L4400 or MX5100 HELP!!!! cant decide which

[Burt Gummer]

Buying my first tractor is becoming more stressful than buying my house. I have looked and read and been to every dealer around. I think a couple of tractor salesmen are actually tired of seeing me. I have heard every story from every salesman about what I need and don't need-never the same thing twice. After all of this, I have narrowed my choice down to the two tractors I actually looked at the first day of my search which was over a month ago. I think I have ruled out all other brands and am going with Kubota. (if I am wrong, convince me) I have narrowed it down to the L4400 or the MX5100. I was going to go with the Grand 3940 but I think I want to go more basic and get more bang for the buck. (if I'm wrong, convince me) This year I'm cutting high grass and brush and thinning out timber on 25 acres. I'll need to string some fences and build a road 200 yards long. Next year I want to have a half acre garden and maybe a cow or two. The 4400 has hydrostatic trans and 45.5 & 37.5 (pto) HP. I was told that the 4400 would not carry a roll of hay. The 5100 has no hydro transmission but more power with 52.2 & 44 HP and would carry a role of hay. (and we are talking the large rolls) The dealer has quoted me almost the same price for both tractors (with the transmission on the 4400 kicking up its price). I would really appreciate your thoughts on this selection. Does anyone out there have either of these? I don't spend this much money every day and I want to make the right decision here. Thanks!!!

 

[Bob_Young]

Hi Burt,
I've got the predecessors to each of those tractors, an L4300 and an MX5000, though my L4300 is 8x2 gear. It sounds like you're going to need some grunt, so the MX is probably the best choice. Just make sure you get the HD loader and get the rears filled.

My L4300 spends part of its time hooked to a backhoe and, when used that way, isn't too useful for "regular tractorin". So I wanted another tractor to take it's place. One thing I had found with the L4300 (and the L4400 would be the same) was that it was a bit too light and a bit too tight in the 3PH dimensions to work well with the 6' Woods BB720 (med. duty bush hog) I have. The BB720 is borderline Cat II 3PH and quite heavy for its size.

The MX5000 appears to fill the bill. It's got a Cat I/II 3PH (can handle either) and enough extra weight to do the job. Mind you, though, the the bush hogging season hasn't started here yet and I've only had the tractor a few months....so this judgment is really the dealer's at this point. Mostly what I've done with the MX so far is pull out stumps. It does a better job of that than the L4300. The MX just seems to be an all around heavier duty tractor than the L4300.

My MX has a rather basic mechanical shuttle shift in an 8x4 transmission. I really like it and find it easy to use. For modest amounts of loader work, it should work fine. If you foresee loader work becoming the major part of your tractor work, you might benefit from the HST L4400. But, for everything else you've outlined, I think you'd be better off with gear. Plus the MX would let you use the heavier duty Cat II 3PH implements and handle those round bales.

When it comes right down to it, the MX5000 is just a beefed up gear L4400 with some HD components and the next size larger engine. The tractors are quite similar. The MX5100 carries it a bit further with a synchronized 8x8 transmission.
FWIW
Bob

 

[design]

For what it is worth, I started with a L2900 and ended with a M5400 for a much smaller property. The only downsides that I have found with the larger chassis tractor are:
1. Weighs more; and with R1's I can not drive across the grass in the yard with out leaving tire tracks.
2. The tractor is harder to get in and out of the Barn (9'x8' garage door and I have several 7' attachments and a 8' plow. The ROPS needs to be folded down to fit in the barn *There is stuff on the sides of the stall that the tractor lives in ... ) hence the tight issue in and out of the stall.
3. Turning radius is not as good.
4. The M5400 is faster in 1st gear than I would like. 16.9x28 tires

For EVERY other reason that I can think of I am glad I have the larger tractor. 122" of snow this year and the tractor could have moved back the piles of snow at idle. I am very glad I traded up.
-Design

 

[RollingsFarms]

Buying my first tractor is becoming more stressful than buying my house. I have looked and read and been to every dealer around. I think a couple of tractor salesmen are actually tired of seeing me. I have heard every story from every salesman about what I need and don't need-never the same thing twice. After all of this, I have narrowed my choice down to the two tractors I actually looked at the first day of my search which was over a month ago. I think I have ruled out all other brands and am going with Kubota. (if I am wrong, convince me) I have narrowed it down to the L4400 or the MX5100. I was going to go with the Grand 3940 but I think I want to go more basic and get more bang for the buck. (if I'm wrong, convince me) This year I'm cutting high grass and brush and thinning out timber on 25 acres. I'll need to string some fences and build a road 200 yards long. Next year I want to have a half acre garden and maybe a cow or two. The 4400 has hydrostatic trans and 45.5 & 37.5 (pto) HP. I was told that the 4400 would not carry a roll of hay. The 5100 has no hydro transmission but more power with 52.2 & 44 HP and would carry a role of hay. (and we are talking the large rolls) The dealer has quoted me almost the same price for both tractors (with the transmission on the 4400 kicking up its price). I would really appreciate your thoughts on this selection. Does anyone out there have either of these? I don't spend this much money every day and I want to make the right decision here. Thanks!!!

the one thing I think you will come to appreciate more then you might realize, is the extra weight of the MX5100. i think both tractors are fine choices, and both would do the work you wanted, but when you start carrying those round bales, i personally would like to have some weight under the seat of my pants. also, keep in mind as others have said about the 3pt. lift capacity differences between the two. you could say that Kubota combined the best of the MX5000 with the best of the L4400 and made a tractor, sort of like what JD did with the 5003 series.

 

[N80]

I've got an L4400 and I've done all the things you're talking about doing and much more..... except moving large round bales. And I agree with RollingsFarms, the real issue is weight, and for round bales, that's what you need. The L4400, even with loaded tires is a light tractor, plenty strong, but light. So if you're set on those two models only then the 5100 seems the obvious choice. I suspect its loader will lift more than the LA703 too (yep, by about 300 pounds, not a big difference, but still.). I wouldn't sweat the HST, I'm the type that wouldn't be willing to pay for it anyway...my L4400 is the gear drive model, which I think is one of the best bang for the buck tractors you can buy.

If money is a real issue and moving hay bales is going to be an infrequent thing, then an L4400 gear drive with a 3 pt hitch bale spear would be perfect.

If money isn't a huge issue, I'd strongly recommend looking at an M5040. Its not way more expensive than the 5100.

 

[gamble77]

I agree, the MX5100 would be the best option giving desired task. Take a look at the JD 5203 or 5303 w/522 loader. Good luck!

 

[Crash101]

Burt
you made it very clear that you will need the tractor to be able to move the hay rolls and that the M series is much better at this task than the L. Your answer (supported by the other comments) is right there.

 

[Negligence]

I recently purchased an MX5100 and I have no complaints, it's a great and simple machine. A good price gets you lots of tractor. I looked at both models, but the 5100 really stood out.

The transmission, in my opinion, really isn't a big deal and doesn't make the 4400 a better buy. About 95% of what I do is loader work and it's just very simple to work with for long periods of time. Simple is better to me.

Just make sure you get the quick attach to swap between bucket/bale spear, get loaded tires AND additional rear ballast (a box blade, or homemade ballast). Loaded tires are not enough, you need some serious weight on the back when you're picking up the largest and heaviest bales.

 

[canoetrpr]

If you are fine without the HST then the MX5100 is a great no frills choice.

How much hay are you planning to move though? I have a L3400 and I can move 5x6s on the 3PT no problem but at MOST I'll move 2 a week in the winter. If I was doing much more than that I would want a bigger tractor.

So if you are talking the odd bale, both tractors will do just fine. The M is most definately the bang for the bug option. Personally I like HST too much - enough that I would look at the M5040 instead but then the price goes up

 

[pitt_md]

Buying my first tractor is becoming more stressful than buying my house. I have looked and read and been to every dealer around. I think a couple of tractor salesmen are actually tired of seeing me. I have heard every story from every salesman about what I need and don't need-never the same thing twice. After all of this, I have narrowed my choice down to the two tractors I actually looked at the first day of my search which was over a month ago. I think I have ruled out all other brands and am going with Kubota. (if I am wrong, convince me) I have narrowed it down to the L4400 or the MX5100. I was going to go with the Grand 3940 but I think I want to go more basic and get more bang for the buck. (if I'm wrong, convince me) This year I'm cutting high grass and brush and thinning out timber on 25 acres. I'll need to string some fences and build a road 200 yards long. Next year I want to have a half acre garden and maybe a cow or two. The 4400 has hydrostatic trans and 45.5 & 37.5 (pto) HP. I was told that the 4400 would not carry a roll of hay. The 5100 has no hydro transmission but more power with 52.2 & 44 HP and would carry a role of hay. (and we are talking the large rolls) The dealer has quoted me almost the same price for both tractors (with the transmission on the 4400 kicking up its price). I would really appreciate your thoughts on this selection. Does anyone out there have either of these? I don't spend this much money every day and I want to make the right decision here. Thanks!!!

I bought an MX5000 new in 2006. I don't have one bad thing to say about the tractor. It is a simple plan jane tractor with a lot of grunt. The shuttle trans works great for loader work and it is geared low enough to do most anything. I wanted to the most HP I could get for the buck for my 30 acres and it fits the bill nicely. I have no experience with the L4400. It sounds nice to.