300cx loader an 4in1 bucket

[GreatWhitehunter]

As I've posted here in the past I've been considering a 110 tlb as a replacement for my 3320 tlb. I've been very happy and impressed with the 3320 with the exception of the loader. I've got the 300x loader and I'm not a huge fan of the detachable design's of both the x an cx. I feel it makes the unit less stable. I'd also like a little more lift capacity and dump height and angle. Further complicating the decision is the fact the most of the attachment I have for my 3320 won't fit the 110. I really woulf like to get a
4in 1 bucket in the 72" range for some of my finish grading work. I use the tractor commercially for brush hogging and harley raking lawns. I would be a huge time saver to pile the rocks after raking and pick them up with the open 4in1. I've talked to my dealer and there only offering me 1k on trade for my 300x and are quoting close to list on the cx. So what do you guys think. The 110 isn't a huge step up in hp, but is the next frame size up. But one of the best things about the 3000 series if the size. I also keep the 3320 in my heated garage with the rops folded down. The 110 would need to go in my carport. I was brainstorming and came up with the cx and 4in1 idea. Tell me what you think. Thanks

Matt

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Well....From a financial standpoint..I'd say the 300cx looks cheap compared to getting into a 110...I dunno if that matters to you....

IMO, not telling you what to do...BUT if you do get the 300cx get the skid steer QA at the same time and change your attachments over, its really not much more expensive in the grand scale of things...theres a 500.00 credit to buy the loader minus bucket, the SS QA is somewhere along the lines of 350.00 and that allows you to shop from the VAST marketplace of skidsteer buckets....I love my Skid Steer QA..

I do agree to a point with the loader stability...this spring I made a mention of it to my dealer, the next day they came to get it and tore the loader apart...took the paint off the loader mounting "posts" & frame rails....put something like a gasket maker on them and bolted em back together...since then my loader has been rock solid. They said that a cause of the shakes is the paint on paint is slippery and allows the mounting posts to loosen up and twist foward even though the bolts torque to spec...I was skeptical, but after 20 hours of use this summer since the repair, its been a GREAT loader.

 

[jenkinsph]

Matt, what sizes are the three point implements you currently have?


steve

 

[DanD78]

I have a 300CX on a 3320 and the 5' Deere 4in1. The only thing that would be better is a 4in1 on a skid steer. I have moved logs, brush, rocks and what ever else will fit in the bucket. If I am going to move a lot of dirt or rock I use my 5' bucket that came with the tractor because it holds a little more. I don't think you would be happy with a 6', 4in1 on a tractor of this size. I am carfull not to do things that would bend the edges but have found you the bucket to be very heavy duty and would not part with it.

Dan

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Matt, what sizes are the three point implements you currently have?


steve

I have a 300CX on a 3320 and the 5' Deere 4in1. The only thing that would be better is a 4in1 on a skid steer. I have moved logs, brush, rocks and what ever else will fit in the bucket. If I am going to move a lot of dirt or rock I use my 5' bucket that came with the tractor because it holds a little more. I don't think you would be happy with a 6', 4in1 on a tractor of this size. I am carfull not to do things that would bend the edges but have found you the bucket to be very heavy duty and would not part with it.

Dan

Steve, my rear attachments are mostly in the 60" range. I'll still be able to use my harley rake and landscape rake. But I've got a nearly new woods brush bull and a woods 65" box blade.

Dan, the 5' 4in1 would be fine for my use. The skid steer units are nice but way too heavy for these tractors. I looked into a few aftermarket 4in1 and there either more than the frontier or way to heavy. I've got a grapple so most of my use would be with dirt work.I really want to be able to cleanly pickup the left over debris from raking. I wouldn't be using it as a dozer since the loaders just aren't built for that. Will your cx and 4in1 lift a heaped load of dirt to full height without issue? I'm curious to know how the 110 handles a 6' 4in1 heaped with dirt.

Matt

 

[jenkinsph]

Matt,
There would be nothing wrong with using the Brush Bull with either the 3320 or the 110. If you are using it to shred debris and trash on the ground it isn't necessary to cover your tracks. It would be nice to be able to but not essential. I would likely back over debris and overlap each pass. Now if you are simply cutting lots commercially I could see your concern, but it will work.

The boxblade I agree would need to be wider to cover tracks, for my 110 I have a 84" boxblade. It would seem you should be able to sell your Woods box without much trouble though, seems lots of people are looking for slightly used stuff.


I went thru this already that is why all my tractors are close to the same size and the implements are between 6' and 8'. If the loader is a big issue I would consider a skidsteer unit to compliment the tractor.


Steve

 

[DanD78]

Will your cx and 4in1 lift a heaped load of dirt to full height without issue?

Yes, with no problem. The 4in1 won't hold as much as the stock 5' material bucket so if I am going bo be loading dirt or white rock I use the larger bucket. The only time I have ran out of lift with the 300cx is when using my forks. It won't pick up a full pallet of concrete blocks or a full pallet of shingles. It will pick up a concrete slab 4' spuare, 6"thick just to move it but I won't do that again.

Be carfull when the bucket is lifted all the way up. Things tend to come out over the back of the bucket like the piec of fire wood that fell out and hit my hood.

Dan

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

The forks just put the load too far ahead. I've lifted a pallet of retaining wall blocks out of the bed of my truck with my forks an loader. I was able to curl the pallet about 3" above the bed and lower it to where I needed it. But I wanted to move a half pallet and was barely able to lift it. I guess it really depends on where the weigh is in the fulcrum. If I decided to go with the cx and 4in1 I'd be paying with cash. If I ended up going with 110 route I'll either trade my tractor or sell it privately. The I'll use the cash down payment and finace the rest. I'm just not sure the 110 is going to be as productive as a skid and mini ex. Skid steers can be had so cheap.

Matt

 

[oottoo]

I currently own a 3320 Cab tractor with 4-way bucket and 375 backhoe and I had a 110 TLB with 4-way bucket for a building project last summer:

There is NO comparison between the two units! The 110 is commercial grade and FEELS commercial grade. Control of the loader is far nicer -- better joystick, brakes are better (the 3320 brakes are awful!).

While the 375 backhoe has a surprising amount of power, the ability to reposition the 110 from the hoe seat is, by itself, a reason to prefer the 110.

I sold the 110 when the project was finished (got what I paid!) because I don't need two tractors and the 3320 is a better fit for my (residential) needs. But the 110 TLB is an awesome machine for commercial use. FAR more tractor.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I currently own a 3320 Cab tractor with 4-way bucket and 375 backhoe and I had a 110 TLB with 4-way bucket for a building project last summer:

There is NO comparison between the two units! The 110 is commercial grade and FEELS commercial grade. Control of the loader is far nicer -- better joystick, brakes are better (the 3320 brakes are awful!).

While the 375 backhoe has a surprising amount of power, the ability to reposition the 110 from the hoe seat is, by itself, a reason to prefer the 110.

I sold the 110 when the project was finished (got what I paid!) because I don't need two tractors and the 3320 is a better fit for my (residential) needs. But the 110 TLB is an awesome machine for commercial use. FAR more tractor.

Is you 3320 hydro? I hardly ever use my brakes. I've got a 448 which is a bigger hoe than the 375. I've run a rental 110 and agree with you on the commercial grade. I mostly use the 3320 at my home but due use it to mow commercially a few times a year. The 3320 is perfect for getting close and light enough for finish grading. I've thought alot about a skid steer and mini ex but when I mow fields commercially I think a skid(even a tracked unit) would get stuck or high sided. The tractor really floats over the terrain. The 110 would not really be a huge advantage in the mowing. I could run a foot wide mower but since I charge by the hr and own the 3320 outright I may actually loose. The 110 cost more and will be done faster which means I will charge less but have the overhead of the 110. Granted I'll only have half the cost of the 110 to pay for since trading my 3320 is half the value of a new 110. I've been thinking about selling the 3320 outright and then picking up a lightly used 110. I've seen some really good ones around in the past few months. If the 110 would fit my current attachments and get in my garage I'd have bought it last year. I really like the ability the 110 has to run the skid steer buckets and grapples. It really widens the choices.

Matt

Matt

 

[jenkinsph]

I know it is hard to decide sometimes but here is a picture of my 110 on the job. It would seem perfect for your intents and purposes, not the best at everything but it is extremely versatile. So far I have an R66 rock bucket, 48" rail pallet forks, 72"hd bucket, MX6 mower, BB1284 boxblade and various other implements. Topntilt, front and rear auxillary hydraulics and cab with hvac.


Steve

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Steve, it is a tough decision for me. Most because I can get a skid steer with more lift capacity than a 110 for less than the 110 would cost me. I know the hoe on the 110 is a bit better than the 448 I have. That said I don't use the hoe all that often and it's been able to do everything I've asked of it. The tractor mounted hoes also don't compare to a mini ex. I could sell my tractor and get a skid and a mini ex and both will be more capable than the 110. It's tough to shell out 20k plus my trade for a 110 that's a jack of all trades/master of none. The only reason the skid makes me pause is the mowing I do. I really feel the skid will get stuck since I seem to mow alot of fields that seem to have deep hidden ruts. I've sunk my 3320's rear tires a few time and I would have high sided a skid for sure. I wish the 110 would lift a pallet of bricks/blocks or sod.Then I'd go that route for sure. I would love to see Spudland's fix for his loader mounts. I just can't visualize it.

Matt

 

[jenkinsph]

Matt,
If you look at the picture above those pallets are brick pavers with 13 layers per pallet. What I do is take off 3 layers per pallet off and restack on an empty pallet. Not the best solution I know, but a quick one. We needed about three pallets of pavers for a job last week so we restacked a pellet with 9 layers on it and the others were 10 layers.
This did not take near as long as having to move an additional piece of equipment in to handle this job.

For a large portion of my work moving several pieces of equipment would be alot of trouble, buying larger equipment means you need a larger truck and trailer to move and it is costing you more money. So I can understand your dilema, and remember when I was considering a Cat 902 wheel loader and a 304 excavator but the two pieces of equipment that needed to be moved for each job made me leary. I will admit I wanted these two pieces of equipment to work out for me but they just didn't make sense.

I finally settled for the 8 in 1 tool, the 110 and having had it now for almost 5 years I can tell you that for my work it was the best all around machine to buy.

The 4520 is a different kind of purchase though, I bought it because I wanted it, I could have gotten by using the 110 for 3 pt work, having it though means I can leave the backhoe on most of the time. The tractor then is not encumbered by the loader, which is a real pet peave of mine.

All I can do for you is relate the experiences I have had and tell you what has worked for me. Hope you can figure out a combination that works for you.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Steve, don't get me wrong I really appreciate all your replies and input. Your the only guy with a 110 that really participated here regularly. I here you on the hauling end. The cost of these compact machines is crazy considering how much more you get for the full size equipment. If I get a skid or mini I'll be getting cabbed units for sure. But if I go with the 110 I'll skip the cab. The other issue I see with the tractor vs skid is visibility while grading. The view is so much better with the skid at ground level but better at full height with the tlb. Can a 110 load a full size dump truck?

Matt

 

[jenkinsph]

I will agree that the SS will blow away a tractor mounted fel, that is the thing I like about them the most. I helped a friend with his SS and long lip bucket last week and the view from the seat is amazing.

Yes I can load a full size dump truck with the 110, in the mountains here most are tandem 10 to 12 yd dumps, takes a lot of buckets to fill one though.

For finish grading I use the boxblade, rearblade and landplane and all of these are highly visible from the 110 and 4520 and allow me to get good results. Alot of what I do is take an undeveloped lot with rocks trees stumps ditches and make it into a smooth lawn with driveways for new homes. I want the customers to be able to ride their lawn mowers across the yard at full speed without shaking their teeth out.

 

[AKfish]

Haven't spent much "seat" time here at TBN, lately. Kinda nice to sit down and catch up on things.

Just finished a week's work in a JD 50D mini-X. What a kick in the pants!! Made my 110 feel like a geriatric shovel pusher. Sure would be sweet to own one...

Matt -- you know this as well as any of us -- what pays the bills?? What kinds of jobs do you do the most? If a SS and a mini-X would be the most efficient way to get your work done; get a 30' goose neck and trailer both at the same time! A good, used 773 Bobcat and a JD 27zts would fit pretty nicely, I'd think.

The 110 won't keep pace with either a SS or a mini-X doing the specific chores that those machines are designed for. But... the 110 will get it done; it'll just take a bit more time. If time is money and you want to squeeze in another job or two into your work week... well, you know what's best!!

Best of luck.

AKfish