Anyone still running an L48 TLB?

[4570Man]

The Kubota TLBs are way more versatile than a full size but they’re way lacking in brute force compared to a full size. The Kubotas have a quick attach backhoe buckets, hydraulic thumbs, detachable backhoes with a 3pt hitch, quick attach loader buckets with 3rd function hydraulics. The full size hardly ever have those options. The full size is a good value. You can buy one for 15k in pretty good condition. I used to have a 310 and I’m wanting another one now. They’ll dig circles around my M59 plus the operating costs is a lot less. I really want a midi excavator but they’re too expensive.

 

[Hay Dude]

Hows a full size even a consideration for the OP if he stated he needs a machine for 3pt work? :confused3:
Im also thinking the OP isn’t digging deep trenches of doing heavy commercial work day after day.

 

[cstamm81]

Thanks for all the thoughts so far gentlemen. I have toiled with the idea of a full size, I致e rented one years back and itç—´ amazing what they can do. I don稚 think I would use a full size near as often as I would a mid size though. Like I said, I壇 like it to double or triple duty with the 3 point hitch. I move a lot of firewood in IBC totes and theyæ±*e a bit much for my little Mahindra, but it does do it. I知 thinking the L48 would get used a lot, and I know from owning a little Terramite years ago that ones uses for a backhoe are endless when you have one at hand all times. I simply feel I壇 get way more use of something in the L48 size, where a full size would sit most of the time. I don稚 have huge digging jobs at hand, and I plan on consistently improving my property over the years. I知 not looking at buying something then reselling anytime soon, I知 trying to set myself up with equipment that could potentially last my lifetime.

 

[Peter 315]

That's a nice size machine, I love my L47tlb except for the emissions oh well, But its the right size for me.........

 

[cstamm81]

That痴 a big part of my draw to the 48痴, they appear to be machines that could conceivably last a lifetime. I like the idea of everything being made of steel, and everything being rebuildable.
Thanks for checking on the range speeds, that top speed could be handy to drive to neighbors properties. I would really like to find out the true top speed in medium, as then I can compare to my Mahindra and decide if I could live with a fairly slow transport speed. I move a lot of brush about 150 yards across my field consistently. I could see the slow speed being a little tiresome, but perhaps the greatly increased carrying capacity might make up for it! I found some posts by a guy with the name Rat in his user name, and he quoted a bunch of different speeds in medium from when he had his machine. It seems he went from being in love with his 48 to then selling it and saying it was impractical for normal tractor use.

 

[cstamm81]

Hello,
My son and I bought a 2006 L48 back in 2013. We live on 26 acres of rolling hills, oaks and rocks with grades from 5% to 25+%. We purchased it at an auction with only 250 Hrs on the meter and had it checked out by a Local Kubota dealer. At that time the dealer value was about $35-$38,000.00............we PAID less.
Now, on to your question. We use medium range 99% of the time and it does not move fast but when on a grade how fast do you want to go? On flat land it in high range it goes much faster but I doubt it will reach 20 MPH.
Bottom line: The backhoe works well, the FEL can lift a lot of weight and for our purposes it's a great machine. The only problem we have had was getting the PTO to lift high when using a rollover box scraper, but that could be operator error.
Good Luck..

I知 thinking about the speed on hills as well. I知 almost always moving something heavy, coupled with the hills, coupled with kids and dogs running around = I知 better off taking it slow and steady.

 

[Peter 315]

I think my l47 was around 12 or 13 mph on the road......

 

[cstamm81]

Well....here is the "old Guy that Peter315 is referring to.

I bought an L48 TLB last June on Little Deer Isle, Me.
A 2006 edition with 250.9 original owner hours.
I had a 1970 Ford 3400 TLB for the 33 years prior.

My "new" 2006 Kubota L48 TLB has a 3 pt. hitch (which I will never use, because I also have a Ford 1920), PTO, QA bucket, 3rd function w/diverter for hyd. SSQA (no need to dismount), hyd. thumb, QA hoe bucket, and 3 rear remotes.
I had looked for 8 months, and since I was then approaching 79, I decided it was time to either do it or get off the pot.
I didn't want to pay as much as I did, but I knew It was not likely (especially in New England) I would ever find another original owner L48 with 250.9 hours.
The owner was really a great guy, but now has Parkinson's disease.

What did I pay? .......32K, and I hauled it 350 miles home on my 14K trailer.
So far,..... I have removed the fenders, sandblasted, painted, and remounted them.
Repainted the wheels. Replaced the seat (Seatwarehouse.com $150)
Touched up some gray paint areas.
Removed the ROPS system, because I need to maneuver under branches.
Sandblasted and primed the loader bucket, and left for the Winter in Florida.
I am still in Florida for another week or so.

Try offering $25,000 for that L48......you might get lucky at 26K, or even 26.5K.
Looks like a nice machine,... though I would not ever want to be without my thumb.
If you buy it, you will automatically become a charter member of the Mary Kay pink tractor club.

Pushin 80 now, so hope I get at least a few years to play with my "new" toy.
Good luck !!!!
They are known to be great machines!!!!

Sounds like you got a great machine, very hard to find these in that type of condition and from the originally owner to boot. I do wish the one I found was original owner. I talking with the dealer on the phone, he said it came off a farm and he thinks the farmer got it when it had around 200 hours on it. I知 looking to avoid a unit that was used as a rental. The dealer wasn稚 much for words, or overly friendly to be honest. It痴 a 3.5 hour drive one way to check it out, but there痴 only one way to figure out if I want to chase this one or pass.

 

[Peter 315]

I run in M but I have the newer trans with high and low that seems to be good for what I do......

 

[cstamm81]

I'd love to have a commercial TLB, the only drawback is weight (and getting through the door of shop). I can put my L45 on a trailer behind my F150 and get across town. The 150 isn't optimal and is over tongue weight but it can be done, can't say that with a commercial unit.

I was able to get a '14 L45 with 850 hours for $22k (with thumb). It needed a few things and cosmetically a little rough but still ended up below $23k with all needed repairs and complete service.

That痴 a great price on a 45. I haven稚 seen one of those for less than 29k around here. I really like the idea of the 6 speed hydro trans, that sounds like it could really move material efficiently. I do wish the tires were a little larger, but I壇 love to have one if they could be had for about 25k.