I currently have a kubota 25hp front end loader but its beat up and a little old.  I am looking at getting something new in the next couple months maybe in the 40 to 50 hp range.  I am partial to kubota and have been looking at their 4802 but it seems kind of small, like my 2501.  

A neighbor has a jd 5045 and that seems to be more of the size I would like to have but the jd dealership around here is kind of small and i know nothing about jd tractor models.

There is also a new holland dealer around but they are kinda small also.  The tractor will be used for regular cattle farm stuff and the 25 hp tractor will.be kept.  I do want a grapple on the new one, i always wind up dealing with cutting large trees.

What does gd suggest.

Some hate on JD for various reasons, but I think they make good machines.

However, I wouldn’t buy anything that had Tier 4 emissions.  

Sadly, you gotta go used in the 2006 range.

We got a nice 2005 91hp JD 4x4 cab tractor with loader for $64k a couple years ago. Only had about 950 hours if I remember correctly.

I get to borrow a 4066R, it’s more than capable and has done everything I needed with ease.

I think the common consensus is whatever part supplier you're closest too. I have a 2007 3120 and thankfully it's all I need.

Several of us have opted for the TYM 2515 to avoid the emissions issue, it's a bigger tractor but maybe not as big as you'd like.

They make bigger ones too.

Nothing wrong with Kubota or Deere, but there's nothing wrong with the Korean brands either, if you have a dealer nearby.

I haven't owned a bunch of tractors but I had a 25hp Kubota and now I have a Yanmar 49hp turbo and I love the Yanmar. Fantastic tractor.

Haven’t owned any tractors that small, but I think Kubota and Deere are benchmarks for those little things.

I was looking up parts for my 30 year old kubota the other day

Still available

I’ll stick with kubota

Avoid the JD 5E series. The view from the seat is so restricted by the hood it’s nearly unusable. I bought a used one a few years ago & kept it for 3 weeks, it was bad. I suppose if all you work in is wide open fields it might be ok, but if you have fences, ditches, trees or other obstacles you’ll quickly regret your decision. And I’m quite tall, never had a problem seeing over any tractors hood in 30 years of operating them. At the very least demo one before you buy.

I traded the JD on a Kubota MX5400, gear, no cab with FEL. I’ve got 120~ish trouble free hours. It’s an excellent tractor for my utility tractor needs, mostly hogging & FEL work, the shuttle shift is great. Mine has only regenerated a few times, but I work the piss out of it, keep the RPM’s up & keep her hot. I’ve worked it hard, I’m not easy on my tractors, they perform or they go down the road. I can highly recommend the MX series for a utility tractor, ground engagement & I’d want something beefier. But for a cattle farm I doubt you’d find a better value to quality ratio.

As you can see from my avatar I’m a big fan of red, I’ve always been a believer in shop the dealership more than the brand. But this Kubota, & their new local dealership, might be enough to make me roll over the fleet as replacement becomes necessary.

Pretty happy with our kubota mx5400

Kubota 4802 owner here. My only regret is not buying it sooner. I had a lot of experience on a 3301, and can tell you this is definitely a bigger beefier tractor. The 25,33, and 39 horse models all share the same frame while the 4802 is a bigger version before stepping up to the MX series. Also the 4802 has an extra engine cylinder compared to those models and shares the same engine as tractors all the way up to 65 horse. If you have a lot of Category 2 implements or need a lot of rear remote hydraulic functions then maybe it would be worth it to step up to the MX. Also if you plan on hauling it anywhere keep GVWR in mind. I have to trailer mine to my 40 acres and the 4802 with filled tires and implements pushes close to the 10k load rating on 14k dual axle trailer. stepping up to a bigger tractor didn't make sense for me. I needed something that could do hunting chores and be nimble enough in the woods, while still having enough snot for big field tasks. I look at the 4802 as a jack of all trades and master of none type tractor. But it is the perfect balance of size and power for my needs. Here's a video that covers the features in decent detail:

I was looking at the mx series too.  I dont think the price is too much more than the L series.

Massey 5711 and happy with it.

I have a JD 210le. It’s a beast.

This.  I went Deere because the dealer is 8 miles away for them vs. 85 miles for Kubota.  New Holland is nearly 60 miles with a poor reputation for parts and service support.

Consensus is they hold value the best, probably because you can count on long term parts availability.

I can get parts at my local Deere dealer for a tractor made in 1949.  Parts availability is a tie between green and orange.

A L4802 is much bigger then a L2501. I think I would recommend a L4060 over the L4802. The L60 series has many nice features over the cheaper tractors and the HP difference is irrelevant for most tasks.

OP, if you are on the fence ask the dealers for a demo.  Before I bought my Deere 2025R the dealer brought me one to try out for a few days.

As a Yanmar owner,  I have to endorse them as it has given me zero problems. Another plus is your John deere place should be familiar and able to service them.

With that said,  Kubota has always treated my family well, the beating those things take is legendary.

My only advice is don't be tempted by a Rural King (rebranded TYM)  everyone is bitching about their lack of service and there's rumors they're ditching their tractor sales.  My other advice is don't buy anything made at the height of the covid era, the quality is shit.

JD uses Yanmar engines, don't they?

I’ve heard some of their compact tractors are assembled from Yanmar knockdown kits.  That said, I would not count on a Deere dealer being willing to service a non-Deere Yanmar or having the right parts and manuals readily available.  If I wanted Yanmar quality and Deere dealer support I’d just buy a green one.

Gotcha. I have a Cub/Yanmar dealer locally so I've never tried to use JD for anything.

If you want to avoid emissions equipment (DEF, DPF) at all costs you either have to go used or go with something 25hp or 70hp new. The two new tractors we have on our farm that have neither DEF nor DPF are the TYM 2515 and the Massey Ferguson 4707. Both are outstanding tractors. Both are tractors that punch above their HP class because they are larger chassis tractors than their HP numbers. In the case of the TYM 2515, it is the same chassis as their 35-42hp tractor and loader (rated at 2,200lbs, see video below) and in the case of the 4707, it is Massey's 100hp tractor with a detuned engine that allows them to avoid DEF and DPF. I got the upgraded loader with self-leveling and it was worth every penny.

Well since you mentioned JD I'll tell you this.

I am picking up a 40 HP workmaster next week with the front loader and backhoe attachment.

38.5k before tax my goal was 45k max + tax.

Every last option that comes on my workmaster 40 is a upsell add on from JD every last one of them.
From the posi lock rear to the bucket.

JD is offering 2k cash back on their sale for cash payment
New Holland is offering 6k cash back for cash payment.

The exact same JD equipt with the standard options the NH is coming with comes out to this.

New holland 38.5k after rebate
John deer 57800 after rebate.

JD is the lowest rated pick up power in the bucket from all of the Mfg.
NH beats kuboata also
Kubota has a 3 speed JD is only a 2 speed tranny.

NH has all schematics free for the asking JD DOES NOT. No idea about kubota
NH is a 5 year warrenty no idea what JD is after seeing the 20k difference in add on upsell I didn't get that far.
NH will come out to my place for warranty work JD will not I figure out how to get it to them on my dime.

I narrowed it down to Case JD and NH only reason I am skipping Case is zero cash back so,same rig is 60k
Both case and NH are made in the same S. Korean plants just different badges & paint.

JD sources world wide and while I was promised I wouldn't see a single screw or nut from Mexico they lied.
Just rebuilt the bendix on my friends 2510 55hp JD and the sticker on the bakelite insulator cap says made Mexico.

There is a JD dealership 4 miles from me drive by it all the time. The way they treated me ?
Fuck them. Not only did they lie to my face they treated us like shit.

NH dealer is 12 miles out and were/are great to deal with.
Case all but shook me upside down to empty my pockets on a sale.

I can tell ya more but I think you get the idea.
No one runs me off like a deer!
And I told corprate that. I also asked them if I was being treated like this now how was I going to be treated once they had 58k of my loot all at once?

Spent the better part of a year researching "new" tractors befor I picked one. I knew nothing about them.
With that said I do know a fair amount about the antique ones as I own one and have had many in the past.
Today that's apple to oranges comparison so I had to start research from zero.

Really compare that pile of green & yellow JD to your Kobata and other machines in the class you are looking to buy and you will see how much they are extra selling for the same features. Dealership aside they are now a shell of what they once were for performance value dollar to dollar.

Sad really.
Like you I wanted a JD as well until I started running numbers & options. Love my ljd x350 awn tractor and have been around over 3 dozen real jd tractors in my life.
They used to make good stuff. Still do it's just all a options upsell now for what other companies are giving for free.

I bought a 55 horse Mahindra with all the bells and whistle attachments a couple of week ago.
lb for lb it looked like a better deal than other tractors in that horsepower.

I ended up buying my FiLs JD2005 4120, 43 HP or around there.

He bought it new. It also has the Power Reverser trans, not hydro. I thought it would suck vs hydro but I like it alot.

Best thing is 0 emissions.


Before that I checked all major makes of tractors to buy new and I liked the Kioti the best. And would have bought one most likely. I wasn't going to buy a 4 series deere new, maybe a 3 series. Glad I ended up with the 4. It's a nice size tractor with plenty of power.

FWIW, I think the John Deere 4000 Twenty series tractors are outstanding compact tractors. The 4720 in particular. This is just me, but I think JD has never made a better compact tractor before or since.

I’m getting delivery next week of a JD 5060e cab for the same price I was quoted for a LS MT468 and Kubota MX6000cab.   There are some good deals available now.   I also have a Kubota L2501 which has been a great machine.

The 5 series John deere is a Utility tractor comparable to the Kubota M series.  

When it comes to small or smaller tractors, Kubota is tough to beat

I bought a Mahindra 5035 (4 cylinder diesel non-turbo) with hydro trans, front end loader, filled tires, 7' cutter and 7' box blade about 12 years ago.  Took advantage of their 0% 5 year financing.  Have had zero issues with it.  Been a great tractor and it gets used a fair bit.

THIS right here.    FPNIA
The goddamn government has turned new vehicles to shit.   Find an older used one well maintained.   Avoid the new crap.

Interesting. I have put hundreds of hours on a JD 5075E with cab in tight trellised blackberry crop and haven't really noticed a lack of visibility. I think the ergonomics suck and that the position of the foot throttle location is pure torture compared to the Kubota M series that I have used. In the end you have to go with whoever your best local dealer is because without parts and service available when you need them, they are all equally worthless.

Krone makes some nice balers. Until you are waiting for parts to ship from Europe then it's a fucking albatross around your neck.

Best, closest dealer.

Very happy with my MX6000. Get a 3rd function to add a grapple. Its been fantastic so far.

Kubota MX5100D (53HP) checking in……
Used it to landscape and maintain our 13.5 acres since 2015….moved 4000 yards+ of dirt, leveling our front/back/side yards, after 200+ dump trucks came through…..it’s been an amazing machine. It’s the manual transmission, not Hydro….
Think we bought it with 100hrs, and it’s around 600 hours, zero issue past 9 years.

My dad the day we bought it
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Use it for everything now - firewood moving is very easy with empty ISOtotes, until you tip one over Attached File
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That's serious tonnage for a machine like that! A set of those clamp-on bucket forks was one of the best ways I've spent $180. I use them on a ~51HP hydrostatic LHD (loader) for moving tanks, barrels, slushers, pumps, and other miscellaneous stuff. That saved me from having to buy a separate machine for utility work, as much as I love an excuse to buy equipment.

Put me squarely into team hydrostat if loader/fork work is required. Smooth and fast direction changes are worth the horsepower loss. Just keep up with system maintenance and be prepared to replace hoses in remote-mount configurations.

It came down to orange and green for me. I went green. I just liked it better, including the pedals. I have 3038e and have had no issues with the DEF. I have a backhoe, grapple, a couple of rakes, box blade, and more. Its a fun little machine that I didn’t know I needed but now couldn’t live with out.

I have a 2 yr old Kubota L4060, 40hp, with FEL, 3rd function, and rear hydraulic for top link.  It does everything I
need on 30 acres.  My dad grew up on JD and I did too, but Ag Pro soured us on JD.

This is the tractor I have, it’s been great.  Full cab, heat, AC.

Kubota MX 5200.

Kubota stands behind their tractors.  (and not just to push them)

2 years ago I had a stick go thru the front grill knocking the fuel line off. Took it into the dealer to fix. Upon diagnosing issues they found the injectors were out of spec.

Kubota replaced my engine under warranty due to faulty injectors.  I had no idea there was an issue.  Tractor had about 125 hours on it at the time.  Now has over 300 and still running strong.  

It has the regen system, really not an issue.  If you run above 2000 rpm most of the time it rarely kicks in.  Really only when working around the barn at low speed does it require regen.

That bucket must be awful comfy for that buck to sleep in there like that.

What a tractor was made to do!

When is the rut this year up there?!

What a tractor was made to do!

When is the rut this year up there?!

Powerstar 75.  Been a great machine.  Based upon the work done so far around my place, I'd buy another one if this one was stolen.

Interesting. I love my 3025e I have right now, and was thinking the 5E series would be the next upgrade for me. They seem like a great bang for the buck.

Thanks for all the replies and advice.  I am going to look harder at the kubota 4802 i think.  I got a quote around 45k with a 3rd function installed.  I have no idea yet on what the jd is going for but either way it will be financed and i think kubota has better terms.

Yep T4.65 powerstar Cab here...2017 model i think....been bulletproof so far.

QFT. Grand L60 or go home!!

FWIW, I LOVE my CAT skid steer for use around the house.