Buying Advice John Deere 2320 / 2520 ??????

[Gobblin Tom]

I am in the process of picking out a new tractor either the 2320 or the 2520, I am trying to sell my 2008 Cub Cadet GT 2544 on craigslist but have had no bites yet.... I hate to loose that extra $500 on a trade in because I still owe some money on the cub. Anyway I was really leaning toward the 2320 then I started reading all of the post on my phone about the 2520. It just sounds like a lot better machine for the little bit of extra money. This will be an all round tractor from taking care of my 1/4 mile long up hill gravel driveway to skidding logs out of the woods for the wood furnace, leveling my quad paths I have now for the tractor etc. I have 22 acres and prob 18 are wooded. I did put some small food plots in this year and want to expand them. My property is all uneven terrain mostly valley. I can't afford to go any further than the 2520 and I really don't want a huge machine. I told the dealer I wanted chains on all 4 tires he said he would do it but didn't like putting them on the front tires, but for bringing out logs on semi slopped grades I would feel more comfy! Anyway I am new here and just looking for some input??? The price for the tractor with 62" mower and 200CX is around $19,000 is that an ok price??? This is all new to me guys!!!!

 

[Tenn_Blue]

We have a 2320. Property is 30 acres, but we only have about 10 cleared. We mow, bushhog, clear trails and general maintenance with ours.

Looked at the 2520 (the 2720 was not available when we got ours, the 25's had just come out...), but it didn't seem to add enough for the extra money. The hydraulics are a little quicker on the 25s, but not enough difference for me. Same with the power - wasn't enough for me to really see a difference.

We did look between the 2320 and the smaller 3000's, but more money, and I already had 4 foot implements from an old mitsubishi we had - would haved to get new implements for the 3000, and with the extra costs wasn't worth it. I spent more time comparing between the 2000s and 3000s than the 2320 and 2520.

The 2320 does everything we need it to - a bigger tractor would do more quicker, but we do get it done. I was new to tractors and farm life anyway, so the comfortable size of the 2320 was easier for me to get used to, especially on our hills and trails.

We also have a skidsteer and excavator to do the digging/moving, so the smaller footprint of the 2000 series works good for us.

Hope that helps.....

 

[OneMarineE5]

Welcome to TBN

The Deere site lists the 2520 with 62 deck at $18,336.00. This does not include chains or any other items if you had them quoted, such as lights etc.
I believe the 200CX is around $2,500.00. Add that to the $18,336.00 and you are at $20,836.00. Sounds like you have better than a 9% discount.

While some dealers may be able to do better, I feel you are being treated decently.

I'd probably offer them $18,500. If they don't budge but you like the dealer and feel they will service you well with integrity after the sale....I wouldn't walk!

Just my thoughts!

Good luck and please share your decision.

 

[bonefish101]

I was (very) recently quoted 17,500 for a new 2520 w/200CX

 

[Bswope]

PM sent......:thumbsup:

 

[jcmseven]

Oh, me, here we go again. There is not much difference in performance between the 2320 and 2520. If I were looking at these machines I would be looking at 2320 v 2720 (still not much) or 2320 and 3320 (that's some difference).

John M

 

[jenkinsph]

Oh, me, here we go again. There is not much difference in performance between the 2320 and 2520. If I were looking at these machines I would be looking at 2320 v 2720 (still not much) or 2320 and 3320 (that's some difference).

John M

I agree John, don't see the point in offering so many similar tractors. Much simpler to choose between a 2520, 3520 and 4520.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

I am just wandering if this machine will be capable of doing what I need? Has anyone ever used one to skid logs?

 

[revitupfaster]

I agree that it seems there are just too many offerings in the CUT/SCUT range, and all it seems to do is confuse the consumer. However it is a way for the manufacturers to get consumers to pay the premium prices, for that next higher model, because of a perceived value.

I would bet that the margin/profit that JD makes on the price difference alone between a 2320 & 2520, is a lot higher percentage wise than the overall margin/profit the 2320 gives them by itself. Get consumers to pay a $2500 premium for additional features that only add a few hundred at the manufacturing level, this will certainly help the bottom line. Just good marketing.......they all do it, trying to squeeze that extra few dollars out of us.

I was one that felt the $ difference was worth it to me for the 2520, just like others opted to spend even more for the 2720. As far as I know, the only difference between the 2520 & 2720 is the engine. Do I really think it costs JD another $1500 or so when they buy that 2720 engine from Yanmar,......not on your life. But if you (the Buyer) sees the value in that difference, you will justify it to yourself and buy it.

I won't reiterate my reasoning here for buying the 2520, as I just did in a thread about 6 down from this one:

"2320 vs. 2520 - worth the difference?"

REV

 

[mcgill72143]

I kinda feel the same as John....the 2320 and 2520 are more alike then different and those differences just didn't push me to spend the extra cash...I could have bought a 3320 (and almost did) but it was way to big for the tight spaces I mow around..I am very happy with the 2320 ...I haven't had one regret in buying it ..if I were back at the dealer buying again and trying to decide between tractors I would be looking more at the 2320 vs 2720 or bigger...it seems you would get more of a difference for the money that way... ..just my 2 cents ....

 

[jenkinsph]

I am just wandering if this machine will be capable of doing what I need? Has anyone ever used one to skid logs?

Obviously depends on the size of the log, but assuming you pick up the butt end with tongs close to the hitch you should be able to drag a good size one.
Hey if it is too big then saw it into two pieces.

Are you planning on this method or are you thinking along the lines of a Farmi winch or larger hydraulic type winch. I ask this because the small 2X20 tractors don't have much in hydraulic flow. The small pto winches should work okay.

 

[pdp11]

I bought the 2520 this past May, and have been very happy with it. It's slightly larger than the 2320, and the faster hydraulics make a difference if you use the FEL often. I too had a hard time understanding what the differences were between the 2x20 models at first, and actually went through the on-line parts manuals to figure some of it out. There are also differences between 2520's of different years, which was confusing when reading posts from owners back in 2007-8.

 

[Deadman]

In the snow with Chains on, and using a drawbar, my 2520 pulled 14 inch diameter GREEN Hard Maple Logs out that were 40 feet long. You need to chain them as short as possible (like 4 inches LOL), and hook the heavy end on the drawbar and put the weight of the log onto the rear tires of tractor. It will pull like crazy then, but the snow helps them slide easy, but also makes tractor spin. I will only skid in snow, because the logs don't get full of dirt.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Wow I didn't expect to drag anything that long out, I was thinking like 10-15' pieces. I might have to cut them that way because of my land scale though... do you have chains on the front as well?

 

[jenkinsph]

Anything you would wan't to use for firewood shouldn't be an issue as far as the tractor is concerned. Just watch steep slopes where you need to maintain control of both the tractor and the log. I have had to cut them into two pieces before mainly to prevent skinning the other trees getting them out of the woods. In these cases two chokers enable you to haul out both pieces at one time.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Yeah I have one steep part about 30' long going one way and the other is a long steep hill. Although with the front loader I could clear a new path to avoid that short steep section. I was thinking once I got the tractor I could make up several cables for it. What are you hooking the logs to on the 3pt? I saw a log hog on northern tool but haven't seen anything else.

 

[jenkinsph]

At the time when I was doing this we had built a small A frame arangement that allowed us to suspend the chains off the ground about 4 ft high. Had a grab hook welded on each side, lowered the hitch ran the choker chain around the butt of the logs and connected the chains to the A frame. Then lift the hitch and allow the logs to clear the ground.

 

[Bswope]

Yeah I have one steep part about 30' long going one way and the other is a long steep hill. Although with the front loader I could clear a new path to avoid that short steep section. I was thinking once I got the tractor I could make up several cables for it. What are you hooking the logs to on the 3pt? I saw a log hog on northern tool but haven't seen anything else.

Hey Tom got your PM and I COMPLETELY understand!:thumbsup:
If you decide on the 2520 make sure to have the dealer switch the rear tires to the wider position! It gain you 3" of width in the rear witch made a big difference on my tractor.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Hey Tom got your PM and I COMPLETELY understand!:thumbsup:
If you decide on the 2520 make sure to have the dealer switch the rear tires to the wider position! It gain you 3" of width in the rear witch made a big difference on my tractor.

Hey thanks for the advise! I will do that but 1st I have to get the wife convinced the rest of the way!!!! She is on the line....... I think once she sees what your able to do with one she will be ok.

 

[Bswope]

Hey thanks for the advise! I will do that but 1st I have to get the wife convinced the rest of the way!!!! She is on the line....... I think once she sees what your able to do with one she will be ok.

My wife was the same way, once I showed her that we could save about $3k to do some top soil work in our yard rather than have someone do it for us so she was really happy then and felt better about getting one, now that we have more property to maintain she say's we need a bigger tractor!:laughing: