Go BottomKubota L3010 vs JD 4300
 | J.A.M.
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3 IL 
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2002-04-04 37057
Please give me some feedback. I have been researching tractors and have narrowed it down to two models. 1) Kubota L3010HST, LA482 Loader, 72" Mid Mount Mower. Price: $18,700 (rebate included but before tax). 2) JD 4300 Hydro, 430 Loader, 72" Mid Mount Mower. Price: $20,700 (before tax). Dealer support is good with either. Specs are almost the same. Prices are close and I believe the JD will have greater trade and/or resale value.
Will use this tractor to maintain about 10 acres. Need to finish mow about 2 acres, light loader work, occassional brush cut, post hole, gill (pulverising), spreader work. Looking for a reliable and user friendly tractor that the wife and kids can operate as well. Also want the attachments to be easy on/off and may add a snow plow for clearing 300' drive in the winter.
Any feedback regarding performance, price, experience with either model would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!
JM
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2002-04-05 37074
I guess I'd listen hard to comments from people who have experience with these tractors.
My general reaction is that they're both good machines--which also can be said of most compacts from the major manufacturers. It's possible to get into a serious depression trying to decide on the basis of specs. There's an element of information in specs, but specs also are designed to sell tractors. As such, specs usually are not entirely comparable among different tractors and often serve more to confuse than to clarify. I believe that similar sized tractors from the major manufacturers are really more similar than they are different.
A different approach is to just try them both. A dealer should let prospective buyers drive around the yard and do a few tasks. Chances are that the best liked dealers and tractors that are REALLY LIKED will be the best tractors for their buyers. Lots of times the really important things are items like seat height and instrument and control layout. A tractor should feel comfortable and the operation should be smooth and come naturally. It’s not the same for every person. You can't define it, but just sitting on a tractor often will make a decision almost instantly. You just know it’s the one for you, and most of the time you’re right.
Owners also grow into their tractors and their tractors grow into the property. Takes a bit of time but everything finds its own level, which often can’t be anticipated beforehand. I originally thought the main advantage of a tractor would be not having a flock of small engine things around. Now I’ve got the dreaded flock of small engines and the tractor does a lot of work I never anticipated. I’d have problems both without the tractor and without the dreaded small engines. Things work out, and I originally set well on the tractor and still do.
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| Dan Bessette
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2002-04-05 37085
JM,
If removal of implements is important to you, you might want the JD. You should check to see if the mid-mount mower and loader are compatible with the Kubota. I have heard of some models that were not. I have a JD 4600 with FEL and backhoe and both attachments go on and off very easily (less than five minutes for either one). The mid-mount mower can go on the JD with the loader in place also. Just my two cents worth. If you look around at the archives you'll see that both are excellent machines. Helps to know specifics though, like the attachment stuff. Make sure you drive them both like the other reply says. Might even want to bring your wife.
Dan ....
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| J.A.M.
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3 IL
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2002-04-05 37092
Thank you for the input here guys. Any comments on MMM vs. rear mount finish mowers? I here the 72" MMM is heavy and can be difficult to take on/off. Three point rear mount may work better with the loader set up as I can take on/off much easier. Do these things cut very well using this size/weight tractor? Thanks again for the feedback. JM ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2002-04-06 37106
I think it's a common impression that MMM's give better finish cuts with less maneuvering and leave less trimming than 3ph or pull mowers. I have to rely on impressions since I don't have a mower of any kind for the tractor. I use a riding mower instead since it still works and probably is faster than using the tractor. I do think that a MMM on my tractor would get the mowing done faster than the riding mower. There are plenty of buildings and bushes, and keeping track of where a 3ph mower is going while maneuvering around landscaping doesn’t sound like a great time.
MMM's do make a tractor less 'tractor like, and some MMM’s are difficult to remove. It’s fairly common to remove loaders when MMM’s are on, although I don't know if that is usually a requirement or a convenience. Both a loader and a MMM would put quite a bit of weight on the front axles and contribute to turf damage if nothing else.
For myself, I wouldn't want to do without a loader anytime of year, and we're not too particular about the quality of finish mowing. I probably couldn't be sold a MMM at any price. MMM's are attractive for many people whose main interest is finish mowing. I still haven’t figured out what to do when the riding mower finally is beyond repair. Probably buy a 3ph rotary cutter and see if it cuts well enough for our version of a lawn. A MMM for us is a bit unlikely and wouldn’t be a consideration purchasing another tractor.
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| J.A.M.
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3 IL
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2002-04-08 37170
Thanks for the input Tom and Dan! Your comments made alot of sense. I have tried both models more than a few times and the part I was struggling with was the size of either tractor for mowing. Both seemed to big and heavy and awkward to me for mowing and I am certain would be even worse for my wife. Since our primary purpose for a tractor will be finish mowing and snow plowing the drive, we decided to buy a new John Deere 455 diesel tractor with a 60" deck and 54" blade. Spoke to several commercial guys who swear by this tractor. This unit sits much lower to the ground and is half the size and a third of the weight of the larger series. Will be easier to operate on hillsides and around obstacles. Bought the Tractor, deck, blade, weights, chains, for $10,700 or basically 1/2 the cost of the larger tractor. Since my loader and/or 3 point work is just occassional I will try to find a good used machine to use for these tasks. Many thanks again for the valuable input! ....
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