Deere 2R vs 3R

[gladehound]

...but when is a machine too big for it痴 intended purpose?

This is the question I asked myself before buying my second tractor. My first tractor, a 4ft wide 19hp Kioti LB1914 was clearly too small because I maxed it out and wanted more nearly every time I used it. I suspected that something in the 30hp to 35hp range and double the hydraulic lift would make me happy. But I wasn't absolutely sure and didn't want to gamble. So I asked myself what is too big? My answer was if it fits in my barn and on my current trailer that it was not too big. I wound up with a 45hp Kioti with about 4x the hydraulic lift as my first tractor. With the custom 4pt FOPS it barely fits in the barn door and it just squeezes on the trailer - in other words, it's the perfect size!

 

[airbiscuit]

You will have enough hp. I had a 34hp New Holland with about the same size frame and it was very capable.

 

[WinterDeere]

Done! It's going to be real tight getting around it in my shed, with the zero turn and implements, but I measured thrice, and it should fit! Worst case, down the road I put up another shed to hold some of the other implements.

Thanks for all of the advice and comments. My wife got a real kick out of some of those posted yesterday.

 

[airbiscuit]

The 855 is a nice machine, but you will be amazed at the refinements on your new Deere.

 

[dodge man]

Post up some pics when you get it. Like a lot of cases like yours on tractor size, there is no correct answer, your going to enjoy it.

 

[WinterDeere]

The 855 is a nice machine, but you will be amazed at the refinements on your new Deere.

That 855 has been a great machine. I’m just in a situation where a breakdown of a 33 year old machine, and the subsequent hunt or wait for parts and evenings in the shop to execute the repair, causes havoc in my busy life that I cannot afford. Thankfully, this latest episode did not coincide with a blizzard, as that’s the machine I use for all of my snow removal.

Driving the newer machines around the sales lot, I have to admit I found them to be very frustrating, for someone used to an older machine. Perhaps I’ll get used to it, but I find the fact that the tractor shuts itself off (rather than just simply turning off the PTO) every time I try to reverse with the PTO on, or if my butt leaves the seat without putting the machine in neutral and engaging the parking brake, absolutely infuriating. The way they set up the seat safety switch on the 855, to just drop the PTO if you left the seat without shutting off the engine, was a stroke of genius. The newer safety features feel very invasive and limiting.

 

[ovrszd]

You can easily bypass the seat switch. I'd have no use for it.

Congrats on the new tractor!!! Looking forward to pics!!!

If I ever wear out my old JD2210 I'm going for a 3 series.

 

[dodge man]

When I got my 2025R I had a little buyers remorse. My Kubota that I traded in didn't have to be put in neutral to get off of it and keep it running. If you were on fairly flat ground, it would stay in place. The first week I had my JD I about had it roll away from me because I got off it, put it in neutral but didn't set the brake. I still fight having to hit the PTO switch when backing up mowing, but am starting to get better at it. You will adapt and get used to it.

 

[ovrszd]

When I got my 2025R I had a little buyers remorse. My Kubota that I traded in didn't have to be put in neutral to get off of it and keep it running. If you were on fairly flat ground, it would stay in place. The first week I had my JD I about had it roll away from me because I got off it, put it in neutral but didn't set the brake. I still fight having to hit the PTO switch when backing up mowing, but am starting to get better at it. You will adapt and get used to it.

I'd hafta bypass that one too.

My neighbor has a new 1025 I believe. It turns off the deck everytime she backs up. Engine wide open, she restarts the deck. 20-30 times during a yard mowing. Drives me crazy. I feel so sorry for that little tractor.....

 

[airbiscuit]

We would also like tosee pics of your wood hauling.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'd hafta bypass that one too.

My neighbor has a new 1025 I believe. It turns off the deck everytime she backs up. Engine wide open, she restarts the deck. 20-30 times during a yard mowing. Drives me crazy. I feel so sorry for that little tractor.....

I’d mind it less if that’s the way the 3-series behaved, but it’s worse. It completely kills the engine if you try to back up with mower deck running without pulling the override switch, or any one of a dozen other minor infractions. I don’t like shutting down engines at PTO speed unless life or limb are at risk.

 

[ovrszd]

I壇 mind it less if that痴 the way the 3-series behaved, but it痴 worse. It completely kills the engine if you try to back up with mower deck running without pulling the override switch, or any one of a dozen other minor infractions. I don稚 like shutting down engines at PTO speed unless life or limb are at risk.

I absolutely agree. I'd hafta find a way around that one.

I had several discussions with my wife about shutting off the engine on our JD when it's running full throttle. Also about engaging the deck under those conditions. She seemed a bit defensive that it was a big deal to me.

A few days later we were going out to eat. We took her Grand Cherokee which she absolutely loves. I drove. When we got to the restaurant I put it in park and floored the engine, bouncing off the rev limiter, I hit the stop button. She freaked out and sternly lectured me. I said, then don't do that to our JD. She never did it again.

 

[Milo]

Congratulations on you're new tractor! I had a little JD X310 with that switch that necessitated me to look forward to hit the switch as I was backing up, crazy unsafe IMO. I bypassed that thing after the first couple laps around the yard.
I think you'll have plenty of power, certainly more than the 25hp I have and mine does everything I need just fine. Running the 60" flail mower in very tall grass, up hill, pretty much max's out my power but as rough as my ground is I couldn't go much faster anyway. Your extra 7 hp would be welcome in such situations.

 

[WinterDeere]

We would also like tosee pics of your wood hauling.

Let’s try this again.

 

[Tractor Time with Tim]

The 2R and 3R are about the same wheelbase and width.

Like you say, the 3R is much heavier.

One advantage of the 2R that you haven’t mentioned is the ergonomics of the right hand controls...and also the armrests on the seat. I don’t believe the 3R comes with armrests for some reason.

 

[airbiscuit]

Nice pics. Backing up a wagon is a trick - you have to think backwards.

Have you ever thought of building firewood racks and using forks on your loader?

 

[WinterDeere]

The 2R and 3R are about the same wheelbase and width.

Like you say, the 3R is much heavier.

One advantage of the 2R that you haven’t mentioned is the ergonomics of the right hand controls...and also the armrests on the seat. I don’t believe the 3R comes with armrests for some reason.

Exactly. I probably failed to elaborate, but yes... this is what I meant when talking about the 2R having some ergonomic advantages. The loader SCV lever setup is much better on the 2R, being out of the way for getting on/off the tractor from either side, and being able to rest your elbow on the armrest while you use it. I really don’t understand why they didn’t copy this on the 3R, other than the greater travel in the seat suspension on the 3R probably precludes using an armrest while you operate the SCV.

Nice pics. Backing up a wagon is a trick - you have to think backwards.

Have you ever thought of building firewood racks and using forks on your loader?

Yeah, backing up that wagon is a skill I need to re-learn each fall. I can do a slalom course in reverse with a regular trailer, but that extra articulating axle up front reverses everything a second time. That’s why I prefer pushing it in with a hitch on the loader bucket, but my 855 isn’t heavy enough to pull off that move.

Given the amount of wood I move, and my limited time for doing it, I’ve probably considered just about every scheme on earth for moving it. Pallet baskets would be great, but my 855 just wasn’t heavy enough to move over hilly terrain with them, so I bought that wagon instead. In the end, I think it’s good, moving from my remote drying racks to the wagon gives me a chance to knock off mouse nexts, old bark and debris, snake skins, and hibernating queen hornets. So, everything that makes it up to the house in that wagon is relatively clean, and I’m not creating lots of mess on that patio to track into the house on my slippers.

 

[WinterDeere]

Now I'm on to setting up my existing implements for this machine:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...annel-snowblower-control-1-a.html#post5578504

 

[bigtiller]

Let’s try this again.

View attachment 628258

Have fun breaking in the new tractor. That is a nice little barge wagon. It looks to be about a ton? Where did you buy it?

 

[WinterDeere]

Have fun breaking in the new tractor. That is a nice little barge wagon. It looks to be about a ton? Where did you buy it?

That’s a stout little wagon, actually rated at 2 tons, and I’ve oven had at least that on it.

Compact Tractor Wagons | Tandem Axle Utility Trailers 2 ton Capacity by Country MFG.

I added the dump function two years ago, which aids me in moving mulch about the property.