Sold my L-39 yesterday

[MadReferee]

I see 5030s cabs now for 26K +/-. The new 40s seem expensive.

New? Where? I priced a new L4330 w/cab at Chappell and Dave wouldn't go below $28.5k including rebate for the basic tractor/loader. I wanted 3 remotes and he wanted almost $2k more so I walked.

The new 40s are about $2k more than the comparable 30 before rebate.

 

[Builder]

I rented & ran an L-48 for several jobs and found it only a hair more tractor than my L-39. I was convinced I wanted a 48, but bought the 39 instead. Turns out either one is too small.

I'll give you the hood steel is thicker, but if that's what you want to hang your hat on, you'd better look at the hood on the CAT 416C 4x4 full size extendahoe I've been using. The steel on the hood is the same as an L-39.

 

[Builder]

Regarding price, yes, new you probably are right as I only buy Kubota and don't look at much else. What I meant was buy an L48 used for cheaper than a used L39. Look on the net and other sources, they are everywhere.

Again, how are you going to get a used L-48 cheaper than a comparable used L-39? If the L-48 price tag is $6,000 more when new, it should carry over into used L-48's, too.

Unless the L-48 is considered inferior and depreciates more rapidly, your comparison just doesn't work.

I just sold my L-39 for $30,000 with a mere 39 hours on it. What a waste, but I gaurantee you, you won't buy a 1 year old L-48 with 39 hours on it for $30,000!!! It would be more like $34,000.
I appreciate your valiant arguement for the L-48, but the L-48 costs more, new or used, in every scenario.

 

[_RaT_]

Why did you sell it?

 

[SkyPup]

I've been extremely happy with my L-39 after two years of hardcore 450 hrs on the clock.

It has takin' a lickin' and kept on tickin'.....

Oh, and there is a small golf ball sized dent in the hood... but the FEL and BH don't look too new anymore either!

 

[curtisfarmer]

I stand by the L48, slow as it may be. It will outperform the L39 in almost every catagory, without a doubt. I have driven tractors for 30 years, and if I had a L39, I would sell it just like you. If it was soooooo great, why sell it???, you obviously bought the wrong machine. FYI, it is Dave's 5030 going for $26K.....and there are plently more to be had. The L48s are everywhere for 30K and under and I am just waiting for another. I need another diesel dump this year, so it may have to wait, but maybe by then they will have come out with another "sleek" inferior replacement to the L48 and they will be cheaper too! Hah! I think people like you are like people who bought JD 110s and realized they over paid for an inferior machine. You keep talking about something bigger......go for it, the head aches and bills just get bigger too. If anyone has an L39 and wants to come over and compare it to a L48, a 5030, a 2350 GST, and a whole other collections of machines, including Kubota excavators, then let us get together and inform everyone here of the comparitive differences. I wish I had this opportunity before I bought my recent round of equipment and thanks to research I bought a L48 and not the 5030 with BT90. I couldn't do 1/2 the jobs I do now. Sorry about the L39 and I wish you the best.

p.s. I run Kubota equipment everyday year round and service them too so I feel I have a qualified opinion. Not to toot my own horn though because that sucks.

 

[mike69440]

I went to Chappells yesterday (NH) and looked at the L39 again. I still feel the way I do, basically the L48 is more rugged and value for the dollar. Look at the brochure for the L48, specifically the hardnose, 3/8" steel I think? A 200 lbs. man can stand on the hood of an L48, how about the same guy on the L39 hood??? No way a L39 will take a rock of the hood like that. Regarding price, yes, new you probably are right as I only buy Kubota and don't look at much else. What I meant was buy an L48 used for cheaper than a used L39. Look on the net and other sources, they are everywhere. Before I bought my KX 121 is was 2 minutes away from buying a L48 with 110 hours for $29K. I think they are now $39.6K new. If anyone lives near Wilton NH with a L39 and wants to come to my yard and test them both out, please let me know. Does anyone have a KX and an L48 by any chance? I do and I would be interested in some comparison feedback. I want a cab tractor sooooo bad but the grand L series (5030) is only 1/2 the tractor an L48 is, but makes a difference when you plow snow in an open canopny of L48. I see 5030s cabs now for 26K +/-. The new 40s seem expensive.

In New Hampshire Chappell, MB, and Hawkinson all price their equipment like you are that first time car buyer who wants that Toyota or Honda. Deals in NH are hard to come by. You can get a decent price, but only when they are motivated. Problem was I did not realy want that 3120. Down south or Texas you can do so much better it makes me sick.

Chappel has a good rep as a dealer, but I have not dealt with them much. Hawkinson trys hard despite having some mechanics that are snoozing. MB depends again on location and who you deal with there.

Last night before a planning board meeting up north, I drove up after work and spread 1-1/2 loads of 21+ ton Tri Axle dump truck loads of 1-1/2" stone grading it all in about 1 hour + 20 minutes with the L-39. This moving up daylight saving time is a good thing.
I like the way the L-39's extra weights at 7,800 lbs moved the stone vs. it's 7000 lb as delivered weight. Initially I was worried about the robustness of the L-39 braceless design but can report it has survived everything I throw at it. It is suprizingly stiff. I think I will go ahead and add another 300 Lbs to the rear rims, this time adding the weights to the outside of the rims, but can see those tiny tires sinking deep during the upcoming thaw. Road Ban on over 6 tons has already started.

"I want a cab tractor sooooo bad..." Yep, geting old and soft, those NH nights will do that to you.

 

[Builder]

I stand by the L48, slow as it may be. It will outperform the L39 in almost every catagory, without a doubt. I have driven tractors for 30 years, and if I had a L39, I would sell it just like you. If it was soooooo great, why sell it???, you obviously bought the wrong machine. FYI, it is Dave's 5030 going for $26K.....and there are plently more to be had. The L48s are everywhere for 30K and under and I am just waiting for another. I need another diesel dump this year, so it may have to wait, but maybe by then they will have come out with another "sleek" inferior replacement to the L48 and they will be cheaper too! Hah! I think people like you are like people who bought JD 110s and realized they over paid for an inferior machine. You keep talking about something bigger......go for it, the head aches and bills just get bigger too. If anyone has an L39 and wants to come over and compare it to a L48, a 5030, a 2350 GST, and a whole other collections of machines, including Kubota excavators, then let us get together and inform everyone here of the comparitive differences. I wish I had this opportunity before I bought my recent round of equipment and thanks to research I bought a L48 and not the 5030 with BT90. I couldn't do 1/2 the jobs I do now. Sorry about the L39 and I wish you the best.

p.s. I run Kubota equipment everyday year round and service them too so I feel I have a qualified opinion. Not to toot my own horn though because that sucks.

Dude, life changes, therefore people have to adapt to the changes. It ain't a "one size fits all" life we all live. The reason I sold is because I got lucky and bought some building lots to build homes on. Think I'm gonna dig 4 full basements, 4 septic systems, 4 water retention systems and 4 driveways with an L-39 (or an L-48 for that matter)?

I already owned a Ford 555 4x4 extendahoe and CDL dumps & trailers to pull it around with for years. I've owned heavy equipment for 20 + years.....no beginner, here. I thought my home building days were over, so I sold it and bought an L-35 then an L-39.

Insinuating that the machine lacked any ability or that I'm some kind of dumb azz for buying it STILL doesn't prove to me that there's any better machine for the same price as an L-39. It also makes you look like you're saying you never made the mistake of buying the wrong tool. Come on, we're all grown up here, we know that isn't true. That's all I'm asking you to stand up and address, but you keep on avoiding your original statement: "If I made the mistake of buying one, I would sell it too and by something bigger for the same price."

Soooooo, what are you going to get that's bigger for the same price?

Game over.

 

[Builder]

Why did you sell it?

I bought some building lots and based on owning a full sized hoe from 1990-2000 I figure I can save about $70-80,000 in excavating by simply selling my L-39 and buying a nice used CAT 416C, JD310E, Case 580SL II, etc. for about $30,000. That's what I sold my L-39 for ($29,700)

Far more machine than an L-39, L-48, JD110, and it has an enclosed cab w/ HVAC, twice the hydraulics, etc.....

Just for giggles: Here's a 2006 L-48 with 200 hrs. Asking price $35,500. More than the cost of a new L-39 by thousands. eBay: kubota L 48 2006 HST back hoe/ loader and more (item 160094782747 end time Mar-21-07 05:28:45 PDT)

Here's another:2003 KUBOTA L48 For Sale at MachineryTrader.com

Pretty easy to see a 1-2 yr old L-48 still asks more than a new L-39.

 

[Muleskinner]

Okay all you L39 nay sayers. Now I'm going to tell you my experiences with my little bitty old 05 L39. For the money the L39 is one great tractor. I have graded small house pads, graded for concrete in small, restricted areas, finish graded housing tracs, pulled out trees, stumps and large bushes, lifted and transported HUGE, HEAVY rocks, built roads and used a very large 72" FEL grappel to debrush desert lots for pads.

Yep your right. The L39 does not have as much HP and weight as the L48, but with the GST trans the L39 is VERY versatile and feels like it has a lot more power than it does. The engine runs flawlessly and has never let me down. As a matter of fact, I have never had ANY real problems with the tractor since I bought it new!

I believe the L48 is a great tractor, but as L39 builder said, none of them are REAL construction tractors anyway! I would put the L39 up against ANY L series tractor Kubota builds. Period. Next to the L48 the L39 has more GPM hydraulic flow than ANY Kubota tractor made! M series included! My L39's FEL is faster and will almost out perform my M7040 FEL any day of the week! Go figure.

Yes it has a tinny hood, but who let's rocks fall on their hood anyway? I don't! But beond that look at the sub frame and the low center of gravity and how the rest of the tractor is designed and built. The L39 is a very good tractor for the money.

If the housing market had not soured in CA I would not be selling mine. I had several concrete contractors keeping me busy five days a week with it last year! And after having my new M7040 for almost one year, I can honestly say I really like my L39 better than the 7040, for what the L39 is.

If Kubota would build an M series sized L39 with a torque converter transmission they would have a real winner for sure! Hear that Kubota??? Get in the construction game and quit screwing around with AG purpose only tractors. The L39 and the L48 are the only two tractors that Kubota builds that come ANYWHERE CLOSE to being a construction grade tractor.