad since it still looks new and is a very low hour unit.

 

[BX23S-1]

You've pretty much summed up my thinking - between the extra weight, the increase in HP and the significantly more capable FEL + PTO, this was a no-brainer for me.



Full MSRP is pushing $50k, but that's tractor, FEL, BH92 + added options on each. Between dealer discount (or current equine 20% discount), manufacturer rebates and the fact that KTAC is buying my L3901 and LA525 back from me for what I paid for them, my cost is 30-40% of the $50k. I'm also selling my BH77 (with sub-frame of buyer's choice) as soon as the insurance claim is resolved, so there's that. I'll take a small loss on it but it won't be bad since it still looks new and is a very low hour unit.

Man you done it nowww.... wife an i were at our dealer today looking at the MX5400 and the MX6000. Wowwwwwwwwwww, i want!!!! We want the cab model. To bad its not in the cards for my wife an i right now though
But congrats on you getting one! The MX5400 & MX6000 are our favorites, right size tractor for us. I guess we`ll just have to wait for a big bag of money to drop in our laps.

 

[TX Chris]

Man you done it nowww.... wife an i were at our dealer today looking at the MX5400 and the MX6000. Wowwwwwwwwwww, i want!!!! We want the cab model. To bad its not in the cards for my wife an i right now though
But congrats on you getting one! The MX5400 & MX6000 are our favorites, right size tractor for us. I guess we`ll just have to wait for a big bag of money to drop in our laps.

If the missus is on board, that's half the battle!

 

[DVR]

I have a L3301 and a mx5400.
MX is way more powerful but L is very nimble.
My mx5400 has a cab, 3rd function, SSQA + the lane shark hydraulics/electronics. It's a great tractor.
I do miss the upgraded features on my grand L at times.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Having sat in the seat of an L3901 and then an MX5400 seconds later, the difference is very noticeable for me - I'm 6'-3" tall and the L3901 was a little cramped to say the least. The MX5400 feels like it was made for me. I even found a simple tech tip on youtube to move the seat on the BH92 back roughly 2" to make more leg room on the hoe so hopefully that will feel much more spacious than the BH77.

When I went to the dealer to test drive the two, I knew I probably wanted the MX5400, particularly since it is 20% wider than the L3901 (for my hilly terrain), as well as for its other virtues. But I'm also 6'3" and when appreciated the extra space in the seat, as well as the overall experience.

Definitely zero regrets about the nominal increase in cost going with the MX5400 over the L3901.

 

[mx1alex]

I just traded in my L3940 for MX5400. Supposed to take delivery tomorrow after waiting over a month for the remotes and levers to come in. Very much looking forward to the added width of the machine. Definitely losing some creature comforts that the L3940 offers over the MX5400 but I'm hoping the new machine is a stout machine that if I need to work on won't be as complicated. Going from a HST+ to a shuttle shift as well. And R4 to R1 tires. Most of the times I hop on the machine (odds and ends little stuff around the house) I would prefer the hydro but most the hours I put on (working food plots, spraying, seeding, etc) I would rather have the shuttle shift. I have over 800 hrs on the L3940 and it just seemed like the hydro tranny was starting to whine more and more and lose some power. Hoping the geared transmission of the 5400 will be more reliable.

 

[TX Chris]

My insurance claims for the L3901 are settled and I'm headed to the dealership this week to hopefully finalize everything for the MX5400/BH92.

I'm seriously considering adding 2-3 rear remotes instead of just one. There's a chance I'd never use more than one but it's not a large sum of money and would be so much less headache to just get them now instead of trying to add them myself on down the road.

 

[RickB]

Wise move.

 

[Peter 315]

Yes wise move, Get 3.....

 

[LD1]

They are actually pretty dang close in size when you put them side by side but a world apart in capabilities. Both great machines unless you need the FEL capacity and speed with BH then it’s a no brainer MX.

Agree with this ^^^^

I made the same move just previous generations. I went from a L3400 > MX5100

Sold dad the L3400 so I still get seat time on it.

The MX capability difference exceeds what you would think the size difference indicates.

I would consider more than a single rear remote though. Most times I only use the one on my hydraulic top link. But when I put the rear blade on for dirt work or snow removal the added remotes are nice with a full hydraulic blade.

I would also consider a diverter or a 3rd for up front. A grapple is a nice asset for land clearing.

Dont know if you plan on using the 3ph much, or just leaving the BH on.....also dont know what current implements you have.....but most implements sized for the L3901 are too small to really make full use of the MX5400. I upgraded implements....and along with that a cat II quick hitch because bigger implements are much harder to try and manhandle hooking up the old fashion way.

 

[deezler]

Wow! Finally get to see the L3901 carnage. Yeah inexperienced friends operating the machine, plus fire, = risky. Tractors are a terrific tool to assist with bonfires, you just have to make sure not to drive into a giant pit of fire, LOL. I like my bonfires are ground level for this reason, pits are risky all around.

Congrats again on the MX - I definitely recommend getting 2 or 3 remotes if you are still able. You will regret having only one someday.