Buying Advice 2720 or 3720

[ctcrtaja]

I will be buying my first "big" tractor. I am not sure on what model to purchase. I have 10 acres mostly flat with a slight slope here and there that will need to be mowed (want the cut to look nice).
300 yard driveway to snowblow/plow. Minor trench digging and gravel work.

Main purpose of tractor - mowing and landscaping. I would like something that cuts the grass nice. Thanks for all your feedback in advance.

The question 2720 or 3720 JD?

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I will be buying my first "big" tractor. I am not sure on what model to purchase. I have 10 acres mostly flat with a slight slope here and there that will need to be mowed (want the cut to look nice).
300 yard driveway to snowblow/plow. Minor trench digging and gravel work.

Main purpose of tractor - mowing and landscaping. I would like something that cuts the grass nice. Thanks for all your feedback in advance.

The question 2720 or 3720 JD?

I think you need more than the 2720. A good compromise would be a 3320.:thumbsup:

 

[creekbend]

Perhaps you will gain some more insight in deciding on a tractor model by going on this website TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors You can view specs and gather info in helping you pick the right model that can handle the tasks and conditions that you are planning to use it for. Good Luck.

 

[9973720wb19]

with 10 ac to mow, think about getting a commercial Zmower (i have a JD 997 with a 72" deck) and a small tractor with a FEL. I had a 3720 cab and the Z mower will mow circles around the tractor - faster and better job. with the tractor, you can add attachments later and needs come up - brush mowing etc, snow removal, etc.

 

[ctcrtaja]

Thanks for everyone's feed back.
Do the 3320's mow nice?

Also

I do not want to buy 2 seperate pieces..just looking for one machine that will do the listed tasks above. Thanks for the advice anyways.

 

[creekbend]

Thanks for everyone's feed back.
Do the 3320's mow nice?

Also

I do not want to buy 2 seperate pieces..just looking for one machine that will do the listed tasks above. Thanks for the advice anyways.

In regards to mowing nicely, that would largely be determined by the attachment you are using. The 3320 has 25 HP-PTO and has a rear lift of 2530 pounds. A finishing mower would probably best fill your needs, but that is your decision.

 

[PioneerMan]

Just my .02 but if your ground is wet or soft often then a 2000 series might be a better choice with weight. But with 10 acres you don't want too small of a mower...

And don't forget tire choice...

 

[creekbend]

Just my .02 but if your ground is wet or soft often then a 2000 series might be a better choice with weight. But with 10 acres you don't want too small of a mower...

And don't forget tire choice...

PioneerMan made a good point. The weight of the 3320 is 2900 pounds without cab.

 

[ctcrtaja]

So the 2000 series it is.
One last question, with a nice mower attachment will it cut the yard nice?
VS say a regular riding lawn mower.

Thanks again for everyones input.

 

[tomd999]

Hi,

Better have a lot of time to cut those 10 acres. A tractor with a 5 foot deck mowing at 2MPH ground speed will take 9.5 hours to cut that grass.

You need to either increase your mowing width with a larger mower or increase your ground speed (tough to do as your cut quality will go down quickly if you don't increase your blade tip speed )

Blade tip speed is the key to commercial mowing. The landscapers that you see "Flying" across lawns are taking advantage of very high tip speed that the mowers have. I used to run commercial mowers to cut my lawn when I had large areas to mow, for example on my property my Wright Stander with a 48" deck was about 20% faster per acre than my Deere 2520 with a 60" RFM. The difference is the tip speed allowed much faster ground speed while maintaining high cut quality. In order to have a high quality cut on the Deere, I ran it at rated RPM, in low range and about 2 MPH whereas the Stander was able to cover the ground at over 5 MPH. (I have since been bitten by the Deere 318 bug and now use that to mow)

If I were in your situation, with 10 acres of lawn, look to the commercial mowers for your lawn and forget about using a tractor with anything less than a 7 or 8 foot mower which would require a tractor large enough that you shouldn't be using it to cut your lawn.

My 2 cents,

Tom

 

[ctcrtaja]

Thanks Tom!

 

[BethesdaEC]

Hi,

Better have a lot of time to cut those 10 acres. A tractor with a 5 foot deck mowing at 2MPH ground speed will take 9.5 hours to cut that grass.

Tom

I have never used my 2520 to mow, I have a Bob-Cat FastCat Pro 48 and I can mow my 2 acres of grass in an hour and twenty minutes and that is with a lot of obstacles and a very irregular shape. My mower mows at 8 MPH, I have a hard time believing that a 2000 series can only mow at 2 MPH. I know that commercial mowers like mine have a very high blade tip speed, are the mowers for the 2000 series only available in lower tip speed setups.

 

[charleyfarmall]

Who mows at 2mph? Even on my simplicity I go faster than that.

I have a 2720 and a 3320. For what you want, the 3320 is fine and you don't need the 3720.

It's true that on the R4's the 3320 is kind of heavy for the lawn if it is wet and the 2720 is better. However, you can put turf tires on the 3320 and they have a nicer footprint. Even the 2720 dents the lawn when it is wet.

My 2720 has the 62D mower and it is basically a giant lawn mower. It's great. If I were you though I would get the 72" lawn mower to mow that much acreage assuming you want it to look like a lawn all the time.

I use the 3320 with a 6' flail mower for larger areas that I don't have to mow around trees with. I also don't mow those areas as frequently.

Is your lawn or property really wet most of the time? if it's not, the 3320 cab with the 72" deck and a front mounted snowblower is a fantastic combination.
If you really are dealing with a soft property then the 2720 is going to be the better choice but there is no factory cab. Unfortunately, this is one are that the orange folks have Deere beat. However, everything else about the 2720 is better which is why I own one.

 

[jenkinsph]

I will be buying my first "big" tractor. I am not sure on what model to purchase. I have 10 acres mostly flat with a slight slope here and there that will need to be mowed (want the cut to look nice).
300 yard driveway to snowblow/plow. Minor trench digging and gravel work.

Main purpose of tractor - mowing and landscaping. I would like something that cuts the grass nice. Thanks for all your feedback in advance.

The question 2720 or 3720 JD?

What would you consider to be a reasonable amount of time to mow the lawn? Do you have alot of obstacles to deal with or just an occasional tree or shrub?

 

[sunnyside360]

I'm in the 3X20 camp for what you want to do. If you want a cab go for the 3520 or 3720 and if you want open station then save a few $'s with the 3320. The 72" 7-Iron MMM cuts very nice and the front mounted 59" snow blower works great on all. This is a testimonial.

 

[pdp11]

I have a 2520, which is nearly identical to the 2720. I mow 3.5 acres and based on my experience I'd estimate 8-9 hours for mowing 10 acres with my setup, which has a 62D MMM. I understand your desire to have one piece of equipment, I was the same way. I think that both the 3x20 models and the 2520/2720 offer the versatility and convenience you are looking for.

If I was mowing 10 acres, I might be tempted to go with a 72" deck. The problem with the 72" deck on the 2x20 models is the it is not an On-Ramp drive over type so it's more of a task to get it on and off. That might push me to the 3x20 series with the Auto-Connect 72" deck.

I would recommend going to a dealer and driving both series of tractors. When I got on a 3520, I really liked the tractor, but realized it was a little large to maneuver around some of the places I needed to mow.

As far as the weight of the tractor and risk to the lawn, I have R4 tires with the rears liquid filled, and I have no issues with tearing up the lawn. Depending on your soil and grass type, the turf tires might be a good option. Your dealer might be able to guide you based on what other owners in your area have experienced.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I first had a 3320 O/S with 72" 7-Iron but this spring switched to a 3320 Cab. I think they provide a reasonable cut quality and as for ground speed the smoothness of the ground will also have a big effect on how fast you can go. For me mowing was just one of the functions I wanted and the additional FEL capacity pushed me into the 3x20 series. A couple of times I wished it was a 4x20 instead.

 

[tomd999]

Hi,

I know a few have questioned my 2MPH speed, Yes, it does sound low and most people don't "mow" at that speed. However mowing is more than flat and straight lines, when you turn, you slow down, when you go around an object you slow down, you stop, you back up, you roll over already cut areas while making turns, etc. In other words, average ground speed is far lower than you go in a straight line

After all is said and done, most people average about 2MPH with a tractor and about 4 on a commercial mower. True landscape pros will average in the 5 to 6MPH range but they are a lot more practiced minimizing non cutting time and more skilled in operating the machines than the typical homeowner as they put about 50-60 hours a week on them cutting.

Tom

 

[JD3520Turbo]

for that much mowing I would go the 3000 series. I would look at the 3520 and see if it is much more than the 3320. You get more torque and hp because they add a turbo on the engine. The 3720 has a turbo and inner cooler as well. I would look at those and compare prices. You might find that you can into a turbo version for near the same money. Especially if they are in dealers stock. I would not go lower than a 3000 series for what you are wanting.
Good Luck.

 

[Phunge]

No way i'd use a 2x20 size tractor for 10 acres (I own a 2320). I'd have a 3520 CAB with turf tires and a 12' flex-wing mower: