B7800 or L3400?

[newtattoobob]

I am in the market for a new tractor for doing general work around my place such as brush hogging, hauling fire wood, plowing a small garden, etc. I am either thinking about a B7800 with a FEL or a L3400 with a FEL. What are the major differences between the two? Also what is the going price for these tractors, I want to have an idea before I go to the dealer. Any pros and cons to the two tractors? Any input would be appreciated! Thanks Bob

 

[rosey]

How much land will you be maintaining???? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif....it would be helpful to fill out your profile so that other members can get an idea of your particular situation. I don't have that much experience with the particular models that you asked about but if you do a "search" in this forum...(just type in the model #s) you may get past discussions on this topic.

 

[theboman]

Seems to be a few other models between those listed too, but you need a Kubota : ) We are kinda fond of the orange critters.

 

[gunman35]

I just recently purchased an L3400 but didn't get the FEL. I know, big mistake! I didn't feel like pushing my luck with the wife. Anyway, I really like my 3400. I prefer gear drive to hydro but that is my opinion. I use mine mainly for mowing during the summer months and garden and other chores when needed. Like I said, I like the 3400 after many years on an old bolens g152. I have no problems mowing as I have very few trees in my yard. It handles well for it's size. I've had mine for about a month now. Have ran up several hours and I'm still smiling when I get to use it. I paid 10,900 with folding ROPS and tires filled. And they delivered it to my house which is about 35-40 miles from dealer. I have 6 acres and use it on my in-laws 3.5 acres just down the road from me. Hope this helps you with your hard choice. Gunman

 

[Theowegian]

Welcome to the forum.
You might check out this website for info on the B series. I dont know about the cost of the 3400, but I just negotiated an L3130 and I think I bought it for about 86% of retail.

Good luck and keep us informed of your decisions.
dwight
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Kubota, B series prices

 

[soarkrebel1]

I am a little bias cause i have a L3000dt so i say the L3400.
i saw one and was kind of impressed with the new look. can't trade /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif wife might divorce me .

 

[Metlergy]

The L3400 is a very nice and very simple tractor. Awesome power and stability for it's size and good FEL capacity. (LA463 vs LA402). Unfortunately it's not available with HST or MMM. I may have gotten this tractor if only they offered a MMM. I don't mind shifting.

If you are inclined to use a RFM, and don't mind shifting, the L3400 is more tractor for the $$$.

 

[BigMike]

Well, I am new at this, just bought a B7800 and have not even taken delivery yet, but I went with the B7800 over the the L3400 because of the HST. I will be doing a lot of FEL work and that transmission will save me time and effort. Also, the wife can drive it more easily and safely (trust me, if they can drive it, they will be much more agreeable). Once I had decided on the HST, the choice boiled down to the B7800 and the L3130. Price and workload were the factors here. My workload did not justify the extra cost of the L3130, so I opted for the smaller frame and a smaller FEL (figured I had more time than money). I think most people who go with the HST do not regret the choice. Hope I was some help, good luck.

 

[snmhanson]

I've got about ten hours on my B7800 now and I am very happy with it. It is my first tractor and really has it's work cut out for it. So far though it has done everything I've thrown at it (FEL work, popping rocks out of the ground, moving relatively large rocks, box blade work) with a smile on it's face. I went with the 7800 because it was the biggest most powerful tractor I could get that still will be a decent mower with a 60" mmm and turfs, although some think it's a little large for mowing. We'll find out. I really like the hydro tranny and for that matter everything else about the tractor. I can't give any input on the 7800 versus the L series because I was only looking at the B series, but the 7800 to me seems like a very capable and versitile tractor, especially compared to the B7510 that I was demoing before it. (Although the 7510 would probably be better for some jobs such as mowing) Just wanted to let you know what my experience has been so far. I paid $17,700 for the tractor, FEL, 60" mmm and a used rear fork. The box blade (Bush Hog SBX-650) cost me $575 more.

Matt

 

[Muleskinner]

I have 60 hours on my new B7800. I use it to maintain my 20 acre horse ranch. I absolutly love the HST tranmission for FEL and scrapper work. The quality of the unit is impecable. I guess if you are going to maintain a large piece of property like plowing fields and such, you would be better off with a larger tractor. I would be okay with a standard gear box for plowing and mowing, but for the type of work I do, the HST is the only way to go. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Poppa]

Newtattoo, What did you do?????

When I first saw this post I too thought there were quite a few models in between the two you listed. But, today at the dealer I realized that these two tractors appear to sell within pennies of each other. I assume that is the reason you posted the question in the first place and now, I am wondering what you did.

I had assumed that I was going to go with the B7800. But Lordy, all that extra HP both in the engine and in back, the ruggedness of the 3PH of the 3400 as opposed to the B7800. As I was standing there I couldn't help wondering how anyone could give up that power.

And yes, I drove them both /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Haven't been on a tractor in twenty years (and those were more construction oriented hoes and dozers) and I have to say that the gear drive L3400 was intimidating for about a tenth of a second and after that I wasn't that much more impressed with the B7800's HST. Do I think HST would be easier? Sure, who wouldn't? Do I think that HST is worth 7HP at the PTO and 5HP at the engine? NO IDEA!!!.

I have five acres, gentle hills, no trees (or very few anyway) mostly Yuccas and Cactus and Spurge. My goal is to reclaim the area as acceptable pasture (I live in a desert so acceptable is as good as it gets), including spraying the spurge, breaking up the hard-pan and seeding. Brush cutting of at least four acres will need to be done until Horses actually appear on the land but never finish mowing. I have a lot of grading for roads to existing barns and roads to new barn pads that haven't been built yet and roads to horse arenas that also haven't been built yet. Did two thousand feet of fence last year but probably still have about a thousand feet to do. so PHD is desired.

My biggest question has to be the HST. Someone here once wrote that selling a gear tractor in twenty years will be like selling a tractor without power steering now. I think it was a dig against gear tractors but to me it doesn't seem to be a very good one considering how fast a fifty year old tractor sells around here right now.

Anyway, I guess I don't want this to turn into a Gear versus HST debate Heaven knows I have enough of those already bookmarked. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I want to know if Tattoobob made his decision and what it was and I want to know if anyone else has faced a similar decision and gone one way or another. Or I just want some input either way.

I can't help it I am a sucker for power.
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Mike

 

[newtattoobob]

I haven't reached a decision yet, I still haven't even driven either tractor yet. I have mostly just been watching this board and looking at some brochures I got at the dealer. I think I am leaning towards the L3400 just beacuse its not much more money but more tractor. I will let you know after I get a chance to test drive both. I am hoping to make a decision within the next couple of months so I can use some this summer. Thanks Bob

 

[hillfire]

I have a B7800 with about 35 hours on it. I have the L402 loader, a brush hog, and a 5' finish mower. I mow a 2 acre field with it, and it does a good job. This is my first tractor, and I love it. I am using it to build a pole barn - for the Kubota! The HST is great - and my wife likes it too!

Mike

 

[Moon]

What is the price of the B7800 & the L3410?
I already bought mine .... a couple years ago, but at that time the B2910 was just 200 bucks less than a Grand L 3010 HST. Partally because the L3010 had a 700 dollar rebate at the time. (it was just a few months before the 3130 came on the scene.
I got the 3010 and been smiling ever since.
Moon of Ohio