MX5000SU ?

[rickguns]

Hi,
1st post here, really enjoy the site!

My son and I are thinking of a new tractor to replace the old Ford 3000 tractor that we have now for his farm in Missiouri. Son is stationed in the Navy on the East Coast and Dad (me) is the primary hired hand in his abscence.
The farm is aprox. 100 acres, majority in CRP. I mow aprox. 1/3 for CRP. put in several foodplots for deer and quail. I plow/roto till aprox. 5 acres for the plots. I use a 3 bottom plow, 6 ft rotary mower and tiller.

Have been looking at a new Kubota MX5000SU with FEL at our local dealer. Seems like a really good basic tractor for the money. I am comfortable with the standard trans. (what I'm used to) and will save quite a bit of $$$ Dealer qouted $21,500 off the lot for this tractor. which ater looking at new Deeres, New Hollands seems like a really good value for the money.

What's the general opinion of this line? Does the price sound good to others that have bought lately? Will this be enough tractor for what we're doing? Big investment and we want to do it right.
Thanks!

 

[big bubba]

I too replaced my ol massey 35 w/a mx5000 at the same price you were quoted. although I don't make my living farming, I have have 127 mt. top acres. although the mx was a basic & adequate tractor over the previous, I immediately realized the advantage of the M series larger frame and duty service. if you're on the market for a 50 hp, look at a 5040 for approx 3500-4000 more. then there are $1500 increments between the 6040, and 7040. i went with the 7040 and never looked back. made the mx look primitive based on 1950's technology. the mx came out with the 5100 newer version, but I'd stick w/ M series. just remember it's far cheaper to get it right the 1st time rather than like me (a fool & his money are soon parted) do a trade in at 50 hrs on a bigger model. good luck bb

 

[DLMaine01]

rickguns,
Welcome to TBN!
big bubba nailed it. For the tasks you describe go with biggest M Series you can afford. You will not regret it. Nothing wrong with the MX but for 100 ac. go with the M.
Good luck and post pics no matter what you get.
Dave

 

[Bob_Young]

Rick, they're a good tractor and, right now, a great deal. But a three bottom plow would probably be a little too much for an MX5000. The Implement Limitations section of the Kubota manual rates it for 2-16s, which means it'd probably struggle with 3 bottoms. Other than that you'd have a good fit. I got one and really like it so far, but haven't used it much.

If you can find a deal, I'd look at the M5040 or M6040. The 6040 has the 200 cu. in. engine and will have more low end guts than the 5040. If you're going to spend the money, I think that'd be the one to get. OTOH, you might get the MX and consider dropping back to a 2-bottom plow if it has trouble with 3.

My quote on the MX5000 was about the same as yours, $22,200 with 4WD, FEL and a handful of options. A quote I got on an M5040 with the same options plus hydro-reverse was $5600 higher. No way could I justify the increment. However, I've seen M5040 quotes posted here that were less than $25K; they may have been for mechanical reverser tractors.

Hydro reverse is nice as is the hydraulic clutch that goes with it; but unless you're doing lots of loader work, is probably not necessary. In fact, you can get into trouble on hydro reverse tractors by bumping the reverser handle at the wrong time; I've done it more than once. You got by without it on the Ford 3000 and know how to use a clutch, so why spend for it....though I'm sure some here will find this heresy.
Bob

 

[rickguns]

Thanks Bob,

I feel the same way, why spend the extra $$$ for a larger tractor that will burn more fuel ($$$) per hour. We use the plow so little in the overall picture and have been plowing with the Ford 3000 which was quite a bit less horse than the Kubota and got along most of the time without too much trouble. Majority of the tractors use will be with the bush hog, which I'm sure that this tractor would do fine. The trans. is the style I have used all my life and familiar with.