3520 v. 3720

[jcmseven]

Fellow Posters:

I have a question to pose to the group of experts here. One of my physician collegues bought 12 acres recently and is interested in buying a new tractor. He has seen my 3720 and really likes it. He (and I) believe due to the terrain and tightish areas on his property, he really would be best served by a mid frame machine. His question to me was: will the 3720 out perform the 3520 in "real world" work? He plans to do much the same as I do with mine. RFM work, some loader work, and some blading. He may also do some rotary cutting, which I do not do with mine. His inquiry brought to light a debate about the 4310 v. 4410. Is the price difference and hp difference worth it? I have found my 3720 to be quite powerful and I have yet to find a task it cannot do easily. I have not yet been able to run the 72" RFM through any grass that remotely bogged the engine. Would my advice to him be that the 3520 would be fine, and to save his money for a n extra attachment? I have already said I would not go with the 3320 for him because I figure it has about the same power as my 4310 did, and it struggled some on hilly terrain (less hilly than his) without powering an attachment. I have not operated a 3520 for comparison, so I suppose I am asking for those that might have. Thanks for the help. He is looking to buy within the next two weeks, so I told him I would try to find out before then.

John M

 

[beenthere]

The only difference between the two is the HP, IMO.
Not sure what your mention of "he really would be best served by a mid frame machine" has to do with it, as both are mid frame machines, from what I have been reading.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from getting the 3720, unless I didn't want him to have the same power as I have.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jcmseven]

Beenthere,

I should have been more clear. I am sorry about the ambiguity in the mid frame statement. I meant that the tractor size he is looking for would be a mid frame, as the large frames are too large for many places on his property. His big question, and one I could not assuredly answer, was would a 3720 offer him enough day to day performance enhancement to merit the extra cost? Of course, secretly I want him to get the less powerful machine so I would continue to have the only 3720 on our staff!!!

John M

 

[beenthere]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Of course, secretly I want him to get the less powerful machine so I would continue to have the only 3720 on our staff!!! )</font>

I guess I can buy that argument /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I don't think I would sleep well though. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Be careful, or he may out-fox you and go bigger.
I talked and teased my neighbor about getting a tractor like mine, and he upped me one more when he bought the 4500. Makes my 4300 (mid frame) look small. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[GeorgeC]

37hp vs. 44hp.
Almost 20 more ftlb.s of torque is the major difference.
For just $1,800 more, it's a no brainer IMHO.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I can run my 3720 down pretty hard with my 6' Harley rake in soddy conditions. No substitute for power...

 

[HuskerInVA]

The 3520 is a very capable machine and it's done everything I've asked of it. When you push it too hard, load match is your friend. I have pushed the engine on occasion using my 84" RFM in 3+ ft tall grass in my waterway witch finally dried out enough to drive through, but it did do the job. I know it's not the 'correct' tool for the task, but I use what I've got.

I was originally looking at a 3320 and decided for the $1500 more it was worth stepping up to the 3520 to get the 30 pto HP. The additional $1800 to go to 3720 wasn't happening on my budget.

The 3520 will do everything he needs. But if budget is not a big concern... No one ever regrets getting more HP.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Husker put it well, if you get a 3520, you save some moiney and notice which position LoadMatch is in. John,on the rest of the line the switch to the left of the steering column actually DOES something. It is a mere foprmality on your 3720... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The big deal with the 4310/4410 debate was really centered on a consistant typo that Deere had in their specs. It showed the 4410 as some kinda torque monster. The debate was whether it really was or, if in fact it was just incrementally better than the 4310. The 4410 and the 4310 are the same machine, except that the 4410 has a larger bore (88mm vs. 84mm)

The 3720 lists an intercooler as the difference between it and the
3520. But there is more to it, The fuel setup is boosted, the intercooler is there to keeped the 'hepped up' system runnig smoothly. You are getiing more for your money getting a 3720 over a 3520 than 4410 owners got over the 4310.

But all of these are rated for the same attachments. So getting either will get the job done. (I have a fairly hilly place and have no issues pulling my MX6, but trust me I know when LoadMatch is 'off'!!)

So if your friend chooses the 3520, he will have saved some money and will either pat himself on the back every time he remembers doing so when he has bumped LoadMatch 'off'. or, he'll kick himself, thinking, 'Why didn't I go just that bit more and get the 3720?!!'

He's not on a fixed income, I imagine he could scrape together some loot to buy more tools later. But putting a couple of grand into his 3520 wouldn't make it a 3720...

But he will be fine with either one!

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I should clarify, by run down, I mean Load Match slows me to next to a standstill if things get balled up in front of the rake...

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Next to a standstill, but not stopped or engine stalled?