Kubota L4060 HST Expectations

[Aranyic]

I've got a 2014 Deere 2025R that's realistically not enough tractor for me any more. I've been making it work but now that I've got a bunch of IBC totes that I stack firewood in the front end loader lift is finally pushing me to replace it. I can get my IBC totes off the ground but the back end loses traction and I have to run 4wd to even move a lot of the time. I've got the height under my carport I store wood in to double stack but the loader doesn't have the power to get them up that high.

I've got about 11 acres, 1000 feet of gravel driveway and 2000+ feet of hedge lines/trails that I maintain. I'm sick of cutting back honey suckle and vines with a gas hedge trimmer then cleaning it up. Clearing snow while not going backwards and having an actual cab would be amazing. Same with bushhogging the areas once a month that I don't keep actual grass in.

Initially I was ready to spring for a compact track loader with a brush hog but after getting some feedback I'm hearing that it'll do more damage to my yard when turning most likely than my current tractor does even. Also after running a bush hog with my tractor having all the dust generated out front of me even with the cab I probably wouldn't be happy with.

I've got a low hour 4060 with cab near me and I'm wondering if it'll hit my checkboxes or if I'm looking for too much from a 40hp HST machine. I've already got grapples and pallet forks etc in green and it looks cheap enough to get a plate to convert the quick attach to JD hook and pin. Eventually I'll upgrade them to heavier implements probably but for now it would save me some cash.

So realistically can I expect to lift a 1600-1700lb IBC cage of wet wood to 48" and move it enough to stack it on top of another? Not looking to go far most of the ride it will be a few inches off then the last 4-5 feet raised up to stack it. Second can I expect to run a ditch and bank mower off of it or is the hydro PTO/weight just not enough for the offset mowers without getting tippy and feeling underpowered?

I do enough loader/grapple work that I feel HST is better for me over shuttle shift probably. Just not sure if it's realistically enough machine for me trying to find the right balance between weight/yard disturbance and usability.

The reason I mention shuttle shift is they've got an older 71HP M6800 with cab and shuttle shift transmission and 1100 hours for very similar price but I'm not sure I'd be happy with the shuttle vs HST - never ran a shuttle shift before. Just skid steers and smaller compacts.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Hi neighbor.

That seems like a big upgrade from what you have.

I am not familiar with that machine, but…

Here are the specs:

https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/007/4/1/7417-kubota-l4060-

attachments.html

Ballast will be your friend (keep the rubber side down)

Ms are awesome too. But it’s not at all comparable to the L4060 IMO. That’s a lot of machine and it will lift your totes of wood no question.

 

[McMXi]

So realistically can I expect to lift a 1600-1700lb IBC cage of wet wood to 48" and move it enough to stack it on top of another? Not looking to go far most of the ride it will be a few inches off then the last 4-5 feet raised up to stack it. Second can I expect to run a ditch and bank mower off of it or is the hydro PTO/weight just not enough for the offset mowers without getting tippy and feeling underpowered?

I do enough loader/grapple work that I feel HST is better for me over shuttle shift probably. Just not sure if it's realistically enough machine for me trying to find the right balance between weight/yard disturbance and usability.

The reason I mention shuttle shift is they've got an older 71HP M6800 with cab and shuttle shift transmission and 1100 hours for very similar price but I'm not sure I'd be happy with the shuttle vs HST - never ran a shuttle shift before. Just skid steers and smaller compacts.

The L4060 comes with the LA805 loader right? If you look at the last page of the spec sheet it shows a lift capacity of 1,720lb at the pivot pin but "only" 1,292lb 20" forward of the pin. I don't think that the flail will be an issue but I have doubts re the 1600lb to 1,700lb requirement. Maybe someone who has one and lifts a similar load can chime in.

My MX6000 has the 1065 loader which is much better suited to your task. I know that the L6060 has the same loader but you're looking at the L4060.

https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/spec-sheets/l60_specs.pdf?sfvrsn=499309ad_2

 

[Aranyic]

The L4060 comes with the LA805 loader right? If you look at the last page of the spec sheet it shows a lift capacity of 1,720lb at the pivot pin but "only" 1,292lb 20" forward of the pin. I don't think that the flail will be an issue but I have doubts re the 1600lb to 1,700lb requirement. Maybe someone who has one and lifts a similar load can chime in.

My MX6000 has the 1065 loader which is much better suited to your task.

https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/spec-sheets/l60_specs.pdf?sfvrsn=499309ad_2

That's my concern. My cages are 48x40". I go under them from the wide side so the average is about 20" forward of the pin. Half on the near side and half on the far. Cord of wet oak is ~5500# and I fit somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of a cord into a tote. 1/4 cord is 1375# and 1/3 is 1815# plus 80-90# for the cage probably.

 

[McMXi]

That's my concern. My cages are 48x40". I go under them from the wide side so the average is about 20" forward of the pin. Half on the near side and half on the far. Cord of wet oak is ~5500# and I fit somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of a cord into a tote. 1/4 cord is 1375# and 1/3 is 1815# plus 80-90# for the cage probably.

Yeah, I don't think an L4060 will do what you want. A tractor with a 1065 or larger loader would be less of a gamble.

 

[eipo]

I have a 4060, traded up specifically because I wanted to be able to lift face cords in bags. Here is where I tried it out the first time. Since then, Im fairly certain my hydraulic system is set a bit on the low side... But I can still pick up a standard tote frame filled with hardwoods no issue.

 

[McMXi]

I have a 4060, traded up specifically because I wanted to be able to lift face cords in bags. Here is where I tried it out the first time. Since then, Im fairly certain my hydraulic system is set a bit on the low side... But I can still pick up a standard tote frame filled with hardwoods no issue.

What do you estimate the load of the tote to be, and how high can you or do you need to lift it? Getting a load off the deck isn't the same as raising it up 4ft. Details matter right? This is what the OP is asking. He provides a specific weight with specific dimensions to a specific height.

"So realistically can I expect to lift a 1600-1700lb IBC cage of wet wood to 48" and move it enough to stack it on top of another?"

 

[Aranyic]

I'm feeling a little more optimistic after finding this video. I looked at a couple of tractors yesterday at lunch. Seems to be a big frame jump going from the 40 into 50-60hp ranges and I'm not sure I want that big a machine.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm feeling a little more optimistic after finding this video. I looked at a couple of tractors yesterday at lunch. Seems to be a big frame jump going from the 40 into 50-60hp ranges and I'm not sure I want that big a machine.

They cheated the tests because they kept pulling the weight off the front and not evenly.
but it is what it is.
All the variabilities are going to change task to task.

 

[Aranyic]

Yeah I know they had stuff closer to the pin. It looks like the 4760 doesn't increase the footprint size a whole lot on the tractor but gets me into the 1055 loader instead of the 805?

 

[eipo]

What do you estimate the load of the tote to be, and how high can you or do you need to lift it?

It depends on the type of wood and moisture content. Those bags are designed to hold a loose thrown face cord. The wood I have is a mix of oak, hickory, cherry and ash. Weight of a facecord of oak can vary between 1100 and 1700 pounds, per google. The wood in the bag from my original post was green so lets assume max weight of 1700 pounds. I can not remember exactly how high I could lift it, but I do seem to remember being able to foist them onto my gooseneck. I could be remembering incorrectly, however.

Getting a load off the deck isn't the same as raising it up 4ft. Details matter right? This is what the OP is asking. He provides a specific weight with specific dimensions to a specific height.

"So realistically can I expect to lift a 1600-1700lb IBC cage of wet wood to 48" and move it enough to stack it on top of another?"

Next time I move wood up to the house, Ill stack in an IBC tote and report back, I can loose throw, heaped, in an IBC cage and not need any counter weight to lift or have any traction issues backing back onto the driveway which is a bit of an uphill.

ETA: since details matter, OP also stated he loads 1/4 to 1/3 cords in totes. 1/4 is absolutely no issue for the 4060.

 

[BBFarmer]

Yeah, I don't think an L4060 will do what you want. A tractor with a 1065 or larger loader would be less of a gamble.

I would probably have to agree.

If I remember right, there were 3 loader options for the Grand L's. I thought the LA 805 was standard and there was one bigger.

I opted for the smallest loader on our 3560, the LA555. Its about all she wants to handle off loading the bossmans tiller once a year. Its allegedly 960lb.

 

[McMXi]

If I remember right, there were 3 loader options for the Grand L's. I thought the LA 805 was standard and there was one bigger.

I opted for the smallest loader on our 3560, the LA555. Its about all she wants to handle off loading the bossmans tiller once a year. Its allegedly 960lb.

It's possible that the L4060 and LA805 would work for the OP, but lifting 1,700 lb, moving with that load and stacking it on another tote that's 4ft tall is working at the very upper end of the capabilities of the tractor. Personally, if I were moving 1,700lb totes on a regular basis I'd rather have more capability in the form of the LA1065 or larger, and ideally a bigger tractor.

 

[OntheRidge]

my standard advice, L47. 2800 lbs lift.

 

[McMXi]

@Aranyic, you might find this short thread interesting.

L4060/LA805 Loader Capacity Question

I recently purchased a 2016 L4060HSTCC with 127 hours. It looks pretty much like new. I've changed all of the filters and swapped oil, topped off Super UDT2 as well. I have a JD MX6 rotary that weighs 1040# according to the specs. I was surprised to find that I couldn't quite lift it off the...

www.orangetractortalks.com