My Journey - Mahindra vs. John Deere vs. Kubota

[TripleR]

Congratulations on your purchase, great tractor for an outstanding price.

 

[jeff9366]

I was planning to hook up my 6' Bushhog behind the tractor to serve as a counterbalance. Is that a wise choice?

Yes.

Rotary Cutters and Box Blades are the two implements most often use as counterbalance. While the Rotary Cutter will trail way back there, per PAPPY, that adds to leverage and its effectiveness as ballast.

A good, compact form of implement counterbalance is a Three Point Hitch mounted Cultipacker.

 

[JeffroL]

It will work as a counterbalance, but a rotary cutter sticks way out there behind your tractor. If you're in tight quarters, it will limit maneuverability and you'll have to be careful. Also, I doubt that a 6' rotary cutter will cover your tracks on a 7060, so you're probably going to want to get a wider cutter.

A more compact solution would be to either build a ballast box or buy a heavy duty 7' box blade, such as a Gannon with hydraulic rippers (which would weigh approx 1,200 pounds).

I could also hook on my 6' tiller. That thing is a beast. 400-500 I think at least. It doesn't stick out much at all. *correction - it is 1000#. Very heavy. Although most of the work I'll be doing around the fields will require me to use the bushhog to clean up what's left after pulling the olives. So the conditions won't be tight and that's probably a better choice. Not so for clearing trails though, where it is much tighter.

I also am looking at trading up to an 8' bush hog, I agree the 6' will fit inside the wheels, so not optimal.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Question, what JD model did you compare, a 6065e or a 6065m?

 

[JeffroL]

Question, what JD model did you compare, a 6065e or a 6065m?

The JD that I considered was their 5065E with an H240 loader. It's a fine tractor, but very very expensive vs. the competition.

 

[JeffroL]

One thing that I find funny - is that my old Deutz tractor actually has a higher rated 3 point lift rating than the new 75hp Kubota. And it weighs almost as much (without considering the weight of the loader). They really don't make tractors like they used to! That Deutz is about as simple a machine as you can get - and it has never failed us in 40 years of ownership.

 

[mike69440]

Great post and fair evaluation.

I have an +8000 lb ballasted L39 so this does not apply to my tractor, but in general Kubota's are lighter and weaker in their standard line, with some exceptions. As far as Fit Finish, ergonomics and smoothness, Kubota pays attention. Apparently Mahindra needs to accelerate to catch up. My Mitsubishi built Mahindra is ok, but the Loader control is crude. I had to add a suspension seat or cupholder, really.
The JD economy line of smaller tractors are priced well but except for a JD hat the dealer tosses in why own one? But JD does build expensive nice tractors.

 

[mike69440]

I could also hook on my 6' tiller. That thing is a beast. 400-500 I think at least. It doesn't stick out much at all. *correction - it is 1000#. Very heavy. Although most of the work I'll be doing around the fields will require me to use the bushhog to clean up what's left after pulling the olives. So the conditions won't be tight and that's probably a better choice. Not so for clearing trails though, where it is much tighter.

I also am looking at trading up to an 8' bush hog, I agree the 6' will fit inside the wheels, so not optimal.

If you go with a large cutter consider a dual gearbox for shorter OAL.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

The JD that I considered was their 5065E with an H240 loader. It's a fine tractor, but very very expensive vs. the competition.

I guess I feel that it is relatively common for people to not compare apples to apples and then put down the low dollar product. As you mentioned, price could not be touched, but the tractor was more crude. The other manufacturers don't even offer a comparable machine. Now if you had considered the Mpower 75 you would have been much closer in the comparison. I'm not saying one is better than the other, each has their own pros and cons, just that things would have been much closer IMO.

Enjoy your Kubota, you got a great machine. :thumbsup:

 

[JeffroL]

I guess I feel that it is relatively common for people to not compare apples to apples and then put down the low dollar product. As you mentioned, price could not be touched, but the tractor was more crude. The other manufacturers don't even offer a comparable machine. Now if you had considered the Mpower 75 you would have been much closer in the comparison. I'm not saying one is better than the other, each has their own pros and cons, just that things would have been much closer IMO.

Yes, that's undeniably true. The only dealer in my area either didn't have an Mpower 75 or never steered me that way. It does look more comparable. If you took the Kubota out of the equation I think I'd have gone with the Mahindra. It lacked the fit/finish/smoothness of the JD, but for $15k savings? Are you kidding? That's unmatched value. I'd have gone with the Mahindra.