L5240 vs L5740 - Pls help...Plan to buy within a week

[sgtboz]

Orange brothers (and the occasional sister), thank you SO much for your help.

Last summer about did me in as it was unusually humid even for Oklahoma. I'm ready for a cab. This is gonna hurt not just in terms of $$$ but also because I've always given my cab tractor buddies a hard time. Oops! My business is at www.bozhog.com. I have an L3800 and MX5100 currently. I'll probably sell the MX5100 after the new one is up and running.

Here is the L5240: https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/190843265/2012-kubota-l5240hst?CTRY=USA

And here is the L5740: https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/164564663/kubo

These are basically the same tractors except for small engine/HP differences. I love that the L5740 has lower hours since I tend to put on so many hours and is only 1.5hrs away. The L5240 is 3.5hrs away and has twice as many hours but is $3k less.

I just realized I'll probably have to pay tax on the L5740 because it is in Oklahoma. That's alotta money.

Anyway, I'm just stuck in my decision and would love to get your thoughts and help me see something I might be missing.

 

[D2Cat]

I agree, the 5740 has half the hours, cast weights are nice. $2500 difference in price. Can't you get a farm exemption?

From Tulsa to Bentonville, Ark is only 114 miles. Maybe he has another dealer over there he works with. Have him send it over there, and buy it at that location.

There is probably a little negotiating room on both of them. Both are nice, clean tractors.

 

[sgtboz]

Thanks for the reply, D2.

I don't have a farm exemption unfortunately since I use the equipment as part of a business and don't resell it and charge tax then. Both are actually really good prices if you compare across the nation on Tractorhouse, for example. The guy in Arkansas came down to $27k even. I can't get the one in Tulsa to call me back or email me. Go figure??? I suspect they'll bump down another $500 or $1000 since I'm ready to buy right now.

Great idea on seeing if they could transfer to a closer dealer.

Would you tend to err on the side of lower hours all other things considered?

 

[D2Cat]

Actually it would be transferring to a more distant dealer!

Either machine is low hours, one is just lower then the other. Those weights I'd think would be a benefit to you with the loader, and they are not cheap.

I don't see how anyone can go wrong with a xx40 series tractor. They are going up a bit in value as folks see the value of no re-gen.

Maybe the guy in Tulsa has sold it, or has a buyer ready to buy...besides you. That's what happened to me when I was looking for an L4240 two years ago. Found one up in Iowa and didn't pull the trigger fast enough! Ended up finding one at Boyd Implement in Jackson, Tn.

 

[chim]

Both of your two choices for replacement weigh more than the MX. If you're happy with the power you have now, an extra 5 HP to run the A/C wouldn't hurt. My vote is for the L5740.

 

[sgtboz]

D2, my indecisiveness has cost me a good deal more than once over the years!

Chim, that's been my rule of thumb as well for the A/C and actually I'd forgotten to really consider that with the L5240. Doing that would bump my PTO HP back down to the MX PTO HP, more or less.

If I can get the L5740 for under 30k *after* taxes, that might just be the way to go.

 

[D2Cat]

You're only 1 1/2 hr away. Drive over there and negotiate in person. He then knows you're very serious. You can work out the details of delivery while there, and there is no immediate hurry for that I'd think. The best deals are made face to face...

40 series tractors don't seem to last long when for sale.

 

[sgtboz]

Absolutely agreed.

 

[sgtboz]

I ended up getting the L5740 in Tulsa with just over 330hrs.

One thing though...is there an owners manual of any kind for the cab, A/C controls, filters, etc. I have an owner's manual for the tractor (same was for my L3940 I used to have) but I'd like to know better how to operate/maintain all the cab and controls.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[D2Cat]

Sgtboz, you got a nice tractor. I can not help with the manual describing the function of cab controls, but I'd imagine any cabbed xx40 series tractor manual will describe what you're looking for. Might contact the dealer and ask if he can print off a few pages showing the controls, if you can't find one on Ebay.

Did you go talk to the dealer and then haul it back home, or have it bring it over? Did you ask him why he was so slow responding to your inquiry?

I was thinking of you yesterday when I saw an L3940 with <300 Hr, one owner, 6' LandPride mower for $18,500. I don't need another tractor, but anyone needing a 40HP tractor....that's a steal!!

 

[tthorkil]

https://www.kubota.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L4240-L5240-L5740-L3240-L3540.pdf
This is a copy of ROPS/Cab model from Australia - might be close enough?

 

[sgtboz]

Thanks, D2. I went to Tulsa to check it out then went back a few days later to pick it up and haul it home. Today I did what I always do when I buy used without a maintenance history. I treated it like no one had ever done a thing and started from scratch. Fortunately, it looked like at least the 50hr service had been done because there were virtually zero shavings on the magnetized HST filter. A whole set of filters and all fluids are pricey but I feel better knowing it's been done. Thanks for your help and dialogue.

That is an AMAZING price for an L3940 with such low hours!

 

[sgtboz]

https://www.kubota.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L4240-L5240-L5740-L3240-L3540.pdf
This is a copy of ROPS/Cab model from Australia - might be close enough?

Thank you very much, Thor!!

 

[PaulL]

A lot of Kubota manuals are online these days. Don't recall where exactly, but google is your friend.

 

[sgtboz]

Thanks, Paul. I have the owner's manual but it doesn't address anything with the cab. For now, the parts diagram online has been the most help.

 

[chim]

Heater and A/C info - Sent you a PM.

 

[sgtboz]

Heater and A/C info - Sent you a PM.

Outstanding, chim. Thank you. I'll reply asap.