L3400 or TC33?

   / L3400 or TC33? #1  

aggc

Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2006
Messages
41
Location
Milmine, IL
I've narrowed my tractor choices down to either a Kubota L3400 or the New Holland TC33. I'll be purchasing a Woods 72" finishing mower, FEL, and post hole digger with either one. I'll also but doing a good bit of garden tilling in the spring with my existing 42" tiller and maybe some light plowing.

The TC33 is obviously a lot more feature-rich. It fits me very nicely too and its **** attractive. I really like the tilt steering. I'm not crazy about the plastic hood and fenders though.

The L3400 appears to be a very well made, everything-you-need-nothing-you-don't type of tractor. Its also about $1000 less than the 2005 TC33. I've never heard a bad word about the L series tractors.

Can anyone steer me one way or the other? I've had a Kubota BX2200 since 2001 and I've never had a minute of problem with it. It's just a bit too small. I'm not real familiar with the New Holland as far as owner satisfaction. Both the New Holland and the Kubota dealer seem to be of equal quality.

Decisions, decisions...
 
   / L3400 or TC33? #2  
Get the one that fits you best. Both are fine machines. I have an L2800 that is the same as the 3400 minus the HP. For just $1000, I might opt for the bells and whistles and go with the TC33. It depends on what you are used to. I had an old Yanmar, the L series is not considered to have the bells and whistles, but to me it does - compared to my Yanmar, it's a cadallac! :)
 
   / L3400 or TC33? #3  
Is your land fairly smooth or bumpy? I owned a TC33D HST once and the suspension seat is a great feature on rough lawn and field. The tractor has a very smooth engine and the plastic is durable. Both tractors you like are good. I like both of your choices and would decide on which you felt most comfortable driving.
 
   / L3400 or TC33? #4  
I own both, two Ford/NH and several Kubotas. The Kubotas are maintenance free, however, the Ford/NH's have a weak link, which are the water pumps. I have replaced both at a cost of $300/ea. They are good tractors, but if you store the NH in an environment where rodents visit; the rodents will have a lunch on some of the electrical wiring that's exposed in the engine compartment. Kubotas that I own have no exposed wiring related to engine operatiion. One of my NH is a 2000 1720, and maybe the newer models have confronted the problems! Good luck on your purchase.
 
   / L3400 or TC33? #5  
If you are going to use the loader a lot, go for the TC. You'll really like the visibility of the curved boom. You didn't mention the transmission you are wanting. Assuming hydro, I think the NH is a little more efficient. Someone mentioned the susp seat, but the swivel feature is great also... I don't recall the frame dimensions of the L3400, but I liked the more compact design of the TC33/34 relative to the L3430, but I have small acreage where it makes a difference.

In my area comparable NH were less than Kubota as well. This decision sounds to be more like "orange - less features vs. blue - more features" which is a tough comparison. You may want to get a quote on a more comparable L3430 so you can see the cost of "orange - more features vs blue - more features", then you can separate the orange vs blue issues and the features vs cost issues.

As for NH reliability concerns go to the NH forums... there is a lot of wisdom and experience there. I bought blue and feel very comfortable with that decision...but really think highly of Kubota as well.
 

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