Tough Choice!!!!

jhbusa · Dec 12, 2004

I finished some early Christmas shopping this weekend. I have quotes on a couple of real nice Christmas presents that I sure could use some help with. Here's the deal:

Do I buy a Kubota?

L5030 4x4 HST with 853 Fel HD bucket, rear lights, 2 remotes, 1 tnt kit, fluid in tires and Westindorf Cool cap canopy ...

$26,024

Or do I buy a nice new 57 hp LD Montana 5740 4x4 with sync trans (ya gotta clutch it). I can't find any info on this tractor and the website is lame. Sales kid kept calling the mkt rep for info he didn't have. I drove this unit with a CAB and found it pretty nice. It is $22850 without the CAB. I get 7-9 more HP but lose HST. I get 4 rear remotes standard versus 2 with Kubota. The lights are std. I get switchable independent and manual PTO which I found neat even with my limited experience on tractors. Kubota only had independent PTO I believe (and a MF to try to get in gear sometimes). The Montana Dealer and distributer are very local.

I'm buying almost $6000 in implements and trailor too.
BH 2102 with Carbide Drill, BH RBX 720 Box Blade, BH 286 cutter, 18 ft, 12k, electric brake trailor

I can't find info on Woods, Carver, Atlas or LD Montana implements or tooth bars on the internet. Nutin'.

The Kubota dealer is all Bush Hog which I've used a few times and like so far. I'd love to go with comparable quality brands that are cheaper.

Any help with this decision would be greatly appreciated, especially regarding LD Montana. By the way, the Montana with CAB was 25K. Still less cost than the Kubota. Talk about tempting!

I have 65 acres to maintain. About 1/2 is wooded in hills. There are a couple road / creek crossings and fences to fix / set up. I can think of 100 uses the first week. And digging post holes by hand in the rain ... suks!

Inspector507 · Dec 12, 2004

Here's Woods on the web.

And here's Carver

And here's tootbars at Markham

BigAl · Dec 12, 2004

Welcome to TBN . How about filling out your Bio information a little more ? May I suggest you look strongly at a 20 ' trailer instead of the 18',if your truck can handle it . I have had both and the longer length is very nice when I have a rear mower attached or carry a few extra attachments on board the trailer .
Big Al

frank_f15 · Dec 12, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sales kid kept calling the mkt rep for info he didn't have. )</font>

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? If it were me i would go with the proven machine.

jhbusa · Dec 12, 2004

Thanks Inspector 507, I literally have searched for hours. I'll work on that BIO bigal.

Thanks again.

DmansPadge · Dec 12, 2004

JMO, but if I'm going to spend $20k plus on a tractor its going to have a name on the side of it that everyone knows. And if the guy selling the tractor doesn't know anything about, I wouldn't walk out of there... I'd run.

The Montana might be a fine tractor. But the choice between a proven name and it would be like buying a Chevy/Ford pickup for $25000 or a truck that you've never heard of and nobody knows anything about for $22000!

You might want to look at the "all other brands" forum. I think there is some mention of Montanas in there.

Good luck!

JayC · Dec 13, 2004

I've never heard of Montana before. I would agree with the others and go for the Kubota. I can't justify spending that much money and then try to save a few bucks on a brand no one has heard of. They look like good tractors, but for the price I think it makes the Kubota look better.

Dargo · Dec 13, 2004

I have to agree with BigAl on the trailer size. I have a 24' trailer and with my L5030HSTC on it with the FEL and 6' bush hog, I actually hang off the back by about a foot. That would mean that an 18' trailer would come up about 7' short if you have an FEL and a 6' bush hog on it. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

On the tractor, I know nothing about a Montana. It could very well be a great tractor. I suppose I'm like the rest in that I'm much more likely to go with the "known" quantity and quality. You could get a fantastic tractor with a Montana; you could also get a lemon that nobody can get parts for. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Bob_Skurka · Dec 13, 2004

Montana is made by LG. LG is a large conglomerate, makes TV sets, refrigerators, all sorts of stuff. The tractors are new to the US market, they are priced cheap, I have no idea about quality. The information I have found was very sparce. I was digging into them a couple weeks ago trying to find out some real information. There simply isn't much.

As for the choices, I'd go for the Kubota. Pure $$$ savings are only part of the story. Dealers can be divided between good and bad. If the "sales kid" is representing the dealership and he doesn't know about the product he is selling, then I suspect there is the answer you need to know about the dealer! A good dealer will send his reps for training. A good dealer will attend dealer meetings and will be an expert in the brand. A good dealer will also have a reputation in the community as being a good dealer. Then there is the stocked parts department and that is followed up with the experienced mechanics. LG might make a good machine, but I'll let someone else risk their $25,000.

As for the trailer, start looking at 22' (at the MINIMUM size) for that size machine. That or buy some of those red flags that mark oversize loads.

jhbusa · Dec 13, 2004

Thanks guys, I'm going with the Kubota. I do twice the homework as a normal person on buying anything and I agree with what you all noted. Here's an update on the pricing from another local dealer:

L5030 HST with 853 Fel, lights, fluid, HD bucket with edge, Tnt kit, 2 remotes, Westindork cool cap, and he don't know it yet, but I'll get the shop manuals too.

Box blade is Cammond BS72R - $800

Cutter is Bush Whacker (www.bush-whacker.com), this thing looks like a tank! $2000 as to the BH286 for $1875 with chains.

Post hole digger is a Danuser 20/40. I've asked for a carbide tip auger. $1200.

Kinda nervous about the post hole digger the F8 is more comparable to the BH2102. I got a lot of rock in NW Arkansas and SW Missouri.

Trailor is 18' by 7' with surge brakes. $2750. Rated for 10K. Bulldog hitch and ramps. If you have any input here as far as electric versus surge, bring it on. I'll do some searches on the forums for debates later tonight.

Regarding the 20' trailor, will a 1/2 ton 4x4 1997 Dodge SLT pull it?

I didn't want to write off Montana immediately due to a young inexperienced kid if Montana had a good, well established product. Sure drove nice and the CAB was sweet. It is going to be in the teens here in the Ozarks tonight.

Thanks for the help!