NH TC35/40/45 vs. Kubota L & Grand-L30?

tractorman · Dec 10, 2005

Hi Bruce. I Read your post and against better judgement I felt that I'd reply. Just to let you know upfront, I am a Case IH Dealer, we sell the Red counterpart to the New Holland line. In the past I was an outside sales rep for a Kubota/New Holland Dealer in PA, therefore I have pretty strong experience with both tractor lines you are considering. Before I go any farther, I would just like to say that both brands you are considering are PREMIUM brands. They are BOTH very high quality and to date, we have not seen any major issues with either. This leads to my conclusion that we can remove product quality from our comparison to simplify things. Here are some of the things that impressed me with the CNH (Case New Holland) product:
The Sloped hood and curved boom loader offer unmatched visibility. It is so nice to be able to see what you are doing when using the front end loader!
The operators platform is another key area. You can get on and off the tractor from both sides, the controls are easy to reach, the seat swivels 15 degrees on the deluxe models which is a nice feature when working with rear impements. In addition to the Hi/Lo Range Gear Shift Selector, there is also a 2 speed powershift button located on the loader control lever. Again another nice feature to be able to kick down into a lower gear (without coming to a complete stop, reaching for and changing gears) go into a pile load your bucket and simultaneously click back into high and back out.
In additon to increased visibility, the front loader is stronger and has more forward reach than the Kubota's. Nice when loading in to a truck or unloading a trailer with pallet forks.
I want to reiterate that I am not saying that every tractor that CNH builds is superior to the Kubota counterpart. I just wanted to point out some of the features that I personally appreciate. The other things to factor in your decision is your relationship with a particular dealer, proximity and of course your own perception/ comfort level with the product. Good Luck w/ Your decision!

tractorman · Dec 10, 2005

BTW, Kubota's have Cast Iron Rear axle's on the Grand L's!

N80 · Dec 10, 2005

You make some good points, especially in regard to the form factor such as sloping hood and loader booms. But some of the other stuff you mention is what I consider bells & whistles. I realize they are important to a lot of buyers and that some of them, like the ones you mentioned, are handy. And there is almost no end to the variety and number of bells and whistles all of these brands can provide. But what truly pushed me toward Kubota was models like the L3400 gear drive and L4400 where you are primarily paying for power, harware, simplicity and durability and not a wide range of features, options and amenities. JD has the 990 and the 790 that are both simple, straightforward machines that are affordable. And while I admit that I did not fully scrutinize the NH and MF lineup, I just don't remember basic powerful affordable models. They all seemed 'fancy' and expensive. Did I miss something or are JD and Kubota the only major brands that offer such machines? I harp on this a lot, but who else makes a 45 hp, 4wd tractor with FEL for around $18,500?

wolc123 · Dec 10, 2005

Both manufacturers are good. nh TC-40 will give you a four cylinder for about the same price as the kub 3830 and a little better power to weight ratio (a plus for mowing or trailering but a minus for loader work). Also visibility with loader a little better with the nh. Overal quality and resale, kub has a slight edge. You might want to look at the new jd 20 series also.

aesanders · Dec 10, 2005

N80, I'm not exctly sure what modles NH or MAssey has that is exactly comparable to the l4400, but both have budget tractor lines. Nh has the TC 30 and the 48 da utility. both quite a bit of bang for the buck. Massey has theur 1400 series which is the budget line compared to the 1500 series.

I for one like all the bells on my tractors, lawn mowers, cars etc. But I do see where just a simple tractor does have it's advantages.

TwinWillows · Dec 10, 2005

We just finished researching & purchasing a TC40DA. I looked @ the detailed specs for the Grand L's along w/the NH TC & Case DX. For me the specs were so close it came down to tractor "fit" & ease of use. The NH won hands down w/the loader control right under your right hand, hi/lo on the joystick, the curved loader arms & hood geve much beter visibility than the L, the seat & controls (tilt wheel & telescoping) are a good fit for me 6-3 220# & my wife. I'd suggest you drive each in the dealers lot & see which you like best. All are top quality.

tjkadar · Dec 10, 2005

I would love to have a tractor with a seat that swiveled 15 degrees or more. That is one feature I didn't see or did not get mentioned when I was looking at NHs. Would sure save on back wear when using 3pt hitch attachments.

N80 · Dec 10, 2005

I don't mean to say that the extras aren't important. It is clearly what buyers want. I guess my point was that it isn't hard to find a wide range of those nice features and to pick a tractor based on those, but when it comes to a basic, powerful tractor, the field seems to narrow considerably. So for those looking for that specific type of tractor, it can be easier to choose a brand if another brand doesn't have such a machine.

Just watching the posts here at TBN, it is very clear that the basic tracotrs seem not to sell nearly as well as more full featured models.

bushpilot · Dec 10, 2005

The ergonomics of the new holland,loader handle,swiveling seat,headlights that wrap around and the super steer are the main reasons i bought new holland over kubota last time.Both good machines,but new holland much more comfortable to operate.

mike69440 · Dec 11, 2005

( the Kubota has aluminum. 
TtHIS IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT. THERE ARE TRACTORS THAT HAVE ALUMINUM REAR ENDS. BUT IT IS NOT KUBOTA . )

Correction:

Many of the smaller Kubota's have Aluminum rears. My Old B7200 is no wrse for an Aluminum rear.