Buying Advice L3800 or MX4700 or MX5100?

[foreman Etexas]

Here's one of two short videos I made of my wife's first drive on the tractor.

‪Kubota L3240 First Drive‬‏ - YouTube just go to my videos and there should be a second one in there too. Nothing fancy just driving it around.

Chris

Sweet tractor!!:thumbsup:Nice pick!!

 

[TripleR]

Very nice rig and just like new.:thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

That looks great Chris, and you have gotten a really nice tractor. What with all the correspondence here, and watching your videos, I feel like I know you guys. Happy tractoring:thumbsup: If there is any questions we can help with, please don't be a stranger, come back often, and show us how your are doing.

James K0UA

 

[ravencr]

Hey guys,

I got the pictures working on the previous page. Here's the second little video: ‪Kubota L3240 Second Drive‬‏ - YouTube The funny thing is she had the parking brake on the whole time in both of these videos. We're officially newbies, ya think? I'll get some better pics and footage eventually, but this will be it for a while. My Dad is going to be using it from now till the next season for the park, because we really don't need it out at the park this year. So, I plan to help him do all his landscaping this winter here in Knoxville. It should be fun...thanks again to everyone that helped to make the decision for us. We're really happy with our purchase so far, but I've only driven it about 5 minutes...lol.

Chris

 

[Mpking]

I think you made the perfect choice for your needs. At 188 hours and having a backhoe I'd say you got an unbelievable deal for $21k, as long as everything is tip top which I'm sure it probably is. I've seen a few low hour l3240s on craigslist here for around $20k without a backhoe.

 

[Mpking]

Whoa, I didn't see that you also got a box blade and brush hog in that package. Now I'm starting to feel bad for the guy you bought it from :laughing:. You paid probably a good 5 grand (or more) less than what it is all worth I think.

 

[ravencr]

I like that. I thought I couldn't pass it up.

Chris

 

[ravencr]

Hey Mpking,

I notice you have a box blade and the grading scraper. Would you mind sharing what you like better between the two attachments and what you prefer to use for certain situations, etc? If I had bought a new one, I was planning on buying that exact scraper you have, but since this one came with a box blade, I'm curious if I should still spring for it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

 

[Mpking]

Hey Mpking,

I notice you have a box blade and the grading scraper. Would you mind sharing what you like better between the two attachments and what you prefer to use for certain situations, etc? If I had bought a new one, I was planning on buying that exact scraper you have, but since this one came with a box blade, I'm curious if I should still spring for it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

Sure,

If you are maintaining gravel roads, I would absolutely spring for a grading scraper if you have the money. In your situation of maintaining a RV park I'm not really sure. I guess I'd have to look at what you are planning to do with it to know. I'll tell you how I use mine and maybe that will help you decide if it would be helpful. I live at the end of a 1/2 mile gravel road in the rainy Pacific Northwest. That means that I get puddles on the road that turn into massive car swallowing potholes in a matter of days/weeks. First I make a few passes (of the whole road) with the GS with the rippers down to scrape through the potholes and break up the hard packed parts. Then I put the rippers up and make several passes with the blades angled such that it builds a crown (adjusted low on the ditch side, high on the middle of the road) and fills in the potholes. The result of this is a road surface that is smooth and relatively new looking without much effort. It would probably benefit from compacting it with a roller of some type afterwards but we didn't want to pay to rent one. I'm sure a box blade in the right person's hands could do just as good of a job but I think for most people it would be alot more work. A top and tilt would help the box blade but the GS is just so easy to use. I basically just lower the control for the 3PH all the way down and drag it from one end of the road to the other then turn around and go back. Not sure how it would handle something like a parking lot though, that is if you have one. I use the box blade more for parts that need more of an aggressive cut to it. There are a couple of spots along the road with no ditch. I tilted the box blade about 15 degrees and used it to cut a small ditch. When I was done I had a pile of dirt that I scooped up with the loader. I also use the box blade in a few places to pull gravel back up on to the road before using the GS.

Hope that helps. I say if you have the money, get one. Mine was about $1300. If you don't like it, I'm betting that you could sell it on craigslist for pretty close to what you pay new so there isn't too much risk in getting one.

Woods also carries one with the rippers on it that looks pretty well made. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[k0ua]

Chris, if you search for the user Goochy he is is new JD owner, and has made a part time business of using his grading scraper. He has posted some pic's of his results using the scraper, and they are pretty impressive.

James K0UA