I have recently purchased 30 acres of land, mostly wooded. I have decided to buy a kubota tractor. I have already purchased a ZT ( EXMARK) for mowing approximately 4 acres. My question is which is better for my needs..a 3800DT or a MX5100. I need it for brush hogging and moving downed trees. I am also considering a grapple. At a cost of almost three grand..will I use it enough to justify the cost? I plan to do some clearing and replant in commercial pine. This is something that is big in East Texas. Thanks for any insite
TRACTOR NEWBIE
- Thread starter terry5449
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NHbotanut
Gold Member
Welcome & congrats on the land purchase.
You need to prioritize your needs for your attachments. That being said I definitely recommend the grapple. You will use it for a lot more than just land clearing.
You need to prioritize your needs for your attachments. That being said I definitely recommend the grapple. You will use it for a lot more than just land clearing.
Rocky Hoffler
Platinum Member
For the size of property I would go with larger model grapple is a great piece of equipment. Need a third function valve and probably get rear remotes enjoy:cool2:
deerseeker001
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Welcome from Wisconsin
bigbull338
Elite Member
for what your wanting id go with the mx5100.
boggen
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how are you going to handle tree stumps / root balls... that is the big question there. from 3pt hitch backhoe, mini ex (mini excavator), to tree stump grinder, (just removes what is above ground and maybe a little below), to a dozer.
your big ticket items tend to be... FEL (front end loader with general duty bucket), tractor itself, and then a 3pt hitch backhoe with a sub frame for it. getting the big ticket items all at once on same order from same dealer. the dealer may give you a bigger discount.
some folks save up projects and rent a bigger machine from time to time. for example a larger excavator vs a mini ex. to do various jobs in one wild weekend non stop running the machine. while others justify cost of having one around when ever they need it.
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rotatory cutter (bush hog = name brand), are all over the place from third party manufactures. rear blades, box blades, graples, etc...
exception with above, if you want a grapel, and not enough cash up front for it, go ahead and get the 3rd function valve kit, for the FEL (front end loader), more likely save you some costs long term having dealer install it before it is delivered to you.
i would suggest AG / R1 tires. due to more likely you will be hitting a lot of mud/dirt/etc.... and industrial / R4's = you being stuck in the mud, (regardless of 4x4 / MFWD, differential lock, split left and right rear brakes)
if you are looking at possibly a electrical winch for tractor, see about getting the larger alternator if option for the tractor.
a lot of folks like TNT (top and tilt) a hyd cylinder replaces top link on 3pt hitch, and for tilt, a hyd cylinder replaces one or both of the side links / turn buckles on the 3pt hitch. if ya going for TNT, would suggest bare min of 2 to 3 rear remotes. again might be cheaper long term to have dealer installed, before it is delivered to you.
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all the little options due tend to add up rather quickly, making a larger tractor out of budget vs a smaller tractor with all the extra smaller options. many of the smaller options can make many tasks quicker / easier / more professional done with out much extra fuss. smaller tractors just take longer at certain jobs. the only issue is skidding logs, the bigger and longer they are, and more hills ya gotta climb, a bigger tractor will more likely keep on going vs a smaller tractor. but you could always chop log in 2 or more chunks. to drag up and out of the woods.
your big ticket items tend to be... FEL (front end loader with general duty bucket), tractor itself, and then a 3pt hitch backhoe with a sub frame for it. getting the big ticket items all at once on same order from same dealer. the dealer may give you a bigger discount.
some folks save up projects and rent a bigger machine from time to time. for example a larger excavator vs a mini ex. to do various jobs in one wild weekend non stop running the machine. while others justify cost of having one around when ever they need it.
=========
rotatory cutter (bush hog = name brand), are all over the place from third party manufactures. rear blades, box blades, graples, etc...
exception with above, if you want a grapel, and not enough cash up front for it, go ahead and get the 3rd function valve kit, for the FEL (front end loader), more likely save you some costs long term having dealer install it before it is delivered to you.
i would suggest AG / R1 tires. due to more likely you will be hitting a lot of mud/dirt/etc.... and industrial / R4's = you being stuck in the mud, (regardless of 4x4 / MFWD, differential lock, split left and right rear brakes)
if you are looking at possibly a electrical winch for tractor, see about getting the larger alternator if option for the tractor.
a lot of folks like TNT (top and tilt) a hyd cylinder replaces top link on 3pt hitch, and for tilt, a hyd cylinder replaces one or both of the side links / turn buckles on the 3pt hitch. if ya going for TNT, would suggest bare min of 2 to 3 rear remotes. again might be cheaper long term to have dealer installed, before it is delivered to you.
===========
all the little options due tend to add up rather quickly, making a larger tractor out of budget vs a smaller tractor with all the extra smaller options. many of the smaller options can make many tasks quicker / easier / more professional done with out much extra fuss. smaller tractors just take longer at certain jobs. the only issue is skidding logs, the bigger and longer they are, and more hills ya gotta climb, a bigger tractor will more likely keep on going vs a smaller tractor. but you could always chop log in 2 or more chunks. to drag up and out of the woods.
dbaer78
Gold Member
Go as big as you can afford. I have an mx5100 on my 20 acres and I love it but at times wish for more, although I do use it somewhat commercially as well.
Poopdeck Pappy
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I haven't heard that. I believe that most modern tractors will consume about the same amount of fuel to complete a given task, regardless of the tractor's size. My little BX23 just gently sips diesel at a much lower rate than my Kioti DK50SE, but the Kioti will get the job done faster. So, in the end, I think they would both use about the same amount.
For the work you describe, I'd get the MX5100.
And you don't have to spend $3,000 on a grapple. You can get a perfectly suitable one for around $2,000. For example:
Everything Attachments Wicked Root Grapple for Compact Tractors
or
Everything Attachments Wicked Root Grapple for Compact Tractors
There are lots of sources for grapples. I bought a stump grapple from Wildkat Attachments and I've been very pleased with the build quality. Here's a link to their ebay store:
Wildcatattachment, skidsteer bucket items in WildcatAttachments store on eBay!
There are many MX owners on TBN and lots of posts... generally they say it's a workhorse they really like. Can't recall anyone saying it being a fuel hog, but check the Kubota forums for yourself. The MX5100 (now MX5200) is turbocharged; the MX4700/4800) is a non-turbo version that might be bit more frugal. Most of the time, you don't need to operate this equipment wide open, where it uses the most fuel and you'd notice the difference. The extra hp would be useful for heavy brush mowing, but for non-pto chores either model would have all the power you could put to the ground.
