I'm thinking of buying a utility tractor for my 20 acre hobby farm.Smaller than either of these models would do 75% of my work.(Occasional FEL work,snow removal and mowing the fields).However I would also like to work about 10 acres(plow/harrow).Could someone advise me(1)Are these tractors heavy enough for this task?(2) Could I have some input on which tractor is best machine?Prices with FEL are nearly identical for either.Kubota has slightly more power and a shuttle shift but is a new unproven model.
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John Deere 990 vs. Kubota L4400
- Thread starter EldonC
- Start date
- Views: 6538
Bob_Young
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2002
- Messages
- 1,244
- Location
- North of the Fingerlakes - NY
- Tractor
- Ford 4000; Ford 2000(both 3cyl.);JD40; 2004 Kubota L4300; 2006 Kubota B7610; new 2007 Kubota MX5000
The L4400 should be OK, Eldon. I bought an L4300 in Dec. to do precisely what you're speaking of. It's an older version of the L4400 which uses the same engine but an older transmission.
Though I haven't tried it at plowing yet, I don't forsee any trouble. It's got plenty of power and should handle a 2 bottom 14 inch plow with ease. If it were 1200lbs. heavier, I'd be willing to bet it could handle 3x14's.
I've pulled the same 2 bottom plow behind a 32hp, 3500# 2WD Ford 2000 and got along very well with only occasional problems from losing traction in wet spots. With 4WD and filled rears, the L4300s traction is phenomenal; it should be a big step up from the Ford 2000....well, I hope so, anyway.
There's a section called "Implement Limitations" in the L4300's manual. In that section there's a table which lists implements and gives max recommended size for each. For the "Bottom Plow" it gives "14 in. x2". For the Disk harrow it gives a max. harrowing width of 78 inches and a max. weight of 880 lbs.
For us hobby farmers with 10-20 acres to work, this should be enough. I don't know anything about the JD990, but if weight and power are comparable it should do as well.
FWIW
Bob
Though I haven't tried it at plowing yet, I don't forsee any trouble. It's got plenty of power and should handle a 2 bottom 14 inch plow with ease. If it were 1200lbs. heavier, I'd be willing to bet it could handle 3x14's.
I've pulled the same 2 bottom plow behind a 32hp, 3500# 2WD Ford 2000 and got along very well with only occasional problems from losing traction in wet spots. With 4WD and filled rears, the L4300s traction is phenomenal; it should be a big step up from the Ford 2000....well, I hope so, anyway.
There's a section called "Implement Limitations" in the L4300's manual. In that section there's a table which lists implements and gives max recommended size for each. For the "Bottom Plow" it gives "14 in. x2". For the Disk harrow it gives a max. harrowing width of 78 inches and a max. weight of 880 lbs.
For us hobby farmers with 10-20 acres to work, this should be enough. I don't know anything about the JD990, but if weight and power are comparable it should do as well.
FWIW
Bob
Not being familiar with either of these, I'd just make sure to pick the heaviest of the two, and the one that offers the best deal. I'm sure they're both quite capable, but I always err on the side of more weight, esp. if you want to plow.
That said, if I were you, I'd consider some of the larger "other" brand tractors that may have even more weight, features and may cost less. Brands such as Mahindra, Kioti, Branson, Zetor etc.
I understand the Zetors are great ploughing tractors, but don't always have all the features one may want. Not sure.
John
That said, if I were you, I'd consider some of the larger "other" brand tractors that may have even more weight, features and may cost less. Brands such as Mahindra, Kioti, Branson, Zetor etc.
I understand the Zetors are great ploughing tractors, but don't always have all the features one may want. Not sure.
John
creeper
Gold Member
The 990 is hard to beat, but the shuttle shift is nice. The Kub being a newer model shouldn't be an issue IMO.
Eldon, I am currently looking at and test driving tractors in that similar hp class (40hp). What I have found is that there is a huge difference in the weights of these tractors and that makes a huge impact on the feel of the machine. I haven't had a chance to try out the Kubota yet, but to me the 990 feels pretty light. I also tried out an LG Montana 4540 and it is physically the smallest of the machines I have tried out, but is still feels heavier than the 990. The MF 1540 was by far the lightest, it felt way too light to utilize anywhere near its 40 hp.
The Mahindra 4110 weighs in at nearly 4000 lbs, without the loader, loaded tires or additional weights. It's a CUT, but feels a lot like a utility tractor.
The NH TC40D I tried out felt heavier than the 990. It was a used 2004 model that was traded in (about 200 hours) and aleady had loaded tires, so there wasn't going to be a lot of weight that could be picked up without adding wheel weights.
One Kubota/NH dealer told me that the NH tractors tended to be heavier than the Kubotas.
I really liked the added heft of the Mahindra. The model I tried out was fitted with the loader, and it worked great. It has a greater potential digging depth than the other models I have tried out that had loaders attached. I gauged the digging depth by how far I was able to bring the front end of the tractor off the ground using down pressure on the loader. The TC40 boosted the front end off the ground less than an inch and the hydraulics groaned when I did this, so it would be far short on digging depth. The Montana lifted the front end off the ground a few inches. The Mahindra was 8-12 inches, judging from my position on the seat.
The Mahindra 4110 weighs in at nearly 4000 lbs, without the loader, loaded tires or additional weights. It's a CUT, but feels a lot like a utility tractor.
The NH TC40D I tried out felt heavier than the 990. It was a used 2004 model that was traded in (about 200 hours) and aleady had loaded tires, so there wasn't going to be a lot of weight that could be picked up without adding wheel weights.
One Kubota/NH dealer told me that the NH tractors tended to be heavier than the Kubotas.
I really liked the added heft of the Mahindra. The model I tried out was fitted with the loader, and it worked great. It has a greater potential digging depth than the other models I have tried out that had loaders attached. I gauged the digging depth by how far I was able to bring the front end of the tractor off the ground using down pressure on the loader. The TC40 boosted the front end off the ground less than an inch and the hydraulics groaned when I did this, so it would be far short on digging depth. The Montana lifted the front end off the ground a few inches. The Mahindra was 8-12 inches, judging from my position on the seat.
Mark4510
Gold Member
EldonC,
Both are tractors and should work well for you. I know when I got started looking at a new tractor I went through and looked through all the catalogues to compare. Based on what the paper work there are a lot of good tractors out there.
What finally pushed me toward JD was the quality of the dealer, how I fit into the tractor and what I thought would hold its value over time.
I am not a very mechanically inclined person so it was important to me to have a dealer that I could take my tractor to who would fix it correctly the first time. I also wanted a dealer that has been around a while, has access to parts now and in the future and where, if there is a problem, I can escalate my complaint up the food chain. So far I have had no problems.....
I sat in a large number or tractors and drove many of them. In the end it came down to JD, Kubota and Kioti. What had me liking the JD was the fact that it just fit me. All the controls were in the right place, easy to reach and made sense to me. I recently drove a friends Mahindra and, while it seems like a nice tractor, I was actually sore the next day from using it. Dont underestimate how important the layout is.
The other thing that helped push me to JD was my perception of what tractor would hold its value over time. I did a quick check in the local used equipment mags and found that JD, Kubota and New Holland all held thier values well.
I think there are a lot of good tractors out there so the paper comparison was only my first step. I am very pleased with my tractor, the support and ease of use.
Mark
Both are tractors and should work well for you. I know when I got started looking at a new tractor I went through and looked through all the catalogues to compare. Based on what the paper work there are a lot of good tractors out there.
What finally pushed me toward JD was the quality of the dealer, how I fit into the tractor and what I thought would hold its value over time.
I am not a very mechanically inclined person so it was important to me to have a dealer that I could take my tractor to who would fix it correctly the first time. I also wanted a dealer that has been around a while, has access to parts now and in the future and where, if there is a problem, I can escalate my complaint up the food chain. So far I have had no problems.....
I sat in a large number or tractors and drove many of them. In the end it came down to JD, Kubota and Kioti. What had me liking the JD was the fact that it just fit me. All the controls were in the right place, easy to reach and made sense to me. I recently drove a friends Mahindra and, while it seems like a nice tractor, I was actually sore the next day from using it. Dont underestimate how important the layout is.
The other thing that helped push me to JD was my perception of what tractor would hold its value over time. I did a quick check in the local used equipment mags and found that JD, Kubota and New Holland all held thier values well.
I think there are a lot of good tractors out there so the paper comparison was only my first step. I am very pleased with my tractor, the support and ease of use.
Mark
Can't help you much, but I just bought the L4400 after looking heavily at the 990. To me the Kubota was just a nicer tractor for the same price, with a little more horsepower. I've only got a few hours on the 4400, but it hasn't shown a lack of power with the FEL yet. I haven't gotten my blade or disc yet so can't comment there.
One thing I did find odd on the 990 was the FEL joystick, was very uncomfortable position for me, but I do alot of loader work, so that was important.
One thing I did find odd on the 990 was the FEL joystick, was very uncomfortable position for me, but I do alot of loader work, so that was important.
BGL990
Gold Member
Interesting point about the FEL joystick. For me it was exactly the opposite. I very much prefer the right-at-my-side location of my 990's joystick compared to the loader frame mounted joysticks on Kubotas. I love Kubotas, but the joystick location was one of the minor points that tipped me toward the 990.
Like so many other things it's a matter of personal preference.
Like so many other things it's a matter of personal preference.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I very much prefer the right-at-my-side location of my 990's joystick compared to the loader frame mounted joysticks on Kubotas. )</font>
That's one of the things that sold me on the Kioti CK20 as well. The joystick is right at my side, and I'm able to keep my arm and shoulder in good alignment. I HATE to have my arm up in the air for a long period to operate a loader frame mounted stick. John
That's one of the things that sold me on the Kioti CK20 as well. The joystick is right at my side, and I'm able to keep my arm and shoulder in good alignment. I HATE to have my arm up in the air for a long period to operate a loader frame mounted stick. John
