NX4510 vs XR4046

alltherage · Feb 7, 2015

Both with cab and hst. What say you?

TSO · Feb 7, 2015

NX4510

GManBart · Feb 8, 2015

To give you some background, both TSO and I have owned LS tractors before (he had two) and had good luck with them, so I don't think either of us have anything against the brand.

With that said, the primary thing holding the LS back is the FEL lift height. The NX loader lifts roughly 260lbs more and additional 10". The 10" is more significant than the extra lift capacity, or it was for me. I could just barely load my neighbor's old Chevy C60 5yd dump truck with my R4047H, and struggled equally with 30yd rolloff dumpsters. With the NX I would have had no problem loading either. For some folks that won't ever be a factor, but it's good to be aware of in case it is.

As far as the machines go, it's pretty much a tossup. The LS has a slight edge in PTO power where the NX has a slight edge in 3pt lift capacity. The LS has one step larger tires (which they actually put on NX 5510 and 6010), while the NX has a rear 3pt control lever which is a huge help mounting implements on a cabbed machine. The transmission on the NX has some enhanced features like auto-throttle, anti-stall, etc. Auto-throttle is handy, and helps lower your fuel costs....it's so easy to jump off the machine with it at PTO speed, thinking it will only be a few seconds, and the next thing you know it's been five minutes. I'd give the NX the edge in interior fit and finish as well.

In general, you'll pay a couple thousand dollars more for the NX than the LS, and things that are standard on the LS are options on the NX as well. I priced the NX line after I sold my LS, and I'll list those prices below as reference points. I will add that when you start talking this size machine (4,500lbs for the base tractor) I think both the XR4046 and NX4510 are light on power for the size implements you may want to use with them. In general, I think getting near the top of the power range for any size frame makes sense if it's in the budget. If nothing else, jumping to the NX5510 would get you the larger wheel and tires, which look cool

I can't find the numbers I had for the 4510 because I decided I wanted more PTO power. For a 5010 cab HST with FEL, Michigan Iron and Equipment had the best price around...$31,000 with R4s and about $100 less for R1s.

For a 5510 cab HST with FEL they wanted $32,500 with R4s and about $100 less for R1s.

As I recall, the 4510 was right around $29K....so roughly $2000-2500 difference between each step in horsepower.

As far as options went, the stereo was $250, the rear wiper was $150, and adding two rear remotes was $600. The first remote is slightly different than subsequent remotes, so there is a slight price difference...get at least two).

I decided to go way bigger and bought a backhoe, but if I was very, very close to buying an NX5510....very nice machine.