Kubota L3400 vs grand L series

[Keweenaw4310]

A friend of mine is looking into Kubota. The Kubota L3400 - according to the kubota web site - compares to the John Deere 790. The L3400 has the option of hydrostatic drive however.

Does anyone have experience with the Kubota L, to know what he'd be giving up by going that route vs. the grand L. He wants hydrostatic transmission & originally started looking at a John Deere 4310 or 4410. This L3400 comes in at many thousands of dollars less. Many thousands less than Grand L as well.

Good reason for the price difference?

[Michael]

A friend of mine is looking into Kubota. The Kubota L3400 - according to the kubota web site - compares to the John Deere 790. The L3400 has the option of hydrostatic drive however.

Does anyone have experience with the Kubota L, to know what he'd be giving up by going that route vs. the grand L. He wants hydrostatic transmission & originally started looking at a John Deere 4310 or 4410. This L3400 comes in at many thousands of dollars less. Many thousands less than Grand L as well.

Good reason for the price difference?

About the only thing is the ergonomics of the Deere's tend to be a bit better, but that being said it all depends on the person and how he fits either tractor, The ergo on my old L185 (25 years old) is terrible but it was what I could afford and it is strong little tractor and does what I want it to do. I have tryed out a 4410 and they are wonderful tractors but for the price difference the L-series might be just what the friend you have should go for.
The other consideration is the reputations of his local dealers and how fast they respond to problems, If the Deere dealer is better then that is the way to go and if the Kubota dealer is better then of cours go with the Kubota dealer.

[Keweenaw4310]

I've had the discussion with him about selecting the dealer being important along with selecting the tractor. He's just considering purhase $$$ at this point.

I guess I'm still unsure of what he'd be giving up by going with the L series vs. the Grand L of the same horsepower. Both Kubota. I do see the differences between the John Deere 90 series and 10 series. Is it a similar situation with the L & Grand L?

If the 90 series Deere came with Hydro transmission, it might have been a harder decision for me. I think that's what my friend is struggling with right now. For me, I selected the dealer - a Deere dealer. Then I eliminated the 90 series due to the transmission. With Kubota, their lower cost tractor has the option for Hydro.

[Michael]

Here's some of the other considerations that he should be looking into and thats the size of his lot, What is the intended use of the tractor?, How much slope does his lot have? Is he going to get a FEL and brush hogging? Is the tractor really be used to its capacity or is it just for hobbys? If it is for hobbys I would really steer him into a used tractor and then have him redo the shopping thing over again. The last question is How much $$$$ can he afford? Yeah we are all good at steering folks to new stuff but really how can he afford to spend?

[Keweenaw4310]

He's been looking at used equipment for over a year.

He's now set on new and prepared to spend up to the high 20K range if needed. Finding that he can get the L 3400 Kubota, 60" front mounted blower & fel & brushhog & cab for around 21k. Same attachments on the Grand L would be closer to 27k. Same for JD. The JD 4310 & the Kubota Grand L series would have nicer cabs available, which adds 1k to the prices.

[Michael]

You should try and get your freind over at this site and he can describe his exact requirements and we don't bite..... ;)

[guest]

Tom,

You might want to have your friend consider a Kioti CK30 HST.

http://www.kiotitractor.com/products/tractors/CK30HST.asp

Kioti makes a solid and near bulletproof tractor. They are currently the #3 compact tractor selling in the USA. They are quit a bit cheaper than a Deere or Kubota.

Just an alternative to consider.

[guest]

Here is a CK30 HST

http://www.kiotitractor.com/images/prod_pic/tractors/CK30_rport.jpg

[Keweenaw4310]

He ended up going with last year's Kubota 3430 Grand L- loader & luxury cab with heater/ac & stereo.

200 hours on it and it is going for 24,000.00 He's happy with that deal & will be adding a front mounted blower to it for another 5000.00 or so.

[guest]

The L3430 is a real fine machine. The only problem I have with it is as Michael mentioned with the ergonomics. The brakes and hydro tredle pedal are on the same side. A very poor and dangerous design in my opinion. Many folks don't seem to mind but with my size 14EE clod hoppers; these ergonomics are a big show stopper. :fing20: Anyhow, have you gotten your friend to join up and show us some pics? :trink39:

[Keweenaw4310]

The L3430 is a real fine machine. The only problem I have with it is as Michael mentioned with the ergonomics. The brakes and hydro tredle pedal are on the same side. A very poor and dangerous design in my opinion. Many folks don't seem to mind but with my size 14EE clod hoppers; these ergonomics are a big show stopper. :fing20: Anyhow, have you gotten your friend to join up and show us some pics? :trink39:

I'll suggest the forum to him.

Thanks for the input on this one.
What it came down to was having a slightly used one show up at a nearby dealer. That is very rare around our parts.

[Michael]

The L3430 is a real fine machine. The only problem I have with it is as Michael mentioned with the ergonomics. The brakes and hydro tredle pedal are on the same side. A very poor and dangerous design in my opinion. Many folks don't seem to mind but with my size 14EE clod hoppers; these ergonomics are a big show stopper. :fing20: Anyhow, have you gotten your friend to join up and show us some pics? :trink39:


And how do I feel being 6'6" tall and wearing size 13B shoes on a dinky L185 :sterb004:

[guest]

I would imagine about as bad as I felt riding on my Kubota L245 when I had it. :fing32:

[dumaspup]

You can tell him I want to trade :fing32: my 3430 for his I was too cheap to get one with a cab. It has been a good tractor and at this point it has lived past both of my massys. The biggest problem I have with it is that it is 50hp smaller than my last tractor.
How is he going to put the front mount snow blower on I had one that was hydraulic drive and had nothing but troubles with it. :thSick:

[Keweenaw4310]

He ended up leaving the loader on all winter and getting a rear mount snowblower.

He doesn't have as many twists, turns, parking areas and tress to work around as I do I guess, because he's fine with that setup. I'd have destroyed a rear mount by now not to mention have a perminant kink in my neck.