Should I downgrade from a Kubota Grand L6060

[plowhog]

My needs are to mow 15-20 acres in summer, and do a one-time clean up about 8 acres of downed trees and debris. I had previously decided on a Grand L6060, cab model, with loader, heavy duty bucket, grapple, and skidding winch. Some of the reason for the 6060 model was power to run the skidding winch.

I've decided to not purchase the winch, and add a landscape rake instead. I will use the grapple and rake on the debris, and skid logs some other way. I will either cut up the logs before moving them using the grapple, or rent a machine to handle them. I think the Grand L cab tractor is the right model for hot summer mowing, but I am wondering about the other Grand L models with less horsepower than the 6060 as a way to save some money? Wouldn't 50 hp for mowing be as good as 60hp?

I can't find the base price for each tractor model. So I don't know the price differences. When I look at the tractor specs, the model 4060 seems to have mostly the same engine and tractor specs, just with less horsepower. Seems like the 4760 and 5460 are much the same.

Other than horsepower, do you know of anything you give up, or any compromises, if you choose a Grand L4760 instead of the L6060? Any idea how much cost savings are involved as you move down the ladder to the lesser horsepower models?

 

[nybirdman]

I have a L4240 HSTC purchased new in Jan.09.Currently have 1,000+ hours on it.Snow plowing(8ft.Front) and 7ft.rear blades,pulls 2/14 dirt plow with ease,runs a roto-tiller,seven ft.brush-hog.My series tractor ran from the L4240(44 HP) to the L5740(60 HP);I have never wished for more power and seldom use low range for anything.I run in medium for most of my work and toggle between the two ranges in medium.
I also have the HD bucket,tooth-bar and Green's Machine Thumb(invaluable).Poor man's grapple.
I think you will find the L4060 has a less capable loader than the L4760 and up.
In a word;for your uses the L4760 should be very capable.

 

[jeff9366]

The Grand L 4060/4760/5060/5460/6060 are built on the same chassis and use the same engine block.

All the Grand Ls, including the L3560, use a single Owner/Operator's Manual.

The L3560/L4060/L4760 have naturally aspirated engines. The L5060/L5460/L6060 have turbo-charged engines. The turbo hardware increases the L5060/L5460/L6060 MSRPs. If you will tractor over 6,000 feet in Nevada, you should certainly consider a turbo-charged engine.


You can work up MSRP tractor pricing, via "BUILD MY KUBOTA", for each model you are interested in, optioned the way you want, on Kubota's web site.

Here is a LINK to the "BUILD MY KUBOTA" section of Kubota's web site:

http://www.kubota.com/configurator/BuildMyKubota.aspx?pgId=1&bmId=961&sId=125&



Since 10/28/2016, three weeks, you have started five threads on this potential purchase, with 141 replies.

HOW MANY ANGELS CAN DANCE ON THE HEAD OF A PIN?

 

[TripleR]

I could do anything with my L5030HSTC that I can with my L5740HSTC. With the power it takes to run the AC etc., I wouldn't want to go below the L4760HSTC. Just my preference, something smaller may well work for you, but you won't know until you buy it.

How many times have you heard:

1. I wish I had more power.

2. I wish I had less power.

 

[jeff9366]

I will use the grapple and rake on the debris, and skid logs some other way. I will either cut up the logs before moving them using the grapple, or rent a machine to handle them.

Grappling logs out of a jumbled pile will require a lot of ballast on the Three Point Hitch. I use a Three Point Hitch mounted, 860 pound Cultipacker for everyday counterbalance with just an FEL and HD bucket, because a Cultipacker is compact weight. In critical situations the mounted Cultipacker can be lowered to the ground and rolled along, unitized with the tractor. "On the ground" is the lowest practical center of gravity for any ballast implement.

You need minimum 1,100 pounds of grapple counterbalance on the Three Point Hitch with any one of the five heaviest Grand Ls.

LINK: Google

 

[plowhog]

I greatly appreciate all the help. jeff9366's reply was the 4,972 time he has posted on this web site. That's a lot of knowledge. Maybe someday I can catch up!

Somehow in my shopping with Kubota dealers, reading literature, and doing "build my Kubota" for a few models, I never learned some are turbo and others not. So, I'm glad I asked! Based on the turbo issue, and my location, it seems I should consider a L5460 in lieu of a L6060. The chance to save some $$ might let me afford another implement.

I apologize if questions were excessive. I am almost done with tractor selection, and hope to post pictures of a new purchase soon. Everyone who replied has been helpful and I appreciate it!

 

[plowhog]

You need 1,200 pounds of grapple counterbalance on the Three Point Hitch with any one of the five heaviest Grand Ls.

Great info, thanks again! At 120 pounds per, that's ten cheerleaders on the back of my rig!

 

[adventure bob]

I had a 4060, traded it for a 6060. The loader is way more stout for logging. I pick up logs that made the 4060 loader flex. The new loader does not. Also find that dragging a grader doesn't cause as many issues with the bigger engine. Never heard:
I wish I had less power.
I wish I had less money.
I wish I was in worse shape.

 

[C4Ranch]

To me it all boils down to how much time do you want to spend mowing?

My 5240 has 45 pto hp and I pull a 8' twin spindle. I don't like mowing and if I had more I'd be pulling a min of 12' batwing

 

[LD1]

Power is gonna come down to what size mower you want.

The tractors you list are all pretty similar, but there ARE some differences. How important the differences are to YOU is what matter.

There are 3 different loader models for the L3560-L6060. If I recall correctly, the weakest is only on the L3560, The L4060 gets a bit stronger loader....then the next jump is the 4760. SO pay attention to them.

Another consideration is tire size. And that can vary both by tire choice (R1 or R4) as well as model. If looking at R1's, I think the 5460 boasts some larger tires than the 4760.

I think there are also some 3PH lift capacity differences.

Go to "build my kubota" on their website, and you can see MSRP differences.