Both utility · same Kubota lineup
Kubota M4D-071 vs Kubota L47
| Spec | Kubota M4D-071 | Kubota L47 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$65,612 | ~$72,996 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP for the tractor-loader-backhoe package, not a bare tractor |
| Size class | Utility | Utility |
| Transmission | Power Shuttle | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 72.1 hp | 47.1 hp |
| PTO hp | 60 hp | 33 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,674 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,848 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 3,307 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 2,756 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 16.7 GPM | 25.0 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 6,008 lbs | 7,205 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 23.8 gal | 17.7 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | No |
| Hydrostatic | No | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 3 yr / 3000 hr powertrain | 2 yr / 1500 hr basic, no powertrain extension |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
Kubota M4D-071
What they like
- Combines the 72.1 hp tune with the deluxe kit that the M4-071 does without - electro-hydraulic 4WD, two remotes and 540E
- 60 PTO hp from 72.1 engine hp, driven through a fully synchronized six-speed with an electro-hydraulic shuttle
- 3,307 lb hitch capacity at 24 in behind the lift points, with top-link draft sensing and mixed control
- The LA1154 reaches 133 in at the pivot pin, high enough to load a tandem trailer over the side
- Optional F18/R18 creeper box adds low ground speeds for specialty work
- 23.8 gal tank and 130 amp alternator suit long days with electric implements running
What they complain about
- $65,612 is $3,888 above the mechanically near-identical M4-071, and the extra buys convenience rather than capability
- 6,008 lb and 142 in long makes it the least manoeuvrable machine in this size band
- Cab only, so there is no cheaper open-station route into the deluxe spec
- Kubota's M-series powertrain warranty runs 36 months or 3,000 hours, half the 72-month term the BX through L tractors carry
Kubota L47
What they like
- 25 gpm of pump capacity - more than double what a 47 hp compact tractor would carry, and the reason the hoe moves at working speed
- TL1300 loader lifts 2,848 lb to full height at the pivot pin with hydraulic self-levelling as standard
- 121 in of digging depth and a 92.9 in loading height clears the side of most tandem dumps
- HST Plus with six ranges and 14 mph of road speed makes moving between jobs practical without a trailer
- 7,205 lb of operating weight gives it the stability to dig hard without walking the machine
- Back-up alarm, 4-post ROPS/FOPS and a reversible seat are all standard, which matters on a commercial site
What they complain about
- The three-point hitch is an option, not standard, so out of the box this is a digger rather than a tractor
- 33 PTO hp from a 47.1 hp engine is a poor conversion, because the hydraulics take priority over the shaft
- $72,996 buys a lot of separate tractor and towable backhoe if site-to-site mobility is not the point
- Warranty is 24 months or 1,500 hours with no powertrain extension, the shortest cover Kubota offers on anything with a hitch