M5040 or M6040?

[sqdqo]

If you have a choice between a used M5040 or an M6040 which would you choose? The smaller horse power is generally a little less expensive but is the extra horse power worth having in this machine? Does 5040 have enough power to work sufficiently?

 

[TripleR]

I guess it would depend on your anticipated tasks. I tend to like a bit more power, but at some point, enough is enough and no need to go bigger.

 

[sqdqo]

No agricultural tasks, heavy snow removal, light logging, moving tree length logs, tugging trees with a 3 pt mounted logging winch, road maintenance which includes some stump removal-within reason.

 

[TripleR]

foreman Etexas has an M5040, so you might check with him, but from your proposed uses, I see nothing an M5040 won't do. I use an L5030 on one of our farms and have never had to bring the M8540 the four miles from another farm due to lack of power and the M5040 will out work my GL.

I know there is always the temptation to go a little bigger, but I chose the M8540 over an M9540 as I saw no need for the extra HP.

 

[E/S]

The only question I would ask is at what elevation do you work at? You loose power as you go up, that is why I went with a turbo charged machine.

E/S

 

[sqdqo]

Elevation is not a factor, I just turned my gps on and it shows 362'.

 

[E/S]

Then you are good to go.

E/S

 

[trook]

I don't see a need to go larger than the 5040 unless you want to pull implements larger than 6ft. The 5040 should pull a 6ft rotary cutter in all but the thickest brush with no problem.

 

[sqdqo]

I am definitely not a tractor expert...hence all the questions. The only tractor experience I have is with a 38hp JD 4600 hydro. I have stalled it many times when working it hard and for this reason I want to make sure I get something that I won't have the problem with.

 

[Notforhire]

The only question I would ask is at what elevation do you work at? You loose power as you go up, that is why I went with a turbo charged machine.

E/S

Interesting point, I never thought about that. I'm at about 3200ft.:confused3: Is there much of a loss?

Bill

 

[TripleR]

I don't see a need to go larger than the 5040 unless you want to pull implements larger than 6ft. The 5040 should pull a 6ft rotary cutter in all but the thickest brush with no problem.

Agreed, I use a Land Pride RCR2672 with my L5030 in very heavy brush. The open area was cut out of the surrounding brush up to 3+".

 

[E/S]

Interesting point, I never thought about that. I'm at about 3200ft.:confused3: Is there much of a loss?

Bill

I don't know the formula.
For me it dropped below the 50 HP at PTO I initially wanted. By stepping up I went to 75 HP at PTO and bigger implements.

E/S

 

[E/S]

I found it. Average is 5% per 1000 ft of elevation. So for me at 6000 ft is a lot.

E/S

 

[Notforhire]

I found it. Average is 5% per 1000 ft of elevation. So for me at 6000 ft is a lot.

E/S

Thanks. Very interesting. I had no idea it was that much.
If I move up the mountain, I may need to install a hand crank PTO booster!!

 

[foreman Etexas]

I believe the difference would be really hard to tell. And I guess I will let the picture do the talking for the 5040.I will add my 7040 picks up like 400lbs more than my 5040...


Heavy grass/weeds-8ft pull-type shredder
Medium/light stuff-15ft batwing
Hay cutter-8ft
74IN.Tiller
6ft medium duty boxblade
And will be using 5x4 baler this year

 

[foreman Etexas]

The 5040 will un-load a ton of feed but thats it,the 7040 can do alittle more

 

[sqdqo]

Thanks guys for all the advice and photos, it is certainly helpful. I don't have any agriculture where I'm at just big trees, big stumps and big snowfall. I will post whatever I end up with.

 

[sqdqo]

foreman Etexas, I have one more question if I can ask, or anyone offer their opinion. Is there any significant difference in fuel usage between the M5040 and the M6040 or M7040? Also if someone describes their machine as having a synchro shuttle with no other description would you consider that to be a mechanical or hydro shuttle?

 

[foreman Etexas]

foreman Etexas, I have one more question if I can ask, or anyone offer their opinion. Is there any significant difference in fuel usage between the M5040 and the M6040 or M7040? Also if someone describes their machine as having a synchro shuttle with no other description would you consider that to be a mechanical or hydro shuttle?

My 7040 uses way more than the 5040 but it is cab/airI would think the fuel would be very little more between the 3. Both of mine are sync.shuttle(gotta use the clutch)(mechanical). If your doing alot of loader work,I would go with the hyd.shuttle and mechanics claim longer life on them than sync.also. I guess I never heard you say or missed it,openstation or cab? How much do you plan on lifting?

If you dont mind me asking whats the price difference between the 5040 and 6040.
I paid $26,900 for the 5040 brand new(4x4,sync.shuttle,1153ldr)

 

[sqdqo]

I am looking at used so I don't have an opinion on new unit prices, just can't justify and can't afford. What I see for used though say 200-300 hrs is 30K plus with a cab.
I do some light logging and firewood production. Where I live the majority of tree type is maple. I usually look for dead standing or blown over. I have gotten ahold of trees with an 18-20"" butt, those trees are very heavy. I limb the trees to remove unusable waste and the little 4600 I have used won't lift a whole tree that size. In fact I won't even try I don't want to damage the machine. I have had many others though where the rear wheels come off the ground (rear tires are loaded) and it creates quite a pucker factor. I just want something that I can put to work without worry and is user friendly. When I cut a tree I always try to back up to it and used the 3 pt with a receiver hitch set up to lift the butt end and drag it to a more suitable location for cutting. I have had a few that the 4600 just would not pull. Again I don't want to damage the machine.

Snow moving in the winter here can be tough too, hence the need for a cab, especially on remote roads that the county doesn't manage. We can have a 2' snow fall and you need a machine with *** to move it. I want to put a hydro blade on the boom for this reason and I want weight and power.

These are the reasons for my desire to pick the right unit.