B3030 Owners - How did you decide?

[lincolnvt]

Hello all:
Coming over from the Deere discussions b/c I can't find the right tractor or price for me. I have 10.1 acres in Northern Vermont, mainly wooded with a ski trail going through that I maintain with neighbors. A lot of downed wood to clean up from the lot clearing up to 24-36in diameter at times but most smaller. Putting in more lawn total to be about 2 acres, some brush hog work and a 500 ft gravel drive to maintain. The deere 3000 20s seem too big and heavy to me, the deere 4115 too little without enough grunt. I think the 3030 may be the way to go. Interested in hearing your thougts - great posts here I think I may look good in Orange. Oh, no tractor at this point but have put a lot of hours on neighbors. Like the deere hydro how does bota compare, also how do you like the fel design/ control as compared to deere (if you have had a chance to compare) Thanks a lot guys (sorry about mentioning the "d" word so much...hahaha Brad

 

[gippolit]

You should also consider Kiotis they make great tractors. I would recommend a dk45s.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I don't use a B3030 but I do use a B2910 which was is the model that the B3030 replaces. The B3030 is sort of the sports car of the 30hp class of tractors, it is smaller than any other model I can think of, it is also lighter than any other model I know. As such it has its limits in terms of capacity, but what it gives up in brute force it makes up for in agility by allowing you to get into spaces that many other tractors simply don't fit into. For example the next size up in the Kubota line up is the L3130 and it weighs in at a half a ton more than the B3030 and is physically sized up in all dimensions accordingly. As you don't seem to want to go with a large tractor, as witnesses by your like of the small frame 4115 and your dislike of the 3x2x series Deeres, then the B3030 is probably the physical size that would suit you very well. It is only marginally larger than the 4115 but packs a 30hp engine to give you larger PTO powered implements. The light weight of the B3030 will limit your bush hog to either a light or medium duty unit, no heavy duty hogs on the back of an ultra light tractor unless you want the tail wagging the dog!!!

I was playing around at the local JD dealer and got to play with the loader control set up on a 790 and a 4310. Most JD tractors have the loader control on the right fender to the right of your knee. Most of the Kubotas have the loader control valve sitting to the right of the steering wheel mounted on the loader support. The Kubota loader lever is positioned to it is in line with the center of the steering wheel and feels quite natural to use (for me). The JD sits by my right knee and also seems quite natural. I honesly would be happy to use either one, I'm sure there are some that have a preference. In my mind you will get used to it either way without any issue. Intersting, but on the New Holland line, the smaller machines have the loader control mounted just like the Kubota and the larger machines are mounted like the JDs.

I would say that the B3030 will move the 24-36" trees, but may struggle at times due to its light weight. It really depends on how long the logs are and their total weight. If you are looking for a fairly small tractor, it is a dynamo in its size range because of the power it has. No other brand has a similar model that I know of; I also don't know if this is the right tractor for you, but it is a nice machine. When you figure the engine produces the same power as tractor that are often about a foot and a half longer, and 800# to 1100# heavier, this is a small but powerful machine.

 

[lincolnvt]

Bob,
Thanks a lot for your input. It is one of those deals where the larger frame may help me out for a 6mth to 1 year time period but be too much for the long haul. Appreciate your time writing back to me.

Brad

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Brad, I think a lot of people look at their current projects and size their tractor for those projects. The reality is you need to size the tractor for the long term use. That means you have to deal with a compromise. So if you have big projects up front and buy a smaller tractor your initial projects will take longer but when those are done you will have a suitable sized machine. On the other hand, if you buy a size for the initial work, you have a tractor large enough to do the initial jobs quickly but will have to compromise long term on your tasks and will have to deal with not fitting into some spaces, dealing with excess weight issues.

 

[lincolnvt]

thanks for the suggestion - will check it out. Keeping my options open

 

[RexT]

Have you looked at a New Holland TC30 or TC33DA. I've spent the past several weeks looking at tractors to fit my similar situation. I also have 10 acres of wood on a mountain side. I looked at the JD 4310, Kubota 3030 and finally a NH TC33DA. I've owned JD's for 20 years but was set back by the price. Loved the 3030 size but even the dealer warned me about the light weight. The Nh seemed to fit the bill. It weights about 700 lbs. more than the Kubota, has a stronger FEL with better visibility and was only about 6 or 7" longer (99" to 106" I think, short than the JD 4310 and not as heavy if used to mow lawn). It also is a hydro with a treadle peddle like the 3030. I also found the position of the FEL control to be much easier to operate than the Kubota. It is similar to the JD. The main thing for me was the price was not much more than the 3030. I was lucky and found a last years model w/ supersteer ( which will work great in the woods) for $14,200, not counting the FEL. I had priced a 3030 w/ FEL, R4 tires, 60' bucket and a 5' rotary cutter for 17,995 and I'm getting the TC33DA w/ supersteer, R4's loaded, 15LA loader w/ HD bucket and cutter for $19, 400. If I add a tootbar it's $375 more. Prices may be higher in your area but here in Georgia I felt that that the NH was worth the extra $1500. The JD dealer wanted 23K for a similar setup. Don't get me wrong I think the 3030 is a really nice small frame tractor but I feel the extra weight and power makes the NH a better fit.

 

[btolle]

Bob wrote an excellent response. One thing he did not mention on the weight issue is that you could fill the rear tires to 75% and add several hundred pounds to the weight of whatever you buy. That might be helpful with the larger logs.

I am clearing some woods with a B7510 (21HP) and found that I was spinning the R4 (bar) tires on some occasions. Filling the rears to 75% cured that issue. I can often bog the engine down with no wheel spin.

You could unload the tires later when you finish the heavy work.

BTW, I have never tried another brand of loader but the Kubota loader valve handle is quite convenient for me. I can take my right hand off the steering and only have to reach about 10" to operate the loader valve.

Bill Tolle

 

[lincolnvt]

thanks - i had looked at a TC33da earlier - probably need to revisit it. It seems like a great tractor. My dealer has also "warned" me about the light weight of the 3030 - I would definitely load the rear tires on it. Do you feel the NH has a good hp to wt ratio? Thanks

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I think the TC33 is a great tractor. It is sort of a mid-size tractor in the roughly 30hp class of machines. There are lower powered machines that weigh considerably more (Kioti CK30 is a 30hp, but weighs a couple hundred pounds more; Kubota L3130 is 32hp but weighs a few hundred pounds more) most people believe both of those are pretty darn good machines so the HP/weight ratio of the TC33 is going to be better than most other machines, it also is sort of a middle size machine not being quite as large as some of the other machines. It would be hard to say that New Holland makes lightweight tractors, they simply do not, but they do have a nice size to power ratio that many of the other brands do not have. The TC33 is not an ultra-light like the B3030, but it is not a heavy weight machine either. Personally, between the two machines, I really like the TC33, but that is just my opinion. Another really nice choice but it is both heavier and larger than the B3030 is the 32hp JD 4310.