L48 (TLB48) questions

[66gladiator]

Z,
To answer your question, I think your dealer meant the Engine HP to Pto Hp is not as great in an L48 as say an L4740HST.
The L48 is 48 engine HP & 37.5 PTO HP.
The L4740 is 47 engine HP & 40 PTO HP.
BUT, and this is a big BUT, the loader lift capacity at the bucket center of the L48 is 2540lbs. vs. 1874lbs. on the LA854(L4740) loader.
That is pretty significant during loader operations, especially with sand & gravel.

there is only a negligable difference in the ground speeds of 15.3(L48) vs. 16.0(L4740HST).
Hope this helps.

 

[Dirthog]

Can't believe you will have trouble doing anything you want with the L48 have had one for over 4 years now and it is a beast I even have a bradco trencher that I run on mine along with a snow blower has done everything I asked of it and way more! I use in my construction co and hard at times

 

[witel]

Mine is a 2005 and it came as a tractor, loader, backhoe with a 24" bucket, rear worklights, full shop manual and a ball hitch. $33800.00 out the door delievered to my farm.

Wow! Great price! That's in the range of what I'm seeing the L39 at now.

 

[witel]

Z,
To answer your question, I think your dealer meant the Engine HP to Pto Hp is not as great in an L48 as say an L4740HST.
The L48 is 48 engine HP & 37.5 PTO HP.
The L4740 is 47 engine HP & 40 PTO HP.
BUT, and this is a big BUT, the loader lift capacity at the bucket center of the L48 is 2540lbs. vs. 1874lbs. on the LA854(L4740) loader.
That is pretty significant during loader operations, especially with sand & gravel.

there is only a negligable difference in the ground speeds of 15.3(L48) vs. 16.0(L4740HST).
Hope this helps.

Don't forget the hydraulics:
L48 has a whopping 25.9 gpm (including the power-steering)
L4740 has 9.8 gpm on the main pump and 4.9 gpm on the power-steering

 

[Lynkage]

I can say that my L48 has a lot of power vs bigger tractors at twice the price. I just use the diff lock when in doubt.

I have removed 6" slabs of ice off of the roads around my place without much effort.

I just like my tractor!!

 

[Z-Michigan]

Z,
To answer your question, I think your dealer meant the Engine HP to Pto Hp is not as great in an L48 as say an L4740HST.
The L48 is 48 engine HP & 37.5 PTO HP.
The L4740 is 47 engine HP & 40 PTO HP.
BUT, and this is a big BUT, the loader lift capacity at the bucket center of the L48 is 2540lbs. vs. 1874lbs. on the LA854(L4740) loader.
That is pretty significant during loader operations, especially with sand & gravel.

there is only a negligable difference in the ground speeds of 15.3(L48) vs. 16.0(L4740HST).
Hope this helps.

I don't think that's what this particular dealer meant, but the more I compare his comments to the consensus on this forum the more I'm skeptical of his views. Sounds like an L48 would have plenty of hp to move itself around in any reasonable conditions. I don't see any tractor as a dragster - perhaps the guy who complained about his L48 (to my local dealer) did.

 

[mike69440]

Not wanting a backhoe, I question why the L-48 would be needed, as the M7040 seems like your machine or other similar brand at that size tractor.

But not wanting a backhoe? I at first thought they were not useful, but without one its like being a man less a -----. Hope you get the idea. If you don't have one, you don't know what your missing. BH's are like duct tape. Million uses.

Get an L-48 just for the darn hoe!

 

[Z-Michigan]

Not wanting a backhoe, I question why the L-48 would be needed, as the M7040 seems like your machine or other similar brand at that size tractor.

But not wanting a backhoe? I at first thought they were not useful, but without one its like being a man less a -----. Hope you get the idea. If you don't have one, you don't know what your missing. BH's are like duct tape. Million uses.

Get an L-48 just for the darn hoe!

Well there's just a limit to how many toys I can afford. After I buy the tractor I'll be spending easily $4000 on implements, and soon after that I'll be building a pole barn to store the tractor and several other large things in (horse trailer, those implements, regular lawnmower...).

As for why I'm looking at the L48 - just because I was interested in an option to get a heavy duty, hard-to-break tractor with hydrostatic drive and serious FEL capacity. The Mxx40 series are good and probably better suited to my uses - and I'm probably getting one, or an equivalent from another manufacturer - but it might be nice to have the HST for all the FEL and boxblade work I'm planning on.

 

[john_bud]

Z

A long time contributor here _RaT_ has an L48 TLB. He did mention some issues with the HST in High not having the power to move the machine up even slight grades at speed. This is all from my leaky memory, but it seems the weight of the machine causes the pressure relief to pop. (??) A search on _RaT_ will find his posts. Probably an email will gain you more info.

jb

 

[Muleskinner]

The L48 is an excelent tractor. I have a L39 I use for construction grading. (Along with an M7040) I use a 72" Gannon on the rear, no backhoe. The L39 is a LOT more tractor than one would think with only 39HP. I believe you would find the L39 with GST to be a bit better match for field plowing Etc. GST gives you a broader range of gear ranges than HST. I have also heard that HST can overheat on hot days when pulling a heavy plow for long distances. Not my experiance, just what I have heard on this site.

That said either one is a super heavy duty tractor in comparison to their L series counterparts. The L48 has a planitary gear rear axle that is way stronger than the rear axle in the other L series tractors. My Kubota dealer sells a lot of L48's and said they NEVER have any problems with them. They also have several in their rental fleet, again with no problems. (And you know how rental customers treat equipment)

Also, I think your dealer is being a bit too "Critical" of the L48.