Suggestions for 40-50 hp class

[Spruce85]

I’m on year 6 of owning 20 acres. Ive relied on farmers to plant my food plots and I’d like to end my lease and start doing this myself. I also started a tree farm and will need a tractor for that part. FEL work and Disk ground work will be main functions. My options nearby are:

-John Deere and kubota both have good dealers but are significantly more expensive.

-Massey Ferguson dealer 30 min away

-KIOTI and New Holland dealer 20 min away.

-CaseIH 20 min away

Are any of these brands better than the others and why? Price is a factor. I don’t have unlimited funds, unfortunately.

 

[stoyan79]

TYM is currently most budget friendly.
55hp (2,700 loader lift) without a cab can be had sub $30k, with cab just a bit over $30K.

 

[scootr]

Kubota MX5200 was my choice. Not because there are 2 dealers close by but by reputation for longevity. If you shop by price you end up wishing you spent more.
I bought a 4 yr old tractor with 150 hrs on it. Glad I got a 'used' Kubota vs a new lesser make. Neighbor bought a new 50 hp Yanmar with cab that can't hold a candle to the MX but, hey it has air conditioning and radio.
Good luck in your search.

 

[stoyan79]

Kubota MX5200 was my choice. Not because there are 2 dealers close by but by reputation for longevity. If you shop by price you end up wishing you spent more.
I bought a 4 yr old tractor with 150 hrs on it. Glad I got a 'used' Kubota vs a new lesser make. Neighbor bought a new 50 hp Yanmar with cab that can't hold a candle to the MX but, hey it has air conditioning and radio.
Good luck in your search.

Kubota economy L and MX are my favorite tractors, but I needed a cab and didn't want to spend $50k+.

 

[scootr]

Kubota economy L and MX are my favorite tractors, but I needed a cab and didn't want to spend $50k+.

I would have liked a cab but not for the money. I saved $20k buying a like new, slightly used open station. I sold my old Terex for half the cost of the upgrade after 14 yrs of use. Paid the balance in cash, done deal. 2 yrs in and still happy.

 

[WM75Guy]

All of those manufacturers make a quality tractor. Each has it's own peculiarities, such as NH uses a 2-pedal design for HST and Kubota uses a treadle design. For me it boils down to finding a tractor that is comfortable to operate and price. All tractors need maintenance and occasionally break down so good dealer support and parts availability is also important. I would be visiting all of them, drinking lots of their coffee, and driving lots of models. I have 3 NH tractors and a Kubota ZTR for those reasons.

 

[IndyIan]

A Kioti NS is worth looking at, but go to all the dealers and see what they are like, what they have used, what their service department looks like.
The two dealers near me that cared about selling a compact tractor in my area were MF and Kioti, the other guys were too big to bother and wouldn't even discuss coming off MSRP. My Kioti guy had a huge price advantage due to the Canadian dollar at the time and was willing to "share the wealth" to get the sale, and also there is another good Kioti dealer within an hour, so that was reassuring.
There is probably a "best tractor" for you intended uses, but having a good dealer could be important too, if you have issues with the tractor.
My kioti was a lot less than the equivalent Kubota when outfitted with SSQA, 2 rear remotes, extendable 3pt arms and fast adjust sway bars, rear 3pt raise and lower lever, tow bar, rubber floor mat. It also has split rear brakes that you can actually use with the hst, which is handy in the snow or slippery barn yard. Why Kubota doesn't do that on some of their tractors, I don't know. It can be tricky to compare apples to apples, and all things being equal, I think a heavier tractor is better in the CUT class, as your not cutting golf courses with it. Also if you've got some slopes and clay mud like me, Ag tires are the way to go, and also usually have more spacing options than some industrial rims.

Also you aren't buying a brand of tractor, you are buying a specific model, and all the manufacturers have a few models that aren't great! So do your research by model. I would stay away from a NX kioti for example, its too complicated and electronics based for a CUT IMO.

 

[deserteagle71]

My options nearby are:

-John Deere and kubota both have good dealers but are significantly more expensive.

-Massey Ferguson dealer 30 min away

-KIOTI and New Holland dealer 20 min away.

-CaseIH 20 min away

It sure must be nice to have that many options. Where I live, there is a New Holland dealer 30 minutes away. Other than that, it is about 200 miles to the next dealerships of any make.

 

[drumminj]

Price being a factor, if you're looking at the Kubota MX also consider the L4802. Haven't priced 'em lately but should be a couple thousand dollar difference. Slightly smaller tractor, smaller front axle, less lift up front but still a very capable tractor.

 

[Spruce85]

Price being a factor, if you're looking at the Kubota MX also consider the L4802. Haven't priced 'em lately but should be a couple thousand dollar difference. Slightly smaller tractor, smaller front axle, less lift up front but still a very capable tractor.

The 4802 is the only tractor I’ve priced so far. I like the tractor but it was a little bit more than I wanted to spend. Cash price was $38k with FEL. I’m trying to stay closer to $30k

 

[RayIN]

There are reasons the name brand utility tractors cost more.
Look around and notice how many 1960's Ford, Massey Ferguson, IH, Case are still working every day on farms; quality of build and service network, oh, and parts availability is a bit better.

 

[drumminj]

The 4802 is the only tractor I’ve priced so far. I like the tractor but it was a little bit more than I wanted to spend. Cash price was $38k with FEL. I’m trying to stay closer to $30k

If specifically looking at Kubota and purchasing new, the L3560LE might be cheaper than the 4802 but with more weight and a stouter frame than the standard Ls plus better lift with the 805 loader. Obviously you're giving up horsepower -- not sure how that'd impact things like discing.

Not making any kind of specific recommendation, but just offering options that may work and you may not have considered.

 

[GMIslander]

Older Kioti here 2012 works like it should. I tore some parts off it in the woods but not the tractors fault. The only complaint I would have is HST is 15mph max but I don't go far. Plow snow, till garden, winch wood and all that goes with it.
Get bigger than you need.

 

[Spruce85]

If specifically looking at Kubota and purchasing new, the L3560LE might be cheaper than the 4802 but with more weight and a stouter frame than the standard Ls plus better lift with the 805 loader. Obviously you're giving up horsepower -- not sure how that'd impact things like discing.

Not making any kind of specific recommendation, but just offering options that may work and you may not have considered.

I’m getting a quote on the Kubota L4060LE and KIOTI DK4220SE tomorrow. Those tractor seems like they would fit all my needs. I’ve been borrowing my Dads BX right now and it’s brutally slow.

 

[WM75Guy]

Those are nice sized tractors. My go to tractor is my 40 hp TC40DA open station. The 75 hp Workmaster 75 with cab is for pasture mowing and heavy lifting. The 25 hp 25S is for mowing with a mid-mount mower where it is too rough for my ZTR, and close in dirt work, I call it my powered wheelbarrow.

 

[Hoobie]

Some mention here of the Kubota MX series. I have an mx 5100 nine years old with 1700 hours. 52 hp. Love it and zero problems to date.

 

[drumminj]

I’m getting a quote on the Kubota L4060LE and KIOTI DK4220SE tomorrow. Those tractor seems like they would fit all my needs. I’ve been borrowing my Dads BX right now and it’s brutally slow.

FWIW I occasionally wonder if I should have gotten the 4060 instead of the 4701. But I'm very happy with the size and capability of the 4701 on my 28 acres.

I'm curious to hear what they quote -- I suspect price-wise it will come in very similar to the 4802.

 

[rumwrks]

I’m getting a quote on the Kubota L4060LE and KIOTI DK4220SE tomorrow.

Compare the 3pt and loader functionality "feel" as well as the raw lift capacity. I went with a different Korean tractor for this size but I will say the Kubota FEL and 3pt was MUCH smoother and I could lift and dump at the same time with the nicer Kubota FEL. I believe most (all?) of the newer Korean tractors use some sort of step lift on the 3pt where it's more than a touch jerky on the raise. This is more noticeable when you have something heavy on the back end. I was willing to deal with this for the price delta but it's certainly a consideration. The 60 series are pretty nice looking tractors.

 

[hosspuller]

Consider your jobs. Any task that requires you to get off the tractor multiple times makes a cab very inconvenient. Also, the door requires clearance. Some cabs only open on one side. Any work in the woods is a huge risk for expensive damage. Hours in the field or plowing snow is where a cab makes a difference worth the extra cost to me. As a utility machine, my needs were met by an open station with a canopy. Mowing my 30 acres is doable in the heat of summer with the canopy.

 

[Seven Gables]

I’m on year 6 of owning 20 acres. Ive relied on farmers to plant my food plots and I’d like to end my lease and start doing this myself. I also started a tree farm and will need a tractor for that part. FEL work and Disk ground work will be main functions. My options nearby are:

-John Deere and kubota both have good dealers but are significantly more expensive.

-Massey Ferguson dealer 30 min away

-KIOTI and New Holland dealer 20 min away.

-CaseIH 20 min away

Are any of these brands better than the others and why? Price is a factor. I don’t have unlimited funds, unfortunately.

When I’m looking to buy a new tractor i always look on tractor house or Machinery Pete to compare prices and also see what’s available in super low hour like new used. Last two tractors I purchased both JD’s a 5115m and 5085E
we’re both couple years old with extremely low hours and like new condition, one had 47hrs the other 14. Saved many thousands of dollars and have been extremely happy with both, after 3-4 years no issues or problems with either.
Right now there seems to be a good supply of low hour JD 5e series available. For the $ quotes you’ve been getting on the new kubotas and Kioti’s I think you could find low hour JD 5055E.
That tractor is a whole frame size up and more capable than the 3500-4000lb bare tractor weight tractors you’ve mentioned. Some specs on 5055e ; 5500lb bare tractor weight, 520m loader lift to full height at pin 3500lbs , loader lift height 132” , 3 pt lift capacity 3200lbs @ 24” behind pins, 11.4 gallon per minute hydraulic flow to loader and rear remotes, 28” rear tires and 24” fronts. It’s available with the 12speed power shuttle transmission and what I would highly recommend. The tractor and 520m loader combined are going to weigh in at 7500-8000lbs without ballast.
Nothing against the kubotas or kiotis they both make fine tractors but for the dollar quotes you’ve been getting IMHO the low hour like new 5055E represents a far better value and you most likely won’t have to say I wish I’d bought bigger. Just my opinion.