L3130: a good fit?

[LedgeMagnet]

Thanks, GregJ and Henro. That's just the sort of thing I need to know. I had pretty much decided to get the Ag tires, since that is what I've always had. The only reason I can see for getting the R4's is that the tractor might have a slightly lower center of gravity with them, but probably not enough to be significant.

I'll study up on the tractors you have. There's a part of everybody, I suppose, that wants the "big rig," but I know that in practice too much is too much.

Thanks again.

 

[tractorman]

If you have doubts about the physical size of the L3130 being too big you should also take a look at the New Holland TC29& 33 or Case IH DX29&33's. Their physical size is somewhere inbetween the Kubota B7800 & L3130. Their curved boom loaders are also a greeat feature. Good Luck......Tractorman

 

[Dave___in___CT]

HI...


The R4's have a wider footprint than the R1's... and they add a few inches (4"??) to the overall width for better stability...
...but expect the R1's to have better traction...

Also remember... the entire loader frame removes easily from the L3130 for working in the woods... if you want...


Dave...

 

[Boondox]

Not sure about the price as it's been a while since I priced tractors. But the L3130 is an updated version of my L3010, and my tractor does just fine. Using my Farmi winch I can haul three hardwood trees home at a time; I just crown them where they drop and drag all the useable firewood home. I use loaded ag tires and definitely recommend them over the R4s as with a load that heavy you need as much traction as you can get.

I also have a Woods 7500 BH powered by the tractor's remotes. Does a great job, though at times I wish I had a bit more reach. I opted for the subframe BH and have no complaints. Lost a bit of ground clearance but it's rock solid.

Stability? Heck, I still experience pucker now and then, but all that extra mass down low really makes a difference.

Pete

 

[Trailblazer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( There's a part of everybody, I suppose, that wants the "big rig," but I know that in practice too much is too much. )</font>

I'm with Henro - whatever you get will seem smaller the more you use it. I have a 3130 with loaded ag tires and use it on steep hills and in trees. It's both stable and maneuverable. The LA 723 works great, and I really have no complaints. But, nonetheless, I sometimes envy my neighbor's 4330. You'll love the 3130.

 

[Riddler]

Boy, TBN continues to impress me. Here I am, rattlling around the L3130HST v. L4330HST decision in my head and, lo and behold, I find help!!

I will be working 32 acres, so I am thinking that a Grand L sized machine will work o.k. There is about 10 acres to mow, 20 acres of forest to clean up and manage (including redwoods and douglas firs), lots of fence work, some road improvement and maintenance and some moderate to steep terrain to deal with. Because the 3130 and 4330 are not substantially different in size and weight, and both will accommodate the BH90 backhoe, I have been thinking that the difference in loader performance between the 723 and 853 should be one of the bigger factors in my decision. Initially, the loader will be used (with tootbar) to eradicate brush and small trees, and to carry debris and materials around. Am I too short-sighted to think that the 723 will be more than enough for my needs over the long run? Because the tractor won't be used regularly for construction or commercial farming purposes, can I assume that the extra capacity of the 853 is a luxury that I will rarely find substantial use for?

I guess I have the same questions with regard to the extra 10 HP delivered by the 4330. Because of my inexperience, am I just not seeing the many instances where I will really wish I had the extra 10 HP? I am happy to pay the extra $5K for the 4330 if I can see using the machine's extra capabilities alot someday. I would really appreciate hearing the thoughts of folks who discovered property maintainance uses for a more powerful loader and tractor than I am envisioning at the moment.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

For many users, especially the folks who have a house on some property and just maintain their stuff, I am a big advocate of going to a smaller tractor. But based on your description of work, I might change my stripes a bit and go bigger.

I am a big fan of getting the heaviest duty loader you can find on the smallest frame size. So that said, maybe you could look at the L3130, and compare the loader specs for that tractor against all the competitive machines? If the LA723 was substantially better than the competitors, then I might be inclined to stick with the L3130. However, if the other brands 31 to 35hp tractors had loaders that were substantially better than the LA723, I might either opt for a different brand, or go up in size if you are inclined to stick with Kubota.

I am very disapointed with my B2910's LA402. I never was before, but the more I use it the more it disapoints me compared to my smaller tractor and it's loader (which actually is rated better NH TC24 & 12LA FEL). But the B2910 is an excellent machine otherwise. So I doubt you'd be unhappy with Kubota, because I am generally pleased with the overall package.

For working in the woods, a smaller tractor is better, but both of your choices are basically the same size. Take a look at some other brands, see if you can find a stronger loader (maybe splitting the difference between the L3130 & the 4330) in the same price range as the L3130 and then take that into consideration because that seems to be one of the key points you are keying in on with your choices.

 

[Freds]

What will you be comparing the FEL to? In other words, if you don't have experience with another FEL, then you probably won't notice the difference. IMO.
I moved from a B7500 to an L3130 with the 513 loader and am amazed at how much more it holds and how much higher it lifts. Sure, in most cases the bigger the better, especially with your acreage, but I don't miss not having the heavier duty loader on my tractor because I've never used and worked the 723.

Now, 10 extra horses.... THAT I would opt for.

 

[Riddler]

Bob, I am very much in tune with your comments. I will be taking a close look shortly at the NH TCxxD machines and 16LA loaders to see how they stack up feel and price wise with the L3130 w/ 723 FEL and L4330 w/ 853 FEL. The Kubota dealer I am working with was kind enough bring a L35 TLB to my property so I could get find out what a tractor the size of a Grand L might feel like at my place (it wasn't convenient at the time to bring a Grand L, which he has since offered to do). He told me that the loader on the L35 is very similar to the LA853. After doing some work with it, I came away impressed with the power and feel of the loader, but I was equally unimpressed with the lack of visibility. I suspect that with experience, I would learn to operate the thing much better "blind," but before I decide to purchase a Grand L, I owe it to myself to "test drive" some of the sloped hood/curved arm offerings (e.g., NH and Kioti). JD is the running too, but I am not confident that I can get the price where I want it (especially for the 20 something models) and those darn yellow seats drive me crazy.

Fred, you're killing me with your comment about the 10 extra horses. Why??? Details please.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I think you will find the NH 16LA will be about as powerful as the Kubota 723, and you may find that you like the view! I've not checked the specs on the 16LA, but I know the 14LA is inferior to the 723.

I use a 12LA on a TC24 and I also use a 402 on a B2910. The B2910 is more powerful tractor but the TC24/12LA is a better combination because the smaller tractor has a stronger loader. My neighbor used both and also agreed with me. The TC series tractors, with their curved sloped hoods and curved loaders give such amazing view of the bucket and work area that they must be compared side by side with the Kubotas with their long flat straight view blocking hoods.