Kubota L48 or Deere 110? Your thoughts..

[tlbuser]

Can a JD 110 unload a full 1.5 ton pallet?

1.5 tons, 3000 lbs ??? 500 lbs over its max rated lift capacity???

 

[curtisfarmer]

My point exactly. Why pay more for a machine that does less? If it cannot unload full pallets, all the more manual work required at the job site.

 

[Builder]

My point exactly. Why pay more for a machine that does less? If it cannot unload full pallets, all the more manual work required at the job site.

T be fair, the 110 has feature the L-48 does not have. It has more loader joystick features and a creep feature from the backhoe operating position.

I think the 110 might be heavier, too that tell me it's probably stronger built or has a heavier undercarriage.

 

[tlbuser]

My point exactly. Why pay more for a machine that does less? If it cannot unload full pallets, all the more manual work required at the job site.

Umm, actually I was doubting the L48 can pick and place 1.5 ton pallets

 

[xxxsandman]

Umm, actually I was doubting the L48 can pick and place 1.5 ton pallets

You will be hard pressed to find a less then 10k pound machine that can handle 3,000lbs safely on the pallet forks. Very few FEL's can safely pick up a 1.5 ton (3,000lb) pallet. Pallets are tough, as the weight is farther away from the loader then bucket work. The biggest track or skid steer loaders might handle that task or a full size TLB with pallet forks. I'm not saying an L48 couldn't get a 1.5 ton pallet off the ground, it just would be pushing it's limits for sure. 1 ton (2,000 pounds) on pallet forks would be OK for an L48.

 

[Builder]

Umm, actually I was doubting the L48 can pick and place 1.5 ton pallets

It probably can't. listen to the Kubota guys long enough and they'll have you believing they can pick up 4 tons with pallet forks and out dig a trackhoe.

 

[curtisfarmer]

My L48, ballasted to 9980 lbs. surely picks them off a trailer and places them on the ground. I am definetly maxed out and cannot lift them past 1/4 to 1/2 off the ground......and that is teasing it with the curl as well. But, it does do it. In fact, I am unloading 3 pallets of cobbles today. What a pain it would be to have to unmesh the pallets and take the top layers off so it can handle it. For those who doubt, you should try it. I also picked up 3 1920's Fordson tractors and a 1987 subaru. A JD 110 would not come close and neither would a L39. Looking at one yesterday reinforced my belief in how small the L39 is. The tires are tiny. And the JD 110 compared to an L48. Did complete service on my L48 this weekend.......major $$$$ and a lot of liquid in that beast. Waiting to see new L48 and what it can do. I cannot see it picking up much more and still stay below 10K lbs.

 

[Builder]

Yeah, the L-39 is weak compared to my Case.

Glad I dumped the Kubota for a serious piece of equipment. I can't believe I ever sold my 555 Ford and bought the Kubotas. It's amazing how much nicer a full size backhoe is compared to a compact TLB. Not really that much less manueverable, either. The AC cab is a life saver and the power/ability isn't even close.

My advice is if you're considering spending 35-40K on a toy TLB, your money would be much more wisely spent on a clean used full size 4x4 backhoe unless you need to move your machine a lot/don't have a CDL. 35-40K buys a LOT of low-houred, used backhoe.

I can get my Case moved 10-20 miles for under $100. Otherwise, if it's a short trip, I just hit the 4-ways, turn on the tunes & AC and cruise the Case over to the jobsite at 27 MPH!

I can't even justify buying a trailer for my dumptruck!

 

[curtisfarmer]

I agree a full size backhoe is great, but tractors such as an L48 is the most usable and versatile machine for landscape contractors like my self. Your Case won't mow fields, pull a rake, plow snow in residential driveways, grade gravel, have quick attach forks, spin a post hole digger, fit in my barn, fit in tight areas, and a whole bunch of other things that cannot live without. Besides the fact that you cannot do smaller jobs that an L48 can do with all the power it needs. A fullsized backhoe does dig better, but that is all it does. Also, any Case 580 under $30 40K is going to have thousands of hours on it and who wants maintenece you know will eventually come due. I do not see how you can compare the two as they are completely different machine classes for distinctly different purposes. I have never seen someone install a lawn with a Case 580....and I have 2 friends with 680s (real big) who now agree are completely useless unless you travel with something smaller like a bobcat or kubota for clean up. Comparing the L48 or JD110 to a Case 580 is an apples to oranges comparison. No 3PT hitch for me is a no go from the get go. I would love a 580, but could not make it pay for itself for what I do for work. The JD 210 would be a better comparison, but again, above 10K lbs.

 

[Builder]

I agree a full size backhoe is great, but tractors such as an L48 is the most usable and versatile machine for landscape contractors like my self. Your Case won't mow fields, pull a rake, plow snow in residential driveways, grade gravel, have quick attach forks, spin a post hole digger, fit in my barn, fit in tight areas, and a whole bunch of other things that cannot live without.

Whoaaaaa!!! It's obvious you really need to brush-up on your knowledge of TLBs

My Case backhoe WILL plow snow better than an L-48 ever dreamed of with a power angle plow ranging from 7' to 12' !!! FFC

Or how about a 8 foot snowblower that throws snow 45'??

http://www.ffcattachments.com/_incl...=product&ext=pdf&name=F-Snow Blade 0608-1.pdf

maybe a snow pusher 7'-14'?

FFC

Rake & grade gravel?? no problem:

CASE | North America / English | Products | Loader/Backhoes | Attachments

Post hole digger you ask? More than any L-48 ever dreamed of!

CASE | North America / English | Products | Loader/Backhoes | Attachments


Quick attach Forks you say? I have quick attach forks (I have an FFC quick attach on the front of my CASE) here they are mounted on it: They actually come off quicker than your L-48. Only one lever to pull instead of two!



How about a hammer? Sure!

CASE | North America / English | Products | Loader/Backhoes | Attachments

Power angle broom? You betcha!
CASE | North America / English | Products | Loader/Backhoes | Attachments

Power rake? Certainly!

FFC

In fact, I can run attacments you can't run with an L-48, like a 14' snow pusher box, a vibratory tamper, pulverizer, bale squeezer, even a timber saw or car crusher jaws!!

OK, so it won't fit in YOUR little garage, but it fits in mine big one Ability of a machine in terms of production depends largely on HP, hydraulic pump output and size. Want more machine, gotta have more power & size

" Besides the fact that you cannot do smaller jobs that an L48 can do with all the power it needs. A fullsized backhoe does dig better, but that is all it does. "

Duhhhh, isn't that what a TLB's primary purpose is? If my Case can take bigger attachments, bigger forks, bigger plows, etc. then can't it do a lot of jobs better than an L-48?

Won't a bigger Case machine with a bigger plow and more power push more snow than a little L-48 with a smaller plow and less power?

"Also, any Case 580 under $30 40K is going to have thousands of hours on it and who wants maintenece you know will eventually come due. I do not see how you can compare the two as they are completely different machine classes for distinctly different purposes. I have never seen someone install a lawn with a Case 580"

And you'll never see anyone dig a house foundation or lift a 3 ton boulder with an L-48!

"....and I have 2 friends with 680s (real big) who now agree are completely useless unless you travel with something smaller like a bobcat or kubota for clean up. Comparing the L48 or JD110 to a Case 580 is an apples to oranges comparison. No 3PT hitch for me is a no go from the get go. I would love a 580, but could not make it pay for itself for what I do for work. The JD 210 would be a better comparison, but again, above 10K lbs."

I've owned & operated both for many years. There's no comparison. A full size is far superior in terms of output, capability and earning money. The little machines are great for little jobs, but I've found my 580 barely takes up much more space than an L-39.

 

[curtisfarmer]

Your machine sure looks nice, but come on now, we are talking about TLBs, not big machines like yours. I still don't think a comparison to your machine makes sense in this forums context. I could say this and that like a CAT 988 loader loads better than yours and argue I could install a lawn with it. But is it realistic? Yes your machine is nice and we would all love to have one, thank you for extoling its virtues, and it is what it is. A full sized hoe that costs alot of money and is much larger than what is being discussed here. How about CAT versus Case, I personally would not buy your machine and instead would own a CAT because I think they are better. Does it matter. No.

p.s Did not know your machine came with so many implements, very impressive.

 

[Builder]

Your machine sure looks nice, but come on now, we are talking about TLBs, not big machines like yours. I still don't think a comparison to your machine makes sense in this forums context. I could say this and that like a CAT 988 loader loads better than yours and argue I could install a lawn with it. But is it realistic? Yes your machine is nice and we would all love to have one, thank you for extoling its virtues, and it is what it is. A full sized hoe that costs alot of money and is much larger than what is being discussed here. How about CAT versus Case, I personally would not buy your machine and instead would own a CAT because I think they are better. Does it matter. No.

p.s Did not know your machine came with so many implements, very impressive.

You began to compare your L-48 with a full size backhoe and I felt it was necessary to let you know a Case backhoe CAN perform many of the functions you said it couldn't do in your last post here:

" tractors such as an L48 is the most usable and versatile machine for landscape contractors like my self. Your Case won't mow fields, pull a rake, plow snow in residential driveways, grade gravel, have quick attach forks, spin a post hole digger, fit in my barn, fit in tight areas, and a whole bunch of other things that cannot live without. Besides the fact that you cannot do smaller jobs that an L48 can do with all the power it needs. A fullsized backhoe does dig better, but that is all it

You weren't comparing brands, you were comparing a small TLB to a large TLB.

I've run both (Kubota and Case full size) and there's no comparison. A large TLB can do anything better than a small one except cost less and fit in a small garage or a small space/trailer. I say this without bias-I have no reason to be biased. CAT is no better than Case or Deere. I was going to buy a CAT when I first started looking. I actually think the CASE might be a bit better and my Case dealer is much closer.

'nuff said.

 

[mike69440]

I hope in the end for my particular situation have a newly acquired small 18,000 lb excavator and small TLB (8100 lb L39) will prove more efficient and cost effective than having a full size near new BH.

As I only have been moving spoils short distances, enjoy the dozer, thumb and extra reach, and track features of the excavator which work well. I still have all the benefits and limitations of the L39. Each have their place on my property.

The excavator will out dig a full size hoe, the dozer blade will push dirt at least as well (Better I think) as a BH with a dozer blade or 4 in 1 bucket.

Of cause the excavator is missing tires (never win a race) and that big loader.

If I were in business & roading a single machine around town, that full size machine BH makes sense. A small utility tractor could clean up after the BH.

Often having a machine like a utility tractor, an excavator, and a track steer gives the contractor versitility they never get with one machine.

 

[JPCjr]

Builder,

Just out of curiousity, is there any application at all that you think the L48 is good for? Or do you just think it's a worthless machine, not capable of anything? I read about your experience with your L39 and I'm wondering if you just hate everything Kubota now and think all of their products are useless.

 

[xxxsandman]

Well I can tell you one thing so far that is a MAJOR plus for the the Kubota L48, they are much easier to pull to a job then ANY full size Backhoe! I've transported both now (full size backhoe and L48) and the L48 pulls very nice on a 14k gooseneck behind my Dodge 1 ton. The full size backhoe is a VERY big load on a 20k gooseneck behind my 1 ton, not to mention I'm overweight with it.

So if trailering your equipment is a requirement and you don't have a LARGER then 1 ton truck with 20k trailer and CDL, the L48 is about the biggest machine you can get.

My brother has an older BIG Ford backhoe (555?). It was wore out when he bought it (all he could afford) and guess what it's still wore out. It seems about twice as big as the L48, but I've used both and the L48 can keep up with it in all ways. I'm sure the old Ford would whip up on the L48 back in the day, but not anymore. Point is, if you buy an affordable wore out backhoe, it may not perform as well as an L48 or similar TLB. So, just keep that in mind when shopping all those backhoes that are half what they was new. They may be half the machine they was new too! Not saying you can't get a good machine for a good price, just saying you can get a wore out machine if you aren't careful.

So far I'm liking the L48. It really has more pushing ability then I thought it would. I hauled over 100,000 pounds of chicken litter in today and used the L48 to push it up into huge piles. I'm happy to report it is as strong loader wise as my New Holland LX865 skid steer and that's pretty strong!

 

[tlbuser]

You weren't comparing brands, you were comparing a small TLB to a large TLB.
'nuff said.

http://members.tripod.com/~hornedgorilla3/G/gorilla.gif

 

[Builder]

Builder,

Just out of curiousity, is there any application at all that you think the L48 is good for? Or do you just think it's a worthless machine, not capable of anything? I read about your experience with your L39 and I'm wondering if you just hate everything Kubota now and think all of their products are useless.

Heck no. I think the Kubotas are great machines! I just get tired of reading these myths perpetrated by others who don't know that a full sized backhoe is probably the most versatile machine ever built! Curtis Farmer made statements that just weren't true and I saw the need to set the record straight. he implied that my backhoe can't do anything but dig better than a Kubota and that's just not true, they can plow snow, transplant trees, lift palletized material, run a landscape rake, etc.

Miike69440's situtation is different. He's mostly working on piece of property and a trackhoe & small TLB makes a lot of sense.

I think if you had experience running both, you'd realize that a Case 580 is darn near as manueverable as a small Kubota. Reason I know is because I've run both machines in the same scenarios and was surprised at how nimble my Case is in tight spots. I'm just kicking myself for ever having sold my Ford 555!

 

[Builder]

Well I can tell you one thing so far that is a MAJOR plus for the the Kubota L48, they are much easier to pull to a job then ANY full size Backhoe! I've transported both now (full size backhoe and L48) and the L48 pulls very nice on a 14k gooseneck behind my Dodge 1 ton. The full size backhoe is a VERY big load on a 20k gooseneck behind my 1 ton, not to mention I'm overweight with it.

So if trailering your equipment is a requirement and you don't have a LARGER then 1 ton truck with 20k trailer and CDL, the L48 is about the biggest machine you can get.

My brother has an older BIG Ford backhoe (555?). It was wore out when he bought it (all he could afford) and guess what it's still wore out. It seems about twice as big as the L48, but I've used both and the L48 can keep up with it in all ways. I'm sure the old Ford would whip up on the L48 back in the day, but not anymore. Point is, if you buy an affordable wore out backhoe, it may not perform as well as an L48 or similar TLB. So, just keep that in mind when shopping all those backhoes that are half what they was new. They may be half the machine they was new too! Not saying you can't get a good machine for a good price, just saying you can get a wore out machine if you aren't careful.

So far I'm liking the L48. It really has more pushing ability then I thought it would. I hauled over 100,000 pounds of chicken litter in today and used the L48 to push it up into huge piles. I'm happy to report it is as strong loader wise as my New Holland LX865 skid steer and that's pretty strong!

That's correct, because an L-48 is a small machine, it's much easier to transport. I think that's pretty apparent. Comparing a newer L-48 to and "old wore out Ford" backhoe is not really the comparison that was being referred to previously in the thread by Curtis farmer. I'd rather have an L-48 than an old worn out Ford backhoe, unless I was digging a full depth basement or lifting 2 + tons in the bucket.

Suffice it to say, my Case is 2 times the machine of an L-39 or L-48. Add the air conditioned cab with suspension seat, extendahoe, 19' backhoe reach, 8' FEL and 6,500lb lift capacity, 27mph road speed and it's lights out. I think inferring that an L-48 compares to a full size backhoe is silly.

 

[coopers]

I think it's apparent that machines these days are built well enough that any size and type of machine can and will work for various applications. My previous job I held I operated case backhoes (we had two) and my boss REFUSED to use any other machine for a job. I got used to having to improvise with the backhoe to preform jobs that I would have preferred another machine (and these two were OLD 580B's!). Not every job that someone preforms will require a full size TLB. I believe that the L39 and L48 are great machines and should be used for certain applications that don't warrant a full size machine. As nimble as the full size backhoes can be (and I admit I am very biased towards Case backhoes) there are just certain applications that it is easier to use a smaller machine.

There were also plenty of times that I wanted to run the backhoe into a tree because I was so frustrated with not having any other resources to make the task go quicker and cleaner; and an excavator came to mind quite often. I'm not quite sure how we started talking about small TLB's and ended with large TLB's. If I remember correctly the original poster did not have an interest in a large TLB for various reasons and if I remember correctly again he ended up with an L48. This argument can go around in circles forever. I suggest starting another post/thread to hash out "The Benefits of Large backhoes vs. Small backhoes." There's stuff that a Case backhoe can't do that a Deere 120C can do. There's the start of another thread! wow.

Blake
WA

 

[Builder]

I agree. There's a place for small TLBs and a place for large TLBs. I just wanted to let Curtis farmer know that a big TLB can take the same implements a small TLB can, except for maybe a field mower.