L4600 vs MX 4700

[T.Curtis]

Hi, new here and so glad I found the forum! We are looking to purchase a new tractor. We have horses and will be moving 900-1100lb round bales of hay, as well as discing up and dragging an arena, root raking, clearing, etc.

Our farrier says he has a MX4700 2WD and that it's not heavy enough to move a bale of hay without putting an implement on the rear or it will want to tip slightly. Talked to the Kubota dealer and he's wanting to sell us a L4600 and says that it's a bit heavier as it's 4WD.

We will be using root rake, bucket, mower, disc, hole auger that I know of with the tractor. We do have a decent slope to our property.

Looking for some input on which tractor would better suit our purposes. I know the MX has a bit more PTO power, but not a whole lot and not sure we need it, but we can't afford to make a mistake and want the better tractor for the money.

Dealer will give us the L4600 with bucket for 23k.

 

[BotaDriver]

Hi, new here and so glad I found the forum! We are looking to purchase a new tractor. We have horses and will be moving 900-1100lb round bales of hay, as well as discing up and dragging an arena, root raking, clearing, etc.

Our farrier says he has a MX4700 2WD and that it's not heavy enough to move a bale of hay without putting an implement on the rear or it will want to tip slightly. Talked to the Kubota dealer and he's wanting to sell us a L4600 and says that it's a bit heavier as it's 4WD.

We will be using root rake, bucket, mower, disc, hole auger that I know of with the tractor. We do have a decent slope to our property.

Looking for some input on which tractor would better suit our purposes. I know the MX has a bit more PTO power, but not a whole lot and not sure we need it, but we can't afford to make a mistake and want the better tractor for the money.

Dealer will give us the L4600 with bucket for 23k.

Check out their specs on the Kubota website, or the in-store brochure. The MX should have a slight advantage over the 4600. I wouldn't use any tractor FEL without 500lbs+ on the rear end. Doing so moves the CG of the machine to just behind the front wheels. Since it's the rear wheels that keep the machine upright, you want to keep your CG as far aft as possible.

 

[TripleR]

Tough call, but I would prefer the heavier MX4700 and really prefer the MX5100. I agree with Botadriver, I use my L5740HSTC FEL quite a bit and always have weight on the 3PH, for mine, I prefer 1000 pounds.

 

[T.Curtis]

Thanks much. I did find an old thread that suggested the MX5100 and I will call the dealer in the am and see what he says as far as price difference, etc. I have to get my GATE card anyway so didn't plan on having whichever tractor we get delivered Friday.

Thanks for the advice BotaDriver. I suppose we can just leave the box blade on the back.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I would also recommend that since your working with a sloped property get the tires loaded with ballast too!
We have really sloped property and it really helps keep the center of gravity low to the ground, and it will help with the loader too!
From what I've read the MX5100 is hands down a better tractor for dealing with round bales!

 

[Bluegill]

Hi, new here and so glad I found the forum! We are looking to purchase a new tractor. We have horses and will be moving 900-1100lb round bales of hay, as well as discing up and dragging an arena, root raking, clearing, etc.

Our farrier says he has a MX4700 2WD and that it's not heavy enough to move a bale of hay without putting an implement on the rear or it will want to tip slightly. Talked to the Kubota dealer and he's wanting to sell us a L4600 and says that it's a bit heavier as it's 4WD.

We will be using root rake, bucket, mower, disc, hole auger that I know of with the tractor. We do have a decent slope to our property.

Looking for some input on which tractor would better suit our purposes. I know the MX has a bit more PTO power, but not a whole lot and not sure we need it, but we can't afford to make a mistake and want the better tractor for the money.

Dealer will give us the L4600 with bucket for 23k.

Your farrier needs to be taught how to use a FEL. Counter weight Needs to be on the 3pt hitch for any loader work! Especially with these smallish tractors.

Your dealer is wrong, the MX4700 is heavier than the L4600. Both tractors will handle 1000 lbs bales with absolutely no problem.

 

[T.Curtis]

I would also recommend that since your working with a sloped property get the tires loaded with ballast too!
We have really sloped property and it really helps keep the center of gravity low to the ground, and it will help with the loader too!
From what I've read the MX5100 is hands down a better tractor for dealing with round bales!

We had already planned on having the tires filled. Good to hear about the 5100. Not sure what the price difference is between the MX4700 and the 5100 is and that will be a factor to consider. Need to stick around 25k, give or take a bit.

Thanks!

 

[T.Curtis]

Your farrier needs to be taught how to use a FEL. Counter weight Needs to be on the 3pt hitch for any loader work! Especially with these smallish tractors.

Your dealer is wrong, the MX4700 is heavier than the L4600. Both tractors will handle 1000 lbs bales with absolutely no problem.

The dealer is a guy we run barrels with...and his price beats the other Kubota dealer I called by 2k. Buttttt, I think he's just trying to clean out his lot before January. Should also qualify that farrier's MX4700 is only 2WD and the L4600 is 4WD. Not sure how much difference that makes.

Farrier bales hay with his tractor so likely has an implement on there anyway...but if it's common knowledge, I'm surprised he isn't aware of that.

 

[Bluegill]

The dealer is a guy we run barrels with...and his price beats the other Kubota dealer I called by 2k. Buttttt, I think he's just trying to clean out his lot before January.

Farrier bales hay with his tractor so likely has an implement on there anyway...but if it's common knowledge, I'm surprised he isn't aware of that.

Sounds like a good dealer. I see now he was comparing 2wd MX vs 4wd L... The MX will be heavier in the rear than the L4600. But either will need 3 pt counter weight.

I to am surprised your farrier made that comment. It is not common enough knowledge it seems...

 

[T.Curtis]

We decided on a MX5100 with grapple, front end loader, box blade and hay spear for 27.5k. Does that sound like a decent deal? Is 4k more than the L4600 price, but we'll be getting the grapple also, so I think that pretty much makes up for the price difference.

 

[UnionMan]

T.Curtis - What transmission and 4x4? for that price?

 

[Bluegill]

We decided on a MX5100 with grapple, front end loader, box blade and hay spear for 27.5k. Does that sound like a decent deal? Is 4k more than the L4600 price, but we'll be getting the grapple also, so I think that pretty much makes up for the price difference.

That sounds like a Very Good deal!

Nice tractor also!

 

[helomech]

If it is 4X4 and hydrostatic that is a great price. If it isn't I don't know.

 

[Bluegill]

If it's 4x4 gear that is a great price!

 

[T.Curtis]

Yes, that's a 4x4 and is gear driven. HTS is $1200 more and hubby is talking to him now about that.

 

[T.Curtis]

If it's 4x4 gear that is a great price!

Thanks! We went with the 4x4, gear driven. We will probably use the bucket a fair amount, but not enough that it will be a huge deal to not have the HTS.

We spent more money than we planned (of course!) because we got the grapple, and also the larger tractor so ended up spending about $4500 more than planned, but I figure this will be our one and only tractor purchase, so may as well get as much as we can. We have a lot of wooded area with small saplings, etc that the grapple will be very beneficial.

We wouldn't have had to buy a box blade as we have a 4' one, but that won't cover the tracks from the tractor, which I need when we drag the arena.

 

[TripleR]

Congratulations on the MX5100, it is a really nice tractor a good price.

 

[T.Curtis]

Congratulations on the MX5100, it is a really nice tractor a good price.

Thanks!! WE have 2 much smaller, much older tractors now and it was just really getting old to have to roll the bale of hay off the trailer...roll it onto the forks, have to strap the bale on and hope it didn't twist, spin or fall anyhow LOL. With 14 horses, we are putting hay out fairly frequently.

 

[TripleR]

Thanks!! WE have 2 much smaller, much older tractors now and it was just really getting old to have to roll the bale of hay off the trailer...roll it onto the forks, have to strap the bale on and hope it didn't twist, spin or fall anyhow LOL. With 14 horses, we are putting hay out fairly frequently.

I can sure identify with that.

 

[Bluegill]

Thanks! We went with the 4x4, gear driven. We will probably use the bucket a fair amount, but not enough that it will be a huge deal to not have the HTS.

We spent more money than we planned (of course!) because we got the grapple, and also the larger tractor so ended up spending about $4500 more than planned, but I figure this will be our one and only tractor purchase, so may as well get as much as we can. We have a lot of wooded area with small saplings, etc that the grapple will be very beneficial.

We wouldn't have had to buy a box blade as we have a 4' one, but that won't cover the tracks from the tractor, which I need when we drag the arena.

Ya did good! I wouldn't worry much about HST, I like gear drive better.