Buying Advice Buying and looking for advice...B7800 vs. L3130

[tnepyaton]

I'm a month or two away from buying and have been trying to decide what the best option will be. I have 7 acres of flat land that I will be maintaining. I will be finishing mowing all 7 acres and have some other small building and landscaping projects in mind.

So, I have been looking at the B7800 and the L3130. I feel like the 7800 would be plenty of tractor, however I don't want to buy it and then wish I got the 3130. I also plan on getting a FEL.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Buying and looking for advice...

Not long a go I was going through the same dilemma. I like the 7800, but when I saw the L3130 side by side there was like twice the tractor for not a whole lot more. Then I thought the 3130 would be to big. It made it a very hard decision. I think one person said it best when he said find the right tractor then go one size up. Well a long story short I bought the L3830 and it was not to big for me at all. I did not want more and I did'nt want less. I'm extremly satisfied, but I have to say, so far I have only used it for fel and back hoe work. The reason I jumped up to the L3830 was it looked almost the same size as the L3130 but had more horse power and a little wider stance. In all it is a personal choice. They are many satisfied B7800 people out there from what I have read. If you are wanting r4 tires and want a mmm then go with 7800 because the mmm and r4 wont work on the 3130. It has to be r1 or turf. Many like the rfm Though. If you need the fel a lot then go with the 3130 for the extra wieght. Hope I did not confuse you more. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tnepyaton]

Re: Buying and looking for advice...

I agree with the quote. The reason I found this discussion board is the fact that I'm afraid I will not be happy in the long run with the smaller B7800. It just looks like it won't do nearly as much as the L3130. My most and frequent job for the tractor will be mowing, however I do plan on putting up a small barn/shop and other chores around the house and property.

I'm planing on spending some time at the dealer and drive both of them.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Buying and looking for advice...

Hi,

I have a B2910, the same thing as the B7800, but with a few bells and whistles added...

The B2910 will do a lot of digging. I also got a backhoe...but the loader with a toothbar is a really useful tool that digs quite well, except in real hard stuff like shale.

It seems like grass cutting is high on your priority list. Do you want the grass to look real nice? Do you care if the tractor tires sink in when things are damp?

Bigger is better...but also heavier. All things considered, the 7800 might be a better grass cutter than the larger tractor.

I know my B2910 with loaded rear and foam filled front tires can mark up my short weeds when things are a bit wet.

I also know that I keep thinking I might like a bigger tractor. Then reality sets in and I conclude that the B2910 does everything I need...

 

[FamilyFarm]

With that many acres to mow, unless compacting the soil from the weight of the larger tracor is an issue, I would choose the L3130 and a 7 ft rear mower.
Terry

 

[Egon]

Re: Buying and looking for advice...B7800 vs. L313

Unfortunetly all does not come in one package.

PTO attachments require HP. Digging and pulling attachments require weight. These are broad statements and intertwining may be required for some eqipment.

Some situations are tractor size dependant where access space is limited.

Have fun making the choice. I wish I was faced with this difficulty but poverty preculdes any such thoughts.

Egon

 

[tnepyaton]

Re: Buying and looking for advice...

Grass cutting is the most important task at hand. I will want the grass on my first 2 to 3 acres to look good, but the other acreage doesn't matter as much. Other than the few projects I have on my list of things to do I don't feel like I would need the use of a larger tractor often. (Famous last words)

I was set on getting the B7800 until I went and actually sat on both of them and the obvious difference in size. One thing that may give me some ease of mind is that they retain their value and if I decide I need a bigger tractor I can always trade for a larger one.

I appreciate the input.

 

[5030]

Buy the biggest unit that you can afford and that will fit in your storage area. But then, I'm prejudiced. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[5030]

Henro " wishes " he had my tractor. I think he want's me to put it on my gooseneck and drop it off to him. I believe I'd return home with no tractor. I added a "drool" picture.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Buying and looking for advice...

As you have alluded to you cannot make a bad decision here because both are popular makes and will retain their value for a future resale or trade in. I bought the 7800, because I didn't want to spend the extra on the 3130 +the added cost of implements and the 3130 would not fit in my garage. I have a friend who tried to talk me into the 3130 and another who has a BX who likes his. I originally went to the dealer thinking I'd get the BX and get out of there spending $15k. After I saw the ground clearance and talked to the dealer tellinh him that I wanted to get in the woods with it he didn't recommend I buy the BX and steered me to the 7800. So, I guess I did move up one size and I am very happy I did. After I have a few years of getting in the woods and around the property I may trade up, but like Honro I will probably say nah. (24.5 acres, 10 wet woods, 3 semi-open mowing, balance hilly woods, snow blowing a 1000ft driveway)

So, if it fits where you want to store it and you can afford it I'd probably go with the 3130 - again just based on going bigger than you think you need. But, the 7800 is a sweet machine too.

LOL, Frank /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif