Buying Advice Trying to decide if a cab is worth the extra $$

[rswyan]

Don't they really rip you if they deliver fuel?

No.

Would they even want to deliver 50 gallons of fuel too?

My supplier has a 150 gallon minimum for free delivery .....

 

[3boys865]

Using a 6 foot mower and given smooth enough conditions and longer runs so you have less turning will mow 6-10 acres per hour= about 2- 3 hours for 20 acres. A 45-50 HP tractor can easily pull one 8 mph if you can stay in the seat. Mowing around trees and obstacles takes up a lot of time and wider mower wont help with that problem. At a point, the larger mowers become a hold back to production if you have to get between trees or build larger gates to get them thru. I have lots of trees that I couldnt mow between with more than 7 foot mower and 6 footer is good for 20 acres.

I was thinking I would need at least 8 ft cutter, but if I can mow 20 acres in 2 - 3 hours with a 6 ft mower, that is reasonable to me. The 6 ft cutter would be much easier to maneuver and haul. I was looking at utility sized tractors to handle larger cutters, but I really think the larger framed CUTs would be a better fit for all my other needs and property size. Starting to lean towards the JD 4320 / 4520 or Kubota L4740 / L5740. MSRP between these models equally configured (as close as possible) is not significantly different. Just have to wade through the old JD vs Kubota decision.

 

[Turbys_1700]

We have one cabbed tractor on the farm and I can tell you that it is a great pleasure to use when working...
No dust, yellow jackets, climate control, and safety...
Lots quieter too...
If I can ever afford it a cabbed tractor is in my future to mow my grass...
My wife said that if I ever got one I would never be in the house, only on the tractor...
I told here that was the plan...lol

 

[rbargeron]

One factor in deciding how much tractor to buy is whether your place is relatively flat or hilly. If most of your 20 acres is flat, a 45 hp tractor will handle a 7' cutter easily but an 8' might need to go slower. If it's sloped, even a 7' will feel heavy on a grand L. Back on your cab question, be sure to sit in a few to see if you are ok with the interior room. The Mxx40 is generous width inside - the newer L series seems cramped.
I guess everybody likes their cab for different jobs. For snow blowing I close it up, keeping the howling wind out. For summer I take off the doors, open the windows and enjoy the New England air.

 

[TripleR]

One factor in deciding how much tractor to buy is whether your place is relatively flat or hilly. If most of your 20 acres is flat, a 45 hp tractor will handle a 7' cutter easily but an 8' might need to go slower. If it's sloped, even a 7' will feel heavy on a grand L. Back on your cab question, be sure to sit in a few to see if you are ok with the interior room. The Mxx40 is generous width inside - the newer L series seems cramped.

My newly acquired L5740 HSTC has significantly more cab room than my L5030, but neither are as nice or roomy as our M8540, ride quality isn't near as good either.

 

[SDT]

It depends entirely upon what you plan to do with your tractor. I have 10 tractors, only one with a cab. The cab tractor is the newest, most expensive and most powerful. It is also the last one out of the barn and will be the first to go because it is not suitable for some purposes.

I use my tractors mostly for mowing, including some areas with lots of trees. The cab is a definite disadvantage around trees as one cannot safely drive beneath limbs or as close to similar obstacles because the cab, lights, mirrors, etc, are susceptable to damage.

That said, so long as you keep it out of the woods, you will likely love a cab, after the initial price has been paid.

Dean

 

[SDT]

I was thinking I would need at least 8 ft cutter, but if I can mow 20 acres in 2 - 3 hours with a 6 ft mower, that is reasonable to me. The 6 ft cutter would be much easier to maneuver and haul. I was looking at utility sized tractors to handle larger cutters, but I really think the larger framed CUTs would be a better fit for all my other needs and property size. Starting to lean towards the JD 4320 / 4520 or Kubota L4740 / L5740. MSRP between these models equally configured (as close as possible) is not significantly different. Just have to wade through the old JD vs Kubota decision.

Dream on.

You cannot mow 20 acres in 3 hours with a 6' cutter unless you are speaking of ideal, finish mower conditions. It is unlikely that you can do it with an 8' cutter, absent ideal conditions and equipment.

I have 5', 6', 7', and 10 1/2' cutters and have been mowing for 40+ years. I use the 10 1/2' mounted cutter with an 80+ PTO HP FWA Super Steer tractor (extraordinarily maneuverable) yet would not expect to mow 20 acres in three hours except in ideal conditions.

I looked at the 5740 as a "first round" tractor and really tried to convince myself to buy one but thought it too expensive, too light and, with less than 150 CI, too little displacement for even my Woods BB720X, 1200 lb. 6' cutter, even though the small size, vertical drive pinions and other bells and whistles were attractive due to the exceptional convenience provided.

Ended up buying a 60+ PTO HP FWA MF with FEL, independent PTO, dual remotes (for those of you who do not know, dual remotes means 2 spools, 2 handles and 4 hydraulic connections (sorry, but a pet peave of mine)), 4 rear weights, six front weights and front weight bracket for about $6,000 than a similarly equipped Kubota M 7040 would have cost, and with the MF I can mow at 540 PTO RPM at 1750+ engine RPM, rather than 2,600+ engine RPM as required with the Kubotas to maintain blade tip speed. This, of course, saves wear and tear, engine hours and fuel.

No, I am not a MF guy and really tried to convince myself to buy a L5740 or M7040 but doing so simply did not make sense. I have 1993 B1750HST, bi-speed turn Kubota with 60" MMM that I use to mow my lawn and plow snow and absolutely love it. I bought it new and it has been, perhaps, the best new purchase experience of my life. In the nearly 19 years since I bought it, I have needed to do absolutely nothing to it other than lube oil and filter changes. Will probably keep it for my son to do with as he pleases when he settles my estate.

SDT

 

[SDT]

I don't do much. I do a little bit for a family member. I only have a 5ft (bought it for the 8n years ago). You can't even tell it is behind the tractor. On the grand l tractors you can watch your pto speed on the intelli panel. When I would run it up to 540 pto and when I would go through thick stuff it would only drop to 537! The owners manual says you can pull a 6ft cutter. I think it would easily handle a 6 or 7 footer. I know rhino makes a rough cut that is 10' and only takes 35 pto hp to turn it. I guess it boils down to how fast you want to get it done and the size of the fields. I think a cab on a grand l is around 4k. I don't know what it would be on a M. One advantage to me with the Grand L you can get them in hydro but the M's are a nice looking tractor. TripleR has a L5740 and a M8540 and I think he does a lot of rough cutting you may want to ask him for a second opinion.

Don't even think of a 10', 8' or even 7' rough cut mower with an L5740 unless you have a flat golf course that you plan to cut regularly.

Simply not enough cubic inches and weight.

Been doing this stuff far too long, folks.

SDT

 

[SDT]

Using a 6 foot mower and given smooth enough conditions and longer runs so you have less turning will mow 6-10 acres per hour= about 2- 3 hours for 20 acres. A 45-50 HP tractor can easily pull one 8 mph if you can stay in the seat. Mowing around trees and obstacles takes up a lot of time and wider mower wont help with that problem. At a point, the larger mowers become a hold back to production if you have to get between trees or build larger gates to get them thru. I have lots of trees that I couldnt mow between with more than 7 foot mower and 6 footer is good for 20 acres.

Have you ever been into some brome grass that is laying down? If you have you will know that a premium, e.g., Woods BB720X, etc., (good grass clearance) 6' rough cut mower will eat up 60+ HP in a heartbeat even with lawnmower sharp blades as I keep mine. The mower simply cannot clear and you will be down to about 2 MPH with 45 PTO HP. BTDT.

That said, a (true) 60 PTO HP tractor can handle an 8' rough cut mower in most conditions so long as you do not plan to mow quickly and infrequently.

SDT

 

[foreman Etexas]

Have you ever been into some brome grass that is laying down? If you have you will know that a premium, e.g., Woods BB720X, etc., (good grass clearance) 6' rough cut mower will eat up 60+ HP in a heartbeat even with lawnmower sharp blades as I keep mine. The mower simply cannot clear and you will be down to about 2 MPH with 45 PTO HP. BTDT.

That said, a (true) 60 PTO HP tractor can handle an 8' rough cut mower in most conditions so long as you do not plan to mow quickly and infrequently.

SDT

My 46pto HP would lay that broom grass down no problem with an 8ft cutter