Tractor Sizing 2007 L3400 on the cheap for 67 acres?

[ahill195]

Hey folks I am getting out of the military in a year and moving to our property in Texas and it just so happens my Uncle is selling his place. He has a 2007 L3400 with a front end loader, cutter, and wood chipper. I have a about 67 acres, 3/4 of it pasture. (so shredding ~40 acres) I'll be running cattle, maintaining a ~2000 foot road, and other various activities one might do on 67 acres. My research up until this point has pointed me to a bigger tractor but I wanted to hear opinions as to whether I could make this work? I have as much farming experience as the city fella on green acres.

Thanks

 

[jeff9366]

If you do not have tractor operating experience, buy your Uncle's tractor and implements to learn with.

As helpful as T-B-N can be, personal experience is the key to matching a tractor to your requirements. After 500 hours on the L3400 you will have a good idea of what your next tractor should be and how it should be optioned.

I'll bet the L3400 will carry you through two years, at minimum expense.

The L3400 has a lot less emissions control equipment than current tractors, which many here would feel is a BIG PLUS.

 

[sd455dan]

Hey folks I am getting out of the military in a year and moving to our property in Texas and it just so happens my Uncle is selling his place. He has a 2007 L3400 with a front end loader, cutter, and wood chipper. I have a about 67 acres, 3/4 of it pasture. (so shredding ~40 acres) I'll be running cattle, maintaining a ~2000 foot road, and other various activities one might do on 67 acres. My research up until this point has pointed me to a bigger tractor but I wanted to hear opinions as to whether I could make this work? I have as much farming experience as the city fella on green acres.

Thanks

Well then you should be set, With a much more refined Kubota, considering Mr Douglas got by with a JD model G and /or a Fordson

seriously- the Kubota should do a lot of work, although if you end up using with large hay bales or working the ground it may be helpful to also get a larger/ heavier tractor for the big tasks.

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what Jeff said, we can all of course tell you what we would pick, but working with that tractor on that land for a while will surely let you know what will be your best next tractor will be. We have nice modern tractors now, but for a lot of years we used an old 50s model Ford and a 60s 955 Case (David Brown) occasionally borrowing my father in laws MF 375 for a day or so.

Along the way, you might want to rent a piece of equipment for a weekend to accomplish something beyond your 3400's ability and maybe get an idea of something to get in the future.

Good luck and thank you for your service.

 

[newbury]

Hey folks I am getting out of the military in a year and moving to our property in Texas and it just so happens my Uncle is selling his place. He has a 2007 L3400 with a front end loader, cutter, and wood chipper. I have a about 67 acres, 3/4 of it pasture. (so shredding ~40 acres) I'll be running cattle, maintaining a ~2000 foot road, and other various activities one might do on 67 acres. My research up until this point has pointed me to a bigger tractor but I wanted to hear opinions as to whether I could make this work? I have as much farming experience as the city fella on green acres.

Thanks

First of all congrats on your military service, many of us have "been there, done that, got the T-shirts". And welcome to TBN.

When you write front end loader, cutter, and wood chipper. many of us translate that into "Front End Loader (FEL) with bucket, rotary cutter, PTO operated wood chipper".

Is that what he's got?

Does it have SSQA (skid steer quick attach)?

If you do not have tractor operating experience, buy your Uncle's tractor and implements to learn with.

As helpful as T-B-N can be, personal experience is the key to matching a tractor to your requirements. After 500 hours on the L3400 you will have a good idea of what your next tractor should be and how it should be optioned.

I'll bet the L3400 will carry you through two years, at minimum expense.

The L3400 has a lot less emissions control equipment than current tractors, which many here would feel is a BIG PLUS.

jeff nailed it first.

If your getting what my kin refer to as a "family price" it's probably your best bet with least hassle.

Although TBN LOVES to advise for the biggest tractor you can fit on your property this is a great tractor if it fits your terrain. I've worked in parts of Texas that you would need a mountain goat, and parts where you needed a swamp buggy. But if your running cattle and have 3/4 of it needing cutting your land sounds fairly flat and dry.

Do you have a truck and trailer to haul the tractor?

We've got a Forum, Trailers and Transportation, which can help advise on trucks and trailers.

 

[ahill195]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll have to ask him about the SSQA.

Thanks for helping me with the verbiage and yes it is a Front End Loader (FEL) with bucket, rotary cutter, PTO operated wood chipper. After reading what Jeff posted that makes total sense.
I do have a truck (paying it off this year) but I am going to need to buy a trailer. The tractor is about 2 hours way and I am going to have to go get it.

 

[Fallon]

I have the same machine basically (L3200). Mowing 40 acres on any kind of regular basis seems a bit much. I can do about an acre an hour in decent pasture/field. Would be slower doing rougher ground. I have lifted large square bales with mine, barely. Its not nearly enough machine to do it safely really & is very hard on the machine.

I'm quite content with my machine size for my 5 acres, but think it will be undersized for 60 acres of cattle work, dangerously so if you are going to be dealing with large hay bales.

 

[jeff9366]

I have lifted large square bales with mine, barely. Its not nearly enough machine to do it safely really & is very hard on the machine.

Are you lifting bales on the FEL or the Three Point Hitch?

 

[big bubba]

is the tractor reasonably priced according to market? overall, all of the above advice seems good. i scraped by for decades w/a small massey 35 on 127 acres (25 cleared) until i retired. then decided to devote more work & improvement to the place..so went bigger. never looked back for a second. but in your case, probably wise to go simple at first & then decide future options/needs from there.
wants & actual needs are 2 different beasts i've always struggled with.... best of luck & congrat on your well deserved retirement.

 

[ahill195]

Thanks for all the replies. I think trying to get by with this for the next few years probably makes the most financial sense at this point. We are spending a lot to just get everything going out there. I have a question about lifting hay. I think the 3 pt hitch can lift almost 2000 lbs, is that what people normally use in smaller tractors? I am guessing they sell a specific attachment for that?