Kubota vs Massey advice

[HJ75]

Once you own a Alo or Quicke loader, you’ll never want another brand. They are overbuilt, stout and easy to take care of.

Who makes the Massey FL series loaders?

 

[scootr]

Heavier is almost always better with tractors. It will help with stability (safety) and traction.

Most of us try to add weight by filling the rear tires (or some other options).

To a point you are correct, until the machine is just too big and heavy for the application. That was the point with my old Terex 640. It did road maintenance like a boss but was less desirable for small daily tasks around the ranch. I replaced it with a Kubota MX5200 and I should have done that sooner. Neighbor bought a similar sized Yanmar and it is too lightly bult for my tastes. He bent a loader arm pulling a post . I think Kubota in the 50hp size is a good compromise between weight and useability for a small ranch

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Weight was one of the obstacles I faced when buying my last tractor, because I did not want to replace my pickup and/or trailer ... Trailer is 7K rated, weighs just over 2K, while the tongue takes some of the weight, I set a limit of only 5K for the tractor, BUT I wanted the most HP I could get to run as big of a mower as I could, pickup is rated for only 8900 Lb tow capacity, due to the silly 3.08 gearing ...

I was looking for no computer, or emissions stuff, which severely limited my selection ...

My cabbed Kubota is about 4300 Lbs, 52 HP, I really like my Massey Ferguson, and talked with my local dealer I bought it from a few times ... He just couldn't come up with anything that checked all my boxes ... But it's really only a big lawn mower for me.

 

[Hay Dude]

Funny how some guys will defend Kubota’s advantage of “light weight”, while there’s like 3 active threads at any given time about filling tires with fluid and wheel weights on them.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Well, generally heavier is better when it comes to tractors, but ... For my one tractor I wanted as light as possible with as much PTO HP as possible for running a finish mower ... My other one I not only have filled tires, steel wheel weights, but came up with a way to add steel weight lifting plates to the BH mount when using the three point for added traction!

It's nice to have options!

 

[Torvy]

Well, generally heavier is better when it comes to tractors, but ... For my one tractor I wanted as light as possible with as much PTO HP as possible for running a finish mower ... My other one I not only have filled tires, steel wheel weights, but came up with a way to add steel weight lifting plates to the BH mount when using the three point for added traction!

It's nice to have options!

I was concerned about hauling, too. Then I realized that the tractor I needed was going to be too heavy to pull without buying an expensive new truck.

2 years later, I haven't come close to needing to put my tractor on a trailer. If I get in a pinch, my neighbor has a big diesel flatbed work truck and trailer I could get a lift from. (Or there's always rentals)

 

[Farmer495]

Just to add to this, US model Kubota's only come with Kubota loaders. In Canada we have a choice of Kubota or ALO loaders from factory. (on the Utility models, M6 and up for sure)

Here too, in fact the Kubota dealers I approached for quotes, pushed the ALO (Quicke) loader over the Kubota genuine one for some reason.

Here too, in fact the Kubota dealers I approached for quotes, pushed the ALO (Quicke) loader over the Kubota genuine one for some reason.

ALO loaders are a much better tougher loader than Kubota's.

SR

Once you own a Alo or Quicke loader, you’ll never want another brand. They are overbuilt, stout and easy to take care of.

Video from a Canadian Kubota dealer outlining the ALO built Kubota M32 loader and talking about the differences between the ALO and Kubota L series.
He says 10% higher price, when I bought last year the price difference between the M32 and L1154EA was way more than 10%.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I bought one of my ALO loaders back in the 90's, and hydraulic disconnect was an option then that I din't choose, no problem getting it at all.

I'm not sure why it wouldn't be available here in the states now.

SR

 

[Farmer495]

I bought one of my ALO loaders back in the 90's, and hydraulic disconnect was an option then that I din't choose, no problem getting it at all.

I'm not sure why it wouldn't be available here in the states now.

SR

Yes, ALO always had that option.

Might be a reference to factory hydraulic disconnect not being a Kubota orange loader thing. I don't think you can get the orange ALO loaders in US and they said the L loaders don't have it.

 

[Paystar]

Funny how some guys will defend Kubota’s advantage of “light weight”, while there’s like 3 active threads at any given time about filling tires with fluid and wheel weights on them.

That is the idea. They are built light and you add weight to your liking.
Many people do not want a big heavy tractor on their fields for light tasks such as haying and pasture mowing.

 

[Paystar]

Video from a Canadian Kubota dealer outlining the ALO built Kubota M32 loader and talking about the differences between the ALO and Kubota L series.
He says 10% higher price, when I bought last year the price difference between the M32 and L1154EA was way more than 10%.

That's because prices in Canada increase daily, LOL

 

[Farmer495]

Funny how some guys will defend Kubota’s advantage of “light weight”, while there’s like 3 active threads at any given time about filling tires with fluid and wheel weights on them.

I farmed with a Massey and a CaseIH for years, similar power utility tractors. Both had loaded tires, but the CaseIH was 1000lb heavier. The light weight Massey was my choice for wet ground even though it was on slightly smaller rubber.

 

[Farmer495]

That's because prices in Canada increase daily, LOL

I half wonder if it is "tariffs" real or imagined. The L loaders are USA built. I had asked about both loaders (in 2024) and was basically told the ALO was a nicer loader but it was about 33% more money.

 

[Paystar]

I half wonder if it is "tariffs" real or imagined. The L loaders are USA built. I had asked about both loaders (in 2024) and was basically told the ALO was a nicer loader but it was about 33% more money.

Trend started with the covid excuse. Now they have a new excuse with tariffs.
But it's mostly our worthless currency.

 

[Yander]

Thank you all for the replies.

I am sorry, I didn't want to start an argument, I was just going by the weights on the brochures I have for the equivalent HP tractors (M9540, MF4709), and I wondered why the big difference.

If Kubota really are referring to shipping weight without wheels, that could explain it, I know there are cast centers or pressed steel centers options which would make a big weight difference.

I hope to have a look at some tractors in the next few days, one plus for Kubota is they have a dealer 15 min drive away, the other dealers are at least an hour and a half drive away which is still not too bad.

I have some boggy low-lying clay country where lower weight may be an advantage? I guess you can always add weight for traction when necessary?

Ah, don't sweat the lively discussion, doesn't take much here. Just don't ask what oil is best, that would take the thread into next year with opinions. : )

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

I half wonder if it is "tariffs" real or imagined. The L loaders are USA built. I had asked about both loaders (in 2024) and was basically told the ALO was a nicer loader but it was about 33% more money.

My Massey 4707 has the ALO self-leveling loader and it was worth every penny of an upcharge.

 

[Hay Dude]

My Quicke loader already has soft ride, 3rd & 4th function (remotes for grapple, etc. and hydraulic loader bucket release) but next one is going to have the built-in loader scale with the readout in my cab. It’s an expensive option, and worth every penny.

I highly suggest all of you buying “loaded” loaders as they are so useful and make operating them a great deal more useful and easy