Is the B3030 enough tractor for me?

JimMorrissey · Nov 29, 2005

You should ask your dealer or any other dealer if you can demo one and see if it works for you. Keep asking dealers until one lets you demo one they buy from that guy.

ronjhall · Nov 30, 2005

I need to be able to move small units of lumber, in the 750-1000 lb range, and am afraid the B3030 will not be able to handle it. I also need to be able to offload 1000-1800 lb trees 
B3030 FEL is rated to pickup 880 lbs. Adding a QA will limit load capacity even more.
To pick up loads up to 1800 lbs you will need to look at a tractor that will accept the LA853 FEL. Those models are the L4330, L4630, L5030.
There are aftermarket QA loader forks for the B3030. One TBNer purchased a ATI QA and Forks. Click Here
Buying one tractor that will cut lawn like your DX24E and lift weights of 1800 lbs may not be possible. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

bandit67 · Nov 30, 2005

( Buying one tractor that will cut lawn like your DX24E and lift weights of 1800 lbs may not be possible. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )

Yeah, so far, that's been the big issue in me trying to decide what exactly to do. I'm not sure I can convince my wife I need to keep my little Case and buy a new bigger machine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sully2 · Nov 30, 2005

(
B3030 FEL is rated to pickup 880 lbs. Adding a QA will limit load capacity even more.
To pick up loads up to 1800 lbs you will need to look at a tractor that will accept the LA853 FEL. Those models are the L4330, L4630, L5030.
There are aftermarket QA loader forks for the B3030. One TBNer purchased a ATI QA and Forks. Click Here
Buying one tractor that will cut lawn like your DX24E and lift weights of 1800 lbs may not be possible. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )

Im with ya on that score. I "attempted" ( notice I said attempted..lol) to lift a downed tree that best I can estimate weights 1000 lbs. Ive got close to 350 lbs of ballest on the back. This was going to be sort of a test to see what the FEL would pickup..and the welded on chain hooks...etc. I chained to it in what looked like the "balance point"...and when I tried to lift it...the back of the tractor came off the ground!

1800 lb load?? I wouldnt even bother to pull up to it to try it!

daTeacha · Nov 30, 2005

Have you looked at the Case DX33? It's a couple hundred pounds heavier and stronger than the 3030. Also Mahindra makes a big issue of their weight and hydraulic strength in a physically small package.

Kubotas tend to be lightweight powerhouses for their footprint size. I think the hydraulics are somewhat structured to keep you from getting into trouble too quickly with the lighter tractor. Maybe you need a brand designed with weight and lifting as a higher priority.

Sully2 · Nov 30, 2005

(

Yeah, so far, that's been the big issue in me trying to decide what exactly to do. I'm not sure I can convince my wife I need to keep my little Case and buy a new bigger machine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Dont know if you require a NEW tractor or not...but to help on the pain in the wallet..you might want to look for that second tractor on the used market..?? And pick up something that can EASILY handle 1800 lbs loads. Since that type of work isnt your usual...your mainstay procedure...a tractor with a FEL thats got some hrs on it should do fine..?? With the added "advantage" that used BIG ( big being relative) are easier to find normally than used "CUT's or Sub CUT's ..Just a thought!

canoetrpr · Nov 30, 2005

I guess this B3030 vs. L3400 is a common decision. I too thought through this last Saturday when I found out that both would be about the same in price.

At one point I thought that I wanted one machine that could do everything I needed it to:
- Bit of FEL work - move this there and that here.
- 5' rotary cutter.
- Finish mowing an acre or two with a MMM.
- Take care of drive way
- etc.

I liked the creature comforts the B3030 added compard to the L3400.

Eventually I decided that I'd be better off splitting the finish mowing work off and buying a smaller used riding mower for it (once I figured out what a new MMM costs!). Once I came to this conclusion, manuverability was not an issue for me and neither was the mid PTO. Bigger was just better for all kinds of reasons - more PTO hp, weight, creature comforts I cared about could be compensated for with the addition of a QH.

I also justified to myself that resale value of a 35 hp heavier tractor would be higher in 15 years than a 30 hp lighter tractor with a few extra creature comforts even though they cost the same now. I really have no clue whether this logic will hold up or not.

Pretty hard to go wrong with either tractor I would think. If the manuverability continued to be an issue for me I might have gone with the B3030. I've got wide open spaces for the most part and so I think I will be fine with my choice.

Good luck.

KubotaOne · Nov 30, 2005

( anticipated uses: plowing Western New York snow with a 5-foot back blade and a FEL; 500-foot gravel driveway )

I have to add my 2 cents here. Western NY gets a lot of snow, don't expect the B3030 to simply push or pull that amount of snow off your drive. Even with chains, you might spin those tires all day long in wet and heavy snow.

jstreet · Nov 30, 2005

Well, I went and did it after years of pondering and reading TBN.
I chose the B3030 over the L3400. Liked the added features and the maneuverability. For my uses, the HP seemed enough. We'll see about weight and traction once I get some experience on it in my "real world" woods and trails (as opposed to the dealer's parking lot).
Delivery next week, I hope.
Thanks for all the useful advice. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

bandit67 · Nov 30, 2005

( Have you looked at the Case DX33? It's a couple hundred pounds heavier and stronger than the 3030. Also Mahindra makes a big issue of their weight and hydraulic strength in a physically small package.)

There was a time when I was very seriously eyeing the DX29 and DX33. But after using my little Case alongside a Kubota BX22 over the last year and a half, I've decided that I don't want another CNH product in my garage, and should probably go for a Kubota, or possibly a JD this time around. Both of those companies have gone through significantly less "corporate restructuring" over the last decade, and seem to have been able to better focus on design, development, and construction of their product lines.

( Kubotas tend to be lightweight powerhouses for their footprint size. I think the hydraulics are somewhat structured to keep you from getting into trouble too quickly with the lighter tractor. Maybe you need a brand designed with weight and lifting as a higher priority. )

Which is why I've been looking at the Grand L's lately. And from what I've seen, Kubota's pricing these days is just as good, if not better, than any of the major competitors. No offense to owners of the Chinese tractors, but I'm not ready to take that leap yet. I'm not sure I'm even ready to look at Kioti just yet, though I hear mostly good things, and there is a machine that would probably suit me fine - it's just that out here, the Kioti pricing is no better than the Kubota, JD, or CNH pricing.

kingoflawns · Dec 2, 2005

Maximum lift of the 403 loader is 1071 #. As far as wet heavy snow goe's, no tractor is going to move 500 ft. in a straight push, if you dump it off along the way, you will be ok.

escaper · Dec 2, 2005

Not to throw another question for you. But have you looked at the other brands. New holland/ Case and the deeres. I actually ordered a B3030 last summer and backed out of it and bought a case dx33. The main reason for me was the layout with the wife. But the other reason was what I am reading in this post on the machine bogging down under certain loads. When I did more research I found that the kubota had less horsepower at the Pto then the other Brands I mentioned. I have some very steep hills and run a sixty inch mmm. because Five foot was all I could spare in certain areas and this tractor has not bogged down yet so far at no matter what I have put it through. Hate to throw another opition at you but I shopped for at least three months and making up my mind over a tractor is mind boggling. Good luck in your choice.

Also When you do buy With what your wanting to do the B3030 is the smallest I would consider. Remember after the new wears off it is only time that you are in the seat and the more powerful the tractor the less time you will have to spend in it.

Doug.

escaper · Dec 2, 2005

One more post to add to the lifting capablities of the Kubota it is on the light side. I have several acres of trees and have lifted a lot of down trees with the Dx33 and it has no problem doing it. I chain them to the bucket and I use my chipper as ballast which weighs about 600lbs.

Also in response to bandit67's post in ruling out the larger case because of comparing it to the bx22 makes no sense. The larger tractors do not compare to your dx24e. I had a 595 deere which was very similar to your dx24e. and your dx24e would run circles around that deere. I had it equipped very much like you have yours. But that would not stop me from considering a larger deere. They are not in the same class as their larger tractors. Plus kubota has been making the bx22 for a long time and everyone else is playing catchup to that little tractor.

Doug

Bob_Young · Dec 2, 2005

Hmmm....sounds like you're planning on doing many of the same things I do with my L4300. Most of the time I'm happy to have the HP. Sometimes I've wished I had more weight. Can't think of any time when I wanted less of either. Though I do understand about the creature comforts.

Is it enough? Probably most of the time it'll be adequate. As I recall, it's hilly around Honeoye. If you've got to pull that wagon of firewood up any grades, you'll need some weight...especially if there's wet leaves or a snow covering on the roadway.

If you had something like an L4400, an Ag tractor or even the old 8N waiting in the wings for those times when it isn't adequate, I'd say go for it. But if not, trading off raw capability for creature comforts seems like a poor trade. Creature comfort can be had in the easy chair in front of the TV. Finish the job quickly and you can be there /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

On the other hand, if you've got time to putter and a cab on the B3030 (I know about western NY winters), I'm sure there's many enjoyable hours to be had.

Hope this didn't come off as overly sarcastic. I'm half seriously considering a B3030 with a cab myself....but it would be no-go if I didn't already have and intend on keeping the L4300.
Bob

daTeacha · Dec 2, 2005

Bob, are you saying an 8N will outpull a B3030. If I recall, the 8N has about 25 hp, and that from a gasoline engine. The 3030 is diesel and 30 hp. I have no idea about torque, but I suspect the 3030 has more, as well as 4wd.

I have owned 2 8Ns, one with a two range tranny. While neither one lacked for power in what I used them for, I wouldn't want to compare them to a modern tractor in pulling power. Please correct me if I'm wrong here. Maybe I just need to be shopping for an 8N instead of a compact.

Sully2 · Dec 2, 2005

( Maximum lift of the 403 loader is 1071 #. As far as wet heavy snow goe's, no tractor is going to move 500 ft. in a straight push, if you dump it off along the way, you will be ok. )
I dont see the 1071 lbs anywhere in my manual?
1) Lift cap. ( bucket bottom mid point)=882
2)Lift cap. (bucket pivot point, max hgt)=1091
3)Lift cap. (500mm fwd, max hgt)=782
4)Lift cap. (bucket pivot point, 1500mm high)=1356
5)Lift cap. (500mm fwd, 1500 mm height)=1025

(Page 4 of the LA403 manual)

???

Bob_Young · Dec 2, 2005

Well, the 8N's heavier Teacha. Sometimes you need the weight. As I recall the 8N is a little over 3000 lbs bare, but I could be wrong on that. With filled rears it'd be closer to 4000 lbs. The 8N's got a low, wide stance as well; comforting on a grade.

Bare, the B3030 is under 1900lbs. With loader and filled rears it might hit 3000. The HP issue is moot, both have enough power.

The point is, Mr. Street has apparently been getting by OK to date with the 8N. If the wagon's heavy and the grade is steep, the 8N HAS been handling it. I've pulled heavy wagon loads numerous times with small tractors. On the level its OK, but on a grade the question becomes one of, "Who is pulling/pushing who?". It's not pleasant when it comes to that.

If the 8N's already in hand, is doing the work, and can be retained; a B3030 would be a safe enough bet. But if there's question of enough tractor and there will be only one tractor, then better an L3430, L3400 or an L4400 than either the 8N or the B3030 IMHO.
Bob

kingoflawns · Dec 2, 2005

The 1071 #s is from the spec. sheet on the new b series brochure from kubota. For us the big factor is power in a light weight machine as our primary use is on grass! I also wanted a factory cab, however the big factor that kept me with kubota was the reliability and the indestructable construction of my B7500!

Sully2 · Dec 2, 2005

( The 1071 #s is from the spec. sheet on the new b series brochure from kubota. For us the big factor is power in a light weight machine as our primary use is on grass! I also wanted a factory cab, however the big factor that kept me with kubota was the reliability and the indestructable construction of my B7500! )
Ahhhh! OK. I saw the post and it just didnt "jive" with any numner in my owners manual...thats what had me stumped. Although I dont know why they put so many "modifiers" in the lift specs?? All they need to specify is about 2 different points and let it go..??

bandit67 · Dec 5, 2005

( Also in response to bandit67's post in ruling out the larger case because of comparing it to the bx22 makes no sense. The larger tractors do not compare to your dx24e. I had a 595 deere which was very similar to your dx24e. and your dx24e would run circles around that deere. I had it equipped very much like you have yours. But that would not stop me from considering a larger deere. They are not in the same class as their larger tractors. Plus kubota has been making the bx22 for a long time and everyone else is playing catchup to that little tractor.)

But how much longer has Case been making the DX33 than the DX24E - only a couple of years I thought? And that still doesn't change the fact that 2 dealers told me that they see more Case/New Hollands in the service dept than Kubotas, and they each sell twice as many Kubotas as CNH machines (and we're talking compacts). To me, that seems like a disproportionately higher number of warranty fixes for the CNH products than the Kubota. And shouldn't the smaller machines be overbuilt if the manufacturer is already building heavier duty larger machines? It would be nice to be able to get a new, larger red machine to match my implements, but I'm still gunshy about going with Case again - there are definitely some design flaws. Why wouldn't their experience with the larger compacts, if they have that much more experience, translate into better designs on the subcompacts?

I've also talked to a couple of JD 2210 owners that have worked their machines as hard or harder than I've worked mine, and they haven't had any problems. I'm not real familiar with the 595, but I don't think it was in the same class as the 2210 or DX24E. There are a lot of things I like about my machine, but it has also been slightly dissapointing.

Having to re-weld and add additional steel to strengthen the loader components due to failures related to the hydraulic strength (high) vs. the component strength (not high enough for the hyd. strength) comes down to design flaws that the engineers should have been able to forsee. The fact that CNH doesn't seem to care, as evidenced by their not responding to my emails to customer service tells me that I should look elsewhere next time. Why should my dealer be responsible for paying to fix the manufacturer's design flaws?

Sorry, but just typing this response has reconfirmed my decision to look at other manufacturers with better established reputations in the compact arena.