Downsized from L4630 to B3030: expensive mistake!

[dstig1]

You would make out a lot better by selling yours instead of trading it. I see them pop up on CL around here and they are gone fast. Just watch the scammers and only take cash. That would soften the blow some.

 

[Leejohn]

I have the b7800 and I like it better in the wood then my gl4240. The 4240 with the curved boom seems so long when in the woods. Put you some 2" wheel spacers on and maybe a set of chains in the winter for logging. I also have the tires loaded, that helps for weight. Cut logs shorter and you well see the little 3030 well come to life. Now when it comes to stacking and loading the logs on a trailer I do use my 4240.

 

[crazyal]

So the lesson I should take away from this is to downsize the wife not the tractor? :laughing:

Unless you really want to stay with your dealer I would make a call or two and see if that's the best price you can get. I would call Barlows and see what they can do.

 

[Boondox]

Thanks,Dave. My land is extremely steep, heavily forested, and cut by streams and gullies. I've not had much luck hauling loads in trailers or the RTV

 

[jim_wilson]

So the lesson I should take away from this is to downsize the wife not the tractor? :laughing:

Unless you really want to stay with your dealer I would make a call or two and see if that's the best price you can get. I would call Barlows and see what they can do.

Nobody wants a bigger wife!

 

[Dozernut]

Hey Pete, good to hear from you again. I will throw this out for your consideration. I just priced out an MX5100 HST 4x4 with loader, QA, 2100lb LP forks, two remotes, grill guard and ag tires for 26,500. I am thinking hard about it but the wife said I already have two tractors and is not enthusiastic at all about another tractor . The MX5100 is a 50hp economy model without the bells and whistles but would be great for dragging logs and working in the woods. At that price you could keep the B3030.

 

[AStanton]

Boon,
If our Vice Presidente ever reads your post, he might be tempted to say, "You don't need a Kubota, get yourself a log skidder."

 

[newbury]

Thanks,Dave. My land is extremely steep, heavily forested, and cut by streams and gullies. I've not had much luck hauling loads in trailers or the RTV

Well that makes a difference.

Is the 3030 big enough to haul logs with a skidding winch? Like a

?

And then add in a log arch AND A BX for the wife (get a little tractor so the wife could use it).

If your lot is rugged (and forgive me TBN) bigger isn't always better.

As an aside - If you have a wife that is willing to help out by using a tractor - nurture her. It's well worth the cost of a second tractor. And tractors are like chainsaws, sometimes you need a second one to get the first one unstuck.

 

[crazyangel]

Well, I guess I did pretty good when I married my wife. When we were tractor shopping SHE talked ME up from the L4740 to the L5740! No regrets in in either decision! :laughing:

 

[bigbull338]

im going to say this an i may make some people madd.but it needs saying.the truth is no matter how they try some wemen an men arnt tractor people.an no matter how hard they try they just cant drive a tractor without something happening.an i have a brother thats like that an he drove tractors all his life.but he doesnt watch what or pay attention to what he is doing.

 

[Gods Country]

I'm quite certain I would have kept the tractor and traded in the wife.

 

[crazyal]

I've got a side by side and do use it for firewood but for the most part I block everything up in the woods and then use it to haul the wood down to the splitter. When I use the 4240 I just drag the whole tree down. I usually will cut it in half but that's about it. I would love something like a Farmi 501 but even now with chains I can usually get to any tree and drag it out. While the UTV can get into tight areas it's still a lot more work.

I would say get what works best for you. If you don't you'll always wish you did. When you do finally break down and get it you'll wonder why you waited. Plus, as I see it, we are not getting younger so finding ways to reduce the amount of work that's needed also has a value. Have you thought about used? I assumed not since you were planning on taking a loan. It's hard to beat 0% interest.

 

[Will_C]

Good luck on whatever you decide Pete-it's good to see you posting agian.
Will

 

[Boondox]

Update: Another dealer has an L4260. New model so the savings would only be $5k or so. But they also have a 3 year old L3240 (brand new, less than 10 hrs) that would be very affordable. Not much in the HP department, but all other parameters look good. Years ago I had an L3010 with a Farmi 351 winch, and it handled the vast majority of my needs. The only reason I upsized to the L4630 was it could handle a larger backhoe...but then I discovered the joys of a mini-excavator so never pursued that. I was pretty happy with the 3010

So I'm going over to check it out this weekend, kick the tires, see if there's any wiggle room for a brush hog...

Wish me luck.

Will - I pop in now and then, but most of my joy these days is motorcycle travel with my dog in his sidecar. You can follow our adventures at TravelsWithBarley.com. No tractor content, but a fun site.

Pete

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have an L3010 and love it. Weighs 5000 lbs with loaded tires, loader, winch, grapple and chains. Gets around in my rough woods pretty good if I stay on the tractor roads. But if I was going to change tractors I would go bigger. I didn't realize the B3030 was that much different from the L3010. You might be disappointed again since you now have the bigger tractor experience as a comparison.
I think what TripleR said at the beginning is pretty much right.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My daddy sold tractors for a living...
Over 30 years...
He told me many years ago...
Never trade...
Just buy another one...
That is how you accumulate them...
Sorry for your remorse...
In some instances downsizing is the best solution...
In most cases it is not...

 

[Will_C]

Pete-my brother has a 3540. we have been using it some in his woods-it is an entirley different tractor than my B2620-of course you knew that! His woods were just logged, so we have 100-125 tops to cut up. He is going to use some of the proceeds to get a winch, so by fall we should have an idea of how that works-based on what we have skidded with chians, I suspect it will be quite a woods machine.
i'll check your site-is Barley another rescue dog?
Will

 

[Will_C]

Pete-my brother has a 3540. we have been using it some in his woods-it is an entirely different tractor than my B2620-of course you knew that! His woods were just logged, so we have 100-125 tops to cut up. He is going to use some of the proceeds to get a winch, so by fall we should have an idea of how that works-based on what we have skidded with chians, I suspect it will be quite a woods machine.

I'lll check your site-is Barley another rescue dog?

Will

 

[xring100]

Glad i don't have that problem my wife convinced me it was okay to get an m8540 over the m6040 i was looking at i agree with TripleR 2 tractors solves the problem. Plus if you get one stuck you have another tractor to get you out or get stuck depending on your luck

 

[Boondox]

Pete-my brother has a 3540. we have been using it some in his woods-it is an entirley different tractor than my B2620-of course you knew that! His woods were just logged, so we have 100-125 tops to cut up. He is going to use some of the proceeds to get a winch, so by fall we should have an idea of how that works-based on what we have skidded with chians, I suspect it will be quite a woods machine.
i'll check your site-is Barley another rescue dog?
Will

Will - With the L60s coming out the L40 pickings are getting pretty slim. Locally there is the L3240 (which I'm going to check out this weekend) and the L4740. But unless I hate the 3240 at first site it looks really good with FEL, loaded aggies, ice chains, block heater, one set of rear remotes, hydraulic-angled rear blade, and a Farmi 351 winch. The logging roads on my land traverse pretty steep forest slopes that range from 30-50% grades, so a winch is needed to bring the dropped trees to the tractor on relatively level ground. I've become pretty good at using snatchblocks to put the trees where I want them!

Barley is my pack elder and a tough little golden on his own turf. Not a rescue, though he helps us with golden rescues we bring into our home. He has 24,000 sidecar miles under his collar now and we'll be riding to Oregon and back this July.