I need to buy a tractor!

[Bob_Skurka]

I really don't like to get into a lot of specific tractor recommendations but since you mentioned the 3 brands you are considering, I'll venture 2 recommendations to you. For a fairly basic machine at a lower price, the Kubota B7800 is a lightweight tractor with 30hp that has an excellent reputation for mowing with a 72" mid mount finish mower. If you want deluxe features, the upgaded lightweight tractor would be the new B3030. Both tractors are near mechanical twins and have similar weight and identical engines. Both are very light machines at just under 2000# are roughy 500# to 1000# lighter on the turf than most other 30hp tractors.

While the B3030 is a new tractor model, I am not afraid to recommend it simply because it is just an upgraded B2910 which is well proven and because it share well proven mechanicals with the B7800. The B3030 gets you a lot of deluxe features that are options or simply not available on the B7800 and you may or may not find things like the deluxe suspension seat worthwhile. So you can decide what trim level you would like. I'm not a big fan of the "90" series JD tractors (cramped operator station for my tastes), but at 32hp, the 4310 (which I think is being phased out?) is a amazingly well thought out tractor!

As for tire choices, I use a Kubota B2910 and a New Holland TC24 and both of them have R4 industrial tires on them. For the most part, if you stay off the turf when it is wet, and if you stay out of 4 wheel drive, the R4 tires will be good for mowing the lawn. They may occasionally "cut" the turf on the corners, but not typically when the tractor is in 2wd. Now if I was mowing a lot of stuff on a manacured lawn around very nicely kept flower beds, then I might opt for turf tires.

You mentioned that you're FEL work is going to be fairly light, and I feel compelled to say that of the 30hp tractors on the market, the "B" series Kubotas have lower capacities than some of the other brands. So while the light weight is a benefit for your primary task, it will lower your capacity for FEL work. Being that you are not planning any heavy duty long term use, I don't see that as a problem, but feel it is fair to point it out. Both will work a 5' box blade for dressing your driveway. But SonnieP just ordered a DuraGrader and I am curious to see how that works for driveway maintanence. Another common brand is Land Plane. Both seem to be similar in that they are designed to take the ruts out of a gravel drive.

With tractors you need to really take a look at the tasks you want to do. Some tasks are best accomplished with a HEAVY weight machine, other tasks are best accomplished with LIGHT weight machine. Some are best accomplished with a HST transmission, others with a GEAR transmission. Some are weight and/or transmission neutral. Each tractor is suited to some tasks and not to others so look at the characteristics of the tractor (weight, physical size, turning radius, width) and see what is BEST suited to YOUR situation.

MY OPINIONS (but bear in mind any tractor can be made to do any job, I just feel these are the 'optimal' combinations):
Mowing = light weight, HST
FEL work = weight neutral as long as you get the capacity you need, HST
Box Blade = heavy weight, gear
PHD = weight neutral, transmission neutral
Rotary Cutting = leaning mid to heavy (depends on the cutter), HST
Tilling a garden = light weigth, HST or Gear IF it has a "creeper" range
Planting a garden = light weight, transmission neutral
Cultivating = light weight, HST
logging = heavy weight, gear
Snow Blower = weight neutral, HST

 

[SonnieP]

Good post Bob (as always)...

Question on your FEL recommendation... wouldn't it depend on what kind of work you were using your FEL for? For earth cutting and moving it would probably be better to have a heavier tractor wouldn't it? Weight equals better grip and force to cut into the earth. (Or you could simply rent a dozer.) If no major earth moving then it would depend on capactiy needed. What do you think?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green">
FEL work = weight neutral as long as you get the capacity you need, HST </font>


Sonnie, lots of ways to debate this one. If you are trying to dig, then weight would be an asset because it gives traction, but let's all be honest here, digging with a FEL is not an optimal task, in fact, in some soil conditions it is darn near impossible.

You also asked about "moving" the dirt and for that I see no reason to have excess weight in the tractor, as long as you have the capcity to 'lift' the bucket and drive forward without slippage then how much additional theoretical traction do you need? My little TC24 can can lift within 100# of the Kioti CK30 and climb a hill with a bucket load, yet it weighs roughly half the weight. Can an arguement be made that I don't have enough traction?

If you are looking for weight capacity to lift, then tractor weight is far less an issue than most people believe and I have data showing light weight tractors that lift nearly as much as heavy weight tractors, and mid weight tractors that outlift heavy weight tractors, etc. (Just take a look at the ultra light Kubota B3030, weighs under 2000# but lifts 1091# at the pivot point, but the big beefy Kioti CK30 weighs over 3000# and only lifts 64# more at the pivot point (1155#), while the little 24hp NH TC24 weighs 300# less than the Kubota it lifts 1090# at the pivot point, which is 1 pound less than the Kubota and 65# less than the Kioti that weighs almost twice as much). Balance and ballast is far more important to capacity than sheer weight.

But I would say that no answer is right or wrong because I was careful enough to write that part about getting "the capacity that you need." And capacity can be defined all sorts of ways like lift height for dumping or reach. If you want to dump over the side of a roll off dumpster, then I'd suggest that you might need reach and height.

 

[Ghostbrigade]

Bob, thanks, predominantly I am cutting pastures , so the industrial tires will work fine. The bermuda I will cut with the small tractor around the house. I am really looking and leaning hard at the JD 3320 . The tractor is 4WD HST with the 300X FEL, 6" finishing mower and a galvanized box blade. The MSRP would be around $26,875.00 I have been quoted $21,190.00 they are six miles away and have a great service department. Anything less than 30 HP will not do what I need it to. I was leaning towards Kubota and Mahindra but the features on the JD 3320 are far superior. I ahve alot of trees and fences and the HST is essential for me. I looked into the 790,990 and 2305 ( used to be the 2210) and they simply do not have the same features.

 

[Ghostbrigade]

I will be moving some dirt around, alot of cutting to level some areas the JD 3320 weighs 2900 lbs w/o the FEL.

 

[Ghostbrigade]

Bob,
The ground where I am at borders Crystal Creek. Even though the 8 acres I cut is high ground it is still predominantly sandy soil, pretty easy to work with, not the clay "gumbo" common to the Houston area. Would you suggest I take a harder look at Kubota B3030? If you stack it against the JD 3320 are we talking the proverbial "apples to apples"?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

First off I have not put my hands on the JD3320 so I'm going from JD website information, which may not be the greatest. My impression is that there is NO apples to apples comparision with the lightweight Kubota B3030. Simply put, in the 30hp class, there is nothing other than Kubota that makes a tractor under 2000# that I know of. There are a few tractors that are in the 2200 to 2400# range, but most of those are older style machines (for example the NH TC30). The 3320 is going to have more lift capacity than the Kubota, but if you don't need the lift then it really doesn't matter. If you grass cutting is pasture, then a little more weight won't be too big of a deal unless your spouse is really picky about the mowing. So if you really like the JD, then I'd live with the weight and buy that machine.

Bear in mind that no tractor gets good grip in clay, and R4 tires turn into the equivalent of "racing slicks" when you drive through wet clay. In sand, turf tires are your best bet. But if your soil is sandy turf with grass on the surface and the grass is fairly sparce, then the R4s may do more damage than you'd like. I'd strongly suggest you talk to some folks around you that mow under similar conditions.

 

[OrangeAlex]

Ghostbridge,

Please reread what I wrote about Kubota equivelent to the JD3320. To give a fair comparision you need to be looking at a Grand L (L3130 or L3430). However...

Frankly, (no offence intended here, just trying to be trueful with you)... to me it sounds like you really want a big bad JD tractor, for whatever reason, regardless of what folks in this forum have recommended. I can understand that. Buying a "tiny" tractor is not as appealing as buying a monster and ultimately, you have to be happy with the tractor. If you want a big "bad" heavy JD and it will make you happy then that is what you should do.

I hope you are not offended by what I wrote. I am just trying to cut to the chase as it sounds like you already have your mind all made up as to what tractor you picture yourself on and would like an "justification" from others for you intended use. Unfortunately, I think you wont hear what you want to hear here. If you want a bigger tractor then what is optimal, then you should go for it. You only live once, its only money, and you ultimately have to look at it.

If I completely misread this, please forgive me. However, just so it is clear I believe the recommendation for your usage (as in what will work best as opposed to what is coolest) is lightweight (around 2000#) 25-30 hp tractor. This would something like JD 2000 series (maybe 790, kind of pushing the weight factor on this one) or maybe a Kubota B2630 or B3030. IMHO (which is limited) you want highest HP to lowest weight ratio. I think that would be a B3030.

Again, please accept my apologies if I have offended you in anyway with my statements above. I am just trying to make you happy. Either way.. big bad attractive heavy green JD or the best tractor for the job. You have to decide which will make you happy. I am sure you will be happy either way.

-Alex

 

[OrangeAlex]

Ghostbrigade,

I actually have a question for you which might help me. I am going to be putting in a nice smooth lawn area approximately 1.5 acres on my property with my Kubota L3130 tractor. However, after the grass starts to grow I don't dare to try to finish mow it with the heavy L3130 with R1 tires. So I am in the market for a riding lawn or garden tractor.

In your original post you said you had a Husky 26Hp 54" mower. I assume this is the Garden tractor Husky. You said that after 3 yrs, the Husky, it is not doing so good. This is a bit disturbing to me as I have been leaning towards a Garden tractor made by AYT (Craftsman/Husky) I can't see myself spending more the $3k to maintain 1.5 acres. Can you tell me what is going wrong and breaking?? What engine is in the Husky (B&S, Kohler, Kawi)?? Is this breakage perhaps due to trying to do rough cut mowing with the unit instead strictly trying to use it on smooth flat lawn?

Thank you
-Alex

 

[OrangeAlex]

I just reviewed the JD790 specs and it looks like it is not as heavy as I thought it was. 2100# sorry about that. However, I think you said you wanted Hydrostatic transmission and don't think that machine offers it.

sorry about that.
-Alex