M4800 - MX5000 - L5030

[imported_NYFarmboy]

After looking through stacks of information on the three tractors, I am finding myself more unsure as to which tractor may be best for me. I want to put a FEL on it and plan on doing a fair amount of bush hogging and tilling. I would be interested in all comments pro's and con's as well as your experiences, comparisons and pricing on them. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

Hiya NY, how goes it? Welcome to TBN, you're definitely in the right place.

I have a couple of thoughts before even beginning to think about trying to help you decide what tractor you should get.

The people here are INCREDIBLY knowledgeable and helpful, but they/we need as MUCH INFORMATION AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE to get you the useable information you need.

A good place to start is by filling out your bio/personal information. Location, background, prior tractors/equipment /attachments if any you have owned, number of acres you'll be working, anything that might help people figure out how best to help you.

Next, I'd just suggest that you make another post that says in great detail EXACTLY what you want to do with the tractor (besides what you have stated), how much tilling, how much bush-hogging, WHAT are you going to be bush-hogging, how often, what's your price range, what's your terrain like, what you're going to be using the loader for, how strong it needs to be, everything but your hat size and sign. That will help to get the ball rolling.

That said, get the 5030. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Just kidding, but who knows, that might be where you get pointed to. Hard to say, the more info the better.

And READ, READ, READ. There are over 700,000 posts here, and 24,000 members. Almost every question you could possibly ask has likely been answered here, at some point, many, many times over. Use the "search" function to its fullest. I think it's really good to read as many posts as you can, and choose from the advice of thousands of people, not JUST the people who reply to your thread.

The more opinions the better - but hey, that's just my opinion. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck, John D.

 

[imported_NYFarmboy]

Okay sorry CT tree guy /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Here goes. I'm a 36 yo male located in south central NY. I'm looking for a tractor capable bush hogging with a 6 or 7 ft hogger about 60-80 acres. I also expect it to be able to till about 40 -50 acres.

I need to tractor to be able to handle a FEL for various other tasks on the land. I also have 60 acres of heavy woods that it will have to be able to pull many a log.

I don't see a large spread in the price of these machines however just because price is not a factor that doesn't mean that I want the biggest and most expensive, or I would not be asking for help.

So, this brings me back to my original questions. I would be interested in all comments good and bad, experiences and pricing on the 3 models or any other suggestions that the folks out there may have. I realize that the folks on this site are the best source of info.

Oh yea, I'm going to fill my bio now, and I don't like hats and I'm a Leo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I see that you have a 5030 so I'll probably be tapping you for alot of info

 

[JoeR]

Are you married? If so, this may change all decisions, and you will have to sell her on the idea too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If I had that much property, I would probably be able to justify the M105X. You are looking at about 530 dollars per HP, and that would be somewhere between 50 and 60K. You can get an L5030 with a cab for 700 dollars per HP, but it would be closer to 35K with FEL and options. Of course, your area will dictate price and this could vary upwards of 5K. Overall, the larger tractor would do more, but the implements cost more too since they are much larger. If you need to get things done quickly, then bigger is better. If this is more a hobby, and you have more time than money, then I would lean towards the 5030 and smaller less expensive implements. If you plan on doing any haying, then bigger is better... The L5030 is probably a better all around multi function tractor due to its smaller weight and size, so you could clear snow easily around the driveway, whereas, you may be afraid to drive the heavier tractor on the driveway.

The L5030 could easily handle 6 to 7 foot implements...

Joe

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

<font color="blue"> Oh yea, I'm going to fill my bio now, and I don't like hats and I'm a Leo </font>

I like you already. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I don't have much time now, but I'll try to start the ball rolling by saying WOW them's a lot of acres to be bush-hogging and tilling. I do love my hydro (a lot) but I can see you with a GST tranny , or the equivalent in the other tractors on your list, with all that ground-engaging. I don't know a whole bunch about the other two yet, but here's my big chance.

We'll have to see how you arrived at those 3 choices. Did you rule out the bigger "M" series Kubotas? The 6800, 8200 and 9000 are awesome, and they've just come out with a whole new line of M's that I'm not up to speed on.

Check out posts by "5030" about his M9000, and "Skypup" explains very well the virtues of the GST tranny. He ALMOST, but not quite made me regret my decision to go hydro.

OK, that's it for now. Good luck, start reading, and I'm sure this is just the beginning. Come on everyone, help this guy out. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Take care, John

 

[slowzuki]

That is a lot of acres to hog, with a 5 or 6 foot hog that could be up to well 10 good days of hogging, the tillage is another story. I'd suggest the M4800 as a minimum from your list.

If you moved up to an M6800 or similar you could pull a 3 or 4 furrow plow depending on the ground. I assume you don't plan on using a rototiller. A rototiller could take a person half a year to do all that then be time to buy a new one... depending on the soil of course.

 

[Bob_Young]

That's a lot of acreage, Farmboy. I'd be looking at more than one tractor. Maybe a big (75 to 100HP) used 2WD Ag tractor with a batwing mower for all the bushhogging and for pulling a plow or a big disc. Then maybe a smaller 4WD tractor w/FEL from the three you listed for the chores where precision, small size and light(er) weight are required. On those big field jobs, the big tractor can do easily in a few hours what the smaller rig struggles all day to do. Why beat up on a nice new small tractor trying to do a job that a big ol' brute was made to handle?

Might make sense another way too. You'll need a BIG bushhog to keep the weeds knocked down on that much land. Once you're all hooked up to the batwing or finally got your plow working right, you're not going to want to unhook to do a half hour's work with the loader or pull a wagon load of wood to the barn. With one tractor, you're essentially without a tractor for little interim jobs until the mowing job or the plowing is done.

Study up on Ag makes and models and start hitting the auctions. Large Cat II implements are pricey when new, but used they aren't that bad. Big old John Deere, NH and IH tractors can be found at auction too. You'll get a lot of HP and iron for your money.
FWIW
Bob

 

[tjkadar]

From the acreage you mentioned and the work you would like to do, I would probably start looking at the M6800 and go up from there. If you are planning on mowing and tilling that much land, you're going to need a bigger ag-type tractor to keep up.

What size tilling implements do you plan on using and how much time do you have to devote to each project?

You can get a M6800 with MFWD, FEL, Shuttle Shift, canopy (not cab), & two remotes for around $30,000. They are phasing out the current model M tractors and bringing in newly designed models, so you might be able to get a real good deal on a M tractor.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I think Bob Young has it right, you need 2 tractors. (2 has to be better than 1 ... right?) Find a big, older, used tractor in the 75 to 100hp range with the biggest bush hog you can handle on your property and keep it principally as your mowing machine. Then you can get a new, smaller machine with all the bells and whistles you need for everything else. For the new machine you might be able to step down a little in size from the machines you are looking at, but not much.

At my M-I-L's place, we have about 170 acres and we have always used an old 75hp MF with a 7' HD mower that very seldom comes off except when it's used to move hay. We also have an even older 38hp JD, which also handles a 5' mower, to do just about everything else. Last year we added a M5700 and hopefully soon there will be a M9000 with batwing but even so I sometimes have to take my little B2400 over there to do stuff when there is a need to get into tight spaces. It's just that sometimes you need sheer brute force and at others you need to be lighter on your feet. If you can swing it, the 2 tractor route is definitely the way to go.

 

[HRS]

Engaging the ground as you are planning, I would go with the M4800 or up. From what I understand, the M class is Kubota's heavy agricultural class tractor. I've looked at them myself and would pick it for a farm over the other two. The reason I say this is that it reminds me of the true, though smaller, utility tractors used on the farms when I was coming up. The M4800 has been around, and it is a workhorse that was designed for the field. If budget is a concern, as it is for most, I believe that this is your starting point, especially if you want to jump out and tear up 50 acres. That's going to take a while, but I have the feeling you've done it before, so that's not news to you.
Have fun.