05 Kioti CK30HST w/ Prairie Dog backhoe, XN08 mini-X
I just saw the new L45 at the World AG Show this week. It looks like
they have not only added some power, but they have also addressed at
least 2 big limitations of the old L39: now there is a HST, and an integrated
backhoe thumb.
The L48 was discontinued last year, much to the dismay of a lot of TBN and other forum members. There may be some still available new on dealers' lots, if you are lucky enough to find one.
I saw the L45 at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville last week, it is a sweet looking machine. I have a copy of the L45 brochure from the show. Brochures and tractors should be showing up at Kubota dealers soon, I would think.
I do not have the official Kubota position on this, but my understanding is
that the B26 replaced the B21, then the M59 replaced the L48, and now the L45 replaces the L39. In each case, there was (and is) plenty of inventory
of the replaced units for sale for a while. One of our Kubota dealers on
TBN can give the official story.
At the World AG Expo, there was no L39 (or L48) there, of the 50+ tractors
on display. I wish I had seen a brochure as I would like to know if there are
weight and hyd flow diffs.
This photo is of the new floor arrangement, with rocker HST pedal. Too bad
they are keeping the right-foot brake arrangement.