Kubota L48 TL

[JATO_RaT]

I'm getting close to closing in on purchasing either a Kubota L48 or a L4610HST. While the L48 is a little more expensive, it is peanuts when you look at it over the years I'll have it. Hoping some L48 folks (I know their are very few) can give me some thoughts about their likes and dislikes. I won't be getting a hoe for it. I'm quite familiar with the L4610 and consider it a great tractor as well. Thanks in advance, Rat...

 

[HR_Mutt]

Rat
good to hear you're about ready to buy.
regards
Mutt

 

[JATO_RaT]

Hey Mutt, thanks again for your input about the L48 in the projects forum. Out here in Nothern CA. the L48 is selling quickly. My local Kubota dealer has 4 L48's in the yard, but they go fast. He has sold about 15 of them since he got his first one in several months ago. He also sells quite a few other Kubotas from the L's on down and it would appear, John Deere Gators. Rat...

 

[glennmac]

Rat,

Even though I only know these two tractors from looking at them and reading specs, I have absolutely no doubt which one you should get.

You have tractors and are very experienced with them. You have been looking for a long time. You know all the specs and prices. You know that the L48 TL is a larger, heavier, more hydraulically powerful unit. You know that the 4610 has a removable loader and may have more ground clearance--and is significantly less expensive. There is nothing left to learn; there are no surprises out there.

If these are your final two candidates, the choice is clear: You must buy the one that you like more. You know by now which one that is. If you buy the other one, you will always regret it.

QED.

 

[JATO_RaT]

Glenmac, here you are responding to my post and I'm elsewhere responding to yours about the JD video. I believe it was you that had the BX 2200 a year or so ago and regreted that you bought to small. I could be wrong, your name just comes to mind about that. You are correct in what you say, I was really after someone to point out the weaknesses about the L48. Since I already have a loaderless tractor, it has been fairly easy to get by and look for a long, long time. (Oct 1999 was when I started) Your assesment of the L48 is correct regarding the L48, for merely $3000 more, I can get the L48, have a full canopy, extra hydraulic flow, more loader, and a few other minor advantages. While I still regard the L4610 as an excellent tractor, the L48's loader will suit my needs a little better. Thanks for the advice, Rat...

 

[glennmac]

Rat, yes that was me agonizing over the BX. You took the time to write me a very nice private message, which I distinctly remember because it was the first one I had ever gotten.

If you want hydraulic power and hst, the L48 is king of the hill for the present.

 

[MarkV]

Rat,
Dang it, I have been following your posts about the L48 vs the L4610 and having the same trouble picking which one will be my next tractor. Last I heard you were looking at a 5K difference and I thought, OK, for 5K the 4610 is it. Now you are telling me you have it down to 3K and I am thinking, thats not to much. On the other hand, 3K would get close to a 4 in 1 loader and top an tilt set up. Get ready, which ever way you go, I plan to pick your brain./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkV

 

[JATO_RaT]

MarkV, actually, the difference is $3800. That doesn't seem like alot to me especially when you plan on keeping it a long time. I'll keep you posted. Rat

 

[gordon]

Mark you bring up some good points there. Goodies now or goodies later.-----hummmmm----

That is one tough call. Na--goodies now! 4610 it is

Gordon

 

[JATO_RaT]

Actually Gordon, I have most of the goodies I need. A 4N1 is nice, but not a neceesity right now. I have a big hydraulic box scraper, 80" mower, 8' power landscape rake and a few antique implements left by the previous owner. I will add top n tilt myself, already have a top link cylinder. Rat...

 

[richh]

Rat, I just had to do this! I could not live with out the 4in1 after all most a year now, its like having a extra 2or 3 hands.
Rich

 

[JATO_RaT]

Rich, its been awhile since I last spoke with you. It was at the time you traded in your old worn out GST L4610 with 10 hours on it for a new shiny orange HST L4610. You and McChalkley were talking tires and you had pictures of armament all over the underside of your tank. You know you don't have to convince me, the 4N1 is so slick. My plan would be to add a Quik Tach (Bobcat type quick hitch) and pick up a Bobcat 4N1 either 66" or 72" bucket. What width 4N1 did you get? How did you setup the control, solenoid or second valve? I wanted to get the stock bucket for dirt moving since it is about 300lbs lighter then the 4N1 beasts and then weld/adapt it to the Quik Tach ATI makes. Even Kubota sells the L48 with an optional Skid Steer attachment if you want it recognizing the value and versatility of such a hook up. Great to hear from you again and by the looks of your picture, getting alot of use out of the tractor and those old worn out Michelins, Rat...

 

[gordon]

Rat and Rich, well you both are bringing good points to the table. But in the end I believe that Rat will end up with the L48TL no matter what we say. All I can say is have fun with the new tractor. I sure am

Rich you should name that thread bringing the Christmas tree home early honey. Man I can say one thing, you sure do have that tractor tricked out nice. That is a picture MarkC needs to see./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Gordon

 

[JATO_RaT]

Gordon, did you ever see the pictures of the bullet proofing Rich did to the underside? I like Rich, hes not afraid to get his hands dirty. The 4N1 he has is really nice eh? Mark C is like that to. Some folks get so **** retentive about every little facet from greasing and oiling to will I hurt my tractor if I lift to much. Mark C once told a guy who wondered if he was hurting his loader by not being able to pick a heavy load of rocks to just try it, if it won't it, it won't, from there you just skid it. Its great to converse with folks who stretch their tractors and test them. Rat...

 

[richh]

Rat, Its fun to plug in agin and see whats going on! Glad to see your all still around, and this site just keeps getting bigger and better ! All of these new headings man I just don't have enough time. The L4610 is just fine go, go HST!!! I didn't see any post from Mark Dose he still drop in now and then?
Im happy to report that the skid plate is bullet proof so far, even hung it up on a stump once, no worries mate.
The quick tach sounds like a great idea but 2 bucktes? Just put weight in the back end. I have the Michlen's full of beat juice + 6 of cast iron weights on the back and the had the fronts filled up to. More is better! You can fill the 4 in 1 right up to the top and it has no troulbe picking it up. At first I thought it was under powered for a 72" bucket but I was trying to work it at 1500 to 2000 RPM, what diff. it makes runing it up to 2300 to 2600 RPM away it gos.
I still have trouble with bucket chatter when dumping, I have the dealer checking in to this and I rember that Mark had said somthing about this which is kind of what got me back on here. But all in all it is a hell of tractor ya just got a respect any thing that spin all that rubber. Oh and speaking of old and worn out those tires show no wear at all [ only 104 hr.] and I must tell that I have gone out of my way to drive over stumps and all kinds of woods related stuff, nothing. But when you look at the load rate I don't think you could hurt them with this little tractor. Rich

 

[richh]

Gordon, Im going to have to find out what this L48 is all about, it sound as if its bigger and more powerfull than a L4610?? Can that be??? Ha HA HA I would think that wed be getting out of the " compact tractor " area . I even qust. the whole L series, is there a point you draw the line???
Rich

 

[art]

The L-48 does have a larger engine than the L-4610.

 

[JATO_RaT]

Thats true Art, a little more displacement, 148 cu in vs 134 cu in same HP but actually less PTO HP then the L4610 HST, Rat...

 

[art]

I think with the extra cu-in that they probably chose to gain some torque on the engine.

 

[gordon]

Ok here is a question. The 4310 and the 4610 have the same engine correct? The difference being the rpm the hp rating is taken at. Now What are the torque specs for all three and the hp ratings versus the rpm at which all of the above tractors are rated at?

Does this make sense?
Gordon