TEST DROVE 4720 W/CAB & 5030 W/CAB

cowboydoc · Dec 19, 2005

I look at this as a positive, because Kubota will have to step up to the plate quicker and up John deere or they will be loosing sales which will help all of us who like CUt TRACTORS, because competition is great and the consumers are the real winners When they come back and Kick John deere's butt , I will be buying a kubota. 

I agree with you. The competition has certainly raised the bar. Like I said in an earlier post Kubota was the king on the hill with a cab cut tractor far superior to what anyone else had. The curtis cab on the deere was an absolute joke. I'm sure Deere used the 5030 as their measuring stick. In true deere fashion they've come out with a superior tractor to the 5030. And you're right in a year or so we will probably see the next generation of kubota cab cut's that will be far superior to the 4720. Kubota never does anything half-way either.

Nice analysis on the deere. You will enjoy that tractor for many years.

Chase · Dec 19, 2005

Richard, thanks for the reply, no more arguring with Tarzan, I would hate to give either one of you )#$)#$()*&@# kick in the rear and I don't want to have to help you come up with 1,000 dollars, nothing is tougher then Kubota!!!!!!! Tarzan are you going to help with the root grapple or not, don't make me mad, YFFL, airborne, Fulcher

cowboydoc · Dec 19, 2005

no more arguring with Tarzan 

It's your thread and your time to enjoy your tractor so you got it Chase. Don't worry about the $1000 though. I'll gladly pay it if the Kubota lifts more than mine. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Have fun Chase and enjoy the new ride. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

CT_Tree_Guy · Dec 19, 2005

I don't think I've made excessive and/or mindless promotion of "your brand" statements. 

 "There's no question that the 4720 is far superior to the 5030 in every way". 

I do.

I suggest you remove your "questionable" statement [regarding Kubota vs. JD hydro reliabilty) here as violation as well. 

I believe that the way I expressed my observations was reserved and reasonable, and based on what I consider to be empirical evidence and fairly extensive research into the question of the hydro reliablity of the two brands. Not only here, but on the rest of the internet, and in talking to many dealers. Either one brand or the other has to have a more reliable hydro. From looking at all the evidence available to me, I have concluded that that brand is Kubota. This is not mindless brand loyalty, it is merely one of the main reasons I bought a Kubota. Therefore, I stand by my comments and in no way see them as in violation of forum rules.

 I can point you to several posts regarding the failure of mfg. to come up with a standard form of measurement for loaders. Why bother, if what we see on this site and any other site is purely subjective information? My observation is that there is a lot of information here that is very valuable and credible, and is the basis for much of my decision making process, a process that has led me to a very fine machine, the Kubota 5030HST. But as much as I like my tractor, I would stop far short of saying that "there's no question that the 5030 is far superior to the 4720 [or any other tractor] in every way". In many ways, for many people, a BX2230 is "superior" to a 5030 in some ways. NO tractor is superior to ANY OTHER tractor in EVERY WAY.

 So let's just say for arguments sake that the 3pt. and loader lift 10-20% more than the deere. Ok that's 1 point for the 5030. How does this square with "there's no question that the 4720 is far superior to the 5030 in every way". ? Or The Deere will lift all the Kubota will ?

 Do you really need that extra [lift capacity]? 

You bet I do. 5030 "skidder" pics - the "tree-bota" in action The 2,400 lb. log being held in the 800-lb. Bradco grapple can attest to my desire to have all the lifting power I can get. I'd get a bigger loader if Kubota had a hydro machine to put it on. (And the bet still stands as far as I'm concerned - can your loader get 3,200 lbs. off the ground? Not stating as a fact that it can't, just betting $1,000 it can't).

.... bigger fuel tank, but in your opinion that's only because it uses more fuel 

I never said the 4720 uses more fuel, because I don't know whether or not it does.

 To me it still adds up to a superior tractor. To you it doesn't. 

"Superior" is very subjective, and neither tractor is flat-out "superior" to the other. Is Bach "superior" to Beethoven? Is BMW "superior" to Mercedes? They all have their strong points, and will appeal to different people for different reasons.

 I don't think I've made excessive and/or mindless promotion of "your brand" statements. I state the 4720 is superior based on everything the tractor has and does not just picking and choosing which points are important and then the ones that my tractor doesn't win at saying they aren't important and a person doesn't need them.


I couldn't disagree more with this statement. I think that's very much what you are doing. I'd prefer we just rationally discuss the pro's and con's of each tractor and let the (unfortunate) readers of this thread decide what they want to buy, based on what THEY think is important.

Lastly, if you'd just back off from your statement "there's no question that the 4720 is far superior to the 5030 in every way", a statement and position which I feel is indefensible and patently, obviously and undeniably false, we might be able to put this behind us.

Chase · Dec 20, 2005

I've decided to get a home equity and sell another farm so i can buy both tractors and do a long term in depth study over the next year. I will first take both of them to the fair to enter them in the tractor pulling contest. Have a great night, Chase /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Chase · Dec 20, 2005

I'm no longer a new member, go ahead and ask me some questions now, I'm getting more intelligent just knowing and typing this email, this website does wonders for your brain, it must be regulated by te number of post not time, airborne fulcher going to bed

CT_Tree_Guy · Dec 20, 2005

Chase, you animal you, I just read your review! Dang, you've got me seeing green ! I was too busy venting my childhood frustrations on Richard to even read it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

That does sound like one awesome machine all right, and it has me looking forward to the new Kubota L5540 with a cab like that except with a sleeper on, a 1250 loader, electro-hydraulic on-the-fly front and rear diff locks, full articulation, standard Michelin XM27 radials and an ice dispenser!

Seriously, that thing sounds awesome, and it's incredible how competitively priced it is! Sounds like Deere, free of any "Asian entanglements", managed to do some serious bean-counting and incorporate some very intelligent and cost-effective manufacturing and procurement methods to put that kind of machine together at that kind of price.

As much as I still believe that the 5030 has some advantages, there is no way I would even think of trying to talk you into one after reading that. I love my bota-beast, and I still think that it might be a little more bomb-proof than the 4720 in some ways, including yes, the hydro, but you certainly have my blessings and I bet it will be a fantastic machine for you.

You go boy, have fun!

As for spell-check - we don' need no steenking spell check! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I'll look into it though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

And hey, in case I'm banned tomorrow, you can always email me - collinsvilletree@sbcglobal.net /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

jeepinator · Dec 20, 2005

best.thread.ever

riptides · Dec 20, 2005

( Called a friend who has a kubota dealership and asked him about the price difference between the two. He was busy earlier but just called me back and said equipped as close to the 4720 as he could the Kubota would be about $1800 less if you're talking MSRP to MSRP on the two. The loader was less by $800 for the Deere he said. So if you're talking about a tractor with a loader MSRP to MSRP the 4720 is a $1000 more. From there it all depends on who gets you the best deal.
)

Yes, best deal! At this point in my life I have overwhelmed my body and my Kubota B7800. My body craves the feature comforts on these COLD winter days. I am serious into ergonomics now.

This thread and other info on the 5030 has served me well. I think I am coming into the market once again at just the right time. Having had a GREAT experience with the timing of my B7800 purchase, the next logical step to me was the 5030 series. However, the one-upsmanship of the market dictates I seek the BEST deal, so the Deere has entered the picture.

Good thing I have some empty stables to the green and orange can get along. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'd like to see some in action reports. John with his 5030 has done a great job of keeping me focused. Dargo, and Fl_Cracker too.

I'd like to hear more from Chase when it comes in.

Thanks for all the info, as always.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

slowzuki · Dec 20, 2005

Chase I read your review and I'd say Deere has done their homework on this one! I won't be trading in my 5030 myself but it is good to give consumers a choice in this class of tractor!

I've been very impressed with my 5030 but the only other CUT I have experience with is a TEN series JD which is a bit outdated now but was the competitive model when my 5030 was new. My friend owns one for his landscaping company and puts lots of hours on it, but it sees the dealer frequently. So far he has had a rear axle snap, wiring for the ehydro go bad, multiple trips for a belly mower lift arm (that isn't fair cause they aren't really part of the tractor).

I would say all this stuff is forgivable as normal wear and tear or defects and could equally happen to another brand.

As far as other things, the Kubota cab is sealed and filtered, probably not any type of hepa filter. I do know it is tight enough you have to give the door a second close often. I've never caught a whiff of dust baling with it.

The loader control is right at my finger tips when my arm is on the arm rest, I don't see how it could improve and I can use either door. I do see how many wouldn't like the exposed joystick control cables.

Hopefully the competetion will result in more great tractors being available to us all!