L2800/3400 and TC30 FEL Capabilities

tracseeker · Feb 25, 2006

I am planning to buy a new tractor to handle land maintenance and chores related to our horses; cutting, clearing, moving round hay bales and some digging.

Since we have some low areas I am opting for 4WD. That pushes my price point and my major concern is satisfying my wife's only requirement for the tractor; to move her 4 foot round bales to the horses and be able to stack them (after we build a shelter) two high with a hay spear on the FEL.

After much internet review and trips to the local AL dealers, I have narrowed my choices to a Kubota L2800/3400 and NH TC30.

Anyone have experience/opinion regarding the capabilities of the tractors I have listed for the hay detail? If I spend this kind of money and cannot fulfill my hay requirement, I will not hear the end of it.

wushaw · Feb 25, 2006

I have a L2800 and I do not think it will handle stacking round bales. You need to go to a Grand L series to get the lift capacity for round bales and probably start with a L4330 with the LA853 loader.

tracseeker · Feb 25, 2006

Thanks for the reply.

Would the L2800 FEL not handle the lift or is the weight of the tractor the issue?

These bales are 4 foot; estimate around 800-1000#.

Av8r3400 · Feb 25, 2006

The FEL on the L2800/L3400 is the LA463, which means Kubota rates the loader to be able to lift 460 kilograms or 1015 pounds. That may be on the ragged edge of capability for you. The L4400 which uses the LA703 (700kg or 1550 lbs. rating) might be a better minimum choice for this task.

tracseeker · Feb 26, 2006

That brings me back to the TC30. The dealer here installs a BushHog brand loader which lifts 1195 vs the 1014 of the Kubota L28000/3400. The Kubota looks like a better tractor to me but performance is the bottom line.

canoetrpr · Feb 26, 2006

I've decided to go with the L3400 myself. In my case I plan on puttering around with square bales for the convenience, despite the higher cost and so this was not a concern to me.

In my honest opinion I think that I would not be comfortable lifting round bales with any of the tractors in this class. Loader lift capacity is one issue - I doubt you want to be operating on the verge of running out of juice. The other issue is weight of the tractor. These tractors do not seem heavy enough in my opinion but I am a newbie at this too.

I would definately look at the grand L series as others suggested. A used grand L perhaps might fit the bill for a similar price to a new L3400.

If I had needed more lift capacity I would have sacraficed the extra 3 horses on the L3400 and paid the two or three K my dealer wanted extra for a L3130 with the 723 loader. More weight on that tractor and better lift capacity on the loader.

tracseeker · Feb 26, 2006

Used tractors in this area are not plentiful. I was not planning to spend anything close to the cost of a new L3400 until I found nothing in the used market. One of the dealers in the area said you have to check the obits here to see if the person operated a farm. I do not want to go that route /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

If I can use the 3PT to spear the rolls and pass on the double stack then we will be okay.

I need 4WD and the ability to dig/move dirt. My wife wants me to move (opt stack) bales.

Still in a quandary over the performance vs price of the L3400 vs TC30.

ccsial · Feb 26, 2006

I'd ask the Dealer to bring one out to try doing your chores. Tell him if it handles it he can consider it delivered.

In my way of thinking if the difference between those two is important then they are both too small.

Kubota has some pretty good finance deals from time to time. NH probably does too. If you end up with a marginal tractor you won't be real happy in the long run.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 26, 2006

( That brings me back to the TC30. The dealer here installs a BushHog brand loader which lifts 1195 vs the 1014 of the Kubota L28000/3400. The Kubota looks like a better tractor to me but performance is the bottom line. )
The problem you have is you are not considering the fact that the farther in front of the pivot points or bucket center point (2 different points, 2 different capacities) the LOWER your lift capacity. Assuming you remove the bucket and put a bale spear on the front end using a QA system, you will have the bale held with the weight are roughly the bucket center and you will barely have enough capacity to lift the load. If the bale is wet, you'd probably fail to lift it to full height. No matter what, you better load your rear tires and you better carry a weight box on the 3pt hitch.

I would suggest you carefully consider your loader specs. Many are rated at pivot point. That is a very misleading spec. If you are lifting 1000# loads, you better make VERY SURE that you are using bucket center capacities, not pivot point capacities!

If it were me, I would be looking for a tractor that had 1200# capacity on the FEL if a major task was to lift roughly 1000# loads to a double stack height. JMO but I think you are going to be disappointed because you will be running your tractor's loader at MAXIMUM capacity all the time. That is not a good situation to be in, it will likely lead to premature problems, wear, and shorter life of the tractor and loader. Saving a little $$$ now may cost you a lot in the long term.

Av8r3400 · Feb 26, 2006

( If it were me, I would be looking for a tractor that had 1200# capacity on the FEL if a major task was to lift roughly 1000# loads to a double stack height. )

I'd go even further and say that a 1700 - 2000# minimum capacity to work 1000# would be better. What happens if you 1000# bale is wet or frozen or whatever? You will need more. The L4400 loader spec I gave before (in my opinion) would probably still be too light for your needs.