Buying Advice L4740 HST or MX5100 HST????

[Rockin' G Ranch]

I have 75 acres that is mostly flat, dry and woods. I use a tractor for bushhogging, planting food plots, etc. I currently have a IH 384 and it handles all of my work but seems a little under powered. (May just be it's age.) I have the "itch" for a new tractor and I would like for it to last a long time. I have landed on a Kubota L4400, L4740 or MX5100 in 4WD and a FEL.
I am in need of advise and pros and cons for each. Thanks for helping.

 

[Johnbro]

Can't speak to the MX series except to say they are more agricultural tractors than the L series (more landscaping). The 4740 is a bigger more expensive tractor than the L4400. It has more lift, more punch, more weight, and more goodies. I would suggest you have your dealer demo both tractors for you so you can try out, for example, the advanced HST on the 4740 and the enhanced 3PH arms. You may find them super useful (like I do) or you may feel they aren't worth the money.

 

[art]

To compare what you are looking at and what you are currently using I'll throw in my thoughts.

In it's day the tractor that you are looking at replacing was as good as it got and with a good coat of paint would be as well optioned as some offered today!

The 384 was about 35 PTO horsepower and looking at the 4400 they would be close with the plus of four wheel drive. This would be a good upgrade and a very simular driving experience as far as the controls and operator effort. You would be gaining but not a lot.

The 4740 would give you a better ride and increased performance with the most amount of comfort of the three choices. This tractor is today what yours was when it was new!

The 5100 would be the most amount of power to weight you could get of the three models mentioned. The controls are also more efffort like the 4400 as well as like those on the 384. This would be the hot rod with the PTO of the three!

The 4400 is the closest to what you have now just new.
The 5100 is like a 4400 on a power trip.
The 4740 is like a whole new driving experience with a good increase of horsepower and a whole lot more. You keep your tractors for a long time if you bought that IH new so why not make your life a little easier!

 

[Rockin' G Ranch]

Johnbro/Art,
Thanks for taking the time to provide such a detailed response. I do keep my tractors a long time but I did not buy the 384 new but I definitely got my money's worth out of it. I actually have mixed feelings about retiring it.
I was leaning toward the L4740 HST because it does have all the added features. If I bought it I would only regret spending the extra money but I could get over that pretty quick if I really enjoyed the tractor. However, if I bought a "lesser" tractor and didn't like the lack of features I would have to live with it for a LONG time.
Again, thanks for your replies.

 

[crazyal]

If I had to guess I would say the 4240 would be about the same as your IH power and weight wise. The L4400 will have about the same power but will be lighter, could be good or bad depending on your land.

For me I went with the extra features of the GL over the other two because I plan on owning it for a very long time. I would rather buy an extra feature or two and not use it than find out after the fact that I wish I had gotten it and now it's too late.

It looks like people find different features of the HST+ benefit them the most. To me it's the H-DS, a feature that allows you to shift "gears" without even letting off the HST pedal or throttle. Whether it's plowing into a pile of dirt and a little more grunt is needed or pulling a box blade up a hill and not wanting to stop to downshift.

I like the auto throttle but found that I needed to adjust the cable. It's set from the factory to rev the motor up too quickly and too high for my uses. Once adjusted, very easy to do, you can leave your engine idling and when you step on the HST pedal it'll rev up to about 1800.

 

[beppington]

I agree with crazyal's post ... & will add I love my L3940, with all its bells, whistles, options, H-DS, etc ... I can only imagine an L4240 or L4740 would just be that much more awesome, with more power, lift capacity, etc., but not much more weight.

 

[Kyle241]

If you have the money, then go with the 4740 as it has the 'extras' that you may or may not need. The difference in HP between it and the MX5100 is not that much. Based on your last post, it seems like you may regret not getting the 'extras'. When I priced the Grand L's, there was nothing for me that was worth the extra dollars (+$4,500) IMHO as I don't have them now and really don't see a need. If money was a factor then choose the MX5100 and then the L4400 as it's less money.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I have. 4740. Only complaint I have so far is the seat. It bottoms out when I hit a bump. I crank the ajustment but it still bottoms out and the back of the seat is up higher then the front and not comfortable. I talked to my dealer and said kubota would not warranty it. It is a 4 month tractor. I hope that is not the performance I get when something else goes wrong. It will cost me $1500 get a new seat. Not many company's will play fair. Kinda disappointed.

 

[dex3361]

Art gave a great assessment of the machines. I have a L4400HST and it replaced a IH424 with nearly the exact same hp at the PTO. I did step up to 4WD and got a FEL. It fits my needs very well. The only issue with the L4400 is it has poor rollback angle as compared to the other machines. That would be enough to step up to the MX5100HST.

 

[beppington]

I have. 4740. Only complaint I have so far is the seat. It bottoms out when I hit a bump. I crank the ajustment but it still bottoms out and the back of the seat is up higher then the front and not comfortable. I talked to my dealer and said kubota would not warranty it. It is a 4 month tractor. I hope that is not the performance I get when something else goes wrong. It will cost me $1500 get a new seat. Not many company's will play fair. Kinda disappointed.

Wow, I've had no such problems with my L3940's seat. It did bottom out sometimes when I first got it when it was adjusted too soft. After adjusting it firmer, it never bottoms out. It's as comfortable as I think a tractor seat can be :confused3:

 

[bigbull338]

i think the mx5100 hst 4x4 with la844 fel will more than fit your needs.an the hst is very good as well.an its easy to get used to.

 

[milkman636]

The 4740 and 5100 both use the same displacement engine. They are nearly identical in size and weight. The loader are nearly identical in capability. Basically they will be identical performers on the business ends. The difference will really come down to features like the HST+ and at the feel of the operator station. Try them both on see what fits best.

I was in a very similar but opposite situation last fall. I already have a 53 hp geared tractor and was looking for a smaller 35 hp with HST. A dealer lent me a lightly used Grand L for an afternoon of moving dirt and I loved the H-DS. It sped things up with the ability to down shift going in for a full scoop and then upshifting on the fly for travelling. I really wanted to buy a new 3540HST.

In the end my budget decided to buy a new Bobcat instead. I could get a new ct335 without borrowing, and the 3540 would have required a loan. If I had the dough, I would have bought the Grand L. They are very nice tractors.

This really doesn't answer your original question, but I ended up with something other than my ideal first choice and I am very happy with my decision. Even though my HST doesn't shift on the fly, it is still a huge improvement over the geared unit for loader and grading work. You will probably be very happy with either tractor. You'll just have to decide what factor will make the decision.

 

[TripleR]

Really can't improve on the advice given and second that given by art. My choice after initially considering 35-40 HP GL, was a used L5030 HSTC. I was a little concerned it would be too big, but it is just right. When it wears out, it will be replaced with a L5240 or L5740.

We actually use our M8540 on our 88 acre farm as time gets kind of tight at times.

 

[art]

Art gave a great assessment of the machines. I have a L4400HST and it replaced a IH424 with nearly the exact same hp at the PTO. I did step up to 4WD and got a FEL. It fits my needs very well. The only issue with the L4400 is it has poor rollback angle as compared to the other machines. That would be enough to step up to the MX5100HST.

The MX5100 loader would be very simuliar to the 4400 loader on roll back.

 

[dex3361]

The MX5100 loader would be very simuliar to the 4400 loader on roll back.

I have looked at the LA844 loader on the MX5100 and it is the multi linkage FEL that typically has the better dump and rollback angles. I would think the performance would be very similar to the LA854 that is found on the Largest Grand L machines. I could be wrong about it though.

 

[Degolyerent]

From what I have been told the MX series has a heavier duty front axle, I have a MX 4700D and it is a tough tractor, if you go HST the MX 5100 would have a touch more horsepower, and is one fine tractor!

 

[beppington]

The MX5100 has a turbo, whereas the L4740 is the largest Grand L 40 that doesn't have a turbo.

 

[TripleR]

The MX5100 has a turbo, whereas the L4240 is the largest Grand L 40 that doesn't have a turbo.

I just checked their website on the PDF and it lists the 4740 as naturally aspirated unless I am missing something.

 

[beppington]

I just checked their website on the PDF and it lists the 4740 as naturally aspirated unless I am missing something.

Typo on my part ... Eyes were looking right at "4740" in the brochure & yet hands typed "4240". :confused3:

I edited my post ... Sorry about that.

 

[TripleR]

Typo on my part ... Eyes were looking right at "4740" in the brochure & yet hands typed "4240". :confused3:

I edited my post ... Sorry about that.

I was kind of surprised as I was kind of hoping the L5240 was naturally aspirated. One day my L5030 will wear out and I really didn't want to go with a turbo. We have one on our M8540 and it really isn't a problem, but we don't do much stop and hop off operating with it like we do with the L.