3039R and Z950M vs L4060 and Z781-KWTI-60

[beemertec]

I have been looking at tractors, and based on proximity, service departments, and salespeople, I have narrowed it down to a 3039R or an L4060. I had both quoted with OOS, HST, Canopy, front-end loader w/bucket and tooth bar, 3rd function valve, rotary cutter, tiller, cultipacker, box blade, grapple, and quick-connect hitch.

The implements on the Deere are: Frontier BB5060 60" Box Blade, AV20H 60" Root Grapple, RT3062 62" tiller, CP1572 72" cultipacker, MX5 60" rotary cutter.
The implements on the Kubota are: Land Pride RCR1860 60" Rotary cutter, RTA2072 72" tiller, SBR72 72" cultipacker, BB2566, 66" box blade, SGC1072 72" grapple.

My property is 38 acres with about 1/2 acre of yard and 8 acres of field that I will likely cut with a Zero turn. The remaining 30 acres are rolling woods. The tractor will mainly be for keeping the woods clean, maintaining a food plot, landscape work, gardening, etc. The Kubota is about $4300.00 more than the Deere. I also looked at the 4044R and attachments, but that $7000 more than the 3039R package. Since I am also getting zero-turn mowers, when I add the price of a Z950M (27HP Kawasaki, 60" mulching deck, $12K) or Z781-KWTI-60 (29.5 HP EFI Kawasaki, 60" mulching deck, $7500), the two packages are within a few dollars of each other.

I have run tractors before, but they were both standard transmissions years ago, so the pedal controversy doesn't matter to me. I figure I will get used to whichever one I get. They are both great tractors and the service departments are comparable. The JD dealer is about 10 minutes closer, and the salesman there did a great job of selling the benefits of the Deere, whereas the Kubota salesman ran with the "Kubota is better" line with no specifics. After reading forums for weeks and watching YouTube videos, it is hard to decide.

It almost seems like this may come down to the zero-turn mowers since the whole package is the same price either way. The delay getting either one is not a big deal, although I can probably have the Deere and most attachments within the next 6 weeks, and the Kubota might be a little longer.

What say you? Thanks in advance!

 

[Rdrcr]

I'm biased towards Orange. I simply just prefer the Kubota product, philosophy and implements over the Deere. However, I don't think you can go wrong with either option...both will have great resale if you ever have to sell/downgrade/upgrade.

Mike

 

[tamersinger]

I like the kubota option. looks like you have large implements on that package as well. the hst plus transmission is really a big bonus with the features. I see a lot of 3r's on the used market but not a lot of lxx60 series kubotas.

 

[beemertec]

Using the Kubota comparison chart for these two, the L4060 is superior in almost every way (at least on paper). More HP for tractor and PTO, 4 cyl naturally aspirated instead of 3 cyl turbo, larger displacement, arguably better hydro features, PTO hits 540 rpm at a lower engine rpm, larger front and rear tires, better hydraulic flow, better lift capacity, wider stance, more ground clearance, and 800 lbs heavier. After looking at that, this seems like a no-brainer.

It almost looks like the L4060 is more comparable to the 4044R with the 4044R being 6 or 7 thousand more expensive. Does that sound right?

 

[ericm979]

The shift on the fly two speed part of the HST+ would tip it for me all by itself. I would use that a lot.

 

[tamersinger]

yes, the 3039r is more comparable in size to the 3560

 

[RjCorazza]

I have about 600 hours on my L4060 and it's been a great machine. I am not familiar with the features on comparable John Deere tractors, but the Kubota HST+ Transmission is packed with features.

 

[beemertec]

I went this afternoon to drive the L4060. The front-end loader had not been installed yet, but it still gave me a feel. it definitely felt heavier and more substantial than the 3039R. I also like the hood better than the Deere. The tractor is better in my opinion. My problem is that I like the sales guy so much more at Deere. He is knowledgeable and is offering a great deal on the Deere.

The Kubota dealer's salesman was not as knowledgeable and basically asked me what I wanted instead of guiding me based on what I was using it for. Today since he was busy when I got there, he had another person help, which was fine. The person helping is the son of the owner, and he couldn't tell me anything about the tractor aside from the fact that none of the small tractors ever come back for repairs since they don't break. Maybe I can deal with all of that for the better tractor, right? After all, their service and parts departments get great reviews. When my salesman gets freed up, we start talking again, and I told him that I think that is the tractor that I want and that I appreciated the great deal he gave me on the zero-turn to make the deal comparable to the JD dealer.

When I got home and checked my emails, he had emailed me to tell me that he gave me the wrong price on the zero-turn and that it was actually $4000 more than what he quoted. I thought the discount was really big, but I figured that was because I was getting a whole package and he was just lumping the discount in one place. This has me concerned with how I will be treated at the dealer after the sale.

Now I am wondering if I should try to negotiate a little more of the JD 4044R and get it because I trust the dealer more. I know that may seem silly, but generally, when I trust my gut, I make the right decision. My gut has been telling me to get the Deere from the time I met the salesman. It's not that he is a super salesman but rather that he is relatable and seemed concerned that I get the right tractor for me. That is part of the reason that I came here to ask because I like the Kubota tractor more, but I like the JD guy a lot more, and more importantly, I feel like I can trust him.

 

[dodge man]

I actually think the specs are fairly close, pto hp is less by 1 on the JD, the JD loader lifts 2” less high and roughly 150 pounds less. It looks like the Kubota is physically bigger, longer, wider and heavier. Of course they both need ballast which may or may not narrow the weight gap. Do you need the extra size of the Kubota? Is that size good or bad, smaller may be better or not? You like the JD dealership more, which tractor do you like better? You really can’t go wrong with either one.

 

[Username Taken]

I went this afternoon to drive the L4060. The front-end loader had not been installed yet, but it still gave me a feel. it definitely felt heavier and more substantial than the 3039R. I also like the hood better than the Deere. The tractor is better in my opinion. My problem is that I like the sales guy so much more at Deere. He is knowledgeable and is offering a great deal on the Deere.

The Kubota dealer's salesman was not as knowledgeable and basically asked me what I wanted instead of guiding me based on what I was using it for. Today since he was busy when I got there, he had another person help, which was fine. The person helping is the son of the owner, and he couldn't tell me anything about the tractor aside from the fact that none of the small tractors ever come back for repairs since they don't break. Maybe I can deal with all of that for the better tractor, right? After all, their service and parts departments get great reviews. When my salesman gets freed up, we start talking again, and I told him that I think that is the tractor that I want and that I appreciated the great deal he gave me on the zero-turn to make the deal comparable to the JD dealer.

When I got home and checked my emails, he had emailed me to tell me that he gave me the wrong price on the zero-turn and that it was actually $4000 more than what he quoted. I thought the discount was really big, but I figured that was because I was getting a whole package and he was just lumping the discount in one place. This has me concerned with how I will be treated at the dealer after the sale.

Now I am wondering if I should try to negotiate a little more of the JD 4044R and get it because I trust the dealer more. I know that may seem silly, but generally, when I trust my gut, I make the right decision. My gut has been telling me to get the Deere from the time I met the salesman. It's not that he is a super salesman but rather that he is relatable and seemed concerned that I get the right tractor for me. That is part of the reason that I came here to ask because I like the Kubota tractor more, but I like the JD guy a lot more, and more importantly, I feel like I can trust him.

You're buying a tractor and equipment. That's it. Not good will, not a friend, not a relative, not reputation.

Neither that salesman nor the Dealership is going home with you.

Just the Tractor.

If you like the Deere better, get it. Bigger purchases have been made for less intelligent reasons.

If you like the Kubota better, get that one.