The great upgrade debate (long)

[canoetrpr]

I've gotten this bug that has been going around - called the "upgrade bug"

I've often thought that if I had to purchase again I would go bigger. I've got 26 acres - 14 in pasture rest is a forest that I don't do much in. 5 horses. I've got a L3400 Kubota which is just over a year old and has 58 hrs on it - barely broken in.

Thought I'd do some looking to see what it would cost me to upgrade to a larger tractor. This said - I most definately don't *need* a larger tractor. The L3400 has been splendid so far. I use it for bush hogging, snow blowing, driveway maintenance (300 ft driveway), loading and spreading manure and odd projects around the house that need an FEL. Next year will be some landscaping and tree planting.

While the Kubota has been splendid, I have not really found dealers around that give me a real warm fuzzy. Unfortunately this has been my experience with Hondas also ... but the products are great and reliable and I've lived with it with cars by finding a good mechanic.

I'm evaluating four options:


1. The sensible option (my wife put this one on the table) - keep the L3400. It has lost most of what it will on depreciation already, has been very reliable and does everything that I need of it. Best trade in values I am being quoted are ~$4000 below what I paid. I can do better in a private sale but it is a hassle and I loose out on tax savings then.

2. A Kioti DK45HST. Kiotis have not been very popular up here. Seems like they have a much bigger following in the U.S.A. I found a very very good new dealer (who used to sell the smaller Kubotas but now gave up the Kubota franchise and has gone to Kioti). Super super guy. Spent loads of time with me showing me around a DK35. I thought it was a very nice machine. There was something about it that didn't feel quite 100% to me and I only realised after trying the Grand L Kubotas that it was the overall feeling / fit and finish I thought that wasn't quite the same. Maybe I'm just biased to the Kubota feel after owing a Kubota.

Huge advantages of Kioti:
- Excellent excellent local dealer.
- Excellent, excellent price. Bit of a perfect storm here. Kioti dealers are buying in US $ and the tractors are priced to what you folks in the U.S.A. pay. The exchange rate is better than it has been (in our favour) for a long time. In addition to that the dealer is giving me an excellent deal on the tractor to begin with.... Not sure how the DK45 prices compare to grand L in the USA but I can get the DK45 here for close to $5K less than a GL3540 prices out to in Canada!

3. Kubota GL3540 or bigger.

I figured that the GL3540 is more than adequate with the LA723 loader. I plan to pull a 6 ft bush hog. The price up here is quite high. $5K more than what I would pay in Michigan say even after conversion.... for the same tractor. This said, the price difference between an L3540 and L4240 (additional $3.5k) isn't enough to justify not going for it instead with an even better loader. But note that here a L4240 will run $8.5K over the DK45. If I bought from Michigan, it would be about $3K over the DK45 which I consider is fair given it is a tier 1 brand.

Advantages of the GL:
- I LOVE the feel. Drove the L3940 today and it was fabulous. It just felt right. Felt better to me than the DK35 (even though the latter was a very capable tractor).
- No provincial sales tax (8%) - so I'm told, if I purchased in the USA. Only GST collected at the border. That could be another $1600 in savings.
- Who knows what the exchange rate will be 3 to 4 years from now... the advantage of cross border shopping may not last forever.

Disadvantages of the GL:
- Don't think I'm prepared to pay $8.5K over the DK45. If I bought I'd have to work something out so that I bought in Michigan or NY and figured out a way to get it up here. I imagine that this can be done.
- I'd have no warranty if purchased from the US. I wouldn't be surprised if no dealer around here even wanted to service my tractor.
- Not terribly clear if $4000 to $5000 isn't worth making my own warranty especially since I haven't been too exited about the Kubota dealers around.
- Private sale of my L3400 and would have to finance on a line of credit as a purchase over the border will have to be cash.
- Given that the 40 series is brand new, I probably ought to wait a year or two given the lack of warranty on a cross border sale. Then again it is a Kubota.

Option 4. John Deere 3520 / 3720 with a CX loader

I test drove a JD3520 a year ago... will have to go back and evaluate. I quite liked it. It was very ergonomically very very nice....could even be better than the GL ergonomically - would have to drive again to figure out.

Disadvantage:
- Priced similarly up here to a GL3540. The JD3520 would run me about $5K over the Kioti. Again I could save a good $5K with a cross border sale.
- Honestly can't tell but sure sounds like people on TBN with JD 3 series have more problem than those with GLs (the last generation anyway). Kubotas are basically worshipped for their reliability where I live and I'd want the least risk as possible if I did a cross border sale.

Advantages:
- I imagine it will still *feel* right.
- JD is a single company across north america which means that warranty applies in Canada if I bought from the U.S.A. If I end up with a lemon at least I don't have to pay for repairs. I might have a hassle with service from local dealers but I think JD cares about their brand and warranty and would make sure that I got service if I had a real problem.

I haven't really tried the 4X series tractors to compare to the DK45 or the L4240 but I can have a 4120 for less than what I would pay for a JD 3520 in Canada.

A JD would make little sense to buy here given the warranty coverage.... unless I couldn't find someone to truck it for me.

You guys are great at giving opinions (and good ones) and I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

My inclination is probably to do what my wife would prefer at this point. Go with 1. My L3400 will be paid off in < 2 years now. It hasn't given me any trouble and will likely continue to do what I ask. There will always be time to re-evaluate 4 or so years from now and at 200-300 hours, resale ought to be decent.

 

[VABlue]

You've put some thought into this, so you're obviously leaning towards getting something new. I suspect that option 1 is only on the table because the wife mentioned it? In any case, you're projects for next year - landscaping and tree planting... Will a bigger tractor be able to get close in to the desired location? Moving a big tractor close to the house (or any other standing obstruction) has a little less safety margin because you could do more damage quicker.

If you're comfortable with the bigger flavor near the house, keep considering the switch. With the obvious effort you've already put into it, it seems to me that you want it. You'll probably regret not upgrading next year if you don't...

 

[RoyJackson]

Well, you stated you don't need another tractor...or an upgraded machine, so you're doing this on a whim.
And, at 58 hours and a year old, you say the Kubota has went through most of it's depreciation. I think you're way off here.

The last paragraph states you'll probably go with your wife's idea...keep your current machine for a few more years. That's a good idea.

So, if I were you, I'd go with your last paragraph and keep the machine you have now.

 

[Oleozz]

I have a Kioti DK 45 and with 275 hours in a little over a year it has been good. I'm not saying it's any better or worse than a Kubota or JD. I personally like them all and if I could afford it would have one of every brand. You only live once and if money is no object than I say go for it.

 

[MarkV]

With the dealer problems you have had I’m not sure I would be looking at Kubota again and I am a Kubota guy. I just can’t warm up the attitude of “no buy here, no service here” that you have run into in your area.

Also with the deal the exchange rate offers on the Kioti’s there, I would have to like the fit and finish of the other options a lot to pay and extra 8.5K. For that kind of money you could buy a good used older ag tractor for the heavy work and keep yours for the detail and FEL work. Don’t tell the wife it was me that added an option #5.

MarkV

 

[shane]

I'd say the best thing you can do is go take a cold shower and get over it. I think you'll be happier in the long run since your tractor is already doing everything it needs to. It's called learning to be content. The man who learns to be content can have everything he wants.

 

[Kendall69]

I had the same thoughts about the Kubota I purchased - scared of warranty issues- and close dealer service. My local dealer was BAD.

Well, those fears never did transpire. I purchased it from a dealer 1500 miles away, it came off the truck, and I ran it hard for the next 9 years and NEVER went to the dealer.

I think anyone who has ever owned a Kubota loves the fact that they "rarely" ( seems much less so than other mfgs) have to go back to the dealer, so when thinking of switching brands get scared...like I am today.

I want to try a different flavor, but sure don't want problems.

 

[R_Walter]

I say listen to your wife. [Of course, my wife thought that the L3400 would be plenty of tractor for me.]

 

[BlacknTan]

When I bought my Kubota B-7800 last year, I felt it was a little big for my needs. After runnin' it for a year, it seems just right.

Buut, I have been looking at the Kubota literature, and the 40-45 h.p. class looks like it might suit me better by next year...............

 

[jmc]

Option 6 might be to keep the L3400, a proven performer, and spend the upgrade money on hydraulic options, and/or more implements. I just got back from an Ontario fishing trip and it looks like they could use a few more grapples up there. If you have a loader for front weight, you still may be able to pull the 6 foot BH thru medium weeds, then slow down or overlap more in heavier stuff.

John