Buying Advice New Guy - Looking to Buy

[CPM]

The dealer is trying to talk me out of the grapple idea - would there be another motive for this? Maybe not having one in stock? Extra work to fit etc?

Also being offered the MX5100 as a "better model" for what I need to do. Has more power but not the HST+. Wondering what is more useful?

It seems you can't add a backhoe to the MX5100 as it's not as sturdy as the L series e.g. L4400

 

[Grandad4]

Perhaps a bit of confusion there. First, there are actually two model lines with "L" in the model number... the "basic" L's, with numbers ending in "00" (e.g. L4400) and the higher-end "Grand" L's, with numbers ending in 10, 30 or 40 (e.g. L3940), with the 40's being the current generation. Please don't ask me to rationalize the numbering beyond that because I can't. However the Grand models are somewhat larger and have more hydraulic capacity, more lift on the 3 pt, heavier front axles on some models, stronger loaders on some models, the new HST+ transmission on hydro models, some comfort/convenience features and a price tag large enough to cover the added content.

The MX4700 and MX5100 have the size and power of a comparably powered Grand L but have more basic, utilitarian features. It is definitely larger and more powerful than an L4400. The backhoe issue has nothing to do with the MX's not being sturdy enough. That configuration is sold in the states and is a very strong unit. There is reportedly some issue with getting it certified with the Australian safety agency (we call it "OSHA" in the US, although there is usually a four letter adjective or two added to the description). There is another Aussie who has been wrangling with this issue of late. Maybe he'll chime in here or you could search some of these threads to get more information.

The MX is available with HST, but not the latest HST+. My tractors have the older type HST, which has been excellent, but everyone with the newer setup seems to rave about its performance.

Can't guess what motivates your dealer beyond availability of another product or lack of experience with grapples. You can read up for yourself what owners have reported here. Best of luck with your deliberations.

 

[CJBOTA]

Yes, I am adding the hoe to my MX5100 in about two weeks. Also, the HST works great! You do need some weight in the back when doing loader work, but that is normal.
CJ

 

[crazyal]

For the most part you don't use your front bucket to dig into the ground. So if you've got a partially buried rock you'll want to use the backhoe (if you do get one) to dig it out of the ground before you try to pick it up. The grapple, because it has tines, can just dig into the earth to get the rock. I don't think there would be anything unusual or different to make adding a grapple harder than a 4 in 1 bucket. But to get the best answer I would post a question like "4 in 1 bucket vs grapple, which would you buy and why" in the attachment section.

The MX5100 is a good tractor. If you never had the HST+ transmission then you'll not miss it. If you can get a 5100 for about the same price as the 3540 that would make the choice tough. An extra 15hp will come in handy.

 

[CPM]

Yes, I am adding the hoe to my MX5100 in about two weeks. Also, the HST works great! You do need some weight in the back when doing loader work, but that is normal.
CJ

The dealer said that it's not as tough as the L series for a backhoe attachment due to it being rigged to the PTO or something - not sure what he meant by it.

From what you're doing, I guess that's not an issue?

 

[CPM]

For the most part you don't use your front bucket to dig into the ground. So if you've got a partially buried rock you'll want to use the backhoe (if you do get one) to dig it out of the ground before you try to pick it up. The grapple, because it has tines, can just dig into the earth to get the rock. I don't think there would be anything unusual or different to make adding a grapple harder than a 4 in 1 bucket. But to get the best answer I would post a question like "4 in 1 bucket vs grapple, which would you buy and why" in the attachment section..

I'll do that.

The MX5100 is a good tractor. If you never had the HST+ transmission then you'll not miss it. If you can get a 5100 for about the same price as the 3540 that would make the choice tough. An extra 15hp will come in handy.

It seems that there are deals for this machine so I was wondering if it's a soon to be replaced model.

 

[CPM]

BTw, I've been offered Industrial tyres, rather than Ag. Apparently because they're better on slopes and leave less marks on the ground.

I wont be doing bowling greens or finished lawns with this so, are Ag tyres the way to go? I hear the rear wheels should be filled with water for added weight and stability, too.

 

[TripleR]

BTw, I've been offered Industrial tyres, rather than Ag. Apparently because they're better on slopes and leave less marks on the ground.

I wont be doing bowling greens or finished lawns with this so, are Ag tyres the way to go? I hear the rear wheels should be filled with water for added weight and stability, too.

The Ag v Industrials is a never ending debate with no clear conclusion and "mostly" depends on your uses. We have Ag and Industrials on different tractors.

We put fluid in all of our hill tractors or those with FEL, our flatland tractors that just pull cutters we don't. Some use wheel weights or a combination of both.

Some don't recommend this with a back hoe, but I don't know much about back hoe attachments.

 

[BroBro]

WELCOME !!!!!
Remember you can do a little job with a big tractor but you can't do a big job with a little tractor.
Go big or go crazy !!!!!

 

[LD1]

The dealer is trying to talk me out of the grapple idea - would there be another motive for this? Maybe not having one in stock? Extra work to fit etc?

Also being offered the MX5100 as a "better model" for what I need to do. Has more power but not the HST+. Wondering what is more useful?

It seems you can't add a backhoe to the MX5100 as it's not as sturdy as the L series e.g. L4400

The dealer said that it's not as tough as the L series for a backhoe attachment due to it being rigged to the PTO or something - not sure what he meant by it.

From what you're doing, I guess that's not an issue?

I think you need a new dealer. The MX5100 and L4400 take the SAME BH92 backhoe with the SAME specs. The only difference is in the subframe. (how it bolts to the tractor).

 

[Grandad4]

BTw, I've been offered Industrial tyres, rather than Ag. Apparently because they're better on slopes and leave less marks on the ground.

I wont be doing bowling greens or finished lawns with this so, are Ag tyres the way to go? I hear the rear wheels should be filled with water for added weight and stability, too.

An endless debate, as noted. Primary advantage of R4's is their much heavier tread and sidewall construction; so less likely to get cut or punctured and better for carrying heavy loads in the FEL. R4's tread design does not have the aggressive lugs of the R1 ag tires, however; so R1's work better in mud or other slippy conditions and in conventional farm tillage tasks.

By the way, in one of the earlier 4 in 1 threads in the Attachments section, a poster mentioned how common 4 in 1's were in Australia. That may explain why your dealer is pushing you in that direction.

 

[CJBOTA]

I would like to here from others, but I am fairly sure putting a backhoe on a
MX5100 vs an L series is not a compromise. Atleast I hope not. I think your dealer is trying to push you to a certain model for some reason. Although I have R1's on my current tractor the R4's on my previous tractor were serious tough tires. I did some logging in one section of our farm which was full of mature multi flora rose thorn and thorn apple trees. I still can't beleive I didn't get even one flat tire on my L3700 with R4's. I went with the R1's this time purely for the traction. I may have to pull a heavy 300 gallon orchard sprayer thru a few soft spots this spring and I can't be getting stuck.
CJ

 

[CPM]

I would like to here from others, but I am fairly sure putting a backhoe on a
MX5100 vs an L series is not a compromise. Atleast I hope not. I think your dealer is trying to push you to a certain model for some reason. Although I have R1's on my current tractor the R4's on my previous tractor were serious tough tires. I did some logging in one section of our farm which was full of mature multi flora rose thorn and thorn apple trees. I still can't beleive I didn't get even one flat tire on my L3700 with R4's. I went with the R1's this time purely for the traction. I may have to pull a heavy 300 gallon orchard sprayer thru a few soft spots this spring and I can't be getting stuck.
CJ

Thanks for the comment. He's pushing the MX5100 with virtually no difference in price between that and the L4400. Not sure why - wondering if the L4400 has more features or something or if the 5100 is about to be replaced?

 

[crazyal]

It's hard for us in the states to understand that it's different where you are. For us it's easy to get a backhoe for a 5100 where someone else has posted that it's very hard, if even possible at all for you.

Anther thing that I've learned is in Canada there's a HP barrier. Once you cross it then taxes are a lot cheaper. It actually turned out that a M7040 was the same price as a L4740 so what you may be seeing is that could be the case for you as well and the 5100 is just taxes less than the 4400. It could, just a guess, mean that if you add a BH to a 5100 then you get charged a higher tax rate so nobody does it and the dealers just don't order the subframe for it. It could be that a 50hp tractor is for ag unless you put a BH on it and ag tractors cost less. But most of this is just guessing on my part.

In the US there are lots of different grapples for sale which makes them a popular option. Down there it could be different or it just could be that people are just use to the 4 in 1 and like them. Even tires, ag vs industrial can be different. Around me the R4s load up in the woods real quickly because of the type of dirt and amount of water but that's here.

 

[Samandothers]

You have a heck of a choice. I like my backhoe grapple combo. If big dig it up with backhoe and carry it off with grapple. If small enough root it out with grapple. These two probably are on my tractor more than other stuff, great clearing combo. Definitely fill the back tires. I have ag tires and they are good on land. However I hate to even drive straight across the lawn as you will end up with clematis marks.