B3030 Help with Decision

[dedgett]

Hello All,

I'm trying to decide which tractor is best for my needs. I own an 8 acre parcel of land of which I'll be mowing about 4 acres. The property is on the water so I also have some clean up to do of my waterfront and a bit of brush clearing. I understand that the bx series should do a better job of cutting my lawn. I am pretty particular about my grass and I'm just questioning if the 3030 could do a nice job of cutting this as it doesn't have a suspended deck like the bx does.

I'm leaning towards the 3030 as it has more HP and can run larger implements but I'd appreciate any advice that you guys can give.

Thanks in advance!

 

[johnk]

I don't do a whole lot of mowing but 4 acres is quite a bit. Plus you have another 4 acres to deal with. In my opinion I would go with the bigger tractor. If thendealer was close maybe it's possible to bring out the bx and the 3030 and see what you prefer. You'll have the tractor a loooong time so get the right one.

 

[DiezNutz]

I am pretty particular about my grass and I'm just questioning if the 3030 could do a nice job of cutting this as it doesn't have a suspended deck like the bx does.

Are you planning to do anything besides mow...i.e., what other implements do you think you'll be using and how often? Give us something to convince us you need a tractor and wouldn't be better off with a nice commercial ZTR?

How picky are you? If you're Better Homes and Gardens picky, then you're already barking up the wrong tree. B3030 cuts nice, but can never match a ZTR with an 18K fpm blade tip speed. Tractor tires and the deck gauge wheels leave tracks in the grass (from pushing it down), but they're usually gone in a couple of days. Other than that I don't think it cuts much different from a BX.

Some make a big deal out of suspended over ground contact... I have both types and personally prefer the way the B3030 MMM follows the ground contours, which makes the grass look more even. Also my suspended deck will scalp in a few areas under conditions that the MMM won't no matter what (both have AS rollers adjusted correctly). The only drawback I see is the temporary tracks.

 

[Nik]

I have a BX23 and I would much prefer a B3030 for the brush clearing. My BX 23 and Brushcutter do only a fair job of cutting brush. This may be due to its low ground clearance smashing down the weeds and giving a poor cut.

I am thinking of upgrading to a B3030. I miss position control hitch of the larger tractor. I like the HST pedal of the B3030 over the BX23. My pedal has more resistance and often sticks when i remove foot pressure.

I mow with a Exmark 54" ZTR and it leaves an excellent cut and is faster than any tractor setup I have used in the past. The suspension seat also makes it comfortable.

My vote would be for the B3030 over the BX . If you can afford it , the ZTR for mowing and get the B3030 for tractor work.

 

[dedgett]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. Ok, here's a bit more info. My home has just been finished construction on this 8 acre parcel of land. I've had some larger gear (excavators and dozers) in to grade and clear my land. They've done about 75% of the real heavy work and cleared a nice parcel (3 acres) directly around the perimeter of the house.

I've installed irrigation systems on these three acres which feed out of the lake which has been fantastic in aiding the grass to grow as it's been very dry up here. So my immediate concern is getting something to use to cut this 3+ acres now. I'm getting tired of the 4-5 hours on my old Sears riding lawn mower (I've had to cut twice now and that's enough) - I eventually plant to cut about 5 acres so this isn't even an option with that machine... it could be used for trimming though.

Also, I want to continue with the clearing of the land outside of this graded area. The land is clear of any major hurdles but it has a lot of scrub brush and vegetation growing up which I"d like to knock down and eventually turn into lawn or some sort of finished area. This would involve bush hogging and then some sort of leveling (box blade??). There is also an area by the water that has quite a few trees which we'd like to make a walking trail through. This may involve moving a few trees but really more bushogging and then putting some stone down for a path medium as it is a bit wet there as the land is low (therefore, moving gravel or stone with loader work).

In terms of implements, mostly I see use for a box blade for grading, bush hog, post hole auger (digging holes for planting some trees), and that's really about it other than perhaps a rear finishing mower and maybe a broadcast spreader for fertilizer.

I don't have an endless budget as this house is stretching my resources a bit so I'd like to get a versatile machine that could assist in all these tasks. I spoke to a local dealer who seems to think that the BX-23 is a solid machine and one that they sell frequently to people for estate property management. The way I thinking now is that maybe the B3030 is better as it'll give me the horses and other goodies (position control) that'll help get the property cleaned up. Perhaps in a year or two I could trade in for a smaller tractor. I'm not super fanatical about my grass... I just like to have a nicely groomed lawn.

Anyway, any further input would be appreciated as I have to make a decision soon as cutting grass with the sears 42" cut isn't Fun.

Thanks!

 

[DiezNutz]

I'd say go with the B3030 then... obviously it's going to be the more capable of the two machines, especially when it comes to the BB and bush hogging. The PC 3PH will be quite handy for the BB. My guess is you'll never trade it in on a BX ... downsizing isn't allowed here, as it may actually cause the Earth to spin off its axis

You left FEL off your list of implements, although it was implied. And you're leaning toward a RFM instead of a MMM? There was a recent hot thread about what size hog to run on a B3030, if you haven't seen it.

 

[riptides]

Anyway, any further input would be appreciated as I have to make a decision soon as cutting grass with the sears 42" cut isn't Fun.

Well, you can always get a nice rear finishing mower for that class B. I ran a six RFM and it gave a really nice cut.

But to tell you the truth, I still have a collection of lawn mowers. rider mowers, and tractors to maintain my grass. Each piece has a unique purpose.
Manicure, Lawn, Pasture, Brush, forest trails.... etc. etc.

the tractor does a nice job of filling in, now and then....

-Mike Z.

 

[hazmat]

The B3030 is light enough to make a decent lawn mower (and is the "primary" summer use of my B3030).

Turfs are easier on the lawn, but many have had success being careful with R4s. In either case, you'll want to let the yard dry out after substaintial rainfall.

 

[The Gardener]

Perhaps in a year or two I could trade in for a smaller tractor.

You could very well be the first in the history of TBN to trade down, or, at the very least, the first to admit doing so should that ever come to pass. Furthermore, if anyone successfully trades down and expresses their delight with such a decision, I anticipate an increase in work load for psychiatrists nation wide - and in Canada.

I second the vote to buy a B3030. You'll appreciate the additional hp and the larger size of the rear implements that can be operated with its PTO. And, you can add a cab to the B3030 at a later date which, in my view, is a wonderful option to have available should A/C or heat become desired comforts for longer periods in the tractor seat.

Based on your property and your project descriptions, I would also suggest that you rent a boxblade and a post hole digger. If you do not own an open trailer, I'd suggest that you direct the savings [rent vs purchase] toward the purchase of a 2-axle, open trailer. You can then transport rental items from and to the rental location, and you'll have the trailer for endless other uses.

For what it's worth, we had a tractor that was comparable to the B2630 in size. We ran it constantly for 7+ years as we developed our acreage [nearest to the house]. It was fantastic to have. It seemed to be involved in every project. We finally sold that tractor because it was a 2WD model, and the further we ranged from the house, the more this limitation got exposed.

I offer this as a similar concern that you might encounter if you choose the smaller tractor as a one tractor solution. In our experience on our 15 acres, the obstacles and the projects get bigger as you range further from the house. And, that calls for more hp. In our case, it called for 4WD, but I also felt that our 25hp and FEL hydraulics were being taxed as we attempted to tackle larger obstacles.

Another consideration is a two tractor solution. It can be expensive, but it can also be done over time. Buy one and see how far it takes you.

You could start with a BX24. My next door neighbor owns one. It is amazing. You'd get the full benefits of a TLB. The backhoe is a tool that you will never stop finding uses for. In fact, it will end your need for a post hole digger. The BX24 will easily handle a lot of projects that you have on your list. If and when you find that the BX24 is over matched, you can add an L3400 or the L4400. That will give you a powerful, second tractor to take on those bigger projects. The same attachments can be rented for the L-series tractor.

BTW, I also cut 3.5 +/- acres with a 42" Sears mower. The BX24 offers a MMM that is larger. Most important, you can drive it three times as fast as the Sears mower. Your mowing needs will be solved.

Best of Luck!
The Gardener

 

[BAYOUBENGAL]

Hello All,

I'm trying to decide which tractor is best for my needs. I own an 8 acre parcel of land of which I'll be mowing about 4 acres. The property is on the water so I also have some clean up to do of my waterfront and a bit of brush clearing. I understand that the bx series should do a better job of cutting my lawn. I am pretty particular about my grass and I'm just questioning if the 3030 could do a nice job of cutting this as it doesn't have a suspended deck like the bx does.

I'm leaning towards the 3030 as it has more HP and can run larger implements but I'd appreciate any advice that you guys can give.

Thanks in advance!

My input would be the 3030 but with turf instead of R4s. My R4s are great but they are a bit harsh on my yard - hard packed dirt and southern hay grass. Certainly not manicured lawn. I bought a smaller unit (B7610) than I really needed and it cost me a buck or two to fix it.........