2305 vs 2520 vs 3320 - Need advice

[Dirt32T]

My Situation -
I have 7.5 acres, 3.5 will be finish mow (relatively flat and unobstructed), and about another 3 will be rough cut once or twice a year. (I currently have a 4' brush hog to use)
500' driveway to clear in the winter.
Land has not been tilled in about 5 years
Will need tractor to do a lot of landscaping (moving, dirt, trees, etc.) - FEL required
Wife will need to have a garden - tiller required.

I am debating 2305 vs 2520 vs 3320. I believe the 2305 will suit my needs, but I don't want to cut myself short. The 2305 also fits very well in my budget.

I am leaning towards the 2520, just a little bigger in size, has a full Cat 1 3pt, but this is very tight on budget. It has some nice features such as the new drive on mower deck. With the full Cat 1 3pt, I will not have to worry about attachments fitting.

However, when I talk to a freind who has a landscape business, he recommended jumping to 3320 and I would not fall short on any task, but this out of the budget for the 36 @ 0%, and I would have to finance for 48 @ 4.9%. However, I don't think my friend knows much about the newly released 2520 and how close it in size to the 3320 as compared to the 2305. Also, I am worried the wife may think it is to big for her (she will probably be doing most of the finish mowing).

Another thing - from reading on here, I am leaning towards the R4's for tires, because of the snow in the winter and the moving of dirt and landscaping in the summer. Just worried about tearing up the grass.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[RoyJackson]

Assuming you're OK with a gear transmission, I'd look at a 790. It would be a pretty good fit for your property and be within your budget. The 790 with a loader would be about the same price as a base 2520 without a loader.

 

[jcmseven]

If you can swing it go with the 3320 among your listed choices. It is a much more capable machine than the other two, not to say they are not capable, but they are not as heavy and cannot handle the same weight of attachments. The price of a 3320 over a 2520 is not that much really and with the current programs in place you could potentially get one for less than your think. I would really look hard at a 3320 before deciding, even if you think it stretches the budget a little. (I am NOT trying to bankrupt you).

John M

 

[BCNU]

If you are not in a big hurry why don't you wait for the 2320 that is coming out. It may fall more into your budget and give you the full cat 1 hitch. This was the tractor that I was looking at buying but I had to go ahead and buy one and couldn't wait until june( supposedly due then ), and my dealer never could find out any info on pricing so I ended up buying a 2630 Kubota. Plus their interest rate was 2.99% for 48 months or 0% for 36. You can find the specs on the 2320 on Stonehams website. It has the same engine as the 2305 and takes the same 200CX loader. Good luck in your decision !

 

[browns40]

Hi dirt,

Roy has a good point regarding "bang for the buck" the 790 offers... can your wife drive a stick? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

If MMM is not necessity you could add 3203 in the mix & get hydro... also would save some $ going with a rear finish mower, if your property is such... I have a feeling they'll look to move these aggressively if/when sales lag... they priced too close to the 3120 (which is another option) with less comforts...

Unless you really plan on doing a lot of ground engaging work, the 3120/3320/3203/790 range may be a bit big--and not the ideal lawnmowers in your post... and the smaller ones would be fine for tilling a small garden...

Do go for a true cat. 1 hitch... so many more options... limited by hydraulic capacity on the smaller machines though...

I think the 2520 is what you've narrowed down to--and a good choice!

Tell the salesman what tasks you are looking to accomplish (& how quickly) and get his opinion...

And geez, don't let the JD guy know you aren't considering blue, orange, red & all the other colors! You'll have a harder time getting him to budge! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Have fun!

 

[ddivinia]

I would look very hard at the 2520 - it should do everything you want. WHy the 3320 over a 3120? If power is not an issue, perhaps a 2320 would cut it. I think the 2520 is a super nice machine - drove one today to try it out.

D.

 

[RalphVa]

If you've any very uneven terrain, think about that plastic fan underneath the 2305. The others don't have it; I think, certainly not the 2520. The hydraulic cooler is in front of the radiator and cooled by the radiator fan.

You may want to consider getting something like a Keulavator for your garden after you hire someone else to till it the first time or rent a rototiller. If you soil is better draining than what we had in Lousiana or here in Virginia, you could get by with tilling it flat every year though. With a Keulavator (Agri Supply), you can make raised rows with 2 opposed discs.

I've a rig from an old JD M on my 4010 that I used to make raised rows and now maintain them with discs to run between the rows and 3 chisel plows in the rows. I just suggest the Keulavator because it's the nearest thing to it. You could also buy what's called a cultivator to rip up the rows themselves. The two would cost about the same as one rototiller.

The 2320 would do all you want; I'd think. My 4010 does all I need on my 8.5 acres. If I needed to push over large trees and remove large stumps, I'd have it done.

Ralph

 

[Dicky]

Hi

I have had the same struggles. I started out on our farm that we bought 2 years ago (6 acres let go for 20 years) with a JD 4100. That tractor would be somewhere between the 2305 and the 2520 in terms of capability. I had no problem with a back blade or the 4' brush mower, but the loader wasn't all I needed. I needed to move lots of dirt. For that reason, I upgraded to a JD 4300 which would be about the same size & hp as the 3320. I am truly amazed at the capability of the 4300 / 430 loader combo. Also, the 4300, because of its higher ground clearance, is less likely to be damaged playing in the woods or over rough terrain. Also, with the extra power and traction, I am able to pull implements that I do not believe a 2520 could pull from a traction standpoint. The only disadvantage I can come up with as compared to the smaller frame tractors are 1)They are a little bit harder to manuever in tight spots 2) It is too big for mowing around a house with lots of landscaping. For that I use a hand mower.

Hope this is helpful

 

[jd2210]

Obviously budget is the big question. I have 2210 with a 210 loader and I do everything you listed with it. If I were buying now and the extra coin I'd go bigger but I certainly have no complaints with mine (aside from the hydraulic filter placement which I HATE). As far as the industrial tires for snow reasons, whoever is feeding you that is a liar. I live in the great far north (just getting rid of our snow now) and my machine does about 50% of its work clearing snow with turf tires. Alot of it is on the drive way which gets packed and becomes ice. I have NEVER gotten my machine stuck clearing snow yet. My driveway is looped and I have a lot of scatter trees that make for some serious drifts. I've taken the machine trrough my bush, bogs and clay and have no regreats with the turf tires, and my lawn doesn't have those "R4 stripes" on it. Just my opinion.

 

[ddivinia]

I agree about the R4s. I drive my 4720 on my yard often and it has not torn it up. I would not buy turfs again. I had them on my 2210 and they were horrible.

D.