L3901 vs L4701

[ericm979]

I think filling the rear tires on my Branson cost about $400 through the dealer three years ago. They're probably slightly smaller tires than the Kubotas you're looking at but much of the cost is time and the Rimguard guy coming out. Is that $900 for filling all four? I think filling the fronts would be only a small benefit, not worth the trouble.

Rimguard is the only company offering beet juice ballast.

 

[Richard]

I don't really have a dog in this fight but my 2-cents is....

I went with a bigger machine, not so much for extra pulling power but rather for weight and stopping power.

I'm on hills and the hill behind my house, I'm told, is the highest hill in the county (which in Nebraska could mean it's an ant hill.....but, I'm not in Nebraska!)

Anyway, with a 15' flexwing behind me, I didn't want to get into a tractor that might get pushed around and jack knife on me as I negotiate some of my terrain.

 

[rbtjr]

I agree with Bullwinkle. We have a MX5800, which replaced an L3800. We closely compared the L4700 and the MX series. We obviously ended up with the MX and within it opted to get the higher hp version. We really like our MX and consider it to be good value. However, in defense of the L3901, we really liked our L3800 with one exception: We could not adjust the width of the rear wheels with R4 tires. We bought and installed 4" spacers on each rear wheel, to increase the width 8" total. That made a really big difference in the stability of the tractor. Our MX has R4 tires but could be adjusted, and we adjusted them all the way out.


Best wishes with your selection. If you have any specific questions about the MX, feel free to PM me. I am sure the other advocates of the MX would say the same.

 

[RickB]

Boy some dealers are really cashing in on Rimguard/beet juice. Those prices are crazy.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

How many gallons of windshield washer fluid are sprayed on car windows every year ....... I'm guessing a lot.....

Lol, that may be, but it isn't in my grass, near my well, from which my drinking water is obtained. I'm pretty picky about what goes on around my land.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Btw, to the OP, my own motivations for the 5400 over the 4701 may not match yours. For example, my property is very hilly, so stability was a concern for me, which is why I was looking at the width of all the Kubotas between the 3901 and the 5400.

On the other hand, you said you had 10 acres to brush hog I think, which is twice mine, so an extra foot on your cutter might be nice! Anyway, good luck.

And yes, beet juice, not beat juice, doh!

 

[RickB]

Lol, that may be, but it isn't in my grass, near my well, from which my drinking water is obtained. I'm pretty picky about what goes on around my land.

Get a good dose of Rimguard that has been in a tire for a few years and that tune might be different.

 

[RonSwanson]

Btw, to the OP, my own motivations for the 5400 over the 4701 may not match yours. For example, my property is very hilly, so stability was a concern for me, which is why I was looking at the width of all the Kubotas between the 3901 and the 5400.

On the other hand, you said you had 10 acres to brush hog I think, which is twice mine, so an extra foot on your cutter might be nice! Anyway, good luck.

And yes, beet juice, not beat juice, doh!

Well I think both the l4701 and Mx would run 6 implements no? Maybe the MX can use 7?

And I dont think the l4701 is the oddball model. It looks like Kubota made their decision and cut the MX4800 from the lineup so I dont think the l4701 is going anywhere soon.

They had an MX5400 on the lot that I looked at briefly. Ill consider it for sure because yea the cost difference is nothing. However, its not just cost. I just really like the size and weight of the 4701.

 

[RonSwanson]

Also those saying just go MX because its bigger and more robust and whatnot. Well yea, its a class bigger tractor. Its a similar jump from from the L3901 to l4701 to mx5400. About 500lbs more for each model. I just really like where that 4701 sits at 3300lbs before filling the tires.

 

[RickB]

You should follow your gut and buy what you think fits your needs and budget. The L4701 is a fine choice and a significant step up from an L3901.

 

[Motorboatin]

The MX is about 6 inches wider but it also comes with telescoping lift arms a rubber floor mat and grab handles on both fenders

When I looked at the 4701 and MX at the dealer the price difference was negligible but the MX series was just a little better equipped

 

[Bullwinkle123]

If the 4701 fits your bill that's great!

Since some people have made some of my points murky, I'll rehash two: it is a much smaller step up from the 4701 to the 5400 than it is from the 3901 to the 4701,
and while your dealer may say the 4701 is mainstream, the two Kubota dealers near me say that it is an orphan, and DO NOT keep it on the lot unless it's some tradein for resale. From which one might (right or wrong) wonder if the resale value on the machine was as good.

That said, no agenda from me, and I claim nothing beyond a clueless journey with much research through the same path you're wandering. But our needs and goals are likely very different.

Best of luck!

 

[RickB]

We stock and sell almost as many 4701s as 3901s. Sold one last week and have 2 on the lot right now.

 

[ericm979]

Keep in mind that tractors tend to shrink for the first month or two that you own them. What seems huge when it shows up at your place will seem ordinary and much smaller after a while.

 

[3gunr]

I have 3 kubota dealers i pass buy regularly and they all have L 4701s on the lot.

 

[RonSwanson]

Yea my dealer said the 4701 is a big seller. Again, Kubota dropped the MX4800. That tells me the 4701 is a big seller and they wanted to drop one of the models since they are pretty similar and wanted to clean up the lineup a bit.

 

[Cranblue]

My local dealers in Western NC all stock 4701 and I bought one last year from Charlotte Tractor !!! We have 18.5 acre property I felt a 40-50 hp tractor was ideal with loader and back hoe for tree removal and maintaining property L4701 has served me well little over 300 hrs.I looked at MX 5200 I’m sure a great tractor but for me L4701 just seemed logical for home and property owner.

 

[RonSwanson]

My local dealers in Western NC all stock 4701 and I bought one last year from Charlotte Tractor !!! We have 18.5 acre property I felt a 40-50 hp tractor was ideal with loader and back hoe for tree removal and maintaining property L4701 has served me well little over 300 hrs.I looked at MX 5200 I’m sure a great tractor but for me L4701 just seemed logical for home and property owner.

A backhoe would be cool because I have some trees I want to clear out but I can稚 justify the 8 grand or whatever it costs. I think I知 just going to rent a mini ex when I need it.

 

[RonSwanson]

Lets say Im set on the L4701 because I think I am and I want to go take advantage of this 0% financing. I definitely want filled R4s. Should I have them add remotes to the rear? That would allow me to angle a grader hydraulically or use a wood chipper or something right?

With these packages I know they typically include the lightest duty cutter and box blade. Should I try to up those to heavier medium duty units or something?

Not sure if I mentioned it but Ive had a guy with an L3901 do some work on my property. Spread a couple loads of SB2 and mowed 11 acres of my pasture. I asked him about the L3901 and he said he likes it and is easy to trailer around but definitely would not go any smaller or less HP.

 

[RickB]

One rear remote is a must have in my book, two is better. You will never pay less for them than at the time of your tractor purchase.