Kubota MX5000

[mike223]

I'm new to the forum, and am one of those trying to figure out the tractor I need. It will be used for mowing aprox 15 ac, plowing food plots twice a year, maintaining a driveway, and light timber hauling, mostly for firewood. I have driven the Mahindra 3510 and 4110, the New Holland TC39, and the Kubota MX5000, all are 4WD. I liked the Kubota, and the Mahindra the best. The New Holland are ALL plastic, which really turned me off. I haven't been to the Deere dealer yet, but want to see the JD990. The Kubota dealer will sell me the MX5000, 702 FEL and 7' Bush Hog Squealer for a package price of $24,450, the NH will sell me the TC with FEL for 21,000, and the Mahindra dealer wants 21,000 for the 4110 w/FEL. I'm leaning toward the Kubota, but am withholding judgement until I drive the JD 990. Any opinions on the above tractors are welcome. Thanks for the help.

 

[BamaRob]

I feel that those are all solid tractors that would handle the intended uses you mentioned. If you're comfortable with the price quotes on each, I'd say it all comes down to personal preference and your "gut feel" about each dealer. A good dealer/service shop can make a big difference in your satisfaction with your tractor.

I personally prefer the red tractor you mentioned, just because I own one of the same brand (I've never even sat on a 4110) and because that particular model (4110) comes highly recommended by a forester/wildlife biologist friend of mine that makes heavy use of them in his consulting business (I think he has 3 4110's in his fleet now).

Later,

BR

 

[hunterridgefarm]

All of these are great tractors.

Not sure if this is an apples to apples comparison. The Mx5000 is 50 HP and the Deere 990, Mahindra 4110, and NH TC39 (?), (do you mean TC40...?), are all around 40 HP. HP wise the Kubota L4330 or L4400 would be closer to 40HP. However the L4330 would cost the same or more than an MX5000 in my area.


The Mahindra 5500 and Deere 5105 would be 50HP comparison to the MX5000.

For 15 acres you could get by with around 30-35 HP and save a little $. But if you are like me too much HP is better than not enough.

Any of these would work for you the only thing I did not like about the JD 990 is that it did not have foldable ROP's. This my be an option but the dealer I talked with said the 990 did not come with foldable ROP's

As BamaRob said dealer/service is very important.

Drive each one several times to be sure you get the tractor that "fits" you.

 

[fish_wisperer]

im a mahindra guy but the cool factor for that mx5000 4wd is way up there, i almost bought one. the comparable mahindra is alot heavier though so if you need the weight go mahindra 5500 if not and i dont think you do go with mx5000. that 5500 4wd is a good looking tractor to but what i liked about the mx5000 4wd was it wasnt quite a full size tractor but had a 50hp engine.

 

[mike223]

It WAS the NH TC40A with the 16LA FEL, I was typing from memory, and after checking the quote on the literature I realize it. My bad. I want to run a 7' cutter vice a 6', and most people tell me that I need at least 40 HP at the PTO to keep from bogging down. I liked the Kubota because it was not as tall as the others, and had a 50 HP motor with 44 at the PTO, and also because it was well finished, and was ALL metal, as was the Mahindra. The only hesitation I have on the Mahindra was that the dealer with whom I was speaking would not give me a bottom line price until I'm ready to throw money down, which I thought was sort of BS. Too, his price was almost the same for the 4110 as Kubota was for the MX5000, and the Kubota is a 50 HP tractor. One question I have about the Mahindra, and that is-are the 3 point hitch attach points on the axle hardened, and how hard would it be to bend these points, if at all? Keep in mind that I'm new to tractors and some of my questions may seem ignorant, and that's because I am ignorant of tractors, but trying to learn. Thanks.

 

[n4807g]

Buy a Farm Pro 8240 82 HP turbo diesel...air conditioned/heated cab. You'll really appreciate the air conditioning when you're mowing. You mentioned timber? Does that mean a wood winch? You'll want something with more than 40/50hp if that's the case. The 82 HP tractor will drive the larger Farmi model winch, about 16K pound pull. Farm Pro 8240 with a Koyker 310 FEL around $25,000. With that much tractor you can drive any implement you want. The 8240 is similar (actually a little more HP) to the Mahindra 70 series cab tractor or the MF471.

 

[tjkadar]

I couldn't find the specs on the Farm Pro 8240, but I did find them on the Farm Pro 8020. Maybe I have the wrong site? Anyway, the numbers on the 8020 didn't really look all that great for an 80 hp tractor. Granted, when taking a quick glance at something it can be hard to compare the specs from one machine to another (There has been more then one thread concerning specs on this site).

I couldn't find the PTO hp listed anywhere. Instead they only gave you gross engine hp. The 3 point only comes in Cat I, whereas most tractors of 80 hp have either Cat II or a Cat I/II combination.

That isn't to say that Farm Pro doesn't make a good tractor. It just says the website Farm Pro isn't very informative and borders on being a bit misleading. However, the applications list appears to be appropriate for the tractor's specs that I could dig up.

The question of weight and tractors comes up time and again. There is a way to properly ballast a tractor that comes from determining the amount of slip generated at the tires. Often times, a tractor is too heavy for most of the applications it is asked to do. That results in wasted fuel, more ground compaction, etc.

A tractor that is going to be used primarily for mowing does not need to carry the same weight as one that is asked to plow. The problem arises when you ballast your tractor correctly for ground engaging operations and then leave all that excess poundage on the tractor all the time. What is worse is when you don't even have the option to help your tractor shed some unneeded pounds.

There is always a perfect tool for a single job. But, because most of us can't afford to buy a tool for each separate job, we must buy one that has some compromises. Define the tasks first. Determine which will be the primary uses for the tool and buy something that is strong in those areas and acceptable in the other, less often used tasks.

The OP asked for opinions concerning several specific brands of tractors. I believe he asked about NH, JD, Kubota, & Mahindra. Each manufacturer builds some fine tractors. I like all the listed tractors and my order of preference depends on the model I'm looking at. Out of that group, I would have a tough time making a choice without some seat time and dealership time.

Good luck with your search... and if I were in your shoes, I would probably go with the MX5000, a GR Series Root Grapple , and a Bush-Whacker rotary cutter.

 

[n4807g]

You're right it's too much tractor by comparison to the others, which are far smaller machines. Gross tractor weight with wheel weights 3990 kg (roughly 8300 lbs.) As for weight to power ratios, the heavier the tractor the greater capacity to pull a load. The larger the engine required to drive the machine. For instance; if you're using a Farmi winch and pulling a string of logs that weigh 6,000 pounds, don't bother using a tractor smaller than a Farm Pro 8240 or a MF471, you'll be pulling the tractor to the logs.

It's a CatI/II 3 pt with draft control (actually it's a cat II with provision for cat I). Check the specs on the Perkins 1004-4T turbo diesel and you'll know everything you need to know about the engine (same engine as MF471). As for the PTO it's dual speed 540/1000 rated 70Hp (operators manual). In my limited experience with tractors the PTO at 70 hp will trun just about any implement you'd use. By comparison 40hp PTO would limit the size of a mower or snowblower. You'd also have to settle for a smaller snow blower. One nice thing about the 8240 (2005 model = updated 8020) you can put a much larger FEL on this tractor. Mine has the Koyker 310...a very nice loader.

I do like the cab...no "bunny" suit in the winter just short sleeve shirts and jeans. I've also mowed my last field without air conditioning, man is it ever nice. To think I mowed the last 14 years in the heat and choking dust.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Mike,
I failed to see the 7' hog in your orginal post /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. The general rule is 5 PTO HP per foot of hog. So the MX5000 should work fine.
I am still looking at the MX5000 and M4900 as well as NH and JD.

All of the tractors you listed are great machines and should work well as long as you get enough PTO HP to pull a 7'hog.

If you buy the Kubota, NH, or JD take the bill of sale by and show it to the Mahindra dealer. Not wanting to talk price till your ready to buy sounds like a car salesman.

Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[fish_wisperer]

the 3pt on my mahindra 4500 was twice as beefy as the kubota m4900.

 

[slowzuki]

Re winching, I use my L5030 HSTC plenty for winching. Works just fine, when you lift the butts the adds weight and traction for driving.

If you are winching 6000 lb logs or twitches regularly you may wish to invest in a skidder.

If you are looking at larger 80 hp machines, try looking at some used Case - IH or other brand farm tractors. If you are keen on tinkering the chinese and other model tractors are worth looking at, just remember that tractors wear and eventually break. Think of where you will get parts in 10 years.

 

[n4807g]

There is a lot of confusion about where the "big" Chinese tractors come from. Big is anything over 50hp. In an attempt to help eliminate that confusion here's a link to Foton's website. The product line is "Foton", and the brand is Foton EuroLeopard. These tractors are sold under a variety of names in N. America. The Farm Pro 8240/8020 is equivalent to the Foton EuroLeopard 824/804. If you look at the site you can find everything you need to know about who they are and what they make...more than just tractors.

http://www.fotonhi.com/en//product/agriculture/index.html#2

 

[mike223]

Hey guys, I'm not trying to start a war here, just get info. When I said logging, I meant cutting down a few trees and skidding (dragging) them to where they'll be cut up for firewood, not a logging operation. The tractor will be used mostly for mowing an 11 ac pasture surrounding where my house and shop will be, and plowing food plots for deer. The actual plot will be 50 yards wide and 600 yards long under a TVA powerline, which is approximately 6 ac +/-. I will also be using it to maintain a gravel/chert driveway, and possibly plowing for a household garden. I just wanted to be able to use a 7' cutter vice a 6' to decrease mowing time a bit. I can't justify going to an 80-100 hp tractor which would do a 10' cutter, since I don't have that much to cut. I also have to be able to maneuver through the woods to get to the powerline food plot, so a larger tractor would not be ideal.

I have never heard of KAMA tractors. Where are they made? If they are made in China, I won't touch them, for personal political/religious reasons.

Thanks again for all the info, and again, I'm not trying to start a heated discussion, just collect info from experienced operators.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

your looking at exactly the tractors you should be. People around here have a bad habbit of suggeting their personal choices rather than making suggestions based upon what your actually looking for.

 

[n4807g]

Kama is a Chinese tractor....have you ever mowed with a brush hog before? 6' or 7' isn't going to make a lot of difference. You'll be traveling S*L*O*W*L*Y with a sub 50hp tractor anyway.

 

[n4807g]

Or what they sell....no bias there?

 

[mike223]

Well, I figure that I'd rather cut a 6' path with a 1' overlap than smaller. I realize it won't be much faster, but every little bit should help. I'm also figuring that I'll only have to cut every two months, so 16-20 hours every two months shouldn't be too awfully bad.

 

[n4807g]

I think you're about right in your calculation.

 

[richtidebruin]

Mike,

I would have to agree with hunter's assessment, there are some very large differences in the equipment you mentioned. I have been looking at tractors for about the same purposes and have been asking myself several questions relative to total price and performance.

- Do I want all the luxuries (L5030 vs MX5000) and is it worth the price difference?
- Do I want or need HST transmission?
- How much HP is enough?
- Dealer support?
- Financing options?

My answers may differ from everyone else on the board, but have come to conclude the following: Yes, I want the luxuries... I would prefer gear transmission (Kubota's GST is really nice)... Min 35 PTO hp, over 45 PTO Hp is overkill... Dealer Support ... many times you get what you pay for... Financing Kubota has some of the best programs now... but is more a matter of timing.

I have driven the Mahindra, Kubota, and Massey liking the L4630 and MF 1547/Challenger MT285 best. I am staying away from Deere due to turbocharged engines in the 20series and personal choice.

You may find yourself gravitating to one machine or brand or another after sorting out some of these decisions (easier said than done). All the machines you listed are good and could work, the question only you can answer is - which one works best for you...Best of Luck

 

[mike223]

richtidebruin,
I'm leaning toward either the Mahindra or the Kubota, but I want to give Deere a chance as well. If I can find a Kioti dealer either in FL or TN, I will try that as well.

Where exactly in Middle TN are you? I'm living in NE FL right now, but am in the process of purchasing property in the Dickson/Centerville area, Pinewood to be precise, and plan on building/moving there in the next year.