Comparison Looking at buying new tractor, LS vs Kubota

[houstonscott]

Well I can tell you go look at the Kubota threads on this forum. There are hundreds of threads about problem Kubota's. One recent one about the paint fading, one about how the transmission is bad and dealer can't figure it out or repair it.. on a new tractor..so....I may already be right. A part of the selection of LS was the lack of problems reported and those I read about Kubota's on this very forum. Believe me I was floored about how many issues Kubota's had just reading this forum. Before the selection process started I thought Kubota was totally bullet proof, I was wrong. I think what you don't know is my tractor was designed from a clean sheet of paper in 07, and manufactured at new facility made to produce this tractor with the latest technologies. So if you do your homework you find you can't make the general statement you just made. That's my point do you homework.

HS

 

[bp fick]

I don't think I'd hesitate to buy an LS.
But this shouldn't be an empty Kubota vs LS debate, for such things are usually pointless.

The "problems" reported here concerning Kubota tractors need to be put in context. There may well be 1000 Kubota owners registered here for every LS owner, and it would be reasonable being that Kubota has outsold LS here by an X factor of hundreds. Stands to reason statistically that reporting of "problems" would appear skewed, if taken out of context.

Again, I'd not hesitate to buy an LS or another Korean tractor. Didn't hesitate to buy another Kubota either.

 

[Gary Fowler]

WHen I went tractor shopping last Oct, I was not brand loyal to any one. I looked at JD, MF, NH, Kioti, Mahindra and LS. Actually LS and Mahindra was my last stop and both were at the same dealer. JD was way over priced and not well stocked for the size I was looking for. MF: I had internet shopped and decided that I wanted a 1652 with Cab as they advertised completely redesigned for ergonomics but when I got on it, nothing fit me and I could only guess what the old ones were like. NH dealer nearby had closed down and was selling ATV's but I had driven my Brother in laws and didnt like the Hydropedal positioning. He had to take his back for work 3 times in a year with broken cab glass, broken weld on hydropedal (tractor would not stop) and then AC compressor froze up all with less than 100 hours so I kind of ruled them out. Kioti had also priced themselves up to equal the big 3 and from talking to 2 dealers, they were not happy with the distribution HQ and their heavy handed way of dealing and were all considering dropping the line, so that one was out also. Kubota dealer was too busy to even return my phone calls or talk to me when I went to their shop even though I told him I was going to buy a tractor that week and he gave me some Grand L literature and the bums rush out the door and call me next week as he had work to do to get a recent sale ready. I drove on up the road to the Mahindra dealer who also was an LS dealer. Absolutely no comparison between Mahindra and LS in fit, finish, comfort, ergonomice and most importantly price. I had allotted $35K for m purchase and that was the price I was going to pay for the MF 50 HP. For the same money I got an LS P-7010C (72HP) with much more standard equipment than the other tractors even offered as options. I didnt need a 72HP but nothing I would be doing precluded the use of a large tractor, so I bought one. Filled out the paperwork and it was delivered by 2 pm the following day. It took me longer to find insurance than to buy the tractor and finally ended up with Agri-Credit insurance as it was cheaper than an adder on my home policy. Due to price it wasnt covered under homeowners policy which was only good for 10% of home insurance. So if you are considering a purchase, check out the insurance at the same time. I dont think there is anyone who hasnt found typically the same experience as I have had with dealers. So far I havent put enough hours on mine to evaluate the reliability, but I will be retiring in 6 more days and hope to get in lots of tractor time then. Not one mechanical problem so far, just a come and go glitch with the tach which I think is a bad connection.

 

[LMan1967]

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

OK, I'm not sure what you are saying here. Are you recommending hydro?

 

[k0ua]

OK, I'm not sure what you are saying here. Are you recommending hydro?

Yeah pretty much, Unless you are going out to plow the back 80 acres. probably not the best for that, but for typical CUT owner doing loader work or precision mowing.. yeah. I guess you could say that.

James K0UA

 

[om21braz]

It's your money - if you feel comfortable with the tractor, the dealer, and plan on keeping it 10-20 years - your decision is made. If you're unsure about the size, the hst vs. gear, color/brand, and/or the dealer - you better find a Kubota or Deere tractor in the size you "think" you need with hst, 4WD, and a loader on it. The reason being, IMHO, is that these tractors will most likely be the easiest to resell. If you're in an area with a large, good Kioti/LS/New Holland/etc. dealer, my opinion is probably of less value.

 

[jdbnh]

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.

Never heard of a New Holland Boomer 4400?

 

[Hematite]

Never heard of a New Holland Boomer 4400?

That's why it was eliminated from consideration, it's just imaginary.

 

[WM75Guy]

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.

Cruise control :thumbsup:

 

[Sublifer]

Ooo this is an exciting thread. Lots of opinions here.

I've actually got an LS R4047 so I'll start with facts before I give any opinions of my own.

First, I had the same experience as Gary with the dealers. Deere and Kubota hardly had time to talk and they've been riding on reputation for a long time rather than innovation. LS may be up and coming but they've been building tractors for other companies for a long time and have had plenty of time to work out the kinks and so far they've done a good job of that. Very little reported problems.

Now, about the tractor. I love my R4047. I've got the standard gear/shuttle shift tranny and it works great for me. 28 hours on my tractor so far and nearly all of it is loader work. If you like standard transmission cars and the control it gives you then you'll love a gear tranny. If you've never driven standard then get the hydro.

Size, weight and power are great compared to the competition. Check the spec sheets. Reliability? I've really only had a problem with my loader bolts breaking but that is mostly cuz I'm a tractor newby and didn't know new tractors have a settling in and adjustment period. That'll happen on any new tractor.

So rather than continue spewing and regurgitating, here is a link to my intro post where i explained all my reasoning into buying LS http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-member-introductions/200389-introduction.html

One of the most important considerations by the way is going to be if you like and trust the dealer. Are you going to be small potatoes to him or will he truly care? This factor is not going to be brand dependent but Kubota does tend to stick their noses up a little higher than the rest.