Kubota 3240 vs 3940. Worth the extra $$$

CyberCop · Sep 4, 2009

Going to get my first tractor, and can't decide between the 3240 or 3940.

I want something to help clear 5 acres of land, maintain it, and do some landscaping jobs around the house. Plan on getting more land when I convience some neighbors to give it up.

Looking at a FEL, bush hog (not finish mower), and a box blade.

I want something that I can put on a root and pull it out, mow down small saplings, small amount of REASONABLE digging, and just generally moving material around.

From all I have read, I should really consider a 724 FEL, but the dealer said it is a little overkill for the 3240 and that mowing up some of my grades may be alittle hard on the 3240.

I know I will lose a little manuverability between the two tractors, but is the 3 cyl versus 4 cyl, the extra weight of the tractor, and the extra HP really going to be that much of a benefit to warrant the extra cash.

BTW, I am looking to purchase a tractor that will last a life time, at least the rest of mine

MessickFarmEqu · Sep 5, 2009

I've never heard a good strong loader called overkill. I'd put nothing but the LA7424 on ANY of the L40-series tractors. I'd agree that your probably selling yourself a bit short at 32hp. The 35 39 would be a better choice for only a small price difference.

skipperbrown · Sep 7, 2009

I went through the same decision process last november and drove a 3940 hst home. If I was going to do it again, I'd be driving the 4740 home. Think about this: In this size tractor, you need 6' implements to cover your tracks. A 6' HD disk, a 6' HD cutter, 6' tiller and most anything else 6' needs a min 35 hp pto hp and 40 to 45 drawbar hp. You are going to be undergunned w/ the 3240 for anything beyond lightweight work. I use my tractor mostly on a hunting lease cutting, disking, etc. and I often find myself wishing I had 50 hp even w/ my 6' stuff. I am more than sometimes undergunned w/ my 39 hp. Most small farm tractors are 40 to 45 hp and the implements they pull are made for this size tractor.

The price jump from a 3240 to the 3940 was about $2 or $3k, but going from the 3940 up was considerably more. If the difference is still less than $3k, I think you will never regret buying a little more tractor. BTW, the 40 series is a great little tractor.

nybirdman · Sep 7, 2009

I had a L3130 Kubota with the 724,currently have L4240 with cab and loader,
the 3240 is the relacement for the 3130,the 3940 is the "same frame"as the 3240 I believe.I moved up mostly for the cab,the L4240 is the next frame size
up in the Kubota line.I really liked the L3130,just the right size,the 3940 should be a great all around tractor for most people,us hobby farmers and food plot planters ect.Good luck with your choice, a few thousand now and may not have to trade up later..........

IslandTractor · Sep 7, 2009

While I don't disagree strongly with the advice others have given to go with the bigger tractor, I will point out that 5 acres is not a lot of land and that many people do what you are talking about with 20 something horsepower tractors like the B series. Sure you'd be better off with 5ft implements but frankly those are appropriate for a 5 acre plot. I did land clearing and maintenance on 5 acres with a 20hp TLB and found it perfect.

Benefits of the smaller tractor: $2-3K that you can save to spend on implements that will really help you get the job done faster (eg a 32hp tractor with a grapple will clearly outwork a 39hp tractor with a bucket in the land clearing arena). Smaller implements will be cheaper to buy, easier to store and more manuverable. The time saved mowing say 3 acres with a 6ft rather than a 5ft mower is not that much especially if you consider that the time setting up is identical. 17% time savings on the mowing task would translate to about 15 minutes or so each time you mowed 3 acres. And, while I'd agree that a 32hp tractor would be better of with a 5ft rotary (bush hog) mower, you could easily pull a 6ft finish mower so if you are mowing lawn there would be an advantage to the smaller tractor (less weight).

There are clear benefits to more horsepower but don't lose sight of other considerations like implements and what sort of time advantage you'd really get from the bigger machine. And, get the biggest loader you can mount on whichever tractor you buy.

I'd even look smaller than the L3240 (though that is a nice tractor) with the idea that a B3030 with a backhoe and light duty grapple (I'm guessing wildly on price equivalence here) might actually be a more efficient machine than the L without a BH for a 5 acre plot.

Deerlope · Sep 7, 2009

I had a L3830 and at 32 HP on the pto that 3 cyl just could not stay with the 5" pto chipper. I traded up to an M5040 and have never looked back. Now I can chip faster that 5 guys can feed it. The physcial size took some getting use to but I am OK with it now.

lawn_king · Sep 8, 2009

i went with the 3540/724 fel, very happy with the machine.I would have liked to have gone a little bigger but i felt the weight was too much to work on pristine turf.

Happyman · Sep 9, 2009

I have the 3940 but often wish it was the 4240. Size of land doesn't always dictate size of tractor. It's the task at hand that really matters. I would suggest the 3940. The only implement that gives my 3940 a hard time is the chipper (see list below). The extra hp in the 4240 would make the chipper perfect.

Double Orange · Sep 9, 2009

IslandTractor said:
While I don't disagree strongly with the advice others have given to go with the bigger tractor, I will point out that 5 acres is not a lot of land and that many people do what you are talking about with 20 something horsepower tractors like the B series. Sure you'd be better off with 5ft implements but frankly those are appropriate for a 5 acre plot. I did land clearing and maintenance on 5 acres with a 20hp TLB and found it perfect.

Benefits of the smaller tractor: $2-3K that you can save to spend on implements that will really help you get the job done faster (eg a 32hp tractor with a grapple will clearly outwork a 39hp tractor with a bucket in the land clearing arena). Smaller implements will be cheaper to buy, easier to store and more manuverable. The time saved mowing say 3 acres with a 6ft rather than a 5ft mower is not that much especially if you consider that the time setting up is identical. 17% time savings on the mowing task would translate to about 15 minutes or so each time you mowed 3 acres. And, while I'd agree that a 32hp tractor would be better of with a 5ft rotary (bush hog) mower, you could easily pull a 6ft finish mower so if you are mowing lawn there would be an advantage to the smaller tractor (less weight).

There are clear benefits to more horsepower but don't lose sight of other considerations like implements and what sort of time advantage you'd really get from the bigger machine. And, get the biggest loader you can mount on whichever tractor you buy.

I'd even look smaller than the L3240 (though that is a nice tractor) with the idea that a B3030 with a backhoe and light duty grapple (I'm guessing wildly on price equivalence here) might actually be a more efficient machine than the L without a BH for a 5 acre plot.

Island Tractor Nailed It.

I can take a B3030 with a FEL, Back-hoe, And a lt. duty grapple.And blow thru 5 acres with a smile.

Just my 2 cents.
Frank

n8wrl · Sep 9, 2009

I started with a 3130 and liked it. But with 25 acres I wanted a 6' bushhog. Both for getting the mowing done faster but also to get closer to the fences. With the width of the tires I was unable to get close enough with the 5' bushhog. But in even moderately brush the 3130 didn't do well with the 6'. So with 100 hours on it I traded it for a 5030 and absolutely love it.