Opinion between two tractors

[wisc]

I posted this under the kubota section but no one would give me any advice.
I thought I had nailed down my tractor to a Kubota L3400 which is a 4 wheel drive 34 hp machine. However, I found a Kubota MX 5000 which is a 50 HP for only 500 more dollars. However, it is 2wd.

Which should I choose, I need advice since I'm not savy on tractors. My concerns:
1. Which will hold value more a 4wd or 2wd if I need to sale?
My land is fairly flat so I don't think I really need 4wd but many peopel have told me the 3400 will work as well if not better since it is a 4wd tractor.
2. Is there a huge benefit other than resale value between these two machines? I will just bush hog about 5 acres and disc 5 acres.

Thank you.

 

[RoyJackson]

I posted this under the kubota section but no one would give me any advice.
I thought I had nailed down my tractor to a Kubota L3400 which is a 4 wheel drive 34 hp machine. However, I found a Kubota MX 5000 which is a 50 HP for only 500 more dollars. However, it is 2wd.

Which should I choose, I need advice since I'm not savy on tractors. My concerns:
1. Which will hold value more a 4wd or 2wd if I need to sale?
My land is fairly flat so I don't think I really need 4wd but many peopel have told me the 3400 will work as well if not better since it is a 4wd tractor.
2. Is there a huge benefit other than resale value between these two machines? I will just bush hog about 5 acres and disc 5 acres.

Thank you.

You could look on www.machinefinders.co for what dealers are getting for used machines.
The MFWD (4WD) machine would hold it's value longer but (always a but, isn't there?) only if you keep the machine long enough so you're not competing against new machine sales (figure 5-6 years minimum). I put MFWD, since there are very few 4WD CUT's...most have front wheel assist (MFWD is Mechanical Front Wheel Drive, BTW). Older 2WD machines are a dime a dozen...

I reckon the 3400 would get better fuel economy then the larger 5000. With just 5 acres to deal with, I'd go for the smaller tractor.

Just my opinion, sailor...

 

[Timber]

With a 5 acre spread I to think the smaller tractor might serve you better. I thin the 4 wheel drive is a better companion to the loader than the 2 wheel drive as well. I think also that I have found having a piece of property a little bigger than yours that I work a lot in tight quarters and find a smaller tractor very manageable. Other things to consider is storage and where it will fit and not. You will also find that the tractor will need a few thing before you take it home to make it work for you personally and these are different for everyone. Tooth bar, remotes, tach-all, grapple, Implements and so on.

 

[flusher]

I posted this under the kubota section but no one would give me any advice.
I thought I had nailed down my tractor to a Kubota L3400 which is a 4 wheel drive 34 hp machine. However, I found a Kubota MX 5000 which is a 50 HP for only 500 more dollars. However, it is 2wd.

Which should I choose, I need advice since I'm not savy on tractors. My concerns:
1. Which will hold value more a 4wd or 2wd if I need to sale?
My land is fairly flat so I don't think I really need 4wd but many peopel have told me the 3400 will work as well if not better since it is a 4wd tractor.
2. Is there a huge benefit other than resale value between these two machines? I will just bush hog about 5 acres and disc 5 acres.

Thank you.

The L3400 4WD list price new is $14100, trade-in value about $9000 and ave retail used is about $11000 (dealer's price for a "clean" tractor--everything works OK, no major leaks, sheet metal OK, average hours, etc).

The MX 5000 2WD list price new is about $17400, trade-in about $11000 and ave retail used $13500.

You can figure out the percentages. The data is for 2005 models.

I have 10 acres of flat pasture land that I mow with a 21-hp engine Kubota B7510HST that has the LA302 FEL. Bought it new in May05 for $12,500 (10% down, 0% for 36 months). I mow about 8 acres of weeds with a King Kutter rotary mower (aka brush hog, 4-ft dia, $600 from Tractor Supply Co (TSC)).

I'm restoring a 1966 MF-135 diesel (45 hp engine) to handle a 6-ft wide offset disc. When the rainy season starts in Nov I'll plant a hay crop on the 8 acres of weeds.

BTW: one of my neighbors plants an 8-acre hay crop using a $2500 Ford 8N (gas, 28hp engine, 1950s vintage) and a 6-ft tandem disc and a 6-ft wide seeder. Other neighbors have harvesting equpment that he rents. 8Ns can be found almost everywhere for under $3K.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I posted this under the kubota section but no one would give me any advice.
I thought I had nailed down my tractor to a Kubota L3400 which is a 4 wheel drive 34 hp machine. However, I found a Kubota MX 5000 which is a 50 HP for only 500 more dollars. However, it is 2wd.

Which should I choose, I need advice since I'm not savy on tractors. My concerns:
1. Which will hold value more a 4wd or 2wd if I need to sale?
My land is fairly flat so I don't think I really need 4wd but many peopel have told me the 3400 will work as well if not better since it is a 4wd tractor.
2. Is there a huge benefit other than resale value between these two machines? I will just bush hog about 5 acres and disc 5 acres.

Thank you.

Some owners of 4wd tractors will tell you they hold their resale value longer, but that simply isn't true in an "across the board" manner. They sell higher NEW, they sell higher USED. New 2wd tractors sell at a lower list price and they sell at a lower USED price. Their value relative to new purchase price is generally based on CONDITION. OLDER 2wds sell cheap BECAUSE THEY'RE OLDER....Simple as that. As a tractor get really old, the more complicated their construction, the more likely they are to have expensive problems to fix. That will effect their resale value in an adverse manner. An OLD 4wd can very well be worth LESS relative to its new purchase price, just as easily as it could be worth more. 4wds, especially smaller 4wds are still relatively new when you compare them to 2wds and the time they've been available. You can find 50 year old 2wds that dirt sell cheap. There ISN'T a 50 year old small 4wd utility tractor line to compare. If a 2wd serves your needs, and it's a better fit in your budget, that becomes the "best buy".

Anyone who claims used 2wds are "a dime a dozen", well, I'd like to order a dozen from them.... Here's my dime! Now where's that dozen tractors?

As someone who's bought and re-sold many used tractors in my years, AND has owned both 2wd AND mfwd models, I can tell you the one thing that makes a USED tractor sell.... A LOW PRICE. A lower priced model will move quicker.

 

[podagrower]

My 2 cents
The difference between a 34h and a 50h tractor is huge! I recently bought a used 40h tractor for my 5 acres--mowing, grading, tree removal. I definetly don't need any more tractor than this for what I do. If you plan on doing FEL work, I would go with the MFWD for the extra traction. Just mowing, 2wd is fine.
You should also look at the price difference between the 40 horse rated 3pt implements versus having to step up to a 60 horse rated. That will eat up the $ savings in a hurry if you don't have a line on used equip already.

 

[RoyJackson]

"Anyone who claims used 2wds are "a dime a dozen", well, I'd like to order a dozen from them.... Here's my dime! Now where's that dozen tractors?"

Opps, I think I struck a nerve!

Now, here's why I wrote that:
When I was looking for a tractor to replace my 670 with a higher HP machine, I did my research online (but I did hit a few dealers or various brands within about 30 miles). My target model was a newer Deere 770 although I wasn't married to thar choice. i wanted something that would handle a chipper (never bought the chipper though).
I found a lot of 770's, mostly in the South East US. Most were 2WD machines. The MFWD machines were considerably higher in price. Same thing applied to 790's when I looked for them...New Holland too. I didn't look for any used Kubotas (no reason why, but didn't) or full sized Utility tractors since I've no need for a UT.
Now, I didn't record any of these searches...once I saw a machine was 2WD, I moved on.

Since this forum deals more with CUT's rather then their larger bretheren, I can't comment on full sized UT's.

OK?
Anyway, read my signature line below...

 

[Kendall69]

....Some owners of 4wd tractors will tell you they hold their resale value longer, but that simply isn't true in an "across the board"

I have to STRONGY disagree with that one. I purchased a New 4WD tractor in 1999 for 18k, and sold it last week for 14K. I wish all things I have ever purchased would hold their value like a 4WD tractor.
Secondly I got the most calls of anything I have ever sold via the newspaper on the ad, and everyone's first question " is it a 4WD".

I would never buy a tractor that isn't 4WD, I've seen trucks and tractors get stuck in wet grass, without 4WD. I rented a tractor for my property when I first got it, and drove 50ft, from the delivery truck and it got stuck in sand, I told the guy load it back up and get it out of here.

 

[wolc123]

It is surely a lot easier to find a nice used 2wd than 4wd, and if a 2wd works for you then it usually makes more sense to buy used. There are relatively few people who make the switch back to 2wd after owning a 4wd, and they are mostly limited to those with dry, flat land who do mostly mowing and/or hay. If you use the tractor for tillage or loader work, that smaller 4wd will almost equal the work output of the larger 2wd and will consume far less fuel doing it.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I have to STRONGY disagree with that one. I purchased a New 4WD tractor in 1999 for 18k, and sold it last week for 14K. I wish all things I have ever purchased would hold their value like a 4WD tractor.
Secondly I got the most calls of anything I have ever sold via the newspaper on the ad, and everyone's first question " is it a 4WD".

I would never buy a tractor that isn't 4WD, I've seen trucks and tractors get stuck in wet grass, without 4WD. I rented a tractor for my property when I first got it, and drove 50ft, from the delivery truck and it got stuck in sand, I told the guy load it back up and get it out of here.

You have just quoted ONE INSTANCE where you have "proof". (and it falls a little short of being "proof") I have sold dozens and dozens of tractors that prove otherwise.

And you LOST money on that 4wd. I have 3 different 2wds now that would ALL THREE sell for MORE than their original purchase price. (1971 MF 150. less than $4000 new, they sell upwards of $6000 now, 1973 3000 Ford new price just over $4000 and sells used now for well over $5000, 1979 JD2440, new price $10,750, just turned down an offer of $12,5000) Seems that shoots holes in your theory.

2wd vs. 4wd has very little IF ANYTHING to do with resale value vs. new purchase price. The ONLY factor of any significance is condition of the unit.

And about 2wds "getting stuck on wet grass...... That is probably the most laughable comment I've ever read on this site. 2wd or 4wd, inexperienced operator has no connection to the number of drive wheels.