Buying Advice L3800 or MX4700 or MX5100?

[ravencr]

Well, just got back from the dealer, and it unfortunately didn't go as planned. It was a non-HST model, so I didn't even bother to compare them driving wise, obviously. He's going to check his other dealership and see if they have another one I could test back to back against the L3540 and go from there. Just initial speaking, though, size wise there's definitely a substantial difference between the L3800 and L3540 in nearly every respect. Plus, I'm leaning more towards to the Grand L now, because I think the features are probably worth it, without even having to drive the L3800 to compare the lack of the HST+ features.

I really appreciate everyone's help,

Chris

 

[teg]

What prices are they giving for each... I think you said the Grand L3540 was about $27,000.

 

[ravencr]

Well the sticker differences are roughly $6K, and I didn't ask about the price difference after discounts. I was frustrated it wasn't a HST so I could really see the differences while driving.

A couple things I didn't like about the L3800, though:

1) The steering linkage is full exposed up in the front of the tractor with no guards
2) On the right side, some of the hydraulics and what appears to be an oil filter of sorts is the lowest hanging part of the tractor, leaving them both pretty exposed, as well.
3) The 3-point hitch doesn't telescope at all(harder to hook up attachments), plus it has to be held together with a strap in the center to prevent it from rubbing the tires.
4) Can't add rear wheel weights to the L3800, plus it weighs approx 700 lbs less than the L3540, so the combination of the two probably means the loader would suck in comparison to the L3540 stability wise.
5) The seat is nicer on the Grand L - High back with armrests versus low back and no armrests, plus the adjustment for the seat spring is in the back on the L3800 and it's an easy to reach knob on the Grand L
6) The hump in the floorboard is substantial in the L3800 in comparison to the little hump on the Grand L.
7) I can see the lack of the tilt wheel would be annoying on the L3800, as well, because it's actually a pretty good reach to the steering wheel, and I'm 6'2".
8) I can't comment on the HST differences unfortunately.
9) The loader looks quite a bit beefier on the L3540 than the L3800, not to mention the standard size difference of 6" of box width and the extra lift capacity. Plus, if you opt for the HD loader, it's even more capacity and width.
10) I didn't get a measuring tape out to check diameters or anything precise, but the tires are quite a bit bigger, as well.
11) The rear axle appears to be quite a bit difference and beefier than the L3800 too.

At any rate, a lot of this I bet all of you know already. Maybe it will help some other newbie like me to decide on their own too. To me, I think it's still worth a drive on the L3800, but honestly, I'm leaning towards a Grand L model at this point. I'd almost think moving up to a MX5100 would be more likely of an option too, but who knows at this point. I'm still considering all my options I guess. Not an easy process, that's for sure.

Chris

 

[teg]

Shoot, if I had the money I would have a Grand L!!! This is where you have to decide what is better for yourself (but I do like the comparison!!!) A few comments about what you wrote...

1) The steering linkage is full exposed - Yes, and I've bent mine.
2) hydraulics and oil filter is the lowest part - yes, but I don't go in the woods enough to know if it's bad, it hasn't been a problem reported on TBN
3) The 3-point hitch doesn't telescope Correct but Adding Pat's Quick Attach is much easier than telescoping ones.
4) Can't add rear wheel weights to the L3800, plus it weighs approx 700 lbs less than the L3540, You say that like it's a bad thing The loader will most likely be more than you'll ever need but maybe I'm wrong, it's more than enough for me.
5) The seat is nicer on the Grand L - You got me there, but for $6,000 it should have air suspension seat.
6) The hump in the floorboard is substantial in the L3800 in comparison to the little hump on the Grand L. - Ok, yes
7) I can see the lack of the tilt wheel would be annoying on the L3800, as well, because it's actually a pretty good reach to the steering wheel, and I'm 6'2". I'm the same height but the $6,000 in my back pocket puts the steering wheel closer (sorry I should filter some of my thoughts) Never notice the steering wheel as a problem since I'm always using it to get on and off the tractor.

Back to black and the weight of the tractor... I drive the tractor in the yard around my house and it leaves enough "dents" in the ground, heavier tractor bigger dents. When it comes to hauling the tractor on a 7,000# trailer (3,500 tractor, 1200 FEL/grapple, 1800 trailer, 500# implement) I'm maxed out. 700 lbs. more and I'm looking for a new truck and trailer... which sounds nice but after the divorce... I'll be selling the whole darn lot...

Size wise, so do you not have many trees? Pretty open space? I've put a couple of holes in my buildings :ashamed: Learning how far out the loader was. Just be careful.

I've beat this horse to death and then some... let us know how it goes.

 

[KU Gator]

Also add to your list the smooth operating 3 pt hitch hydraulic system vs the jerky Lxx00 system.

The requirement of a strap you referenced in item 3 I assume is because it has turnbucles for stabilizers instead of telescopic. The B's also have them but they are on the inside so the arms sag to the middle when there is nothing on the hitch. I hated them and after bending the 2nd one I replaced them with telescopic stabilizers for about $200 extra.

 

[crazyal]

It's a lot of money, you should think it through. I would try the MX4700/ 5100 as well.

 

[TripleR]

Well the sticker differences are roughly $6K, and I didn't ask about the price difference after discounts. I was frustrated it wasn't a HST so I could really see the differences while driving.

A couple things I didn't like about the L3800, though:

1) The steering linkage is full exposed up in the front of the tractor with no guards
2) On the right side, some of the hydraulics and what appears to be an oil filter of sorts is the lowest hanging part of the tractor, leaving them both pretty exposed, as well.
3) The 3-point hitch doesn't telescope at all(harder to hook up attachments), plus it has to be held together with a strap in the center to prevent it from rubbing the tires.
4) Can't add rear wheel weights to the L3800, plus it weighs approx 700 lbs less than the L3540, so the combination of the two probably means the loader would suck in comparison to the L3540 stability wise.
5) The seat is nicer on the Grand L - High back with armrests versus low back and no armrests, plus the adjustment for the seat spring is in the back on the L3800 and it's an easy to reach knob on the Grand L
6) The hump in the floorboard is substantial in the L3800 in comparison to the little hump on the Grand L.
7) I can see the lack of the tilt wheel would be annoying on the L3800, as well, because it's actually a pretty good reach to the steering wheel, and I'm 6'2".
8) I can't comment on the HST differences unfortunately.
9) The loader looks quite a bit beefier on the L3540 than the L3800, not to mention the standard size difference of 6" of box width and the extra lift capacity. Plus, if you opt for the HD loader, it's even more capacity and width.
10) I didn't get a measuring tape out to check diameters or anything precise, but the tires are quite a bit bigger, as well.
11) The rear axle appears to be quite a bit difference and beefier than the L3800 too.

At any rate, a lot of this I bet all of you know already. Maybe it will help some other newbie like me to decide on their own too. To me, I think it's still worth a drive on the L3800, but honestly, I'm leaning towards a Grand L model at this point. I'd almost think moving up to a MX5100 would be more likely of an option too, but who knows at this point. I'm still considering all my options I guess. Not an easy process, that's for sure.

Chris

All good reasons why I prefer the Grand L over the Standard L, the Standard L is a good tractor, my wife and I only took about five minutes comparing the two to decide the Grand L is what we wanted.

The MX5100 is a nice tractor, but doesn't have the HST+ and is a turbo which some people don't like due to the cool down period and worry about reliability. We have a turbo on our M8540 and haven't found it troublesome though it is nice not to have to wait a while for the turbo to cool down before shutting it off. As far as reliability, I don't see any reason for concern, but there is a rather lengthy thread on this and I think it got a bit contentious.

The MX5100 won't be quite as nimble as the 3540, but that may or may not be an issue; decisions decisions.

 

[ravencr]

Shoot, if I had the money I would have a Grand L!!! This is where you have to decide what is better for yourself (but I do like the comparison!!!) A few comments about what you wrote...

1) The steering linkage is full exposed - Yes, and I've bent mine.
2) hydraulics and oil filter is the lowest part - yes, but I don't go in the woods enough to know if it's bad, it hasn't been a problem reported on TBN
3) The 3-point hitch doesn't telescope Correct but Adding Pat's Quick Attach is much easier than telescoping ones.
4) Can't add rear wheel weights to the L3800, plus it weighs approx 700 lbs less than the L3540, You say that like it's a bad thing The loader will most likely be more than you'll ever need but maybe I'm wrong, it's more than enough for me.
5) The seat is nicer on the Grand L - You got me there, but for $6,000 it should have air suspension seat.
6) The hump in the floorboard is substantial in the L3800 in comparison to the little hump on the Grand L. - Ok, yes
7) I can see the lack of the tilt wheel would be annoying on the L3800, as well, because it's actually a pretty good reach to the steering wheel, and I'm 6'2". I'm the same height but the $6,000 in my back pocket puts the steering wheel closer (sorry I should filter some of my thoughts) Never notice the steering wheel as a problem since I'm always using it to get on and off the tractor.

Back to black and the weight of the tractor... I drive the tractor in the yard around my house and it leaves enough "dents" in the ground, heavier tractor bigger dents. When it comes to hauling the tractor on a 7,000# trailer (3,500 tractor, 1200 FEL/grapple, 1800 trailer, 500# implement) I'm maxed out. 700 lbs. more and I'm looking for a new truck and trailer... which sounds nice but after the divorce... I'll be selling the whole darn lot...

Size wise, so do you not have many trees? Pretty open space? I've put a couple of holes in my buildings :ashamed: Learning how far out the loader was. Just be careful.

I've beat this horse to death and then some... let us know how it goes.

All good points for sure. I usually go one extreme to the other when buying things. Most our cars are fully loaded top of the line models, but I recently purchased a decent used base model car too, and it's just fine, so I wonder every day I contemplate this if I'm going overkill for the sake of my natural tendencies to do so. Probably, based on your pictures, I need to see more pictures of these smaller tractors doing work, so I can get a better feel of exactly what they're capable of. To me, your 2800 seems to be handling that large tree no problem. Is that a barrel full of cement or something on the back to offset the weight? Your point about the truck and trailer to haul the heavier tractor is a concern of mine too, I guess. We'll be hauling the tractor, what little bit we'll be hauling it, with a tow vehicle rated at 10K lbs, so I'd say I don't want to go too much above your figures either. The grass indents it makes it definitely a concern too I suppose. At times when we'll be leveling our RV sites, we'll have to spend time with the tractor on the grassy parts of the sites to pull the gravel where we want it, so if your 2800 makes pretty substantial indents in the grass, I can imagine these larger ones are going to be way worse. That's something to seriously consider that I haven't really thought would be as big of a issue, honestly.

Thanks again for the insight. Now you've got me really thinking back to getting a more basic, smaller, lighter setup, and save my macho big boy bragging rights for another time...lol.

Chris

 

[ravencr]

Also add to your list the smooth operating 3 pt hitch hydraulic system vs the jerky Lxx00 system.

The requirement of a strap you referenced in item 3 I assume is because it has turnbucles for stabilizers instead of telescopic. The B's also have them but they are on the inside so the arms sag to the middle when there is nothing on the hitch. I hated them and after bending the 2nd one I replaced them with telescopic stabilizers for about $200 extra.

I didn't test the 3 point hitch on the L3800 like I had planned, partly because it wasn't an HST model and the other reason is they didn't have an implement to put on the back with test it with. They're not really even fully open as a new dealer yet. I see what you mean about getting the stabilizers as an option...something I'd definitely get if I end up with a L3800 after seeing the standard setup today.

Chris

 

[ravencr]

All good reasons why I prefer the Grand L over the Standard L, the Standard L is a good tractor, my wife and I only took about five minutes comparing the two to decide the Grand L is what we wanted.

The MX5100 is a nice tractor, but doesn't have the HST+ and is a turbo which some people don't like due to the cool down period and worry about reliability. We have a turbo on our M8540 and haven't found it troublesome though it is nice not to have to wait a while for the turbo to cool down before shutting it off. As far as reliability, I don't see any reason for concern, but there is a rather lengthy thread on this and I think it got a bit contentious.

The MX5100 won't be quite as nimble as the 3540, but that may or may not be an issue; decisions decisions.

Yeah, after some more thought, I need to get out of my head any of these bigger tractors, such as the MX series. I think I need to search for some pictures of folks using these smaller tractors to see what they're really capable of. I might end up with a B series...lol.

Chris