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

[drunderw]

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:

The BH92 backhoe is NOT compatible with the cab versions of the MX5400 or MX6000.

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

 

[dodge man]

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a rental backhoe for tractors but I suppose they exist. Most people just rent a mini excavator.

Which one do you like better? It appears they are nearly identical except for about 5hp. That’s not a huge difference in a tractor that size. I have no personal experience with those tractors so I’m not a lot of help.

 

[JeepHead]

The tractors are identical from my understanding, no fewer electronics or simpler tuning, the 6000 just has a different tune (programming) to up the HP. I highly doubt you will be able to rent a backhoe for it because that would require a sub-frame too. unless you mean a 3pnt backhoe which are really frowned on due to potential tractor damage.

 

[drunderw]

Thanks. I think you're right, there aren't backhoe rental options just as an attachment.

Physically the tractors are identical, one is just tuned for more HP.

And maybe I'm not even picking the right tractor. I have some culvert to install and some stumps to remove and an area of trees (Chinese privet) to clear beside my garage. I don't want to have regret of having an expensive tractor in the yard but still have to hire out for those projects.

 

[cathy liebchen]

Get the MX6000.always get the highest hp in frame size

 

[5030]

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.

 

[riptides]

We use our MX for pastures maintenance and FEL work. Anything like digging we call for help. I am at the age where I'd rather not be messing with attachments and having them sit around doing nothing. The tractor is turn key and go. The cab is the option for the wife to help too. LOL. And she does.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I need two tractors for the work I do around my 25 acres. The first is an open station MX5800HST with BH92 hoe. I looked at the MX6000 HSTC for my second tractor but wanted the flexibility to put the hoe on both machines. I bought an L6060HSTC instead. Nearly the same as the MX6000 but with more bells & whistles.

The down side is, the L6060 isn't quite the workhorse in the dirt as the MX. With two machines though, I can mow & plow with the cabbed L6060 and do earthwork with the MX. I can put the BH92 on either machine if necessary.

IMO, more HP is always better, but you can't go wrong with either MX as long as you're comfortable renting a mini ex for digging. As others have said, I don't recommend renting a 3pt hoe.

 

[2manyrocks]

Years ago, I bought a Terramite backhoe instead of buying a BH attachment out of concern of an attachment breaking my tractor axles. Also understand mounting a BH is an inconvenient pain. I'm glad I made that decision because having a separate backhoe has been so much more convenient in actual use.

Today with Terramite being out of business, I'd look into renting a mini X or possibly buying one of the chinese minis, but it depends on how much actual digging you need to do. Could be cheaper to hire a dozer operator and be done with your stumps?

For your other use cases, I doubt Chinese privet is deeply rooted. Could be pulled out with a chain on the the tractor drawbar?

My mx5200 open station doesn't seem to lack for HP. It is more like a car when it comes to being quiet. A cab would be great to have.

$1,800 used to be a lot of money, but these days goes pretty quickly.

 

[5030]

Almost every potential Kubota buyer (at the dealership where I work part time) wants a backhoe even though the owner and salesperson always tries to discourage them. They buy it (not cheap) and then they languish in the corner of the garage or sit outside and rust away and never get used. Better to rent a mini-ex or contract the digging. Doing that, there is no responsibility involved and no payment either.

A backhoe has to be one of the most useless implements anyone can buy and without a subframe (which also limits the ground clearance of a unit) a non subframe BH, can eventually destroy the transmission case from the forces imposed by the backhoe on the transmission. IOW, unless specifically designed for a BH, a tractor can be destroyed with one if not used correctly.