Tractor Sizing L2800 or B3200?

[Upd103]

OK, So here it goes. This is my first post, and it's a question, but I've been researching until I'm blue in the face. Sorry if I upset anyone.

I am researching our first tractor purchase. Unfortunately, I am in Afghanistan right now, and the internet is horrible so it hasn't been a fun process.

My wife and I own right at 6 acres. It's 99% cleared and very gentle slopping with a very shallow creek type area that seldom has water unless it has rained. There is one low spot that get's very wet after rains, and it is about 3/4 acre in size and the grass tends to grow quite fast there.

I am looking for a compact or sub compact in the 30 HP range. I am pretty sure this will be about right for us. I do not see a need for an FEL right now, but I would like to have the option later if I change my mind. I am mainly going to be using the tractor for brush hog mowing right now. Once we build the house (hopefully this next summer,) we will possibly use it for finishing mowing up closer to the house. I also plan on getting a small tiller to create and maintain a soft footed riding area for my daughters and their horses. The final implement would be a post hole digger for obvious reasons.

I have been looking at the L2800's and the B3200's, both in HST for the wife. I am torn because I don't know if the little bit of extra size is going to benefit me in the future with the L2800. At the same time, I don't want to purchase something that is too big for what I need, especially if I can save a little money up front.

These are just the Kubotas I am looking at, and I am looking at several other brands as well, but that's for an entirely different section. Given the fact that this is TX, there is no shortage of dealers within an hour drive of me. Most of the others I am looking at are compacts rather than subs.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you and God Bless,
David

 

[k0ua]

I think either tractor would make you a good one, but I think you should really consider the FEL. I know you say you don't need it now,, but see the thing is you just don't know you need it.. You need it.. Especially building a house. The FEL is the most useful thing about a tractor. It will be cheaper to buy and finance the tractor with FEL now than add it later. You will find all sorts of uses for a FEL around the house. Of course this is just my opinion, but lets see what some others say.. Good luck in your tractor choosing. And thank you for your service to our country.

James K0UA

 

[BlacknTan]

As far as the tractor goes, I suggest you buy bigger than what you now think you need, although the B-3200 or the l for that matter would be tough to beat.
For the front end loader, I agree with the previous poster completely!

 

[Upd103]

OK. Well I'm not a hard sell on the FEL. Most of the packages down here include them anyways.

The only other thing that concerned me with the L was that it seems to be an older model. I'm not a stickler on buy an older design, especially if it's a good product, but I am a little concerned with resale value. This is especially true if I get it and decide a few years down the road I need even bigger.

The B seems to have all the same specs, if not better, than the L. Is the weight and size really going to make that much more difference?



EDITED***
Thanks for the quick replies gentlemen.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I think either tractor would make you a good one, but I think you should really consider the FEL. I know you say you don't need it now,, but see the thing is you just don't know you need it.. You need it.. Especially building a house. The FEL is the most useful thing about a tractor. It will be cheaper to buy and finance the tractor with FEL now than add it later. You will find all sorts of uses for a FEL around the house. Of course this is just my opinion, but lets see what some others say.. Good luck in your tractor choosing. And thank you for your service to our country.

James K0UA

100% AGREEMENT WITH THIS. I bought my first tractor just before I started building my house myself. Have bought several since. I don't farm, I do my own landscaping on my acres plus use some of the current ones I own on rental acres. Get the FEL when you get the tractor. It moves the machine into another world that's 80% bigger than a tractor with no FEL.

 

[BlacknTan]

Hmmmmmm. Hard to say. In some ways, weight is a detriment, as when you're using the tractor on a groomed surface like a lawn, otherwise it's an advantage, as it provides stability an allows you to apply your horsepower to the ground, but kubotas have a reputation of ruinning out of traction before running oput of horsepower.
There are newer L models, and older L models. The L-2800 is an older L, but I don't think I'd let that stop me if the price was advantageous. The newer L's are the L-3200, L-3800 and L-4600.

 

[Upd103]

OK. Thank you again gentlemen.

It hasn't really answered my question, LOL, but then again, I guess the question is one of preference and can't really be answered by anyone but me any ways. At least it does give me some insight on the reasoning behind it and the options.

I guess the next step is to look into pricing. That's the real part of the process that I don't really care for.

David

 

[frogfish]

I have approx 70 acres of woods and maintain it with a B3200 with FEL and have been very satisfied with it. I admit there are times I would like/need bigger but for 95 % of my needs the B3200 is great. The other 5% I've found I just need to be a little creative in getting the job done.

You don't really mention what you plan to use it for mostly.

I would also agree about getting the FEL, you will find uses all the time for it.

 

[BlacknTan]

OK. Thank you again gentlemen.

It hasn't really answered my question, LOL, but then again, I guess the question is one of preference and can't really be answered by anyone but me any ways. At least it does give me some insight on the reasoning behind it and the options.

I guess the next step is to look into pricing. That's the real part of the process that I don't really care for.

David

Well, it's really hard to answer the question for another person, and I usually never attempt to as it's a VERY individual question. That said, the B-3200 is a great tractor... It works bigger than it's size, and would be tough to beat. I'm not recommending it for you though... I don't want you to come back later and say you wish you had gone bigger, but it IS a big little tractor.. But, again, the front end loader should be included without question.. You'll be glad you did!

Good luck in shopping, and Thank You for your service to our country!

 

[Upd103]

Oh. I was being just a little sarcastic. I apologize. I know that it isn't a question that anyone can answer for me. But you did give me insight on both options. And thank you for that.

 

[Upd103]

I have approx 70 acres of woods and maintain it with a B3200 with FEL and have been very satisfied with it. I admit there are times I would like/need bigger but for 95 % of my needs the B3200 is great. The other 5% I've found I just need to be a little creative in getting the job done.

You don't really mention what you plan to use it for mostly.

I would also agree about getting the FEL, you will find uses all the time for it.

It will primarily be used for mowing, tilling, and fence posts. All of which I think either one of the models will do without a problem.

 

[BlacknTan]

Oh. I was being just a little sarcastic. I apologize. I know that it isn't a question that anyone can answer for me. But you did give me insight on both options. And thank you for that.

No need for apologies, I took it the way you meant it... Glad if i could help a little bit. Let us know what you eventually decide... WHATEVER color it is! LOL

 

[k0ua]

Also you should look at other brands, and try them on to see how they fit.. Not trying to talk you out of the Kubota, as they make great tractors,have a high resale value, and I have owned 2 of them myself, but you should look at others, especially if they are represented by dealers you can trust in your area. You should spend some time on the tractors if at all possible. Some tractors just don't fit some people very well and others feel "right at home" Yes you should compare spec's but spec's don't tell everything.. What I am suggesting is do a lot of research, both here and elsewhere before you decide. Good Luck on what ever you choose. But what ever you do get that FEL (you can thank me later)

James K0UA

 

[Upd103]

Oh, I am definitely considering ALL of the options in my area.

All of this talk of staying with the larger frame even has me second guessing myself and considering the L3200 now as well.

Right now I'm down to MF, Mahindra, and Kubota. I was considering JD, NH, Case IH, and Kioti as well, but I have eliminated those for one reason or another. I may still consider those once i get back statewide and see them in person, but as stands right now, those are my final three contestants.

I just left it out of my original post because I wasn't sure how strict the "Brand Specific" rule was enforced for this section.

Thanks again everyone for your help. I will go ahead and have the wife start looking at some of these. It will ultimately be her using it the most while I'm over here.

David

 

[jim_wilson]

First I would spend some time comparing the specs on the two tractors. Look at ALL of the specs, PTO, engine HP, etc.

Also look at the specs for the FEL and the appropriate backhoe for each tractor and see how they compare.

Then at least you will be comparing numbers against numbers. If there is something that REALLY stands out that makes one tractor better than the other - then keep that in mind as a big plus for that tractor.

I recently bought a B3200. When I was trying to decide which one to get - I also looked at the B3300 and the L3200 and L3800. I pretty quickly ruled out the L3800 because of the cost -and I didn't think I REALLY needed the extra capacity. I only have a 1/2 acre lot (that is going to get a lot of work done to it) - and I do a few favors for neighbors, family, etc here and there. The L3800 has definitely more capacity all around than the B3200 or L3200 - but the added cost just wasn't worth it to me.

Then I looked pretty hard at the L3200 vs the B3200. The L3200 has some increased capacities over the B3200 - but in the end what sold me on the B3200/B3300 was the just the "feel" of the tractor when I was on it. The L3200 just felt bigger enough to me that I thought I might have some maneuverability problems in my small lot. Plus I just liked the more refined operator station on the B3200. One of things that turned me off to the L3200 was the joystick position. On the B3200/B3300 the joystick is mounted right next to the seat. There's adequate room to be able to get off the tractor - on either side. On the L3200 / L3800 - it's only possible to get off the tractor on one side. The joystick is in the way to much on the right hand side to really be able to get off the tractor on that side.

I know this might be hard to do - since you are in Afghanistan. But if it was me I would not make a final decision without actually sitting on the tractor.

I know you said you're not going to get a FEL - but I would definitely recommend it. You WILL find a lot of uses for it once you get it.

And that is another thing I would look at on both tractors. I believe the L2800 you're looking at is a previous generation L series. Look at the FEL setups on both, how they attach - how easy each is to take off the tractor , etc. Also look at the backhoe setup for each tractor from Kubota. Does the L2800 have a four point setup like all the new backhoes do? (means easier to connect and disconnnect from tractor) - or does it have one of the older style subframe setups where you have to take the whole frame off to get the hoe off the tractor. The older style subframe setups are a real PITA to get on and off the tractor (to my understanding). The four point setups can be on or off in 5 minutes.

 

[Upd103]

Wow. Thanks Mr. Wilson. Tons of good information.

You are right. I have no intention of making a final decision until I get home on leave in December.

After reading the posts here, I am seriously considering the L3200 as well. I think it will be between the B3200 and L3200 if I go Orange.

I don't have the maneuverability concerns that you had given the size and layout of my lot. I also think i like the idea of a little wider, longer, and heavier frame in the L3200 as I have found it is possible to get at least one wheel off amber enough to spin on the 3240 that we use occasionally to mow. That tractor has the same FEL joy stick that you mentioned and I never real find it too cumbersome (personal preference I guess).

I will have the wife go sit on them too. She has as much, if not more, say so in this as I do.

 

[jim_wilson]

Wow. Thanks Mr. Wilson. Tons of good information.

You are right. I have no intention of making a final decision until I get home on leave in December.

After reading the posts here, I am seriously considering the L3200 as well. I think it will be between the B3200 and L3200 if I go Orange.

I don't have the maneuverability concerns that you had given the size and layout of my lot. I also think i like the idea of a little wider, longer, and heavier frame in the L3200 as I have found it is possible to get at least one wheel off amber enough to spin on the 3240 that we use occasionally to mow. That tractor has the same FEL joy stick that you mentioned and I never real find it too cumbersome (personal preference I guess).

I will have the wife go sit on them too. She has as much, if not more, say so in this as I do.

If I didn't have such a small lot - I probably would have gotten the L3200. They are VERY similar in size. The L3200 has the advantage over the B3200 in weight - and it has a SSQA (Skid Steer quick attach) option for the FEL bucket. This is a major upgrade over the B3200 if you start swapping implements off the FEL arms.

 

[k0ua]

If I didn't have such a small lot - I probably would have gotten the L3200. They are VERY similar in size. The L3200 has the advantage over the B3200 in weight - and it has a SSQA (Skid Steer quick attach) option for the FEL bucket. This is a major upgrade over the B3200 if you start swapping implements off the FEL arms.

I will second that motion.. If you ever think you might want forks or a Grapple. Or you like to make custom front implements. Please get the SSQA on your Front End Loader (see how easy it is for us to spend your money) I had an L3400HST and quickly found I needed forks, they are just so handy.. sooo. I went the clamp on fork route.. yes they work, and some guys are happy with them, but I wasnt.. I much prefer the SSQA forks I have now, so much better visibility, and lift ability (not so far out there clamped onto your bucket edge). But it cost me an arm and a leg to retrofit my tractor for SSQA after the fact, and would not have been near as much if I had got an SSQA up front, as an option. Now as to SSQA.. you gotta step up into the L territory to get SSQA, It opens up another vista of things you can do. I know we keep throwing all this stuff at you. Again. please research all of this yourself, but we just don't want to see you go down a road you cannot get back from easily.. In other words, maybe wish you had spent a bit more up front, instead of a lot more later. By the way a Kioti CK35 comes with SSQA standard, AND telescoping lower 3pt links and sway bars.. That is about $600 to have that put on a Kubota Standard L series... just saying.. oh and it has tilt steering wheel too.. You might not fully understand telescoping 3pt lower links and sway bars, now, but you will when you hook up a 3pth implement a few times and fight, knock, and cuss your way thru it without them. People have been hooking up 3pt implements for decades without them,, but it sure is a heck of a lot easier with them. just saying As always, we are here to advise and spend your money for you..we like it!

James K0UA

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Reminds me of when I was in Viet Nam. I studied information on cars that we could order while there for when we returned. That 1968 or 1969 Camaro 396SS was at the top of my list and that Chevy Nova SS was so delicious looking and that SS Chevelle 396, Oh What a car but alas I did not order from a catalog and when my Uncle took me by a friends car lot in Indiana in Sept 1969 a few days after I returned and was discharged I saw/drove this slightly used 1968 4 speed Green GTO with white interior I gave my money and drove off but still thankful for the days occupied with lusting after those Chevy SS's.

 

[kuboman]

Definitely try them both. I went with the B3200 over the L because I needed the extra maneuverability and I wanted the tractor mounted joystick over the loader mount. I also wanted the flat open platform. I would have preferred the L just because they are a tougher machine with a little more loader capacity but everything is a trade off. Oh ya, you think you don't want a loader but I know you do.:laughing::thumbsup: