JD3039R vs Kubota L3560. - cabs

[foggy1111]

I've not posted much in some time.....but continue to read here on TBN and thank you guys for your knowledge. As I get older (71 now) I find myself more affected by the chaff and weed debris.....especially when cutting weeds and grasses. Takes me a few days to overcome the effects off this chit. I've owned a great JD 3320 open station for several years now.....but I feel the need for a cab. I suppose I have had about three run-ins with hornets over time.....and several more bad effects from the **** weeds and allegories that come with age. (it sucks getting old.....let me tell 'ya.....grin).

Anyway......I finally decided that I need a cab tractor and today. I visited the JD dealer and the Kubota dealer to start my search for a replacement tractor.

I have thus far centered my search on two models: The JD 3039R and the Kubota L3560....both with cab. They are both top line tractors and have many desirable features to me.

Ive owned a few tractors in the past.....and these represent the best size for me for several reasons. I do need to stay under a 8 foot high door opening......and I like using mostly 5' and 6' implements. I have about 10 implements....and I do not want to Up-size or down-size too many of them.

My old 3320 has been almost ideal for what I do......but I have felt the pucker-factor on a few occasions when picking up heavy loads and uneven ground. The Kub0ta would make this somewhat better I suppose. Still....the Kubota would likely make me got to a larger rear cutter and a different grapple and bucket. Which is gonna cost me more bucks.

I like many of the features on the Kubota over the JD.........but I suppose price will influence me in a big way. Im getting prices now on both tractors.......and I will know more in a fe days. Thus far it look like I can trade the JD 3039r with my 3320 open station for about 20K. Not sure it this is a deal.....or no deal.

Waiting on the Kubota price. Any ideas or suggestions thus far?

One thing about changing brands is that I will need a different bucket and grapple with the Kubota. That kinda sucks.....as I do like the situation I have now. (JD HD 60" bucket with tooth bar.......and a Markam 48' grapple with a single cylinder.). Not sure how this arrangement will work. I do like the universal FEL of the Kubota......but it will cost me to switch from the JD situation I now have. Grrrrr.

Advice?

 

[vvanders]

You may want to compare the L4060 to the 3039R since that'll be closer HP-wise. As for prices you can expect to knock off 12-15% depending on implements and incentives. Recently quoted an open station L4060 + loader and forks for ~28.5k in our area on 33.8k MSRP.

My hunch is that the L3560 will come in cheaper. How's the JD stack up against HST+ and all the options the LXX60 offers? That was largely what is pushing me towards a LXX60 instead of LXX01.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I've got the 4060 Kubota and the cab is amazing. My temps hit 110-120 plus on a daily basis. Will be 118 this Friday, and I could not do any work without the cab, PERIOD.

My wife and I were working on some brush cutting in the heat we left the tractor running with the air on and would both get inside to cool off and drink water every 20 minutes or so. So technically the Kubota saved our lives.

This is my second Kubota, the first on an 80's model sat in the desert fo 15 years as I was using my other tractor. One day I decided to see if it still ran. I filled up the tires, put in a battery and she fired right up, same fuel, oil, hydro fluids. I ran her thad day fo 8 hours and performed like new.

I paid only 4K for that best in the 80's used and sold it 30 years later 8K after woking her like a dog.

 

[foggy1111]

Thanks for the info. I am pricing both the Kubota L 3560 HSTC and the L4060 HSTC. If the price difference is reasonable......I will spring for the extra ponies.

 

[foggy1111]

Got preliminary numbers from the Kubota dealer. Price for the 40 vs the 35 tractors is pretty steep......over$8000. Seems like too much extra for the 5 HP. Looks like the JD deal will be far less money.....plus I wont need a bucket or a new grapple and my rear cutter will be the same width. Hard to change brands for me.

 

[jajiu]

You mentioned you wanted to fit it in an 8' entrance, I too have that situation. I went with the Kubota L3560HSTC as I have had several Kubota's. I looked at the 4060, but the height put it out of the question, the 3560 fits with less than 1" clearance. I went to the dealer with my tape measure to make sure of the height before I made the deal.

 

[foggy1111]

You mentioned you wanted to fit it in an 8' entrance, I too have that situation. I went with the Kubota L3560HSTC as I have had several Kubota's. I looked at the 4060, but the height put it out of the question, the 3560 fits with less than 1" clearance. I went to the dealer with my tape measure to make sure of the height before I made the deal.

Yep.....I did the same thing and measured a 3560cab.....but not a 4060. I was told that either would fit under my 8' door tho......and the salesman was adamant about knowing this. Hmmmmm. No problems with the JD product.

 

[Jchonline]

If you are looking at a cab definitely check out the AC performance on a very hot day. I took my father out last week in the 103 degree TX heat. The JDs (4 series and 5 series) underperformed the M6060 or M7060 as far as cooling. Not sure if they needed an adjustment, but it was noticeable. Changing RPMs did not impact efficiency. This was not a scientific test, so please do your own research!

 

[kthompson]

If you are looking at a cab definitely check out the AC performance on a very hot day. I took my father out last week in the 103 degree TX heat. The JDs (4 series and 5 series) underperformed the M6060 or M7060 as far as cooling. Not sure if they needed an adjustment, but it was noticeable. Changing RPMs did not impact efficiency. This was not a scientific test, so please do your own research!

I feel like there is issue with those JD air conditioners. Low gas, bad filters or such.

 

[foggy1111]

I got two proposals on the JD 3039R Hydro, and the Kubota L 3560 Hydro. (the L 4060 is another 10k and just out of my league / needs.).

I do prefer the Kubota for all its standard features, more weight, bigger hydarulic and lift, bigger cab) but when I put fluid in the tires in both and put spacers on the rear of the JD......I still get more HP with the Deere.....and it will handle all I need for loader, etc. Then too....I need to factor in a new grapple with the Kubota......and I have one to fit the Deere. I suppose my used grapple would sell fast and I am faction that in too......trying to compare apples with apples.

If the Boata was priced somewhat less ($2.0 k) I think I would bite.......but at this point I am paying more for orange than green.....and I am still somewhat of a Deere guy. Still working my deal(s) with these guys. Hard to know what will shake out until I press them a bit more.

Drove the Kubota today.......like some of their features a whole lot. Hmmmm......the plot thickens.

 

[foggy1111]

The final numbers are in. VERY closely priced after both dealers came to look at my used 3320 and I have pretty much squeezed the numbers to the best they will do (might be a few more bucks or some gadget?). Only a few hundred separate the two deals when all the apples are compared with apples. Fluid in tires / 3" spacers for JD / sales taxes / buckets and grapple swaps etc - and only about $300 from The JD 3039R hydro, to the L3560 HSC........both with cabs and radio and similar equipment. (The Kubota has a few more mirrors and lights - which may just get knocked off in the woods.....and the Deere has a better grille guard which is quite helpful in the timber, etc.).

I cant get the Deere until fall.....and the Kubota would be in about 2 weeks or so. I guess I can "live" with my current tractor this summer.....so it's not a "huge" factor. Not a ton of work to do anymore this year....tho the **** deer flies are horrible this year.

The Kubota is a bit heavier.....has a few ponies less power.....but both should be adequate for my needs. Been a bit concerned that the JD A/C is not up to the tasks of the job......tho those may be isolated instances which I've read about. I'm certain the JD would command better resale.....if I was for some reason unhappy. Not sure I could be unhappy with either product. I have been a "Deere guy".

Decisions Decisions. What would you do?

 

[foggy1111]

I feel like there is issue with those JD air conditioners. Low gas, bad filters or such.

^^^. Not sure I understand your response here kThompson. Are you saying that the JD brand may have a bad charge or filters......or that they are not quite up to todays standards. (I've always admired your opinions....tthanks).

 

[art]

There are some changes in the equipment for the two Kubotas but the price difference should be much closer!!! There is only three thousand roughly difference on the tractor! Sometimes dealers do offer a better deal on what they have in stock or I should say most dealers!!!! Kubota had about ten years on everyone else with cab experience on this size tractor so maybe they are just a bit better at it!! Resale wise The green paint is often considered expensive and at resale time it does match up with the Kubota although in some areas it is just hard to beat a company that specializes in a certain type of product.

 

[foggy1111]

There are some changes in the equipment for the two Kubotas but the price difference should be much closer!!! There is only three thousand roughly difference on the tractor! Sometimes dealers do offer a better deal on what they have in stock or I should say most dealers!!!! Kubota had about ten years on everyone else with cab experience on this size tractor so maybe they are just a bit better at it!! Resale wise The green paint is often considered expensive and at resale time it does match up with the Kubota although in some areas it is just hard to beat a company that specializes in a certain type of product.

I asked the dealer about this ^^ and he agreed he had made a price mistake. You are correct in the pricing gap of about $3 k. I dont think I need the extra power enough to pay the extra price.....but wanted the prices anyway. Thanks

 

[vvanders]

Yeah I was surprised as well since I just priced the L4060/4L760 open station.

For what it's worth up here in the PNW Kubota holds it's resale value incredibly well.

I'm not sure if it was covered before but how do the dealers stack up? I'm biased toward Kubota since I just put an order for a L4760 but if I knew there was a solid JD dealer that would change my mind. Up here the JD are all part on one chain that's blown me off the 3 times I've gone in while I've got 4 independent Kubota dealers within an hour or so.

 

[foggy1111]

I live north of the Ag country in MN. So the JD dealer here does a huge biz in Lawn and Garden and utility tractors. Nothing larger. Thus....they will work a bit harder on some of these deals than the typical Deere dealer. Still.....they are not as aggressive as the new Kubota store here. I've never understood how so many JD dealers get away with their "take it or leave it" attitude.

The more I look at the Kubota product.....the more I like what I see. So many more features......and the size of the cab is so much better. Also more stability without having to add spacers etc. Some of the auto throttle features seem pretty sweet too.

 

[vvanders]

Yup, for us it was between L4701 and L4060/L4760, if you're going to be using the loader a lot those extra features are nice and what pushed us that way(plus the L4760 is closer to a 49HP tractor than the L4701).

Messick's has a great video walking through each option, worth a watch if that's what is going to be a deciding factor: Kubota HST Plus Transmission Features - YouTube

 

[nrosario]

Don't want to throw a wrench but have you looked into the Kioti offerings.
They have very nice tractors, and the SE versions are fully loaded with features.

 

[foggy1111]

I bought the L3560 HSTC w/LA805 Loader today. I guess I will be getting orange tractors dirty in the future. Thanks for help and advice.

 

[jtb51b]

Congrats on your purchase! I think you will LOVE the HST plus. I decided to go the other direction myself (orange-green) and I can tell you I am very pleased with mine. I only have a couple HP more than you do with my 3039R and its incredibly powerful. I have no troubles running 16MPH down the road, or pushing with the grapple bucket. I got the skid steer quick connect on my loader, so I can still use some attachments. I am fairly pleased with the AC performance with the JD so far. One thing to be very mindful of is the cabin air filter. Those buggers get dirty a LOT faster than I expected. I mower a whole lot with mine, and that doesnt help but I clean it before I mow every week and its dirty enough to need it. I can tell a degradation in AC performance with a dirty filter, I find I cannot run the blower on low if the filter is dirty but most of the time once the cab is cool I go back to low. We have been in the mid 90's with 195% humidity (lol) down bere for a while. Its brutal outside the box. I really like the size and shape of the deere cab, I didnt think I would as it looks kinda goofy but it performs well.. I need wheel spacers! You likely will also. If you get on a hill in one of these small cab units it does more than feels tippy! Good luck with your tractor, for the size I believe both units are great! Do yourself a favor and ditch the factory over priced radio for a self installed (very easy) unit with bluetooth-- doesnt get any nicer than that! I work from home, and therefore the tractor a lot and its great being able to keep mowing when a contractor calls needing help. Cabs seem pretty quiet.

Jason