Price Check Good price on an L3940?

[Small farm guy]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on here. I have been lurking for a month, absorbing as much of your collective knowledge as I can.

Anyway, I have a 10.5 acre place that is heavily overgrown, last bush hogged about 18 years or so ago. I have been trying to decide what tractor I wanted/needed since I bought the place a few months back. Finally sold my old house so I have the fundage!

I had come down to an L3940 or an L4240. Dealer convinced me that the 3940 was the better choice of the two. I will be bush hogging, tilling garden plots and leveling out a few areas. I have nice black soil down about a foot and then a sandy clayish subsoil. Only rocks have been imported by previous owner as edging of beds. My place is on a creek bottom, so half of the acreage is moist and somewhat hilly.

The tractor we specced out is a new L3940 with LA724 loader, heavy duty round back bucket with bolt on cutter, Quick attachment, 3rd function valve, R4 tires and one rear remote. Quoted price is $24,800. It seems pretty reasonable, but I would love to have y'all weigh in on the selection and the price.

Also am looking at a 286 Bush hog, a jbx720 boxblade, and a land pride reverse tiller.

Thanks!

 

[medicshawn]

I paid 24800 for l3940HST 724 with SS QA (standard bucket),filled tires, 3rd function, 2 rear remotes and 800 delivery included.

I would get a price on the 4240 the big change is the lift ability of the loader you get 500LBS more capacity (if I remember correctly) with the 854.

 

[Baucom]

I second the suggestion to get a quote on a L4240 for the stronger loader. If you don't want to spend the extra for a L4240, I would also urge you to get a quote on an L3540. Not much less hp than the L3940, the same LA724 FEL, will take virtually the same implements on 3 pt. Looking at pricing on some pricing online, I see a L3540HST w/ LA724 FEL for only $549 more than an L4240 w/o FEL and I suspect w/o HST; also only $1850 more than a L3940HST w/o FEL.

The only thing about a L3540 is it might be a little on the light/low hp side for running a Bush Hog 286, however it will run a 285 great as well as a 6' Squealer series or a std. duty Woods BrushBull 6'. A L3940 may even be marginal running a 286 depending how heavy the growth you're cutting is.

 

[piller]

Welcome to TBN!

You did not mention which transmission but the HST+ is very popular. The L3940 with HST+ is a nice machine. You have 10 acres, you said somewhat hilly and moist, you might consider going with R1's instead of R4's. I think the L3940 is a really nice tractor to take care of 10 acres.

I just went to Build My Kubota;
Base MSRP including selected tires $23,107.00
Optional Valves $741.00
Loader $4,506.00
Loader Bucket $1,000.00
Bolt-On Cutting-Edge $216.00
Quick-Attach Coupler (Skid Loader Type) $422.00
Total Configured Price of Model* $29,992.00

So, a new machine MSRP is about 30k, your price of 24,800 is 20% off list. I think that's a good deal.

 

[Small farm guy]

I would get a price on the 4240 the big change is the lift ability of the loader you get 500LBS more capacity (if I remember correctly) with the 854.

We did, the 4240 was about $3400 more speced the same way. My dealer said that the 4240 is a little underpowerd for its frame while the 3940 is not. I was leaning 4240 before I went in today, because of the 854 loader, but the 3940 price is a lot nicer. I also had intended to get a BH90, but he said not to spend the money on it unless I needed it a lot and that I could rent his trac hoe delivered for a long weekend for $300. I decided I could concentrate my excavating on a weekend or 2 and save a lot of cash. It is good to live close to my dealer! ALso cool that a dealer talked me out of spending another 8 or $9,000.

 

[Small farm guy]

Welcome to TBN!

You did not mention which transmission but the HST+ is very popular. The L3940 with HST+ is a nice machine. You have 10 acres, you said somewhat hilly and moist, you might consider going with R1's instead of R4's.
So, a new machine MSRP is about 30k, your price of 24,800 is 20% off list. I think that's a good deal.

Thanks! Yes it is an HST. My wife wants to be active and use the tractor some and when I showed her the HST drove like a mower she was sold! I wondered about the R1s but figured the R4s would be ok with 4wd.

 

[medicshawn]

Your dealer is trying to put you in the 3940. They are the exact same tractor except 2 HP and the bigger loader. It's not underpowered. There should be 1800-2000 dollars difference. He has probably had the 3940 longer and there have been some price increases on the newer 4240. I'd get a couple more prices on the 4240.
I would check out Barlowequipment.com He has some pretty good prices on used tractors. You could get a 3940 and backhoe for a little more that that 3940 price.

 

[Baucom]

Your dealer is trying to put you in the 3940. They are the exact same tractor except 2 HP and the bigger loader. It's not underpowered. There should be 1800-2000 dollars difference. He has probably had the 3940 longer and there have been some price increases on the newer 4240. I'd get a couple more prices on the 4240.
I would check out Barlowequipment.com He has some pretty good prices on used tractors. You could get a 3940 and backhoe for a little more that that 3940 price.

I agree w/ you--the dealer is trying to sell a L3940. The dimensions are identical between the 3940 and 4240, the 4240 is less than 50# heavier than the 3940, so if the dealer says the 4240 is underpowered for it's frame size, then he implies the 3940 would be really underpowered. I would shop around for more quotes on a L4240 before I committed to a 3940.

Personally I would be a little suspect of the dealer given that he's pushing the 3940 over an "underpowered" 4240. He may either be misguided or less than a straight shooter. The first is mildly forgiveable (though I'm of the school of thought that a salesman should know more about his product than I do & certainly more than can be found on the back page of the brochure) and the latter is a good reason to take your business elsewhere.

According to Carver's website there should be ~ $1800 between the 3940HST and 4240HST + ~600-800 more for the LA854 vs the LA724. The difference should only be ~ $2500 or so with FELs.

Edit: MSRP difference between identically equipped L3940 w/ LA724 and L4240 w/ LA854 is just under $2000.

 

[canoetrpr]

Unless you have a specific need for the LA853 loader, I would save some money and get the L3540 over the L3940 with the LA724 loader. I'd used the saved money and buy the backhoe.

I think that you will find more uses for the backhoe than you can imagine once you have it.

Given your property size the L3540 will be plenty. If you need the extra loader capacity, I would go straight to the L4240 and skip the the L3940.

I also second the R1s. I have R4s right now and they are not bad but if I was on even slightly hilly property, I would appreciate the extra traction. Wet areas can be quite slippery.

 

[Small farm guy]

I agree w/ you--the dealer is trying to sell a L3940. The dimensions are identical between the 3940 and 4240, the 4240 is less than 50# heavier than the 3940,
.

Yeah, now that I look back at the charts I see your point. The funny thing is, he has NEITHER on the lot and it will be next Friday before it gets to the dealer. I will give him a call back on Monday and see if I can get the delta on the price down some. Now you have me scratching my head, cuz if he was truly unscrupulous, he would have not ttalked me out of the pricy BH I was looking at buying. (I think!?) My judgement is a little off today, had wisdom teeth cut out yesterday so I am not as sharp as usual. Thanks for pointing out the logic flaw in his pushing the 3940. I am sure I would be happy with either, but I was leaning 4240 when I was as normal thinking as I get!

 

[Baucom]

Hope your mouth heals up fast! The dealer may just enjoy a higher steady profit from renting their backhoe vs. people buying their own. Plus, I do agree that for most people owning a backhoe is an expensive luxury that is unlikely to pay off unless they use it an awfully lot, and saving up backhoe jobs and renting for a long weekend is the best option.

 

[canoetrpr]

For most people owning a brand spanking new tractor is an expensive luxury. That dosen't stop most of us from doing it now does it

I think he should go for the backhoe like he had planned. Best time to buy these things is when you are getting the whole rig. That's when you will get the best price as the dealer is going to be setting stuff up anyway.

 

[medicshawn]

I think the the reason he didn"t push the backhoe was so he could rent you his. He needs that thing rented to make money off of it.

 

[Small farm guy]

Hmmm, it just occurred to me. If the 3940 and 4240 are the same frame, why is the 854 not available on the 3940? Does it take a bigger hydraulic system than the 3940?
Thanks

 

[mikescruggs]

I just went through the research and decision making for a L4240. I wanted to have the most lift (front and rear) while maintaining a good sized tractor. We traded a 4 year old 33 hp 4wd with BH Challenger in. I felt the lift differences of the L4240 and the L3940 were enough to easily justify the L4240. If I need more lift then I am best off renting a much larger machine for the project. THe L3540 and L3940 were the halfway point to the lift capacity of the L4240 when compared to the old tractor. I have been using the L4240 for three weeks not to remove snow. What a difference. The other two main differences are the tires are R1s and the rears are loaded. We have two rear remotes and the third function on the FEL. We had one rear remove and a remote plumbed to the FEL on the old tractor.

I would talk to others about the L4240 and check around for the best price. I know I may have paid a little more than if I doubled my travel distance, but the service from my dealer is second to none. He brought the L4240 in from another state which was under earlier pricing, and that saved some money.

Look again at the L4240.

Mike

 

[nybirdman]

I purchase a L4240 a year ago,the dealer had a L3940 sitting right next to it so it was easy to compare tractors.He pointed out the differences:even though they spec out about the same........I beleive there is a jump up in frame size with the 40 series.What I remember he pointed out the axel houseings are larger on the 40 series.The 40's go from 44 horse to about sixty I beleive.
Either way I don't think you can go wrong,this is my second Kubota,I traded a L3130 Grand for this one,the L4240 with cab and the larger loader works great for me.

 

[Small farm guy]

I would like to thank all of you for your help and opinions! I ended up ordering the 3940 yesterday. It is more than what I was originally looking for and still was able to fit into the price I am comfortable with. If I REALLY need something bigger someday, I have friends right up the road with large machinery. It is supposed to be in Thursday, I am getting excited! Can't wait to start clearing the brush and small trees and getting some garden areas tilled up.

It is funny, for 20 years all I dreamed about was getting off the farm. The last 20 years all I dreamed about was getting back. I finally made it!

NYbirdman, where in upstate NY? I grew up 45 minutes from Watertown, went to college at Clarkson in Potsdam.

 

[Baucom]

Hmmm, it just occurred to me. If the 3940 and 4240 are the same frame, why is the 854 not available on the 3940? Does it take a bigger hydraulic system than the 3940?
Thanks

I would really like to know why the LA854 isn't at least available as an FEL upgrade on the L3940. The L3940 and L4240 apparently have the same hydraulic system (same flow anyway), so I really don't see why the LA854 shouldn't work on the L3940 unless Kubota put a lighter front axle under it than on the L4240. For the past several yrs, on the L30 and L40 series, I've thought of the LA723/724 as the FEL for 3 cyl tractors and the LA853/854 for 4 cyls. Then Kubota comes along and offers a 4 cyl. L series that offers the loader for the 3 cyl. machines as its only choice.

Congrats on the new tractor, and don't forget to post pics when you get it! The HST+ is an awesome transmission. I'm not too crazy about the throttle linked to the HST pedal (but using that is optional anyway), but the Hi-Lo lever on the column is great. I thought it tended to over-rev the engine with the throttle linked to the HST pedal, but I was only using it to do light work moving some stuff with the forks. It might be ideal under a heavier load, like digging into a pile of dirt then backing out to load a truck.

 

[nybirdman]

I would like to thank all of you for your help and opinions! I ended up ordering the 3940 yesterday. It is more than what I was originally looking for and still was able to fit into the price I am comfortable with. If I REALLY need something bigger someday, I have friends right up the road with large machinery. It is supposed to be in Thursday, I am getting excited! Can't wait to start clearing the brush and small trees and getting some garden areas tilled up.

It is funny, for 20 years all I dreamed about was getting off the farm. The last 20 years all I dreamed about was getting back. I finally made it!

NYbirdman, where in upstate NY? I grew up 45 minutes from Watertown, went to college at Clarkson in Potsdam.

I am located near Black Lake,5 miles south of Ogdensburg,St.Lawrence Co.