Comparison Looking at buying new tractor, LS vs Kubota

[Don McConnell]

Just bought 8 acres and need a tractor to maintain it. I've looked at Kubota L3800, New Holland Boomer 4400 and a LS 4047. Probably most impressed with the LS but uncertain of how they will perform over time. Down to the LS or the Kubota. Will use for front end loader (general excavation), mowing and tilling primarily. Can any of you with experience on the two tractors share your insight. Also, getting conflicting advice on which transmission type is best for FEL work. Always thought Hydrostatic would be best and easiest.

 

[Kyle241]

Hydrostatic is better for FEL work. As for the tractors, I'm a Kubota guy so the L3800 would be my choice from the ones you provided. I don't know anything about LS tractors so I can't comment.

 

[bigbull338]

im a kubota man as well.i dont know anything about the LS tractors an i wouldnt trust them.

 

[k0ua]

I am a Kubota guy as well, but I would give the LS tractors a look, they are an up and coming brand, and several of the guys here have them and like them. If there was a good dealer nearby that looked stable and liable to be there when you needed them I would consider them. As for transmission, in my mind, unless you are doing tillage work, or considering a tractor over 60 horse, there is only 1 transmission to consider. Hydro. If you do the kind of work I do, mostly loader/fork work, working around other people, working close to buildings picking up and setting rocks for rock walls.. there is only one. Hydro. Mowing around trees and rocks, and rough terrain. Hydro. I dont even understand the debate, I really dont, Hydro is so much better than anything else for the things I mentioned it is not even worth considering anything else. Some mention the loss of horsepower, or dont like the sound the hydro tranny makes, I say bullfeathers, Those considerations are so minor as to be inconsequential. compared to the benefits of the precision, and capabilitys you will gain by going Hydrostat.

James K0UA

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If those are for sure the models that you are looking at, the LS R4047 is by far the better of the tractors in my opinion. A better comparison would be to the Kubota Grand L4740.

LS makes some really nice tractors, but depending on what your looking for in the dealer that you purchase from can make a HUGE difference with what brand you end up purchasing. All dealers are not equal, that goes for all brands, not just the lesser know manufacturers.

Just my :2cents:

 

[TripleR]

Can only agree with James. The two tractors I now use almost exclusively are an HST Kubota L5030 and Hydraulic Shuttle Shift M8540. The 8540 is great for what we need in a bigger tractor and is pretty good for FEL work, but the HST is easier.

I don't know anything about LS tractors due to poor representation in our area, but I am sure they are good tractors from what I have heard from owners.

Good luck.

 

[Wolfy]

If you mow large open areas, the manual shift transmission is a very good choice. You can often leave it in one gear and not fall victim to a sore foot that some hydrostatics can cause. And manuals work very well for loader work, once you learn what gear the tractor wants to be in. Huge pushing power is a real nice advantage. As far as brand, I've had John Deere, Kubota. and Ford, they all ran good, you get out of them what you put in to them.

 

[Grandad4]

Just bought 8 acres and need a tractor to maintain it. I've looked at Kubota L3800, New Holland Boomer 4400 and a LS 4047. Probably most impressed with the LS but uncertain of how they will perform over time. Down to the LS or the Kubota. Will use for front end loader (general excavation), mowing and tilling primarily. Can any of you with experience on the two tractors share your insight. Also, getting conflicting advice on which transmission type is best for FEL work. Always thought Hydrostatic would be best and easiest.

LS is sort of a smaller player in the US tractor market vs Kubota, at least right now. They reportedly have some good equipment (Mitsubishi, I think) and their equipment has previously been re-badged and sold in the US under other names (Montana, Farmtrac).

Kubota is the largest in the under 60 hp, compact type tractor market and has a huge product line with many models. Excellent reputation.

You'd probably get a very good tractor from either company. There are fewer LS dealers, but if you have a good one to work with, that is a big plus (for any brand of tractor, but particularly if it's a newer outfit like LS). You might get a good deal for an LS, but most Kubota dealers will work hard to gain a customer, so do shop around.

If it were me, I'd go with Kubota, but that's a matter of personal choice for you to decide which works best for you.

As for gear vs. hydro, that's almost a theological debate. Sound, fury, passion, and yet never seems to get resolved. I have both types and like the hydro for its precision and convenience. Anything with lots of back and forth operation (loader work, for example), a hydro machine will outwork an equivalent standard gear machine. If you only do a little loader work, who cares? If you will be using the loader for hours and days at a time, your arms and legs will thank you if you go hydro.

But don't take my word for this, or anyone else's. Go try them for yourself and get the one you like best.

Good luck!

 

[houstonscott]

I bought an LS over Kubota. Kubota seemed short on power and cubic inches, short on fit finish, short on new design, short on options, weight, and capabilities for or at same price. The Kubota looked light and made from thinner metal stock. So I bought an LS. Seems like LS is where Kubota was 20 years ago, you know, what's that, don't trust them, never heard of them, all that.. I think Kubota is over rated, and the dealers are fat and bloated and rude. Kubota operates on a name at this point for those doing their homework. I'm beginning to think there is not one industry S. Korea has not passed Japan. Will admit thought the Mitsubishi engine is really tops and superior to any Kubota engine. The S4s in my U5030 is a world class diesel.

HS

 

[roygage]

I bought an LS over Kubota. Kubota seemed short on power and cubic inches, short on fit finish, short on new design, short on options, weight, and capabilities for or at same price. The Kubota looked light and made from thinner metal stock. So I bought an LS. Seems like LS is where Kubota was 20 years ago, you know, what's that, don't trust them, never heard of them, all that.. I think Kubota is over rated, and the dealers are fat and bloated and rude. Kubota operates on a name at this point for those doing their homework. I'm beginning to think there is not one industry S. Korea has not passed Japan. Will admit thought the Mitsubishi engine is really tops and superior to any Kubota engine. The S4s in my U5030 is a world class diesel.

HS

FWIW I looked at a new McCormick,CT65, before buying my used M5040 Kubota. As I recall the McCormick was a re-badged LS. Thing had gears out the wazoo, maybe a four by five with a creeper gear.

One thing held me back was I had a done a lot of work on Mitsubishi gear boxes on light trucks through the 80s and 90s. Made me a little nervous.

Read on the forums here short time ago a fellow talking about his Montana tractor, also a LS I believe. At any rate as I recall a 50 some horse model with cab, he had reverse shift fork bend resulting in popping out of R. This at 75 hours and again at 200.

Like Bob Dylan said, "Time will tell who was right and who was wrong, when you go your way and I go mine" (-: