Upgrading to L39 or L48?

[SkyPup]

As much as I love the GST tranny on my L-39, if I were working in hills and slopes, the HST of the L-48 would be safer to use.

 

[_RaT_]

As much as I love the GST tranny on my L-39, if I were working in hills and slopes, the HST of the L-48 would be safer to use.

Skypup brings up an interesting point. For super safe crawling around on hills, I don't know how you beat HST. On the otherhand, if I was looking at TLB's, I would be going for the L39. I owned the L48 and found its shortcomings something of an issue. I sold it hoping no one else knew about the L48's "issues". I liked the L48 but the HST range is terrible. There have been plenty of arguments here about it, but, in my opinion the HST range of medium is waaaaaaay to slow. H is way to high so you suffer with plenty of power and no ground speed in M, the typically range for most use's. If all you do is hoe work, I think the L48 would be fine. It has some huge positives. It has thicker steel everywhere, lower links that really attach to beef, tons of L range power and plenty of hoe and loader. If the M range on the HST was higher or better yet, there was a L, M, MH, H, the L48 would be king. The engine is superb, the loader strong and the comfort fit great. I know nothing about the M59.

 

[Chato]

As to your question about the M59, I spent yesterday working a rocky canyon climbing road, often at pretty steep angles. The tractor spends 100% of its time off road.

IMO the 59 did a better job than the 39. Faster, easier and I definitely felt more secure when I was off center.

The 59s' climbing and descending travel speed in rough country was choppy. In Auto Throttle and "M", I have to work the pedal to smooth out the ride. If I set the auto thottle to Off and manually set the tractor speed it rode better. I would agree, "M"'s speed range is a little narrow on the high side but on uneven ground it's fine.

 

[Builder]

Thanks for your input MarkV. I saw the M59..too expensive and too big. If I need a hoe the big I can rent one. I still want to stay somewhat compact and that why I was leaning towards the L39. I also like the low center of gravity for those hillside jobs. I also am not crazy about buying a tractor that's been discontinued(L48). I guess when you get right down to it your right, I am looking for bigger capacity and bigger hydraulics like they offer on the L39.


Doug

You'll probably like it as long as the jobs stay small. I started with full size rentals, then bought a Ford 555 4x4 (7 years), then bought an L-35 (6 years), then an L-39 (1.5 years), then my Case 580. Just try to think about the future and buy the machine that fits today and tomorrow's needs. After owning the L-39 for a year, I knew it was overmatched, but it was a nice little machine. I like the L-48's tougher armor. The L-39 has some delicate areas, like the hood and side mount intellipanel that were worrisome at times.

I'm thinking about a 10K min-ex with a cab and a 75HP 4x4 cab utility to replace the Case now.

 

[Gamer1524]

Not to cloud the issue here...but the L4400 will give you the power you are looking for and they offer and HSt model now...just another option

 

[Doug Sinjem]

Not to cloud the issue here...but the L4400 will give you the power you are looking for and they offer and HSt model now...just another option

Gamer the problem is the loader capacity is not up to par with the L39. Lift capacity at pivot pin on the L39 is #2767 and the loader on the L4400 LA703a is #1818. Same with the backhoe specs. The L39 is more of a dedicated machine.

Doug

 

[Doug Sinjem]

You'll probably like it as long as the jobs stay small. I started with full size rentals, then bought a Ford 555 4x4 (7 years), then bought an L-35 (6 years), then an L-39 (1.5 years), then my Case 580. Just try to think about the future and buy the machine that fits today and tomorrow's needs. After owning the L-39 for a year, I knew it was overmatched, but it was a nice little machine. I like the L-48's tougher armor. The L-39 has some delicate areas, like the hood and side mount intellipanel that were worrisome at times.

I'm thinking about a 10K min-ex with a cab and a 75HP 4x4 cab utility to replace the Case now.

Builder I here you. I have looked at and considered the M59....that is the whole problem, if I knew what I was going to need in the future, no problem. Not exactly sure where my business is going to take me. Especially since the economy for constrution(concrete) is in a huge slump. I guess whatever I go with I can upgrade again in the future.

Doug

 

[Doug Sinjem]

You'll probably like it as long as the jobs stay small. I started with full size rentals, then bought a Ford 555 4x4 (7 years), then bought an L-35 (6 years), then an L-39 (1.5 years), then my Case 580. Just try to think about the future and buy the machine that fits today and tomorrow's needs. After owning the L-39 for a year, I knew it was overmatched, but it was a nice little machine. I like the L-48's tougher armor. The L-39 has some delicate areas, like the hood and side mount intellipanel that were worrisome at times.

I'm thinking about a 10K min-ex with a cab and a 75HP 4x4 cab utility to replace the Case now.

Builder I here you. I have looked at and considered the M59....that is the whole problem, if I knew what I was going to need in the future, no problem. Not exactly sure where my business is going to take me. Especially since the economy for constrution(concrete) is in a huge slump. I guess whatever I go with I can upgrade again in the future.

Doug

 

[Builder]

Builder I here you. I have looked at and considered the M59....that is the whole problem, if I knew what I was going to need in the future, no problem. Not exactly sure where my business is going to take me. Especially since the economy for constrution(concrete) is in a huge slump. I guess whatever I go with I can upgrade again in the future.

Doug

With my situation, it changes from one job to the next. One job will have a small crawlspace foundation, next one is a whole house foundation.

Sometimes I think it would be better to rent the piece I dig with and just keep a decent sized utility tractor for truck loading, blading, raking, backfilling, etc.

I really hate the thought of selling my CASE and I probably won't, but the thought has crossed my mind. Compared to the compact utility tractors and weighing in at 18,000lbs, it's a total beast. The difference is not only the size, but the stability and the hydraulics, but selling used equipment is about the worst situation to be in right now.

 

[Doug Sinjem]

With my situation, it changes from one job to the next. One job will have a small crawlspace foundation, next one is a whole house foundation.

Sometimes I think it would be better to rent the piece I dig with and just keep a decent sized utility tractor for truck loading, blading, raking, backfilling, etc.

I really hate the thought of selling my CASE and I probably won't, but the thought has crossed my mind. Compared to the compact utility tractors and weighing in at 18,000lbs, it's a total beast. The difference is not only the size, but the stability and the hydraulics, but selling used equipment is about the worst situation to be in right now.

My job situation changes too. Whatever I get either the L39 or M59 I want to be able to be able to transport easily and still maintain being compact. I guess if I need a bigger tractor I can rent whatever I need.

Doug