B3030 vs JD What?

[MadisonK]

Greetings from Essex, MA. I own 3 properties that each are an acre approximately. Two of them in Essex, MA have lots of work that needs to be done including, stone wall work (lots of it), snow removal after plowing, grading and fixing of driveways, footings and foundations dug for several outbuildings, gardens to be constructed etc... The 3rd property is in Maine and will eventually become a ski house, it needs to be cleared, stumped etc..

I am therefore in the market for a small tractor with FEL and backhoe. I have a small JD tractor mower that is adequate for grass cutting.

I have been researching the Kubota line. I like the B2630 but the dealers all stock the B3030 because of the cloesness in price and added horsepower. Which John Deere should I be comparing the B3030 to?

If anyone has any other brand AND models to look at or thinks I should be looking at a different size or style of tractor by all means let me know.

PS - these forums are hands down the best thing about the internet! Thanks in advance.

Ken

 

[johan3400]

I would start by looking up the dealers in your area. Have a fun day traveling around checking out the other tractors. Sit on them, check out the controls and comfort. Get to know the salesman and ask to meet the service manager. There are a lot of good tractors out there and to me the difference is the dealer. Have fun

 

[ronjhall]

I would look at the 3120 or 3320. They have similar HP but weigh more. Here is a link to a thread where a TBNer bought a 3320. Click Here

 

[JimMorrissey]

3030 is a sweet machine. I'd take one for a spin when you have a chance.

 

[cart99]

This thread is the summation of all the comparisons (including JD 3120/3320) I did before I finally chose the B3030. Although I did not get a backhoe, it should still be helpful.

 

[MadisonK]

Excellent info. Thanks again.

I thought I had read that JD was coming out with a new line of machines that might be worth looking at. I think the model may be the 2320. Should I wait until these are available to make my comparisons?

 

[strokerduster]

jd compares the 2520 to the b2630 and the 3120 to the b3030.the 2520/b2630 is a good comparison. the 3120 is a much larger tractor than the b3030 and isn't a good comparison. i don't feel that jd has anything comparable to the 3030. just my opinion though. b3030 is nice.

 

[mace17]

I just wanted to comment that I just purchased a B3030 and have a similar take. I may have buyers remorse but I almost feel I should have purchased the JD 3120 rather than the Kubota 3030. My friend has the JD and it just seems like a lot more tractor for ~ $3000 more dollars. The 3030 is certainly nice and I think it is more refined (engine tuning, as well as overall feel) but the JD is obviously more capable of bigger jobs and things like the instument cluster and loader controls are much more pleasing. For me, this unit will be primarily used for mowing/maintaining 4 acres so the 3030 is plenty of tractor. My internal battle is over the fact that I could have purchased 1000 more pounds of tractor for 3000.

 

[MadisonK]

I can't find any info on the 3120 on the John Deere website. Any idea how much this machine would run with FEL and backhoe.

Thanks

 

[ronjhall]

I just went to <font color="green"> JD</font>'s site. I clicked on Compact Utility Tractors, The clicked on TWENTY series. 3120 was there. Click Here

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My friend has the JD and it just seems like a lot more tractor for ~ $3000 more dollars. )</font>

Spending more money will always get you more tractor. $3000 more into the Kubota line should put you up to an L3430 or L4400 - both of which will outspec either of those tractors by a huge margin.

 

[mace17]

yeah thanks. it is hard for me to explain what i mean. i am not necessarily disappointed with the performance of the B3030 nor Kubota in general. I realize the extra money would get me either a Kubota 3130 or JD 3120 both of which are fine machines. I am more lets say "anxious" that I spent 20k on a tractor that is 1000 lbs smaller than the next size up when the 3k more would have got me a 3000lb tractor vs 2000 lb tractor even though I dont really need the bigger one. I am worried I got ripped. You could say 20k/2000 lb = $10 per lb, or 23k/3000 = $7.70 per pound. I think it is just the size of the next size up tractors that have me worried that I spent too much for a tractor the size of the b series.

 

[Toolguy]

I went through the same thing trying to decide what to buy. I looked at the JDs and the Kubotas and narrowed it down to the B3030 and the JD 3120. Everything else was either too big or too small for my needs. I will use my tractor for lawn mowing 80% of the time so I took this into consideration when choosing the B3030. I liked the fact that it is 1000 lbs lighter than the JD 3120 with about the same HP. Lighter is better when mowing lawn, especially in the spring when the ground is wet and in the summer when it is very dry. The xtra weight is hard on the grass if you are trying to achieve a well groomed look. Since my purchase was a compromise between mowing and loader work, snowplowing, etc., I went with what I thought was best suited for me and I am not sorry. The 3120 was about $2000 more than the 3030 and if I thought it would have been better suited for my needs I would have spent the money and been happy. If you don't need more tractor than the B3030 then you just saved yourself $3000. Why is that a bad thing? It's all what you want and can afford. I don't think you got ripped on the B3030. It is a unique size tractor that JD does not have anything to compare to. The JDs are fine machines but are either smaller or larger in size. The other thing that swayed me to Kubota is their more simple mechanical controls vs all the electronics on the JDs. High tech is fine but, simple is good, too. I think you will be happy with your 3030 once you puy some hours on it and find out what a capable machine it is. Also, the $3000 you saved is not pocket change.