Going Orange-L3240HST

[brianidaho]

I've been looking and drooling ever since I broke my current tractor, finally making the jump. I'm getting a new L3240HST, 724 loader with SSQA, filled R4s and 2 rear remotes. Also coming is a new Landpride RBT3584, with hydraulic angle and offset. According to the dealer it should be ready to go next week, he has to get the remotes in.

My next planned purchase, probably first thing in the spring, is one of the Caroni flail mowers. After that, if I manage to avoid bankruptcy, will be a brush grapple.

Now if the snow will only hold off till the tractor is here! I'm getting tired of moving it with the ATV. Of course they are talking about 8" or so Friday...may just have to park by the road and save it for the new rig.

Thanks to all for the advice. You sick, twisted freaks (and I mean that in a good way!) sure make it easy to go spend way too much money. And I thought quads were expensive toys. I'm planning to scrounge up some snowplowing and brush cutting work in the neighborhood to help with payments.

Go Orange!

Bri

 

[SCtractorguy]

Brian,

Sounds like your all set once the 3240 gets there!

I have the same machine with-out remotes. (I think that graple would be a great help.) I have 23 hours on mine and just hate getting off it.


Chris

 

[LBrown59]

I've been looking and drooling ever since I broke my current tractor, finally making the jump. I'm getting a new L3240HST, 724 loader with SSQA, filled R4s and 2 rear remotes. Also coming is a new Landpride RBT3584, with hydraulic angle and offset. According to the dealer it should be ready to go next week, he has to get the remotes in.

My next planned purchase, probably first thing in the spring, is one of the Caroni flail mowers. After that, if I manage to avoid bankruptcy, will be a brush grapple.

Now if the snow will only hold off till the tractor is here! I'm getting tired of moving it with the ATV. Of course they are talking about 8" or so Friday...may just have to park by the road and save it for the new rig.

Thanks to all for the advice. You sick, twisted freaks (and I mean that in a good way!) sure make it easy to go spend way too much money. And I thought quads were expensive toys. I'm planning to scrounge up some snowplowing and brush cutting work in the neighborhood to help with payments.

Go Orange!

Bri

Better check out your insurance .
Most home owner polices don't cover anything when you are off your own property.

 

[BigD23]

Congrats on the new tractor...Sounds like you've having it set up very nicely.

Don

 

[amigauser]

Congrats!! Enjoy the new toy I mean tool

I am taking delivery of my new Grand L 3240HST this weekend, weather permitting.

 

[lawn_king]

Good choice, this new 40 series is a real nice line. I have yet to hear of anyone that dislikes them.

 

[brianidaho]

Congrats!! Enjoy the new toy I mean tool

I am taking delivery of my new Grand L 3240HST this weekend, weather permitting.

Great news, congrats! Lets see some pictures!

Bri

 

[bandit67]

I'm planning to scrounge up some snowplowing and brush cutting work in the neighborhood to help with payments.

Go Orange!

Bri

As soon as you do that, the snow won't come. I've got a bunch of houses and a road lined up for plowing, and so far after about a half dozen storms, we still haven't gotten enough for me to plow. There's another big cold front rolling in over the weekend, and there's supposed to be snow flying for 3 or 4 days, but it sounds like it won't be much more than light flurries.

Have my new work lights on, bought chains for all 4 wheels, and am ready to roll. Just need more snow. Of course if I was still tractorless and using the ATV to plow, we would have been buried by now.

 

[brianidaho]

As soon as you do that, the snow won't come. I've got a bunch of houses and a road lined up for plowing, and so far after about a half dozen storms, we still haven't gotten enough for me to plow. There's another big cold front rolling in over the weekend, and there's supposed to be snow flying for 3 or 4 days, but it sounds like it won't be much more than light flurries.

Have my new work lights on, bought chains for all 4 wheels, and am ready to roll. Just need more snow. Of course if I was still tractorless and using the ATV to plow, we would have been buried by now.

It's snowing pretty good here right now...and is supposed to for most of the weekend. Too bad the rig won't be here till late next week! If you don't mind me asking, what do you charge for plowing? I'm trying to figure out a fair rate.

 

[Brent C.]

Brian, a great choice! I as well just placed an order for a GL3240HST with Turf tires, 72" mmm and 514 loader. I expect delivery within a couple of weeks. I think the 40 series will be a geat tractor. The nice thing about these tractors - you tell your wife your going out to work but guess what it is all play!!! I will look forward to your pics and I will attempt to download pics as well. Good luck and Merry Christmas!!!

Congrats. Brent

 

[bandit67]

If you don't mind me asking, what do you charge for plowing? I'm trying to figure out a fair rate.

I try to figure on about $60-70 per hour, but I give them a flat rate quote based on the time I figure it's going to take. It's pretty much a crap shoot until you actually get out and start plowing each drive before you know if you figured enough time.

In a bigger storm over 12", they pay the flat rate for the first plowing at 6-8", then an hourly rate of $50 for the additional runs. In a 12" storm, I can only plow for the flat rate, so I need to get it in one pass at the end. Over 12" kicks them into multiple trips.

It took a lot of brainstorming to come up with some numbers that I thought might work. I don't really know if I'll end up making any money this year, as it's my first year plowing in this neighborhood, but as long as it helps cover payments, I'll be happy.

I know a lot of the local guys start plowing at only 4", but they didn't want me to start until 6-7".

I do charge closer to the $50/hr rate for neighbors that are closer, or are better aquaintances. I also will do occasional plowing for folks that usually do their own drives, but can't handle the really big storms.

 

[brianidaho]

bandit, thanks for the information. I'm figuring I'd start around $50/hr this winter as well, and would bill from when I leave my property. Max 5 miles from home is what I have in mind. That's probably on the low side, but I'll be learning for a while, maybe next winter I'd increase price a bit as I become more efficient. Like you said, not a way to get rich, but maybe it will help with payments, and new attachments. Besides, it provides some more seat time, which (don't tell my wife) is the real goal.

I have a meeting with a Farm Bureau Insurance Monday, we'll see what insurance will run me...nothing like starting out in the hole!

BTW, we got a good 6" of snow last night, with more on the way. I'm heading out shortly to put the blade on the ATV one last time . On moderate snow and early in the season the quad does pretty good, you can go considerably faster than with a tractor, though I only have a 5' blade. I try to run 15+ to throw snow as far as possible. Once the berms build up it's pretty bad though. Besides, with the road I have (.4 miles) it's tough on a light machine like an ATV.

 

[brianidaho]

She's coming home tomorrow!!!! Dealer called today and we set up a delivery time, tonight is going to be like a kid at christmas, not a lot of sleep.

Too bad the weather report calls for highs around 10* for the next several days! I'll probably plow all the snow I can fine within a half mile of the house . How do you think the wife will react when I park her car outside so the 'bota can stay in the garage?

 

[EastTexFrank]

How do you think the wife will react when I park her car outside so the 'bota can stay in the garage?

Take my advice and don't try that one. A hospital bed is no place to spend the Christmas Holidays.

 

[Dawgfan3]

Congratulations, better park your truck outside. Leave your wife's car along.

 

[bandit67]

Yeah, you better get her something nice if her car is going to start being parked outside.

I was lucky enough to have a space for my truck when I got my tractor, so my truck now lives outside so the tractor can have a garage bay. My wife's car is pretty much always in the garage.

If you do need to displace her car due to a lack of garage space, you better promise to build at least one more bay come springtime.

 

[brianidaho]

I was kidding about parking the wife's car outside-I don't think that would go over too well. We have a carport off the side of the shop, the Kubota fits nicely...though the ROPS is closer than I realized, I looked at it after I got off the tractor...must have been real close.

I think the offset blade is going to work well for plowing, it lets me push snow off the edge of the road, down the hill without driving too close to the edge. We got a good dumping yesterday, and are supposed to see more today and over the weekend, should get plenty of seat time. Too bad my dealer forgot the skid shoes for the blade, I'll have them shipped. The only issue I had is that the pivot for the blade isn't vertical when plowing, so angling the blade makes one corner dig more than the other, unless I want to mess with the tilt adjustment all the time. I think I'll pull the pin on the blade tilt and see if it will float OK, I mght have to rig up some limits.

I have to say the HST Plus is nice, real easy to operate. I am already starting to think that more power would have been a good idea, it seemed to be working a bit coming up some gentle hills while plowing. I have been keeping the RPMs and throttle setting down to about 2200 rpm, things may be fine once it's broken in and I can work it harder. I understand power improves considerably with breakin anyway.

 

[SCtractorguy]

Brian,
congrats on bring home the new toy!

Yes I think the power will improve a bit as you get a few more hours. My 3240 hst is at 25 hours now. I am noticing a bit of an improvement in the fuel consumption too.


Have fun and Merry Christmas.