Buying Advice Kubota vs JD...newbie with 80 acres

[TSO]

Congrats! That tractor (and the 6010) were pretty high on my list when I was shopping.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The 5010 was in my top three when I was buying last summer. It's a nice tractor and should give you many years of good service. Congrats!

 

[rvb]

I was in the same spot your in, After tons of research and spending time with both tractors and many others I bought the deere. I ordered it it Nov and it just came in. For me personally I felt the deere was a better fit. This is a pic of it at the dealer, they have to add loader and bunch of other stuff. I hate to say it, but one of the big reason was the buddy seat. Sounds stupid, but I really want my boys to be with me when using the tractor.

Mr. Calhoun9001,

I am looking at the 5085e vs the M8560. What are your thoughts on the range selector in the JD? I am not a big guy (5'9" 160#) and that things seems like it is in my way. Right there rubbing or banging on my knee. Also, the joystick for the loader seems very cheesy to me. Actually, most stuff in the JD felt "economy". There are things I liked, but I'm truly torn. I got in the Kubota and nothing stood out to me as annoying or cheesy. I just got in and went. It seems like it is set up more like my JD 2355 which I love (and will be trading in). Now that you have had it awhile, how do you like it? Can anyone else offer me a reason to by JD? Trust me. I WANT to buy JD. However, there are things I like about the owner, dealership, and tractor at the Kubota. First, it's about 10 minutes away. And he has a JD dealership about an hour away. He and I were talking and he said that the e-series JDs are economy, the m-series are the upper end models, and that the kubota m-series is probably somewhere in between. That seemed to be my take too. My big fear in going with Kubota is that parts won't be available when I need them and that there is too much emissions crap on the tractor to make maintaining it a PITA. I would appreciate any input you all have.

Thanks,

rvb

 

[calhoun9001]

Mr. Calhoun9001,

I am looking at the 5085e vs the M8560. What are your thoughts on the range selector in the JD? I am not a big guy (5'9" 160#) and that things seems like it is in my way. Right there rubbing or banging on my knee. Also, the joystick for the loader seems very cheesy to me. Actually, most stuff in the JD felt "economy". There are things I liked, but I'm truly torn. I got in the Kubota and nothing stood out to me as annoying or cheesy. I just got in and went. It seems like it is set up more like my JD 2355 which I love (and will be trading in). Now that you have had it awhile, how do you like it? Can anyone else offer me a reason to by JD? Trust me. I WANT to buy JD. However, there are things I like about the owner, dealership, and tractor at the Kubota. First, it's about 10 minutes away. And he has a JD dealership about an hour away. He and I were talking and he said that the e-series JDs are economy, the m-series are the upper end models, and that the kubota m-series is probably somewhere in between. That seemed to be my take too. My big fear in going with Kubota is that parts won't be available when I need them and that there is too much emissions crap on the tractor to make maintaining it a PITA. I would appreciate any input you all have.

Thanks,

rvb

Not sure what your talking about with the range selector, Are you looking at a cab 5085E? The range selector is on the right side just behind the main shifter. Im 5'11 and had never had issue with any of the controls, for me it was laid out the best of all the tractors i looked at. Also I thought the location of the joystick on the deer was way better then the kubota. I have done a ton of loader work and loved how close all the controls are. My neigbor has a 7060 with deluxe cab, for me the Deere cab was superior. The other thing that sold me on the deere was the weight, If i remember right its 1000lbs+ heavier then the kubota. With the H260 loader you want all the weight you can get. I did have AC problem, they had to adjust a door and recently had issue with bolts backing off on my loader bracket. Come to find out when they put it together at dealer they missed a couple washers on two bolts. Other then these issues been very happy with the purchase. Picture with the grapple on moving logs!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Mr. Calhoun9001,

I am looking at the 5085e vs the M8560. What are your thoughts on the range selector in the JD? I am not a big guy (5'9" 160#) and that things seems like it is in my way. Right there rubbing or banging on my knee. Also, the joystick for the loader seems very cheesy to me. Actually, most stuff in the JD felt "economy". There are things I liked, but I'm truly torn. I got in the Kubota and nothing stood out to me as annoying or cheesy. I just got in and went. It seems like it is set up more like my JD 2355 which I love (and will be trading in). Now that you have had it awhile, how do you like it? Can anyone else offer me a reason to by JD? Trust me. I WANT to buy JD. However, there are things I like about the owner, dealership, and tractor at the Kubota. First, it's about 10 minutes away. And he has a JD dealership about an hour away. He and I were talking and he said that the e-series JDs are economy, the m-series are the upper end models, and that the kubota m-series is probably somewhere in between. That seemed to be my take too. My big fear in going with Kubota is that parts won't be available when I need them and that there is too much emissions crap on the tractor to make maintaining it a PITA. I would appreciate any input you all have.

Thanks,

rvb

Do not purchase the JD because you think parts will be around for a long time. That may have been true a long time ago when there were only a few different tractors. This is not the case today. There are parts already no longer available on several of the compact tractors. (the JD 110 TLB is a perfect example) My take on it is that if it is a very popular machine, the longer the parts will be around,(because there were more parts made) but I don't think that parts are continually made for out of production models. More like whatever happens to be left over is what there is for parts.

I know none of this as fact, only what I have observed over the years.

Another question, why would you purchase a green tractor when you don't even like it? Just because it is green? Buy the tractor that YOU are comfortable with, Kubota will most likely have parts for their tractors just as long as JD will have for theirs.

 

[rvb]

Not sure what your talking about with the range selector, Are you looking at a cab 5085E? The range selector is on the right side just behind the main shifter. Im 5'11 and had never had issue with any of the controls, for me it was laid out the best of all the tractors i looked at. Also I thought the location of the joystick on the deer was way better then the kubota. I have done a ton of loader work and loved how close all the controls are. My neigbor has a 7060 with deluxe cab, for me the Deere cab was superior. The other thing that sold me on the deere was the weight, If i remember right its 1000lbs+ heavier then the kubota. With the H260 loader you want all the weight you can get. I did have AC problem, they had to adjust a door and recently had issue with bolts backing off on my loader bracket. Come to find out when they put it together at dealer they missed a couple washers on two bolts. Other then these issues been very happy with the purchase. Picture with the grapple on moving logs!

Yessir, a cab model. That A-B-C shifter thing is right down on the right and seemed a pain in the balls to use. Also, the tractor bounced around quite a bit while I was driving it. Of course there was no loader on it and and not sure if they had fluid in the tires. The bouncing should stop. I LOVE my 2355, but it has air conditioning problems. Were they able to fix your A/C issue? I am going to go back and drive the JD and Kubota again. Man! How do you like that grapple?! I am wanting to get a grapple for logs etc.

 

[rvb]

Do not purchase the JD because you think parts will be around for a long time. That may have been true a long time ago when there were only a few different tractors. This is not the case today. There are parts already no longer available on several of the compact tractors. (the JD 110 TLB is a perfect example) My take on it is that if it is a very popular machine, the longer the parts will be around,(because there were more parts made) but I don't think that parts are continually made for out of production models. More like whatever happens to be left over is what there is for parts.

I know none of this as fact, only what I have observed over the years.

Another question, why would you purchase a green tractor when you don't even like it? Just because it is green? Buy the tractor that YOU are comfortable with, Kubota will most likely have parts for their tractors just as long as JD will have for theirs.

Because I love my JD 2355 and it is a solid tractor and my $$$ stays in America. It doesn't go to Japan. I just don't like some small things and wanted to ask someone who has had considerable seat time in one if they had similar issues. That's all. I like lots about the JD. I like that the 4wd is engaged mechanically, not with a switch that will fail. I like the fact that you can change to economy pto from inside the cab. I like the fact that it weighs more. I like the fact that the dealer has MANY larger tractors and deals with farmers, not just casual homeowner users. The kubota dealer has only just now got a couple of bigger tractors on the lot. I am not sure the kubota dealer is set up to work on the tractor if I need it (I need to ask that question), etc. If the JD had the same setup inside as my 2355, I'd have bought it already. I am just trying to weigh my options. I've never bought a new tractor. I have always made due with the older tractors I have. This tractor is going to be a big deal for me. It will replace 3 (my JD 2355 I use for baling and cutting hay, my MF 265 I use for loader work, and my NH TC30 I use for smaller work) and I will be spending a LOT of time in it. John Deere is a proven brand. I guess Kubota is too, but I have no experience with them.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Because I love my JD 2355 and it is a solid tractor and my $$$ stays in America. It doesn't go to Japan. I just don't like some small things and wanted to ask someone who has had considerable seat time in one if they had similar issues. That's all. I like lots about the JD. I like that the 4wd is engaged mechanically, not with a switch that will fail. I like the fact that you can change to economy pto from inside the cab. I like the fact that it weighs more. I like the fact that the dealer has MANY larger tractors and deals with farmers, not just casual homeowner users. The kubota dealer has only just now got a couple of bigger tractors on the lot. I am not sure the kubota dealer is set up to work on the tractor if I need it (I need to ask that question), etc. If the JD had the same setup inside as my 2355, I'd have bought it already. I am just trying to weigh my options. I've never bought a new tractor. I have always made due with the older tractors I have. This tractor is going to be a big deal for me. It will replace 3 (my JD 2355 I use for baling and cutting hay, my MF 265 I use for loader work, and my NH TC30 I use for smaller work) and I will be spending a LOT of time in it. John Deere is a proven brand. I guess Kubota is too, but I have no experience with them.

Well from this post, maybe you need to make some spread sheets and list out all the pros, cons and it's "ok" columns. One of the reasons it is hard to communicate via typed conversation, I can't see you or hear your tone relating to things. What I got out of your previous post was that you liked everything about the Kubota and not the John Deere, but you want to have a John Deere. :confused3:

Good luck with your decision.

 

[houstonscott]

You might just make the decision by asking your self some simple questions, which company is treading up, which one is more responsive to users, which company is managed better, which company do you think will know an 80 acres guys needs, which company is innovative, which company is expanding, which one is losing market share. You don't want to turn around and find you own a Pontic in twenty years. HS

 

[Turbys_1700]

IMHO...
You will not go wrong with either of the tractors...
Quality and service should not be a concern...
Deere and Kubota are particular about who their dealers are...
And in your case the same owner has both of them...
I have no idea how each unit will price out but to me the important thing is to get what you want...
I would not be concerned about parts...
I know it is a tough decision when you are shelling out that kind of dollars...
Sometimes you just have to go with your gut...