Ironman70
New member
Researched options and usage requirements extensively and have decided to purchase a new John Deere 3520, open platform, with a 300CX loader and medium duty MX-5 rotary cutter. I'll be clearing raw, wooded land for a cabin / garage building site, building a new 800' driveway through the woods, and upgrading/maintaining a 1.5 mile access road/driveway that's basically an upgraded old logging road (needs fill in a few areas and extensive grading work (I'll add a land plane for this work next year).
To summarize: I'll use the machine on my 9 wooded acres and access to the property. I need my machine to cut brush, clear trees and do light logging and piling slash/brush for burning, build/maintain roads, light land prep and landscaping fill maintenance work, and plow snow in the winter. I don't plan to run a mid-mount mower as the price of a low time, used zero turn for finished mowing areas in the future is nearly the price of a 72" deck for this machine. And that will work in smaller tighter areas around trees. I also don't think I'll ever run a snowblower as the drive is just too long and too rough. I have a snowblower for maintaining small areas around the garage and house in the future. I plan to eventually add a front snow blade, a rear box blade, a land plane, and maybe rent a rear wood chipper or splitter in the future.
I've compared three machines. I have quotes on two brand new 2013 models and one on a carryover 2012 model with 4 hours on it. The machines are not apples-to-apples comparisons and that's what I'm looking for advice on.
Of the 2013 machines, both are specified with the larger tires and one has the mid pto option, one does not. They are coming in at $22K for the no pto option and the low $23K option with the mid pto (tractor only).
The 2012 machine with 4 hours has the smaller of the two tire options and no mid pto. I've inspected it carefully and it appears new, no fading, no damage, no rust in all respects. My final price quote is $19K.
Naturally, the 2013 machine quoting dealers are selling me on the value of the larger tires, 2013 newer model, and one of the guys on the need for a mid pto. I feel like I have oversized this tractor for my needs and plan to keep it for the long haul. While re-sale value is important, it's not a primary factor for me. I hope to have this thing for 25 years (or more).
Do I need the larger tires... really? I've driven the different tractors and they all seem very capable to me. Also, any "real world" advice on the mid pto? Does anyone think I will really miss this based on the description of intended use I've listed? One of the dealers (a good guy) stated: "I did some research and found if you don't have the mid pto option from the factory you don't get the rear SCV which is something your going to want."
The newer machines are significantly more up-front money at $3,200 to $4,300 more. That seems like a lot just to have a machine one year newer, with larger tires and maybe a mid-pto. But, I've never operated one of these long term. I just want to make the right decision for now and the future and have a machine I won't want to trade in. That will cost me more in the long run.
Any and all comments and advice welcome! Thank you!
To summarize: I'll use the machine on my 9 wooded acres and access to the property. I need my machine to cut brush, clear trees and do light logging and piling slash/brush for burning, build/maintain roads, light land prep and landscaping fill maintenance work, and plow snow in the winter. I don't plan to run a mid-mount mower as the price of a low time, used zero turn for finished mowing areas in the future is nearly the price of a 72" deck for this machine. And that will work in smaller tighter areas around trees. I also don't think I'll ever run a snowblower as the drive is just too long and too rough. I have a snowblower for maintaining small areas around the garage and house in the future. I plan to eventually add a front snow blade, a rear box blade, a land plane, and maybe rent a rear wood chipper or splitter in the future.
I've compared three machines. I have quotes on two brand new 2013 models and one on a carryover 2012 model with 4 hours on it. The machines are not apples-to-apples comparisons and that's what I'm looking for advice on.
Of the 2013 machines, both are specified with the larger tires and one has the mid pto option, one does not. They are coming in at $22K for the no pto option and the low $23K option with the mid pto (tractor only).
The 2012 machine with 4 hours has the smaller of the two tire options and no mid pto. I've inspected it carefully and it appears new, no fading, no damage, no rust in all respects. My final price quote is $19K.
Naturally, the 2013 machine quoting dealers are selling me on the value of the larger tires, 2013 newer model, and one of the guys on the need for a mid pto. I feel like I have oversized this tractor for my needs and plan to keep it for the long haul. While re-sale value is important, it's not a primary factor for me. I hope to have this thing for 25 years (or more).
Do I need the larger tires... really? I've driven the different tractors and they all seem very capable to me. Also, any "real world" advice on the mid pto? Does anyone think I will really miss this based on the description of intended use I've listed? One of the dealers (a good guy) stated: "I did some research and found if you don't have the mid pto option from the factory you don't get the rear SCV which is something your going to want."
The newer machines are significantly more up-front money at $3,200 to $4,300 more. That seems like a lot just to have a machine one year newer, with larger tires and maybe a mid-pto. But, I've never operated one of these long term. I just want to make the right decision for now and the future and have a machine I won't want to trade in. That will cost me more in the long run.
Any and all comments and advice welcome! Thank you!
