Researching my first tractor
- Thread starter whitet101
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murphy1244
Super Star Member
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- Kubota 1120 RTV Kioti DK-40, MF-135, Ventrac 4500Y
:welcome:
murphy1244
Super Star Member
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- Kubota 1120 RTV Kioti DK-40, MF-135, Ventrac 4500Y
Get your butt in as many machines as you can and test drive those dealers.
mguitas
Super Member
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- Schuylkill County Pennsylvania
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- Massey Ferguson 1423 Hydrostat
:welcome:
LD1
Epic Contributor
You are doing yourself a dis-service if you dont at least look at all the competitors models of similar size. Or at least the ones you have local dealers for.
That said, the L3200 and L3800 are great machines. Good value. Everything you need, and nothing you dont if all you need is a workhorse tractor.
That said, you didnt mention weather you are looking to go gear or hydrostat. If you go gear model, I would at least up to the L3800. Because the gear (GST) model L3200 has a transmission driven PTO. What that means is if you are tilling, mowing, or bushhogging, anytime you hit the clutch to shift gears the PTO stops turning. Whereas the 3800 has the 2-stage clutch, where you can shift or stop and let the PTO continue to run.
HST dont matter. THe PTO operates the same for both of them
That said, the L3200 and L3800 are great machines. Good value. Everything you need, and nothing you dont if all you need is a workhorse tractor.
That said, you didnt mention weather you are looking to go gear or hydrostat. If you go gear model, I would at least up to the L3800. Because the gear (GST) model L3200 has a transmission driven PTO. What that means is if you are tilling, mowing, or bushhogging, anytime you hit the clutch to shift gears the PTO stops turning. Whereas the 3800 has the 2-stage clutch, where you can shift or stop and let the PTO continue to run.
HST dont matter. THe PTO operates the same for both of them
OP
whitet101
New member
Thanks for the advise, have looked at the green machines and will again before final choice.
creekbend
Super Star Member
Welcome aboard. Best wishes.
texasjohn
Super Member
:welcome:
johnk
Elite Member
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- western NY
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- Kubota GST Grand L3130 w/ 723 loader, Ags
Welcome aboard. Good luck in your decision..
KYDan
Platinum Member
Welcome, and enjoy your quest. Check out dealers first, find out how long they have been in the area and talk to locals about their tractors. A good dealer is as important as a good tractor. Service after the sale and warranty work. For small tractors I am a Kubota fan, for bigger ones I like green or blue paint. I am on my second Kubota on the farm that I live on and I have nothing but good things to say about them and my dealer. If you have any farm shows in your area check them out before you buy.
TripleR
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- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
I really can't improve on the advice so far, spend time reading similar posts on TBN and consider all makes. If you are not that familiar with tractors, rent one the size you are considering for a weekend. Lots more people buy too small than too laerge and a tractor seems to shrink once you use it a while. Good luck.
kensnelling
Elite Member
Welcome from Oklahoma.
Ken
Ken
Briana03
Elite Member
Welcome to TBN 
I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons forum.
I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons forum.
keegs
Veteran Member
It's not clear from your post whether it's the case but if you've had little or no experience with tractors in the past, then my suggestion to you would be to give your quest some time. There's allot to know about tractor features, tractor brands, new versus used, tractor dealers etc... It's only due to a lack of cash that I've spent the better part of a year researching my purchase choice. I'm happy circumstances were such that I've had to wait. Good luck whitet101
jeff9366
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- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
"Probable purchase will be a Kubota L3200 with Fel, Backhoe and rotary tiller."
Do you REALLY need a backhoe? Heavy, expensive and ties up the three-point hitch. Trust me, you will not want to remove/replace that backhoe, so the rotary tiller will sit.
FEL, on the other hand, is always useful. Four wheel drive is essential with FEL.
Rather than a backhoe maybe a <$400 bucket spade on your FEL will suffice. L3200 is excellent size and weight to optimize bucket spade.
Link to bucket spade:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/266341-trees-removed-roots-using-fel.html
Do you REALLY need a backhoe? Heavy, expensive and ties up the three-point hitch. Trust me, you will not want to remove/replace that backhoe, so the rotary tiller will sit.
FEL, on the other hand, is always useful. Four wheel drive is essential with FEL.
Rather than a backhoe maybe a <$400 bucket spade on your FEL will suffice. L3200 is excellent size and weight to optimize bucket spade.
Link to bucket spade:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/266341-trees-removed-roots-using-fel.html
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OP
whitet101
New member
Keegs, I have the same lack of cash dilemma, I have never owned a tractor but, have been using them for many years.
It is likely i will postpone the backhoe till later. for financial reasons.
It is likely i will postpone the backhoe till later. for financial reasons.
alltherage
Silver Member
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- Nov 15, 2011
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- Western NY
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- 2011 Cub Yanmar EX2900. 1939 Farmall A, 1940 Farmall H, 1959 Oliver 770
be sure to check out the Yanmars...you can often get a lot more tractor for the same money compared to other brands....well built with great value
OP
whitet101
New member
Jeff, this is a great tool and would be a perfect interum fix until I could afford the backhoe. I have very rocky soil. Any thoughts on how it works in rocky soil?
jeff9366
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- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
BIG rocks or gravel? Bucket on my B3300SU weighs 216 pounds + 110 pounds for bucket spade + FEL down hydraulic pressure [ ? ] + limit of tire traction pushing FEL [ ? ] = Total Available Force To Push Bucket Spade into ground. A pretty large force pressing on a sharp edge.
L3200 has a heavier bucket, heavier frame and larger tires. Yes, I think the bucket spade would work in gravel soil. If the rocks are granite boulders the sharp edge may be battered dull and require regular if not frequent sharpening. Learning to finesse the FEL joystick is important.
My soil here in north/central Florida is sandy-loam with some limerock, up to cantaloupe size. The bucket spade cuts right through limerock.
RE Backhoe: The three point hitch is where most interesting implements mount. You want it readily available; not tied up.
What is your projected use for a backhoe?
L3200 has a heavier bucket, heavier frame and larger tires. Yes, I think the bucket spade would work in gravel soil. If the rocks are granite boulders the sharp edge may be battered dull and require regular if not frequent sharpening. Learning to finesse the FEL joystick is important.
My soil here in north/central Florida is sandy-loam with some limerock, up to cantaloupe size. The bucket spade cuts right through limerock.
RE Backhoe: The three point hitch is where most interesting implements mount. You want it readily available; not tied up.
What is your projected use for a backhoe?
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