Newbie Trying To Decide - Detailed Profile Included For Best Advice - Thank You!!

[ericm979]

The front axle doesn't do anything for side hill stability because the axle pivots. There are stops to limit it's motion but you'd be leaning over pretty far by then.

My barn has a floor that's higher than the driveway outside and a steep short ramp just inside the door. I measured from the flat floor level to the door to get my clearance. The actual clearance is slightly more. Having to fold the ROPS to pull in would be a pain.

 

[jeff9366]

The tractor will be used for many different things, but all residential. One main use will be breaking new trails through a thick and overgrown 40 acres. You cant walk through the woods without ducking or stepping between trees with one leg at a time, mostly smaller and newer growth. The land is mostly flat, no steep hills to climb or deal with. Many large 40' red pine trees around the house and in the yard need to go. The tractor will be used for the cleanup after a professional cuts them down.

An overview of my intended uses. I know this list will grow after acquiring a tractor:
Moving around 8 oak logs to process into firewood.
Clearing trails on my land, mostly flat land, heavily wooded.
Land clearing for poll shed and building the shed.
Gravel driveway maintenance.
Moving large pine trees after a professional cuts them down.
Wood chipper (leaning towards the WoodMaxx 8H)
Plowing 2000ft or more driveway. Use a straight blade then bucket when the snow banks get high. Plenty of room to move snow off to the side including down a small hill/embankment.

These applications require tractor weight. None are horsepower intensive: only the potential chipper is PTO-powered.

All of the Kubotas you are considering, less the L3901, are 3,500 to 4,400 pounds bare tractor weight, ample weight for your tasks on level ground.

It seems inevitable that you will burn considerable debris, therefore will have tractor front tires in hot ashes occasionally, pushing up fires. Six-ply R4/industrial tires are appropriate for 'hot' work.



VIDEOS: Kubota Grand L Series VS. Kubota MX Series - YouTube

Attaching A Log Splitter To A Tractor (should it be done?) - YouTube


Consider a stand alone 220 volt electric log splitter for use at home, rather than tractor splitter in the woods. Simpler.

My only concern with the MX5800 is the cat 2 hitch. How will this affect any implements I buy. The reason I ask is, what if I buy the mx and then in 15 years trade it in for a Grand L. Would I be able to use the same rear implements? I know this is minor and shouldn't impact my current buying decision, its the only thing I can think of that would be a possible negative.

Unless things have changed for 2019, all of the MX series have a combination Cat I/Cat II Three Point Hitch. (Kubota MX brochure open before me.)

The Grand L L6060 (only) has a combination Cat I/Cat II Three Point Hitch.

The downside to Cat II implements is their low unit volume relative to Cat I implements. Few dealers maintain Cat II
implements in inventory. Most Cat II implements have to be ordered. It is more difficult to "shop" Cat II implements.


An MX with ROPS folded will pass under an 87" garage door header.

NONE of the Grand L models with ROPS folded can pass under an 87" garage door header.

 

[redman135]

Hello UpNorth9, when looking at tractor make sure you try them for ergonomic comfort, particulally when operating frequently used controls like the loader joy stick. That bit extra bit of reach needed gets old after a few hours, and takes the gloss of a purchase.
Cat 2, there are spacers you can get to fit a cat1 attatchment that lets you fit straight onto a cat 2 tractor. NOTE if you do go this route get HEAVY duty cat 1 as cat2 tractor will be at (or beyond if careless) the attatchments upper limit.
This will let you buy a cat 1 tractor today and upgrade to cat 2 later.
Gearbox: Try the different options if possible. Are the gear ratios right for your work or do you have a range change in the main work speed(shuttle g/box) HST or shuttle?
Hopefully this will help you ask the right questions.
Lastly, as you learn you will get mission creep, the only question is how much?
Good Luck.

 

[tradosaurus]

HI All,

I have gone from the L3901 to the L4060 to L4760 and now considering the 5460 or 6060. I am finding very little price difference between the used 4760, 5460, and 6060. Obviously the 4760 is a little less than the 6060 but the little extra I feel would be worth it. If I am going to buy on the larger side (4760,5460, 6060) I will have to buy used. I could buy new but cant justify the new price. I know there are arguments for new and used. If I went new I would be looking at the L3901. I am looking for HST(+) regardless. This will be my first tractor and simplicity would be great. I know the more technology the greater chance for failure and costs...

Not sure if I want a cab for now but I know in the future I will want one, for old age. I am currently middle age, exactly. Do I buy a tractor with a cab, take it off and store until I want/need it. Or do I go open station for now and buy a cab years down the road?!?! Can the doors be taken off during operation? Some days it would be nice to have the doors off while working especially if I am getting off and on frequently.

I want a tractor with the LA 1055 loader because of the large pine trees I will be dealing with. Plus I want a heavy duty root grapple that will weigh 600-900 pounds which uses up a chunk of the loader capacity. I will be moving 8' oak logs around frequently. I want to have sufficient weight/power and not be pushing the limits, solid and firm feeling while working is the goal. Cutting up firewood, three or four cords a year. Pulling shallow roots with a grapple. Seriously considering the MTL X Series Talon Grapple. I know there are others that a lot of people like but the price of this one and the full back plate are perfect. Plus I can get the MTL forklift and MTL grapple (combined purchase) for the same price or less than the EA's depending on which one.

The tractor will be used for many different things, but all residential. One main use will be breaking new trails through a thick and overgrown 40 acres. You cant walk through the woods without ducking or stepping between trees with one leg at a time, mostly smaller and newer growth. The land is mostly flat, no steep hills to climb or deal with. Many large 40' red pine trees around the house and in the yard need to go. The tractor will be used for the cleanup after a professional cuts them down.

I plan on adding a poll shed (30x40 or 50), which the tractor will be integral for multiple phases of the building process. I plan on clearing the area where this will go. I will need to cut, clear, and grade the area. A lot of smaller trees which is making this particular location ideal plus its located just off the driveway.

The age-old question of which tires, R4 or Turf. I keep going back and forth with this one. The tractor will be in an area that gets several feet of snow each year. If I buy a used tractor and it has either type I will be fine with it, an easy decision at that point. Regardless I will get tire chains. I know this is a lot of information but I see new people posting and the seasoned members asking a bunch of questions so they can provide better advice.

An overview of my intended uses. I know this list will grow after acquiring a tractor:
Moving around 8 oak logs to process into firewood.
Clearing trails on my land, mostly flat land, heavily wooded.
Land clearing for poll shed and building the shed.
Gravel driveway maintenance.
Moving large pine trees after a professional cuts them down.
Wood chipper (leaning towards the WoodMaxx 8H)
Plowing 2000ft or more driveway. Use a straight blade then bucket when the snow banks get high. Plenty of room to move snow off to the side including down a small hill/embankment.

Your situation sounds almost identical to mine except I'm in East Texas and rarely will have to deal with snow.
I chose the L3301 because I needed a smaller size to work around trees and little more PTO hp to run the bush hog. In the 2 months I have owned it I have been able to move and pull 8-10" 36 ft dead trees that I cut down. What I do is to pull the tree to a an open area and then cut the tree into bucket size lengths.

I'm going to try to see how much brush I can clear through trees using a heavy duty bush hog.

If I was up north where it gets cold and snowy I would have to rethink a cab. Maybe rent a skid steer with mulcher to clear and do the heavy work and then use the tractor for maintenance?

I just ordered a heavy duty 6 ft box blade from everything attachment that I will keep attached to the tractor unless I'm mowing. This will help with ballast as will my rear filled R1 tires.

I chose R1 tires since I'm not worried about ruts and more worried about getting stuck in the woods. I use my zero turn for mowing the 2 acres around my house.

In hindsight I think I might have gone with the MX4800. The dimensions are not that much more but the weight and hp would handle anything I could possibly need in the future.

 

[nybirdman]

As I read your post my first thought was;this guy needs a MX.It looks like you have found that out by yourself.I have Grand L but in your situation the MX makes more sense.You are giving up the cab(Kubota may be cabbing the MX soon) but you can trade up down the road.
I like the bigger tires on the MX line and would go with R1's.I have had one flat on the rear in 14 years of field/woods work;fronts are simple fix if the loader is on.

 

[zzvyb6]

I'd get more than 1 tractor, both used and sized for 2 different missions. Then sell the ground breaker when the property plan is finalized. Any unit new will get scratched, bent, hoses torn off and scared from the initial workload. Get them with a proven ability and have the war wounds already. When the dust settles, sell/trade for one you can wash and wax.

 

[shooterdon]

Busting trails is best done with a dozer. We did a lot of that with an old JD 40 gasser about 40 years ago on 140 acres that were 50% woods. Buying a tractor to do that should be thought through as it will be a one time job. 40 acres is not that big and renting a dozer or hiring it out may be a better option..

Pushing snow requires a lot of traction and weight is your friend.

Used tractors may work but they can be frustrating and expensive if you cannot do the repairs yourself. I put about $2500 into mine this year but had the dealer do all the work. I am upgrading and will buy a new one that will last my lifetime. Being in my late 60's, that will not be a long time...LOL.

Get the cab. If you have the trail busting done with a dozer, the cab will not get crunched up by accident. Cabs are nice when it gets cold and they keep the bugs off you too. A/C is welcomed in the summer.

BTW, I am also looking at the MTL stuff. Seems like all a small property owner needs and pricing is attractive. Like you, I process my own firewood but only about 5-6 cords per year.

One last suggestion. I loved the L4760 but price was an issue. I am currently looking at a Boomer 40 and LS4140 (both with cabs). The LS4140 has 2700 lbs of FEL capacity and is just over $30k. It seems like a lot of tractor for the money. I started a thread in the Buying forum if you want to see what others think of it.

 

[Swampcollie]

I have had an MX5800 for 2 years with no issues. It is a strong smooth tractor. It is without some of the bells and whistles thus the lower price. The only thing I wish it had is the gauge that shows how close you are to regeneration. It has everything else I need including cruise control.
You cannot get a cab with an MX. I got a canopy with mine.
I have 60 acres with lots of timber with trails and clearings.
I got a heavy duty 6 rotary mower with mine. I know I could have gotten bigger, but this works well for me.
I am very pleased with my tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

My only concern with the mx5800 is the cat 2 hitch.

Unless things have changed for 2019, all of the MX series have a combination Cat I/Cat II Three Point Hitch. (Kubota MX brochure open before me.)

The Grand L L6060 has a combination Cat I/Cat II Three Point Hitch.

The downside to Cat II implements is their low unit volume relative to Cat I implements. Few dealers maintain Cat II
implements in inventory. Most Cat II implements have to be ordered. It is more difficult to "shop" Cat II implements.

CORRECTION​

I was uncertain about what I wrote concerning Grand L + MX Three Point Hitches relative to what UpNorth9 observed, so I visited Suwannee River Kubota this afternoon to inspect SRK's MX inventory and discuss the MX hitch with SRK's owner.

All the MX tractors have a standard Category II Three Point Hitch. Kubota supplies Category I > Category II adapting bushings in the tractor tool boxes. In Kubota MX brochures the tractor Three Point Hitches are presented as: "Category I & II". To my mind this is a little too marketing influenced, rather than fact. The hitch is Category II ONLY, the bushings convert IMPLEMENT PINS, NOT THE HITCH, from Category I to Category II pin diameter. The MX hitch remains standard Category II, with pin-bushed Category I implements mounted.

Suwannee River Kubota has no Grand Ls in stock at this time, but I presume same Category I > Category II bushings are supplied for L5060/5460/6060 which are presented in Kubota brochures as "Category I & II".



Confession is good for the soul.

 

[UpNorth9]

Eric - Good thing I don't have a lot of hills or steep angles. I am thinking the height should be okay. IF I have to fold the ROPS to get in, it will only be temporary, a poll shed is in the plans.

Jeff - Good point with the heat, hadn't thought about that one. I know each tire has its own + and - but I think the R4 will be the best for me.
I read your updated post regarding the Cat I and II 3pt. After your original post, I was also questioning how the combination I and II actually worked. I really appreciate you taking the time to visit a dealership to investigate further. I knew the MX's had the Cat II on them but didn't know how they were converted, now I do thanks to you. This is actually a relief because I didn't want to buy attachments now and not be able to use them in the future if I decided to trade it in and get something different. The good thing about my garage is, its 95" tall so it would be super close. I measured the MX up to the top of the ROPS (not folded) and the top of the cab on a 4060 that was in the dealer's lot. Both measured 92".

After the honeymoon of seeing the MX in person and thinking about it further, I am basically thinking I will either go with a new MX5800 or a gently used 6060. If it's used it will have to have less than 300 hours and I want to meet the person who has owned it or at least be able to talk with the person if it happens to be at a dealership. Also must be 1 owner. More than one owner makes me think something is wrong and it keeps getting traded in. But I will cross that bridge when I get there.

Redman - Its funny you say that I was sitting on the MX and it seemed like it was okay but I think your right, after hours of reaching it could be annoying (knowing that if I bought a Grand L it wouldn't be an issue). On a smaller scale, I have bought 3 helmets in the last year. I put them on in the showroom and it feels fine. I go riding and within an hour I realize there is a pressure point I had not realized when I was in the showroom and bought it!! Like I said, a much smaller consequence compared to a tractor but relative. I'm glad you mentioned something about getting beefy implements so they can take stresses the Cat II will force upon it. Oh mission creep, that has already happened that's for sure. But I think I am happy where I am at with the decision process. I am glad I have done a lot reading here otherwise I would have bought too small and ended up having to trade in which is expensive.

T-saurus - What kind of brush hog did you get or are you just going to rent? As far as a cab, I am seriously considering it and the reason I am back to considering the 6060 hstc. I just remembered that in the summer we get mosquitos really bad for a portion of the summer, unbearable at times. For clearing trails, I am thinking about renting a dozer to make quick work then clean up and maintain with the tractor. I think a box blade is a perfect ballast. I might mess around with putting heavy 80# bags of sand stacked on top of the box blade, add a few extra hundred pounds. I hope I don't regret the R4 tires. The guy at the dealership told me I should go with the turf tires because they flex more and better in the snow... Whatever that's worth.

Birdman - I hear you. Its good to know the MX is/would be a good fit for my situation. If they offered a cab on the MX it would be the perfect scenario!!! I'm surprised they don't offer an MX6600 or MX7000. It might just come down to the best deal I can get, which will make the decision easy for me then.

Z - I really wish I could afford it, its just not in the cards. I hear what you're saying 100%. This is why I am considering using a dozer to blaze some trails. I have a nice JD riding lawn mower which eliminates having to factor that into the decision, phew! I am amazed at the prices for used. From what I have observed, the MX has some of the highest resale prices. This is just my own observations from the limited series I have looked at, not a proven fact.

Don - I completely agree with you on the dozer. This is how the trails were made previously and worked really good from what I can tell. Ya, buying used is a big gamble... It will have to be the right situation. I will be an annoying buyer because I will want everything to be just right, eeks! Nah, just keep busy including your mind and you will be surprised. Many 90-year-olds are still full of piss and vinegar! hehehe!

I know, the cab would be the ultimate. I recently thought about the mosquitos that come out in full force later in the summer. After running the dozer through it will be a lot easier to maintain and create enough room for the tractor to get through the woods. Oh WOW, that is a really good price!!! There is one of those listed on TractorHouse for 30K with 2 remotes, SSQA, cab. It looks exactly like a Kubota inside the cab. The joystick and the other levers look very similar. That's 15K less than Kubota basically...

Swamp - I am happy to hear you like the MX!! My only hesitation with the MX is the cab. I was hoping to buy once and be done for life but I know when I get older I will want the cab... decisions, decisions.

Jeff - Thanks again for taking the time to look into the Cat I and II situation. This was a real concern of mine for purchasing both the tractor and implements..:thumbsup: