Need Kubota Narrow Tractor

HarleyBob · Sep 17, 2012

I am looking for a Narrow Kubota for narrow aisles at berry farm.
Looking at M6040 or older models. Don't need a lot of HP, but 48" width
a necessity. What is the best choice of older used models or a
good price to start negotiating on a new M6040?
I don't need a cab as we are Organic and I enjoy the smell and taste of it all.
Not hot climate either, so no AC needed. Just open tractor.

Robert_in_NY · Sep 17, 2012

I have an M8540 Narrow with cab and will definitely advise you to operate one before you buy. Also, don't be afraid to price John Deere's narrow tractors as in my case they were within a couple grand. If I had to do it again I would buy the Deere, the Kubota is just extremely loud in the cab (not an issue for you) and extremely rough riding (I'm still trying to get that smoothed out on mine). I also don't care for the hydraulic oil filters situation. There are two filters instead of one like you find on any other brand, each of the filters cost the same as the one you would buy for another brand so your paying twice as much but what really irritates me is they place them (at least on my tractor) behind the rear tire on the side of the housing. Trying to change them without pulling the rear tire is extremely difficult and they hold mud and dirt up in there so when you do get them off you do have to struggle to keep dirt out of the system. I would have rather seen them route a hose to a filter housing forward of the cab where it is easy to change and keep clean.

Good luck with your search.

HarleyBob · Sep 17, 2012

What about the New Hollands and new Case IH Narrows? One issue is I don't need the bigger horsepowers and would love to find
an older 5400 Narrow. I have had great luck with my current Kubota of ten years. It has two hydro filters.
One thing is that the area has great support for Deere, Kubota and Case and maybe even Landini.

Robert_in_NY · Sep 17, 2012

I don't mind the CNH products but for my use I needed a roomy cab and the CNH tractors have very tight cabs making them uncomfortable for me. There are not too many Landini tractors here but there are a few in the vineyards. Same with SAME, their around, just not any large amount of them. Kubota isn't too popular either. In fact, I am the only one I know of that has a true Kubota narrow here. There are a few other guys who use standard Kubota M series tractors narrowed up extremely tight but no true narrows other then mine. John Deere is the leader followed by New Holland and then Case-IH. Case-IH has been gaining since Fiat started painting the New Hollands red for them. Our sprayers require a lot of hp so there are not too many low hp narrows here. It is about 50% cab to 50% open station tractors as well. Most farms have a one to one ratio as we use the cabs for spraying and the open stations for post work and mowing.