JD 5303 vs Kubota M7040??

[rfp23]

I have not owed a tractor in years, but recently purchased 20 acres in Mississippi. I want to plant 5 acres in corn and I am trying to decide on a new tractor. My options at this time are the John Deere 5303 64HP or the Kubota M7040 at 68HP. I will be using a 2-bottom turning plow and 7' disk. The JD is cheaper by $3,500, but the M7040 has more options.

Does anyone have an opinion on these two? I like the Kubota better, but $3,500 is a good bit of money for a hobby farmer.

Thanks,

RFP23

 

[IslandTractor]

Both fine tractors. First question that occurs to me why do you want 65+hp for your two bottom plow and 7ft disc. You indicate you haven't had a tractor in 20 years. Are you familiar with how 4wd assist lowers HP needs for tillage? A two bottom plow and 7ft disc could be easily pulled by a 40hp 4wd tractor so if saving some money is attractive to you then consider downsizing.

 

[rfp23]

I probably got caught up in the "bigger is better" category. Some of the dealers said I needed 50HP minimum to pull the plow. When i originally began looking, I was only considering the JD and the dealer did not have a 50HP, jus tthe 5303 64HP.

This property is gently roll pasture land (currently) and I would like to grow the corn just for fun. The most acreage I would ever till is 10.

Funny you mention 4WD as the dealers all gave me higher prices for them by about $5,000. I can purchase a new 5303 for $15,500 or the Kubota M7040 for $19,000 (plus tax and attachments).

Thanks for your advise.

RFP23

 

[careyo63]

I use a 5103 that a lady down the road has it should be more than adequate for what you will be asking of it.Nice tracktor for the money.With gently rolling hills there should be no need for 4wd.Her land has a few steep inclines and it handles them just fine when I'm disk cutting.They are at an angle that I wouldn't even consider with my little 24hp yanmar.I had her 6ft box blade behind it the other day for the first time I was more than impressed with it.

 

[IslandTractor]

With gently rolling hills there should be no need for 4wd.

4wd is not just for hilly terrain but more importantly for traction when plowing etc. 4wd allows you to do the same work with a lower hp tractor. Just what exactly the increased efficiency is I don't know but something in the range of 10%, so for example a 45hp 4wd would be at least as effective as a 50hp 2wd.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

The '03 Deere's are crude indian built tractors. Their 25 series is much more comparible to a Kubota feature/quality wise. Kubota does have an economey 7040 thats due on dealer lots anyday thats more compriable to an 03-series Deere.

 

[careyo63]

When I was growing upon a small farm we never found a 4wd to be any more productive than a 2wd as for traction since most of your traction is on the rear wheels when pulling a plow.We found that 4wd had a slight advantage of was steering after adding counter weights no differnce in pulling but 2wd still made sharp turns easier.Then comes in the mechanical factor the more moving parts the higher the chance of something failing I don't care who it's made by.We had a B2710 3 times the hydrolic valve failed squirting fluid through the steering tube 2 times back two the dealer 3rd time we put a good ole ghetto rig on it and sold it.Cheap!

 

[Wombat125]

I agree with IslandTractor that 60+ hp is a little more than you need for a 2 bottom plow and a 7' disk, and also that 4wd is a good option to think about. I can hardly talk though, since I also bought more tractor than I actually required.

I think the M7040 and the 5303 would both serve you quite well for that size of tractor.

The '03 Deere's are crude indian built tractors.

Messick says this every chance he gets. I am inclined to believe he has never actually seen one in real life. The 5x03 is a basic tractor, but I would hardly call it crude. It uses the same bulletproof 2.9L Powertech motor that JD has used for ~15 years. It is also quite heavy, has good hydraulics, and planetary style front hubs. The planetaries are not necessarily better than the bevel gear hubs; just my preference.

Happy shopping!!

 

[RollingsFarms]

I agree with IslandTractor that 60+ hp is a little more than you need for a 2 bottom plow and a 7' disk, and also that 4wd is a good option to think about. I can hardly talk though, since I also bought more tractor than I actually required.

I think the M7040 and the 5303 would both serve you quite well for that size of tractor.



Messick says this every chance he gets. I am inclined to believe he has never actually seen one in real life. The 5x03 is a basic tractor, but I would hardly call it crude. It uses the same bulletproof 2.9L Powertech motor that JD has used for ~15 years. It is also quite heavy, has good hydraulics, and planetary style front hubs. The planetaries are not necessarily better than the bevel gear hubs; just my preference.

Happy shopping!!

also, that "crude" series of tractor has the LEAST ammount of warranty claims out of ALL of John Deere equipment on the market today. that in itself speaks volumes.

 

[tjkadar]

For ground engaging jobs, such as plowing or discing, weight because an important consideration in the tractor you buy. Generally speaking, the heavier tractor will do a better job. So, don't forget to look at the weights of the tractors, the cost of additional weights, and what the final poundage will be on a field ready tractor.

I, for one, don't see a problem using a 5303 or 7040 for what you plan to do. Simply buy some bigger implements to match the tractors horsepower.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Those tractors are bigger than needed for the stated tasks. Though if you get a 2wd, not way too big. With 4wd you could go to around 40hp and be fine.

How are you going to harvest the 5 acres of corn? Too big to do by hand (unless you really, really want to) and pretty small for a combine. Hopefully some neighbor with a combine will help out.

The 5303 is a fairly basic tractor while the Kubota M7040 is more of a mid-feature model. It's not perfectly apples to apples, though for your stated uses, basic should be all you need. The Deere 5x25 series is very fancy, with the stripper models of that series comparing to the Kubota while most x25's on dealer lots will be much better equipped and in a different class than the fanciest 7040.

Messick's comment is harsh and not quite accurate. The 5303 is a basic tractor and is made in India, but it's not crude and the quality is just fine. Kubotas have problems too, such as FEL problems on the Mxx40 series. Both are fine, especially if bought from a good dealer. Both can be trouble free, or not, depending on luck of the draw.

For that size tractor, especially in 2wd, you could save a lot of money by going with a used one. Maybe even get a cab model for the same or less money than you're talking about.

 

[Dargo]

I've had both the M series Kubota and the 5xxx series JD. The M7040 probably most closely compares to the JD 5425 except the cab on the JD is considerably larger. Otherwise it was a tossup for me between the two. If I didn't need the cab (along with a 2nd seat in the cab) I very likely would have bought a Kubota M8540. I am very impressed by that tractor. However, if you don't need all the extra options, I see no problems at all with the JD5303. One of my neighbors who does a lot of hay work has a 5303 and has worked the snot out of it. Again, not to say the Kubota wouldn't do just as well, but just to point out that the JD5303 is a strong, heavy and durable tractor. Good luck with whatever you buy!

 

[farmboy12]

That isn't too big for the land, but too big for the implements. We have a 49hp tractor on 30 acres with only about 15 cleared, and 1 acre of gardens and 10 other tractors to back it up. This tractor is only used for loader and a rear blade. The loader gets used a few times a week for about 9 months out of the year, only to use it to it's full capacity once a year. And the rear blade gets used a week for a month or two every other year. This is a Kubota M4900 and a very reliable tractor.


Kyle

 

[GaryCrowell]

Those tractors aren't too big for the implements. A decent 7' disc will bog down a pretty good sized tractor in mississippi soil. I have a heavy 8' disc that will stop my 72 HP 4wd massey in 2wd if the soil conditions are right, and my tractor outweighs either of these two by 2000lbs. Both of those are good tractors, but given the price difference there's no question I'd pick the John Deere. The Deere's actually a little heavier (300 lbs) than the kubota, and for ground engaging stuff I'd pick the heavier tractor any time. Better to have too much tractor than too little in my opinion.

However, given that he doesn't want 4wd I'd think of finding a good used tractor. There's plenty of good used 2wd tractors out there from 50-100 HP that can be had for $10K or less. If you want 4wd then it's almost impossible to get a good deal used, but 2wd's are plentiful and cheap.

 

[pitt_md]

You have a lot of options to choose from for the size of the tractor. I have 30 acres and when I bought my MX5000 I was told that I didn't need all that tractor by a friend. Long story short i am glad I got a 50hp machine. i have used every bit of it.

 

[sixdogs]

I have found that more horsepower is always better than less horspower, especially if you are in it mostly for the recreation. Just my two cents.

For the tractor, both are excellent but I would lean towards the Kubota. It would cost more to buy weights and there are fewer accessories readily available but I think it feels "smoother." Now, I do own a JD 5520 that I bought over a Kubota 9000 so you can see I can waiver to either tractor. You can't lose no matter what you pick.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Just a comment - while horsepower is always nice, be sure to buy sufficiently strong implements if you do get something well into the utility class, like your initial choices. Either one will pretzel cheap ground-engaging implements quickly and perhaps before you even realize something bad is happening. Be thinking category 2 rated implements for these - and those will cost real money.

Just another 1 cent.

 

[JDCOMPACTMAN]

I agree with IslandTractor that 60+ hp is a little more than you need for a 2 bottom plow and a 7' disk, and also that 4wd is a good option to think about. I can hardly talk though, since I also bought more tractor than I actually required.

I think the M7040 and the 5303 would both serve you quite well for that size of tractor.



Messick says this every chance he gets. I am inclined to believe he has never actually seen one in real life. The 5x03 is a basic tractor, but I would hardly call it crude. It uses the same bulletproof 2.9L Powertech motor that JD has used for ~15 years. It is also quite heavy, has good hydraulics, and planetary style front hubs. The planetaries are not necessarily better than the bevel gear hubs; just my preference.

Happy shopping!!

The simplicityis what sells this tractor.