Tractor Sizing L 3800

[IMFoghorn]

I'm getting ready to buy another tractor for my small farm. One of the things I will need to do is move maby 50 round bales a year to storage and to feed lot. I found a L 3800 near by but I'm wondering if it will carry a 4x5 round bale. Does anyone have any experience carrying round bales with an L3800?

I know bigger is almost always better. I've looked at the M 4700 and would really like to buy one. There is quite a step up in dollars between the M 4700 new and the L 3800 I have spotted. My farm is not large. I'm pretty sure carrying the round bales would be the most I would be asking out of the tractor.

 

[murphy1244]

Lifts about 855Lbs at full height. The bail has to be more than that.

 

[IMFoghorn]

Thanks Murph. I'm sure the FEL will not handle the load. I am thinking more of a hay spear on the back. I know that is twice as many trips. Time I've got, money not so much. I should have worded my question better. I'm interested to know how/if the tractor will handle the load on the back on uneven ground.

 

[Chilly807]

We've moved 4x5 round bales with our L3400, with them strapped to the bucket since we don't have a bale spear. The type of hay and how tightly it's packed will be the difference. The bales we had were roughly 650 lbs.

We moved them on a flat surface, from the back of a truck to the barn, so I can't say much to what it would be like on uneven ground. The L3800 has the same lift capacity as the L3400, possibly slightly more.

Moving them with a spear on the 3-point should be no problem at all lift capacity wise. Stability is really up the operator. I'd be more comfortable with the MX4700 or MX5100 to be sure.

Sean

 

[Bluegill2]

No problem at all with a bale spike on the 3 pt hitch.

My FEL will lift a little over 1000 lbs, but would rather move bales on the back.

I've been very impressed with this L3800DT!

 

[bigbull338]

personally i wouldnt dare lift rd bales on the fel or rear with that tractor.i would look at something like the mx5100.i had an mx5100hst 4x4 fel.an it was used to lift lite 4 by 6 an 5 by 6s that wasnt put up tight.went to heavy tight 5 by 6s this summer an the mx5100 hst strained.so it was traded for a 7040SU 4x4 fel.

 

[Bluegill2]

I've had close to 2000 lbs on the 3 pt of my L3800 and it handled it just fine.

But for moving heavy bales often, I agree a larger rig would be better.

 

[Chilly807]

I'm saying the same thing.. it'll do it, but it's not an ideal situation and there's little room for error. We used ours because we had it and the job needed done.

Sean

 

[TexasBoy]

I was picking up 1200# stuff yesterday with my L4600 with no problem at all. Im sure if would handle a standard round bale.

Did you rule out that model ?

 

[LD1]

Pretty much agree with others. It will do it, but not ideal. If only 50 bales a year, I dont see a huge issue. Just keep the bale on the front close to the ground, and as long as stacking isnt involved, I think you will be okay, but again, not ideal.

SO if you have some other reason (other than price) that makes you want/need the smaller tractor, get the 3400.

IF the only reason is money, and primary tasks is bales, then you will be pushing the tractor to the max all of the time. And a little more money now may save much more money later.

 

[Fallon]

My l3200 is the same tractor with a couple less HP than the 3800 & think the 3400 is the same minus a couple years.

I will lift 1000ish lbs on the front, but don't feel good about lifting much less moving much with it. You should be fine lifting/moving a lot more on the 3pt though. Aside from front axle strength, wear & breakage, you are also dealing with handling issues. Its not good when you turn the steering wheel & the rears move sideways, but fonts stay planted. Its just asking for rollover or other bad things.

If you are planning to use equipment at the limit, expect it to break sooner. You are a lot better moving up to something with more clearance to the limits.

 

[Code54]

I had a 3700 (basically the same as the 3800) and sold it for a MX5100. The 5100 does all the things the 3700 did but with a LOT more stability and ease. If you can afford it the MX is a better machine for those weights in my opinion.

 

[ENC]

For a lot less $$ you can get a bale mover for a farm truck or even a bale moving trailer. I am sure you considered this but I am just throwing it out there.

 

[tractorshopper]

IMFoghorn,

I have the L3800. The specs on the L3800 3PH are 1998 lbs at the lifting point or 1,435 lbs 24" behind the lift points. FWIW, the FEL lift at max height 500MM forward of the pins is 855 lbs.

Looking at 4X5 round bales, most people seem to say they are in the 600 to 900 lbs range and if very tightly packed and wet, they could be in the 800 to 1,100 range. There are many factors concerning them, but what little I've read, people say they usually average 750 lbs. I know there are very experienced people here that could say with first hand knowledge.

Using those figures, I think you'd be fine using a spear on the back of the L3800. I must say, that I have not tried to lift any on the front or rear of my L3800, but at 750 lbs, I'd honestly be comfortable trying it out with my FEL just at moving height (with my rear wheels filled and BB on the back for ballast) but I most certainly wouldn't have any objection at all to using my 3PH 50 times a year to move one (that's only once a week and about half the weight of what it's rated for). That's also only 200 lbs heavier than my box blade and not a whole lot heavier than my brush hog and my tractor handles them with complete ease. Even at 1,1000 lbs, that's only about 3/4 of the tractor's rating at 24" behind the lift points.

Now that said, if money wasn't an issue, certainly a larger and heavier machine would be even better, but you specifically asked about the L3800.

 

[LD1]

FWIW, the FEL lift at max height 500MM forward of the pins is 855 lbs.

From my experience, and others on here, that is a very conservitave number.

 

[Bluegill2]

From my experience, and others on here, that is a very conservitave number.

Yes, mine will lift more.

 

[IMFoghorn]

Thanks everybody for you input. I'm still thinking on this purchase.

TexasBoy I had not looked at the 4600 until you mentioned it. After checking out some prices there is not much difference in price between the L4600 and the M4700. The 4700 being the heavier of the two. I'll be looking at both when I get back to the dealer.

Everybody had given me some valuable information. Thanks again. I can't move on this for about three weeks because of other commitments. I guess I'll keep scratching my head for a while longer.

 

[poolecw]

if lifting capacity is what you seek, take a look at the Mahindra 4025 4x4.