Deciding between MX5400HSTC cab vs MX6000 HSTC cab - $1800 difference in cost

[Aggie66]

I have the MX5400 no can just canopy on 85 acres. Serves my purpose well. I do clearing, mowing, discing tilling etc. I’ve never been under powered except lifting some concrete washouts from our barndominium slab. I just kept the ftt try ont loader low to the ground. Load your tires from the dealer. Decide if you want R1 or R4 tires. Is your property flat or rolling. I’d spend the extra money for the air ride seat. You’ll thank me for that. Mine serves my needs well.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

My only comments are... Whichever one you get, before you finalize the sale, order the Heavy duty excavation bucket, not the standard material bucket and you'll thank me later.

Don't even think about renting a backhoe, rent a mini ex instead. Kubota will not honor any warranty if you hang a 3 point mount BH on ANY of their tractors because you'll break the rear trans housing. Kubota and every other manufacturer specify a sub frame mount BH only, and far as financing, something I never did. I bought both my M9000's outright. I don't believe in finance, never have. Only way I'd finance anything is with 0 percent financing actually.

I must agree with renting an excavator (assuming you have them available in your area). You'll do more with a small to mid-sized excavator in less time than a tractor-mounted hoe. Overall, you'll save more money and always have a running machine when you need it. The only downside of doing it this way is when you need the machine NOW due to some emergency and having one alongside the garage that only needs to be mounted will be quicker. Other than that, the many thousands of dollars invested in having it is better spent renting a more versatile machine.

 

[Aquabird]

I have had an mx5400 now for 3 yrs. I THOUGHT when I first got it home, that I bpught too big. I had a 25 hp Tractor for 31 yrs before. Once I started working, I was glad I got that size. For the slight price difference, I would get the 6000. I do wish I had gotten a cab, my hearing has suffered. I also REALLY wish I had gotten an upgraded seat, this tractor rides rough. Those are the only 2 things I do not like.

 

[Aquabird]

I have the MX5400 no can just canopy on 85 acres. Serves my purpose well. I do clearing, mowing, discing tilling etc. I’ve never been under powered except lifting some concrete washouts from our barndominium slab. I just kept the ftt try ont loader low to the ground. Load your tires from the dealer. Decide if you want R1 or R4 tires. Is your property flat or rolling. I’d spend the extra money for the air ride seat. You’ll thank me for that. Mine serves my needs well.

I'm with you on the air ride seat.

 

[5030]

Simple cure, wear hearing protection and upgrade to an air ride seat base. They are all self contained, plug and play and you can also add a swivel if desired. One wire hookup and your tractor already has the required wiring adjacent to the right fender above the seat platform. I believe it's even fused as 'accessory' in your fuse box. You will pay over 800 bucks for a self contained seat base however. Seats, Inc., sells them and so does Agri-Supply.

 

[arrow]

I’m closing in on a decision between the Kubota MX5400HSTC and MX6000HSTC—both cab models with loaders—and I’d really appreciate some feedback from those who’ve owned or operated either one.

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My Use Case​

• Property: 30+ acres with a mix of field, yard, and some woods
• Jobs: grading 1,000’ gravel drive, mowing 7+ acres, clearing brush (some Chinese privet), removing small stumps, plowing a garden, plowing for and maintaining blueberry bushes for our farm
• Occasional use for others: cutting pastures or maybe assisting with hay work
• Attachments: I have a bush hog and box blade. I plan to add a 3rd function and grapple, and possibly a tiller later.
• Backhoe: I don’t plan to buy one, but might rent one for occasional use (culvert install, stump/root digging) however I've discovered an issue here for the CAB version.

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What I’ve Learned So Far​

MX5400HSTC:

• 57 HP, 46.5 PTO HP
• Simpler tuning, fewer electronics
• ~$1,800 less in my quotes
• Strong reputation for reliability and simplicity

MX6000HSTC:

• 63.4 HP, 51.7 PTO HP
• Same engine block, tuned higher via ECU
• Slightly more margin for heavier PTO loads or future implements
• Potentially better resale and more marketable for custom work

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Important Discovery​

From posts like this one, I learned that:


This seems to be due to interference with the cab frame and rear mounting geometry. Some folks may have tried workarounds, but it’s not Kubota-approved and most dealers won’t install one.

That may be a deal breaker for me but I could rent a mini-excavator, but I wanted to mention it in case others are weighing the same trade-offs considering the cost of the tractor and needing it to cover the majority of my usage scenarios.

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What I’m Trying to Decide:​

1. Is the extra 5 PTO HP on the MX6000 worth the ~$23/month more in payments?
2. Is the slightly higher ECU complexity on the MX6000 anything to worry about long-term?
3. Would the MX6000 be meaningfully better if I decide to cut fields or offer basic tractor work to neighbors?
4. Should I value the simpler design of the MX5400 more if I plan to keep this tractor for 20+ years?

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Why a cab?​

1. Hearing protection mainly: I've had hearing loss in my left ear and having ringing after using my current open station even with ear plugs and ear muffs. It runs about 90-95 db with the rotary cutter going.
2. Heat and dust: In SC our summers can be hot and this allows for cutting during the heat of summer and without all the sun protection needed.

Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated! I’ve learned a ton from this forum already and want to make the best investment for both now and the long haul.

Thanks,
David

I have experience with the 5400.
I find its greatest asset is its straight forward reliability. It runs a 10’ mower in 1’ tall grass with ease. Manure spreader is also run with no difficulty.
It is a strong, reliable beast and if l had to, I’d replace it with the same machine on this 120 acre horse farm.
I do not find a cab that much quieter on the cabbed Mahindras we have. They make a different kind of noise but loud nonetheless.
As with the Kubotas, they cannot have A bh with a cab as well.
I find a stump bucket serves some aspects for trenching, rock removal and stump busting.
I’d rent the mini ex for anything else.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The cabs on the Kubota L and MX series are not enough to provide good hearing protection. Yes, they are quieter, but some additional form of hearing protection is still a good idea. On most occasions, I can't hear the cab radio speakers without turning the volume to max. I use Bluetooth ear muffs for added hearing protection as well as listening to the radio.

There is no question in my mind that the air ride seat is a good option. The only drawback is, you can't fold it forward for off tractor PTO operation. Rather than bypass the safety switch, I put a sand bag on the seat. It's a small price to pay for the overall comfort of the air seat.

 

[riptides]

The cabs on the Kubota L and MX series are not enough to provide good hearing protection. Yes, they are quieter, but some additional form of hearing protection is still a good idea. On most occasions, I can't hear the cab radio speakers without turning the volume to max. I use Bluetooth ear muffs for added hearing protection as well as listening to the radio.

There is no question in my mind that the air ride seat is a good option. The only drawback is, you can't fold it forward for off tractor PTO operation. Rather than bypass the safety switch, I put a sand bag on the seat. It's a small price to pay for the overall comfort of the air seat.

Wow....my radio is up a few notches but not at max. That's bushhogging too. Max PTO. A/C running too.