Get a cab and get hydro. Like someone said above the gearing isn’t good for bushogging. Either too fast or too slow

I have a L3400 that’s about 10yo and has been bomb proof. I didn’t want the HST, but now that I have it, I’ll never buy another tractor without.

Love my 7040 open station FEL 4WD!

I like a Kubota. The only bad thing I can say is that they have under-sized radiators and can overheat at times.

THIS is so true. After bushogging, the radiator will get all gummed up with weed seed and it will over heat. I carry my blower with me and every so often, pop the hood and blow it off.

This happens in two different Kubotas we own, so it's not a fluke. And it has never happened with a John Deere. I'm not saying JDs are perfect, but that issue hasn't happened.

If your tractor has enough gears/ranges, then the speed for bush hogging isn't a problem with a geared tractor, you have a lot of options. I personally love our geared tractors, but if you have or get a HST, then get one where you can set the "cruise control" so you don't have to keep your foot on the HST pedal continuously. When you are doing things like bush hogging at the same speed for hours at a time, it's nice to not have to constantly try and keep the same pressure on your pedal. Gear tractor, not a problem.

I have a L4701 clutch and work food plots like your talking about and I have no complaints

Another vote for a cab. 5% of the time it'll be in the way in the woods, but the other 95% of the time it'll keep you from getting stung ten-hundred-gajillion times

Don’t get a cab if it’s for “tight” areas. I could only access about half of my plots without breaking windows if I had a cab tractor. Or spend as much time each yr cutting limbs out of roads as I spend on the tractor.

Do get a hydrostatic trans. So much better for bushhogging and bucket work. When bushhogging the PTO RPMs remain constant regardless of tractor speed. This is extremely nice when cutting vegetation of varying density. No having to ride the clutch or stopping to let the bushhogg “catch up”.

After years of driving manual geared tractors and recently upgrading to a hydro, I’ve yet to discover a single advantage to a geared tractor the type of work you described.

Another huge bonus, often overlooked, of a hydrostatic tractor is the safety factor. In 2 minutes or less I can teach any man, woman or child how to operate a hydrostatic tractor and not worry about them getting hurt or destroying something. (Try that with a geared tractor.) Sure most of us learned to drive a geared tractor first but wouldn’t you rather teach a kid or your wife on a safer tractor if possible?

I really prefer the m series. Got a m7040 and the only negative is the weight. Filled rear tires with water and antifreeze and problem solved.

That’s a chunk of change. Mine came as part of the deal when I got my tractor but I see them on the craigslist for 400$ from time to time. I think I use my forks 90% of the time I use the FEL, and the bucket the other 10%. I never thought they’d be so handy.

Love my M7060 4x4 Kubota. Damn work horse and cant beat the no questions asked insurance that comes along with financing. I knocked a hole in my fuel tank bulldozering food plots out. Called them up said i needed to make a claim and all they asked was what dealership do we need to send the check to.

Yes. They have the mx models with them now. Sweet little tractor.

I don't have one myself but will be in the market next year. What I've seen working with the last one at the deer camp is this; get a cab if at all feasible.
Save your lungs from the dust of working fields and holy sheet if you disturb some wasps there's no running away quick from a tractor in the woods.

Best $20K I ever spent and it only had 456 hours on it at 12 years old. It came as pictured. It was woman owned and garage kept.

Get an M9000. It will beat you brains out, but won't let you down and is easy to work on. I love to tear stuff down and when it was ready for the 3000 hour minor overhaul, I did it myself, but did a complete. My first time breaking a tractor down into pieces, very easy.

I'm with buckhunter2, if it's for tight areas, the cab will get in the way. I would love a cab but what I cut is 70% tree/limb dodging and 30% cutting. A cab won't bend down and under nothin' !

Those cans are stronger than you think.

I'll add exhaust underneath. I have a JD 5205 with exhaust underneath and love it. It turns out in front of left rear tire. Doesn't block vision, get fumes away and I've never had a limb bend or break it. I can fold the roll bar back and get really small.