L48's?

Anonymous Poster · Dec 14, 2002

L48\'s?

I'm just curious, do people buy the L48's just because they like them? Because to me, it seems that they are so big, that you might as well buy a case or JD backhoe. That's just my opinion, and I personally don't like the 48's. They're kind of ugly!

lol...Has anyone operated kubota excavators? If so, how do they run, does kubota make good trackhoes? Later.

Blake
WA

JATO_RaT · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

Blake I purchased a L48 not because I liked it but because I loved it. It is a powerful yet compact tractor. I thinks its beautiful, the Angie Harmon of tractors. I have just finished using mine to cut and move approximately 1500 yards of tough material. The Case and JD industrials dwarf it. You can't tow the industrial with a light duty truck, the L48 tows just within the limits of a 3/4 ton truck. The L48's hydrostatic drive is awesome. The loader is very powerful for a compact and best of all the price is just a fraction of an industrial. The hoe is very powerful, perhaps the most powerful and longest reach of the compacts. Its width is a little wider then the JD 110 (a great compact TLB as well) but the overall tractor is shorter. It has a little more power then the JD 110 including HP, loader lift and hoe forces. I found the swing on the L48 to be considerably more powerful then the JD 110. In my area the L48 is a couple thousand dollars cheaper then the 110 and tens of thousands of dollars cheaper then a JD 310 or whatever Case has these days.
The Bobcat excavators I am familiar with are incredible and pretty much the best way to go (excavators that is, not just Bobcat) for most trenching, especially valuable on steep terrain. You mention you are a 17 years old, a baby compared to most folks here. Its good to see that you have the desire for this kind of work. Keep it up as it seems fewer kids want to do physical work so your talents should be well desired down the road. Take Care, Later, Rat...

Here is a picture of my "Ugly" NOT,,,,, L48

equipman · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

acccipiter12
Rat summed it up very well! My customers that want 2 more feet of digging capabilities without having to buy a 1 ton truck to haul it around buy the L48TLB. Those "big machines" require a haul truck and trailer to move from job to job. Also, you can quick disconnect the backhoe and have a 3 pt. hitch and rear PTO tractor.
Lewis
P.S. I think they look pretty good too!

Anonymous Poster · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

I'm glad you guys gave me all that information. I now know why you guys have them!

I guess their not totally ugly, they're way better than a JD! hahaha. Case 580B and C's cost any where from $9,000 to $13,000 plus or minus. Of course, 580K and 590L's are much more expensive. But I like the 580B's and C's. That's what I drive. How much do the L48's cost? Talk to you guys later.

Blake
WA

Tags · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

I think people buy the L48s because it fits a niche that has been empty for a long time in the landscaper/small contractor field,it is really an ideal machine for those makets,it has a heavy duty loader and hoe(heavier than a standard compact with a loader and hoe added on)and still leaves you with the ability of removing the hoe for three point hitch operations.Kubota has pretty much had the market rapped up in the contractor quality, heavy duty compact TLB market until just recently with Deere jumping into the mix.Like Rat said though,the Deere is a bit smaller than the 48 in most areas, but looks better /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.Anyway, the Kubota track-hoes are very nice machines,extremely tough and durable,and the new ones that they are coming out with now have some of the largest lift capacities and breakot forces compared to the other brands,and the best part is Kubota lowered their prices on these machines so they are even more competitive with the other brands out there.If I were in the market for a "mini" excavator I would definitely go with a Bota.

rdbrumfield · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

Blake;
I live here in Washington too.
I own a small Kubota excavator. The advantages of an excavator over a backhoe are tremendous, for digging that is. Being able to offset the boom to dig along a footing and to be able to put dirt 180 degrees from the hole can be advantageous. Working in soft ground they are untouchable.
The down side is, if you need to move dirt, the backhoe with the loader is preferred.
I use backhoes and excavators on a daily basis. They all have their bright spots. If I were just starting out, A dumptruck and a backhoe would be the way. A small excavator has a hard time loading a dumptruck unles you have it up on a mound of dirt or something.

JATO_RaT · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

Wow Tags, your alive. I'll agree the JD 110 looks great. I even got the oppourtunity to check one out. Interesting dash panel and the fuel gauge is TOO COOL, hehehe. It is a nice compact TLB, well laid out. It is very comparable to the L48, perhaps a tiny bit less potent, but not enough to change anyones mind if they are set on it. Hope yours is holding together. I'm sure your still pretty well sold on the HST. For loader and for our Harleys, its tough to beat, Rat...

DavidInNH · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

I also love my L48 and she is most definitely not ugly /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. I needed something with a hoe and a 3 pt hitch, so the bigger TLB's weren't even a consideration. I've put about 100 hours on it since spring and its moved several hundred yards of material, dug and buried lots of stumps and boulders and converted a lot of trees into chips. Now its coming in handy with the snow. She has done everything I've asked her to.

-david

Anonymous Poster · Dec 14, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

rdbrumfield- Where do you live in WA? What type of work do you do? That's neat to see someone from my state.!! Later.

Blake
WA

Mike_A · Dec 15, 2002

Re: L48\'s?

I to own a L48 and think it is a "Beautiful" tractor. I love to see it all cleaned up, wax job, Armour All on tires, makes it look like it was just delivered ! Then back to work and all dirty again. Part of the joy of owning a tractor to me is the work of cleaning and polishing it back up again.
My L48 has 70 Hrs and somthing I have noticed lately is some movement in the back hoe at the top attachment point to the tractor. You can feel a little movement with your feet when you get it extended way out so as to put the most strain at that top attachment point. I know when it was new there no movement at all in this mounting point. Any one else have this happen? Is this normal or is something wrong?