I did buy the 2nd L48 with BH1100 interchangability in mind. I have KX 121 and L48 with Hyd. thumb and still need a 2nd machine. I figured I might as well get 2nd L48 which is 2X any L40 series machine with BH90 at less money brand new. 2 backhoes and excavator is too many digging arms for me. I paid $27.5K for new L48 no hoe vs. $47k+ for M59 with hoe my L48 won't fit. Thanks for the technical comparison, reinforces my investment as I feel the M59 is certainly a fine machine, but getting too near a full size machine in price for what the existing L48 already does. The synergies in having 2 L48s powering an already owned BH1100 with awsome hyd. thumb leaves me with $20k less investment which can be used more productivly eslewhere.
I posted these reasons on TractorbyNet.com and I just recently joined this forum:
Just dropped a deposit on my second L48 before the new M59 comes out. I fretted and dithered all summer but I think I did the right thing. The reasons are:
1- have existing new L48 with custom hyd. thumb which can swap back and forth. 2 hoes would not pay for itself having an excavator.
2- I like the L48s ruggedness to the new M59 or L39. Hardnose all the way as opposed to thin metal. I like the boxy construction over curves, but it is the thickness of the metal and routing of hyd. lines which count for me.
3- The L48 is not much more $ than a bigger homeowner L series, but is 2X the machine in terms of Hyd flow, lift, and overall construction. BH90 is no match for BH1100. Not even close.
4- I have KX-121-3 so now I can have 2 jobs going at the same time.
5- Could not justify the cost of a M59, $48k +/-, versus paying around $27.5-29K for a L48 without hoe. Would like M59, cannot afford right now, maybe in the future.
6- L48 is big enough for me, I cannot think of one thing, other than going faster in Medium HST, that I need a bigger machine for right now. The M59 84" bucket may become to big for landscape stuff, I know I have aproblem handling my 84" bushhog on trailers.
7- The L48 has proven its value to me being so versatile.
8- I may be in denial about not wanting a M59! The extra $20K can be used more productively somewhere else.
I think there comes a time where you have enough breakout force and lift capacity which say the L48 has and the the new M59 may be bigger, but have power it does not need in most applications. If the L48 won't lift or dig it out, most cases you need a full sized machine. So far I have not much. I really like the boxy, beefy design over the 2nd generation "sleek" L39 styles, way too thin for me and for what I do. I do miss out on the new HST plus, but I still think 2 L48s with 1 hoe is much more productive for the $ invested.
I like the covered stabilizer arms, loader control arm, and a few other things of the M59.....but still love my L48.