New vs. Used Kubota and New Holland

[jahman4]

Hello! I'm new to the site and to tractors in general. My wife and I own 18 acres and are on the hunt for a tractor. About 10 of the acres are wooded and the other 8 are more or less 'cleared'. My primary immediate concerns are cutting brush, moving cut wood, hauling manure and digging fence posts. I'm fully aware other needs will arise soon.

I was just about sold on a new Kubota L3800 w/ 38hp, 66" bucket, HST and 4WD. While shopping around, I came across a 1 year old New Holland T1530 w/ 45 HP, 66" bucket HST, 4wd (and tires are filled). They're within about $500 of each other. If I buy new, I'll probably finance (0%). If I buy used, I'll probably do cash.

Any input on this? I've seen tons of posts on Kubota reliability and general awesomeness. I have found very little about New Holland, especially this model of tractor. I understand it's their answer to the economy options from other makers. Anyone with experience on either tractor?

Other small factors - the HST whine on the Kubota is louder than the NH. Kubota dealer is 30 minutes away, NH 45. Kubota feels a bit more 'sales-y', NH more parts and service. Also - NH dealer does NOT own the tractor but is listing it for a customer that is planning to upgrade.

Any suggestions?

 

[mogwai]

Dealer support can trump minor product differences. I just bought a NH tractor based on my impressions of the dealers, as much as the tractors.

Keep that in mind as you weigh the options.

 

[Bluegill2]

I bought a L3800DT 6 months ago and could not be happier. The old L3750 is an 1984 model and still going strong! We have 400 acres here and use the tractors for mowing, logging, taking care of a mile long gravel drive and several miles of logging roads.

Not sure who makes NH, but I could have bought a used LS 45 hp for less than the L3800, but the Kubota tractors have been very tough and reliable for me. So I stayed with Orange.

 

[art]

New Holland dealers have to push parts and service. To buy parts for a Kubota, they will always be Kubota unlike many brands that change the manufacturers of their tractors and later have issues of getting the parts for them ten years later. Look at the tractors history of repairs and the fact of their lower market share. They are as good as many brands, but!

 

[jahman4]

Thanks for the input! For kicks, I drove a kioti today and quite enjoyed it. I'm getting less and less sold on the used NH, largely because it would probably be a cash purchase and I can use that money elsewhere. Between the kioti (dk40) and the kubota, it seems like I need to decide if I'll want a big loader lift capacity. I'd probably run the same implements on either one. One concern on the kioti - is there such a thing as too heavy? Am I going to sink in soft ground on that thing?

 

[Don87]

Thanks for the input! For kicks, I drove a kioti today and quite enjoyed it. I'm getting less and less sold on the used NH, largely because it would probably be a cash purchase and I can use that money elsewhere. Between the kioti (dk40) and the kubota, it seems like I need to decide if I'll want a big loader lift capacity. I'd probably run the same implements on either one. One concern on the kioti - is there such a thing as too heavy? Am I going to sink in soft ground on that thing?

Yes.

I don't know your ground, but a heavy tractor will sink quicker in soft ground. You will need to decipher this yourself.

I've seen heavy tractors 'drop' instantly, when hitting a soft spot.................I know of one that has been buried for several months now.

 

[JoeBuyer]

Heavier is not always better, particularly if you have soft or wet ground. Heavy is good on solid soils when you need traction and stability. Our soil is quite wet all winter and the heavier tractors do sink in more. You need to "weigh" that in your decision.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I bought a NH 1720 6 years ago...
This tractor was a 1 owner with 245 hours...
She was in A+++ shape...
I have been very satisfied...
No breakdowns and no problems...
She now has almost 600 hours on it...
When the local NH dealer here went out of business it was replaced by another one...
I am not concerned in the least with parts supports...
I rarely need parts...
If I would have run up on a comparable Kubota, Massey, or Deere I would have purchased also...
In my opinion, condition of the unit is more important than dealer support...
If the unit is in excellent shape you are not gonna need much dealer support...
With that said, I am fortunate that I have two very good dealers that carry NH, Kubota, and Massey within 13 miles of the house...

 

[Bluegill2]

Thanks for the input! For kicks, I drove a kioti today and quite enjoyed it. I'm getting less and less sold on the used NH, largely because it would probably be a cash purchase and I can use that money elsewhere. Between the kioti (dk40) and the kubota, it seems like I need to decide if I'll want a big loader lift capacity. I'd probably run the same implements on either one. One concern on the kioti - is there such a thing as too heavy? Am I going to sink in soft ground on that thing?

Most of the time more weight is a good thing. I have places here that I can't use our L3750 in the spring, but the lighter L3800 works just fine. So you have to determine what works for your needs.

 

[jahman4]

thanks for the feedback on the weight. I do have some wetlands I'll have to navigate near. Maybe the kioti isn't the best idea...

 

[murphy1244]

This is the first time I've heard these Bota owners crying about weight. Jaman4 price that dk-40hst against the Kubota and compare features.

 

[art]

It is easier to say that weight is a plus when doing heavy work then not. The best thing for you to do is figure out how much you need the extra weight for the loader work for the time of doing it vs the other work you will do. So if you are using the loader for extensive excavation work then the extra weight might be needed or maybe you should be looking at a more dedicated TLB with hydraulics to match! To say that you will be using it for the most amount of the hours to mow, while then lighter is better. Many people do get the bulk of the excavation done soon after getting a tractor and then it is only doing lighter chores that do not require the heavy compaction of fat machines.

 

[Martian]

Murph we agree!!

Buy a tractor with weight! Unless you plan on mowing your lawn with this and your lawn looks something like this then weight is only your friend. Some people seem to buy very expensive lawn mowers, while I buy tractors. My tractors get put to work! You can provide the argument that you can add weight, but there is nothing better than built-in weight if your just going to add it afterward. After all, where are the other manufacturers skimping out on to cut that weight? In the example of getting it stuck, you need weight for traction, so a lighter tractor will only be more likely to get stuck. Obviously you shouldn't drive EITHER of these tractors over your lawn in the link above, but I don't drive any of my tractors on the lawn to begin with. I have them in the fields, pastures and woods where I don't care what they do and only need them to work to make the lawn pictured above

Plus, the DK40se is a MUCH nicer tractor compared the the L3800, more feature rich and comparable to the L4240 in size and features, but to the L3800 in price! I think you better take another trip to the Kioti dealer

 

[jahman4]

thanks for the input and ideas. It looks like it's going to be the kubota L3800. There was a difference in price and kubota was less (by 5K). Also, given the work I'm going to be doing I think it will be plenty of tractor. Early in the process I thought I'd end up with 30hp, got talked up to 38hp and thought about 45! Going back to the beginning, I think this will be a good fit. If not, I'll deal with that later. Thanks folks!

 

[crazyal]

I wouldn't worry so much about weight. I didn't fill my tires but made a 55 gallon drum full of cement as a ballast box. At times my Kubota is too heavy even without the ballast.

 

[Bluegill2]

thanks for the input and ideas. It looks like it's going to be the kubota L3800. There was a difference in price and kubota was less (by 5K). Also, given the work I'm going to be doing I think it will be plenty of tractor. Early in the process I thought I'd end up with 30hp, got talked up to 38hp and thought about 45! Going back to the beginning, I think this will be a good fit. If not, I'll deal with that later. Thanks folks!

Congrats! It really is a Nice tractor...

 

[murphy1244]

Make sure you check the 3 point hitch with a load on it for the dreaded "jerky Hitch Disease".

 

[murphy1244]

I wouldn't worry so much about weight. I didn't fill my tires but made a 55 gallon drum full of cement as a ballast box. At times my Kubota is too heavy even without the ballast.

Too heavy for what???? You mowing a golf coarse or working a tractor?

 

[Martian]

Make sure you check the 3 point hitch with a load on it for the dreaded "jerky Hitch Disease".

+1, only trouble of the standard L series. If you can live with it, they are a good tractor . . . but many can't or couldn't

Too heavy for what???? You mowing a golf coarse or working a tractor?

+1, You put the cup in the green with your backhoe right Murph?

 

[crazyal]

Too heavy for what???? You mowing a golf coarse or working a tractor?

I guess you've never logged with your tractor. Extra weight on soft ground is not a good thing. You can always add weight, good luck trying to remove weight.