Montana vs Kubota

[Fritzy]

I am a Kubota B3030 Cab owner, I am thinking of trading and I am looking at the Montrana Tractor. The smallest I see with a cab is a 43 hp, that is a little pit bigger than I need but I quess it would work. How does everyone like there Montana's and do you think they are a better tractor than the Kubota?

 

[mwb]

I have a Montana so therefore I am biased...

However, Montana is NOT a better tractor than Kubota - and same goes for the other way around. Each has their strong points, here is my opinion.

I looked at Kubota (my dad bought a Kubota at the same time that I purchased my Montana) and I felt that the Montana was a better value.

This comparison is based on price, both of the following machines cost the same:
Kubota L3400 vs Montana 3940

Montana advantage:
39 hp vs 34
much heavier machine
comes with rear remotes
3pt draft control
brakes are useable (not on same side as hst)
stronger loader
quick attach bucket
electric pto switch (no clutch on this tractor)

Kubota advantage:
nicer paint - more durable, less rust
very rigid solid loader - very well built
engine starts faster
seat is more comfortable, seems to be at a better height
Comes with grill guard

Things I strongly dislike about these machines:

Montana
- it didn't come with a grill guard and I busted the grill within one week of getting it.

Kubota
- useless brakes,
- 3pt hitch IS CRAP for two reasons; jerky problem (search here) and the geometry of the lift arms don't fit some things (they are two narrow and bind on plows, sickle mower)
- fender/tire clearances are near zero; you have to buy wheel extenders to be able to use tire chains
- loader and bucket are very fast and touchy, easy to 'rough it up' or spill a load

For the same size (hp) machine the Montana would have been about 15% less money than the Kubota - and still included all the 'options' that I listed for mine where the Kubota does not have them.

If you are looking at the Grand series Kubota then many of the 'missing' options will be included but the cost is much higher. I think you will see a cost differential of ~20%.

You also have to consider your dealers and the stability of the manufacturers.

Again, my opinion is based specifically on the two models listed; they are not apples to apples but pricewise they were identical (actually I think my Montana was $500 less...).

Other info; Montana seems to be the same as Landini and McCormick (at least in certain sizes.

I really like the 4340, that is a lot of tractor!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

Sims cabs makes a cab for the R series tractors.

 

[Unclebuck257]

I owned a non cab Kubota when/before I bought my cabbed Montana 5740C in 2005. I know that I got more value for the buck in buying the Montana, but there are now more Kubota dealers than Montana dealers presently in my area. That is Montana's weakness in our area right now.

Tractor to tractor, I'd put my Montana up against the equilivant Kubota any day on cost vs value and outright overall performance.

 

[soggybottom]

I bought a new 4340c 3 yrs ago, has 1000+ hrs now, I grade horse arenas, wash repairs, driveway grading for pavers and dirt drive maintanance, grade 1 acre + lots after new construction, clear rural desert acreage for homes and ranches. So it does get some abuse. The only big problem was with the loader frame. 2 bolts loosened and broke behind fuel tank at 500ish hrs, loader is getting sloppy from the quick removal saddle pins, was not the sturdiest loader I've had, other than that I have an a/c hose rub and blow, glowplug relay fried, seat cover and suspention is toast at about 650 hrs, hood hinges broke when piston lift frose. Mostly minor stuff, I'm not unhappy with it except for loader frame which is a made in USA part. I've owned several kubotas and 1 new holland over the yrs. they all had similar annoyances, worst on a 30 HP kubota was front wheel bearing and housing (warrentied, I did labor) New holland had a 3pt hitch problem and a heel/toe linkage broke.

All this brings me to the conclusion to shop for best buy, most major brands are about the same.

 

[blueriver]

I owned a non cab Kubota when/before I bought my cabbed Montana 5740C in 2005. I know that I got more value for the buck in buying the Montana, but there are now more Kubota dealers than Montana dealers presently in my area. That is Montana's weakness in our area right now.

Tractor to tractor, I'd put my Montana up against the equilivant Kubota any day on cost vs value and outright overall performance.

Ditto ...

 

[art]

All things are easy to compare when new, it will be interesting to see a montana at 5000 or 6000 hours or more in daily use like the Kubotas we have around here and there repair incident.

We have a few but they are not high houred and they do seem to frequent the shop more then aome of the other makes when they get over 1,000 hours. Some loader repairs and other small electrical stuff and steering so far on those in our area. Seems the dealers that sold them are telling them they need to trade not repair so they bring them to us.

We have found that some manufacturers change who builds the tractors and over time this has caused parts availability problems.
Through the different labels we have seen on different tractors we have sold over ten makes of compact tractors not counting on the color and label at the time we were selling them.