Branson 3820I 4.80 star(s) (10)

Very Good Tractor
Model Year: 2009

I bought my 3820i used....it had 260 hrs on it. I got it from a man who used it when building a new home and clearing his land in N. Cal. I was building a new home in NW Montana , dead of winter. It came with a 3820 backhoe in place. When spring came..I ran it 12-16 hrs a day till winter freeze , and continued for 3 yrs. Broke a few hoses and rolled off both front tires (added tubes), other then that I have never had a problem nor replaced anything more then a zirk fitting. I dug stumps(100's) ,6 ft deep French drains for home and shop, and water lines. Built road, logged and pulled logs from 2/300 ft down a canyon and plowed snow for 3 winters..352.7\[ I have worked this tractor to death....still runs like new. I will replace backhoe seat ans front tires in the spring. I am very happy with my tractor , it is a work horse I would recommend this tractor to anyone looking for a mid sized backhoe. I have run heavy equipment all my life, so I know equipment and know how to make them work . As I said ....I have , only good things to say about this tractor . This tractor is not a toy !

Pros: Tough tractor that won't quit on you if you do all your maintenance on time.
Cons: I have not come across any cons

Clutch issues with Branson 3820 tractor
Model Year: 2006

I have owned by Branson 3820 tractor for a little over 3 years. I don't use it much, but when I do it is to pull small trees, brush hog and move dirt and soil around my 40 acre farm. It has been a very good tractor except for a few times it seems to get hot and the clutch sticks open or engaged. It will run, but I can't get it to shift into gear and I have to wait for it to cool off before I can get it to move. but other than that it has been a great little tractor for the money.

Pros: exellent value versus other brands
Cons: Clutch issues

3820i
Model Year: 0

I really like my tractor. I shopped around for other brands like everyone else. I keep coming back to the Branson because it was a heavier tractor than the other ones compared in the same size. Also had a local dealer within 3 miles from my house, just in case I had problems or needed anything. I was going to get a 3510 but went with the 3820i because it was one frame size bigger and it had adjustable 3 pt. hitch arms for hooking up equipment. This turned out to be huge when trying to hook up heavy attachments. So far haven't found anything my tractor won't do. I have several attachments for it including pallet forks/hay spear, grapple bucket, plows, bush hog, disc etc. It definitely gets the job done. Don't know how I got by without one for so many years. It's not hard on fuel either.

Pros: Comfortable to operate, easy on fuel, powerful.
Cons: Tractor doesn't flex as much as bigger tractors which means front or back tire will sometimes come off the ground on rough terrian, putting in 4 wheel drive will help take care of that, also break lights stay on all of the time I need to get that fixed.

Love My Tractor
Model Year: 2007

I have had nothing but good experiences with my Branson. I shopped for the usual brands (John Deere, Case, New Holland, etc.) but found that the Branson had all the right features plus it was about 1000 lbs. heavier than the competition. My dad always said that you buy a tractor by the pound---that's where the power is. I've used the tractor pretty hard - clearing lots of acres of brush. It is very tough and has a lot of pull. I can usually pull or push anything I want.

Pros: Does anything you want it to do.
Cons: None. I like it.

Branson 3820i
Model Year: 2009

Other than the cold starting issue. I have no regrets buying this tractor. I would by another Branson if I ever have to retire this one. I've blown 2 feet of snow on a 1/4 mile long dirt road with this tractor and a Lorenz 650 blower. I've dug up tree stumps, trenched 300' for underground drain pipe and carried and spread with my loader and land plane, 105 tons of base rock along a 400' driveway without a hiccup or a complaint out of this tractor.

Pros: Plenty of power, easy implement install/removal, sub-frame mount backhoe, independent PTO, fuel consumption is great.
Cons: Poor starting in the cold, lots of smoke. Head lights are a little low, the bucket is in the way when traveling.

Winter in Montana
Model Year: 2009

I bought my tractor from a family in California this last winter just after our 1st snow (4ft). It has a Quik loader, forks and 8640 hoe. I LOVE IT!! is just the trick for Montana snow and ice. We have used it for our landscaping needs, logging and putting in the second floor to my shop. Wife likes running it, instead of trying to help me lug sub flooring and sheet rock. So far, I have had zero problems with it. It seems to be bulletproof. And I made a terrific deal even going to California to pick it up.

Pros: Has done all I have asked it to do.
Cons: Could of put gas pedal in better place, but all tractors I've seen are in the same crappy place.

Can't believe I bought a New Tractor
Model Year: 2005

I love it! I shopped around before buying a Branson,as I had never heard of that brand. She has a Cummings C engine in a south Korean frame and they seem to match up well.Horse power to tractor weight this edged out the rest and for dollars spent has been a good value. This tractor does it all and has not failed to start or perform any task asked of it. She pulls a 9 ft NH hay bine through 25 rolling hill acres every year since purchased along with the raking and baling. She pulls out my firewood in tree length and carries the bucket full when split. Along with plowing snow and running the bush hog she moves dirt and manure with ease. She's lifted just about everything I've asked her to from round bales to dead deer in the fall and even including an old Farmall H missing tires onto a wagon. And best of all my fuel consumption is affordable.

Pros: Good value well built and reliable.
Cons: Not many dealers in my area.

Photo Uploads:

3520 Loader Backhoe
Model Year: 2004

2004 Branson 3520: I did quite a bit of comparing before I bought this tractor. I shopped the Greene, Blue, Red, and Orange, and when comparing price, HP, weight, lift capabilities and forces I figure I saved $12K over a competitor. I chose this Branson 3520 non turbo model because I wanted something a little larger than what I currently have. I opted for the non-turbo because the hp increase-v-$ cost, and reliability concerns I had were not worth it to me since it was a first year turbo production. It has R4 tires, PS, tilt wheel, 2 speed PTO, 12 speed F&R, adjustable suspension seat, 4WD, diff. lock, horn, signals, H&L lights, and 2stage clutch. The steel and finish is high quality. I like the easy access to the platform. I am about 6' and the shifter did not interfere with my knee or leg, as some of the other brands did. The parking brake latch is easy to use with my foot. The seat is very comfortable. It has started flawlessly in extreme cold. The 35HP Kukje engine has plenty of power and a fuel sipping 1 gallon per hour @ 1800rpms. The gas pedal and throttle operate flawlessly. The loader and backhoe is stout and fast, very stable on slopes, and it lifts heavy loads. There are Zerk fittings at most wear points; some had to be changed out to an angle fitting due to accessibility problems. This is my first 4wd tractor and I will say that I do not know how I have lived without 4wd in the past. I will never buy another 2wd tractor again. The 4wd has pulled me frame high through mud and even deeper snow. I did get the unit stuck on a creek bank but I was able to use the backhoe boom dipper to lift the tractor up and on to firmer ground. If I keep my tire pressures correct the 4wd disengages without problems. The access to the light and signals could be more accessible. The exposed fittings in the undercarriage could be better protected or engineered, since they are vulnerable to damage from the debris below; a skid plate should be standard equipment to protect the plastic fittings, rubber hoses, and or the linkages below. The rubber quick-connect plugs and caps for the loader are cheap and deteriorated within months of my purchase. The loader operates almost flawlessly; I am told there is a restrictor in one of the ports to prevent the loader from speeding down under a heavy load (this causes the engine to labor somewhat while slowly lowering the loader- even when empty. I am told this can be corrected by drilling the restrictor hole and making it larger. The OE fuel pump appears weak and does not tolerate any debris and the filter is located downstream from the pump; I went with an aftermarket pump with a pre-filter. After 4 years, the OE fuel filter assembly was replaced with an aftermarket unit due to, in my opinion, the poorly pressed-in hose fitting design that came loose. The fuel sender was replaced on my property, without cost during the warranty period. The fuel gauge has stopped working properly again and does not work at all times below half tank. The dealer and the manufacture replaced the defective tie rod ends and upgraded the plates at no cost even though I was out of warranty. I consider my issues to be minimal. I have approximately 325 hours on this unit and I have been very satisfied with my investment, my Charlottesville Virginia dealer, and the manufacturer. I would recommend this product to anyone looking to buy a tractor in this price range.

Pros: Price, quality, low maintenance, & the cost to operate.
Cons: Vulnerable fittings underneath where damage is likely to occur.

Branson 3510
Model Year: 2009

I haven't used the tractor too much yet. Just added a Northern Equipment chipper and a set of Bradco forks. The fork capacity is way more than the tractor will lift, but I never have to worry about breaking them. Came with FEL and backhoe.

Pros: Haven't had any problems, tractor is well built
Cons: Hydraulic hose connections in rear need to have a bracket to hold them in place. They are in an awkward posistion to hook up when an attachment is on the 3pt hitch.. In my opinion, the HST directional pedals should be reversed, I'm always hitting the wrong pedal for the direction I want to go!!!

Branson 3820i
Model Year: 2009

I don't have a ton of hours on it yet, but am completely satisfied with my Branson 3820i. I used it several times to move heavy snow and have mowed and graded (box-blade) my 1100ft. gravel drive with it. It's very heavy and very stout! The 4cyl. diesel has great low end torque, and power in general. With the weight of the tractor, I have had no trouble with anything I've tried, even without any additional weights, or loaded tires. I am a big guy, 6'4" and about 260 and it is very comfortable for me to operate. I didn't get a loader with it, but will be soon. I have A4 tires and they are right for what I need, which includes mowing, grading, pulling logs out of the woods, cultivating a large garden and clearing and shaping areas around my place for building. I previously had a 4x4 Jinma that did very well for the money I had in it, but the reliability of the actual structure was getting shaky. My dealer, for Branson, is about 30 miles away, and they have been great: Dave's Farm Service, in Edinburgh, IN. All in all, a great tractor at a very good the price.

Pros: Weight, power, design, price, warranty, comfort
Cons: foot "gas" pedal placement could be slightly bette