Advice on new 3520 Cab

[spindlewood]

Looking for some advice on possible purchase of a JD 3520 Cab

My situation:
27 mostly wooded acres, some steep slopes
500' of gravel driveway (sloped w/ 90 degree bend) and 1000' of sloped gravel road.
Lots of snow
No horses or farm
Big garden
Work a full time job - just a weekend and summer country property owner

Uses:
Gardening
Firewood - (dragging trees out of forest to the road)
Mowing the weeds on the road and fire roads - not a lot for a tractor, but weed whacking is getting old.
Lots of snow removal
Turning burn pile into chips for garden and landscaping
Post hole digging for structures, fences, etc.
All the other things that I never knew I needed a tractor for

I've been advised that much less than 40hp would leave me dissatisfied - the JD 3520 fits pretty well. JD is the dealer in town and the quote is as follows:

2013 3520 - $ 22,446
deluxe cab - $ 8,500 (they need to find one in the dealer network)
300cx loader - $ 4,549
Snow Blower -59" 2-Stage - $ 5,706
WC1105 Wood Chipper - $ 4,305
RC2060 Rotary Cutter - $ 1,580
phd200 w 9" auger - $ 1,120
filled r4 tires (he forgot to include in the quote - guessing $650)

Total=> $ 48,207 - $0 down / 0 interest => $803 / mo

Dealer says new 3037R would be $2k more (funny, I only see 3039R on JD site).

I'm trying to get over the sticker shock. Are these prices decent? The Snow Blower seems high as it is $4,131 on the JD website. Is it worth getting the older 3520 model (if the dealer can find one with a cab) or should I go for the new 3R series?

I've been plowing with the truck - 1 1/2 hours many times per winter. Is snow blowing with the JD cab a major upgrade?

I know that I can rent equipment to mow, chip, dig post holes, etc. However, I hope the convenience of having a tractor will be life changing and asking do I really need this to survive? Been here 8 years without a tractor, but I'm turning 60 and I'm finding things aren't quite so easy as they once were. Would love to hear stories of the difference a tractor has made for you.

Thanks for the input.

 

[murphy1244]

:welcome: Are you sure you want a Cab in the Woods?? What other Dealers are within 50 miles of you?

 

[spindlewood]

Are you sure you want a Cab in the Woods??

In weighing where the most / best use of the tractor will be, I've concluded that plowing could be one of the better justifications for the expense. I expect that I will have to limb up wherever I plan on going and /or stick to the fire roads. Is this unrealistic? I know replacing glass won't be cheap.

What other Dealers are within 50 miles of you?

Kubota is 75 miles away as is another JD dealer.

 

[murphy1244]

Wow, seems your at the mercy of JD, not a good place to be. Seems he wants to charge you list price. A Cab in the Woods is expensive.

 

[GManBart]

First off, welcome!

$35K for a cabbed 37hp tractor with FEL is pretty crazy IMO. The thing that would really hold me back would be the limited FEL capacity (1,600lbs to max height at the pins) of the 300CX loader.

Was the quote for Power Reverse or eHydro tranny? Do you know if that price included things like rear remotes, or other "extras" like SSQA on the FEL, telescoping lift arms/stabilizers, etc?

For less money I'd be looking at something like a Kioti DK45SE Hydro that would be a lot more capable.

The price for the snow thrower isn't out of line, and may be higher than the list price due to hydraulically adjusted chute and/or deflector controls.

 

[GManBart]

Looks like within 50mi or so from you there are Kioti, LS, TYM, and Mahindra dealers as well.

 

[George2615]

Looks like within 50mi or so from you there are Kioti, LS, TYM, and Mahindra dealers as well.

Agree. All of these can be had for less than 35K for a cab model in the 35 HP range.

 

[arlen4720]

Go to the "build your own" on the JD website. Configure all your options, then figure on 18% (or so)off. That will give you something to compare to the dealer's prices. Go Green.

 

[spindlewood]

Seems like most of the forum reading I did concluded with JD as the tractor of choice. Kubota's foot pedal arrangement turned me off. I never considered the other brands - but I will expand my horizons. I'm getting a second JD quote and a quote on Kioti DK40SE HST Cab.

Price will be better on the Kioti, resale will not. Is this a case of pay now or pay later?
I'm actually 90 minutes from the other dealers - a 3 hour rt drive. I might regret this - it is only 20 minutes from the JD dealer... Being this far away, I need reliability - will the other brands (non JD) be as reliable?

Guess it depends on the price difference. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[spindlewood]

Was the quote for Power Reverse or eHydro tranny? Do you know if that price included things like rear remotes, or other "extras" like SSQA on the FEL, telescoping lift arms/stabilizers, etc?

For less money I'd be looking at something like a Kioti DK45SE Hydro that would be a lot more capable.

Thanks for the reply. Your questions reveal my being "green" and inexperienced. The quote is for the eHydro. I doubt it included other "extras" as they were not mentioned. I took your advice and, as I said, am looking at a Kioti - although based on specs, the Kioti DK40SE seems more powerful than the JD 3520 and should be sufficient. If you have a different view, please let me know.

 

[murphy1244]

The DK 40 has 2700 Lbs of lift on the FEL with telescoping links and 1 remote.

 

[nc redneck]

Go look at Kioti. I doubt you will ever see dealer again if you do your own service.

 

[GManBart]

Thanks for the reply. Your questions reveal my being "green" and inexperienced. The quote is for the eHydro. I doubt it included other "extras" as they were not mentioned. I took your advice and, as I said, am looking at a Kioti - although based on specs, the Kioti DK40SE seems more powerful than the JD 3520 and should be sufficient. If you have a different view, please let me know.

A Kioti DK40SE is a great machine, and an excellent value. My dealer says he prefers the 45 over the 40 in a cab because of power loss when running the A/C, but if you aren't trying to run the largest possible implements off the PTO, it probably isn't a factor worth worrying about. They have a beast of a loader, and a very cool rear 3pt control lever that really makes attaching implements easier.

Based off how few serious warranty issues seem to get reported in the Kioti forum, I personally wouldn't be worried about dealer proximity. As an aside, any Bobcat dealer (if you have one close) would be able to get you most normal parts because the CT440 is basically a white DK40SE....different loaders, but same engine, tranny, etc.

 

[Red Horse]

My two cents-only reason for buying new is if y0u can't come uip with the cash to buy used. If you look on Tractorhouse.com you will find plenty of good deals on low hour used machines. Granted some of the asking prices are crazy but keep in mind- they are ASKING prices. On any given day some sellers are more motivated than others. Also check out craig's list or e-bay.

As for the cab issue, sure if you are careless and go in the woods you can break glass-or if you don't have a cab, loose some teeth if you are dumb enough to get a branch in your face! As always a little care and common sense goes a long way. And I think a 3520 is more than enough for what you want to do. Before I bought my 4720, I had a 3320 and let me tell you I pulled my share of good logs with that and handled plenty of snow.

Last comment, I would be more inclined to get the tractor with a loader and then shop around for decent used impliments like chipper etc.

As for the green color? I'm convinced-keep a Deere clean and well cared for and they are money in the bank!

 

[spindlewood]

My two cents-only reason for buying new is if y0u can't come uip with the cash to buy used....

I would be more inclined to get the tractor with a loader and then shop around for decent used impliments like chipper etc.

You hit the nail - zero down and zero interest (or Kioti rebates) is what makes a tractor possible. For the little I'm going to save with used (with the good resale values), I figure I might as well go new. Plus, with used, there is always the chance that the unit has problems.

Buying implements from the dealer allows them to be bundled into this deal. Yes, I could save buying used if I could find local implements - I am pretty far from any real city and so the pickings are slim.

 

[wolftree]

I am 63 and say you are correct in wanting a cab if you are going to blow or move snow. Take caution in the woods.

Your dealer may have a few used implements that he can fold into the deal rather than new if he can get creative in wrighting up the purchase order for the financing.

 

[terryknight]

i don't know what kind of hills or snow you get or hat your plow truck is, but i much prefer to use a truck than a tractor here, but i bet our snow is very different

 

[GManBart]

i don't know what kind of hills or snow you get or hat your plow truck is, but i much prefer to use a truck than a tractor here, but i bet our snow is very different

I used to live not that far from where the OP is, and in MD as well....very different. The problem there is that with a plow you can run out of places to push the snow to. It's also frequently dry snow that you can throw a long wys with a blower.

 

[spindlewood]

I used to live not that far from where the OP is, and in MD as well....very different. The problem there is that with a plow you can run out of places to push the snow to. It's also frequently dry snow that you can throw a long wys with a blower.

Very true. I'm in the Cabinet foothills in the Idaho Panhandle. The driveway gets narrower as the season progresses. By the end of the season, I'm having to pound the snow to make room. Only a matter of time before both plow and truck give it up.

*****************************

I got two more quotes - one from a JD dealer 75 miles away which was for more than the original quote. Instead of $35,900 for Cab and loader, it was $39,600 (he quoted a H160 instead of the original 300CX loader).

The other quote is from the Kioti dealer for the DK 40 SE HST CAB. I'll start a new thread in the Kioti forum to discuss it, since I'm seriously leaning that way.