L3800 or TC30 which would you rather have?

[SCRich]

I have been pricing tractors at my local dealers, I have Kubota, NH and JD all local. It seems the TC30 is the least expensive of the big 3 I have looked at. The tractor will be used a LOT at the start but then it will taper off to an occasional box blade job and possibly tilling 1-2 acres. To start I'll be using a FEL grapple to clean out logs and branches and a chipper attachment. Which of the 2 would you rather have the L3800 or TC30 ?

Considering a BH attachment but not too sure. We are in the process of building a house, just bought an ATV for the property and a new trailer. I can afford a tractor by any of the big three, need about 30 or so HP but once I buy the tractor I need to get the box blade, harrow, tiller and or disker, FEL, grapple, and possibly a Back Hoe. Right now it looks like the implements I need are going to cost just as much as the tractor and most of them will be used the first 1-2 years then very seldom.

Rich

 

[swampvol]

Does kubota make a l3800?

Or did you mean the l2800?

 

[SCRich]

Sorry meant the L3400.

 

[art]

No question here, the L-3400 is a lot more tractor.

 

[emmy71]

No question here, the L-3400 is a lot more tractor.

Ditto.

 

[swampvol]

FWIW..which ain't much, I have looked a both models the last two weeks, and from the little amount of time spent on them (riding around the parking lot), the 3400 seems to be a more capable machine. Specs out better.....a little heavier, more hp, and higher lift capacities on the loader as well as the pto. I would think the l2800 or b3030 kubota would be a better comparison to the tc30. I crossed the New Holland off my list, and am down to the l3400, mf 1533 or kioti ck30.

 

[ToddW]

FWIW..which ain't much, I have looked a both models the last two weeks, and from the little amount of time spent on them (riding around the parking lot), the 3400 seems to be a more capable machine. Specs out better.....a little heavier, more hp, and higher lift capacities on the loader as well as the pto. I would think the l2800 or b3030 kubota would be a better comparison to the tc30. I crossed the New Holland off my list, and am down to the l3400, mf 1533 or kioti ck30.

I have the L2800 HST (great tractor). AFAIK the only difference between the L3400 and L2800 is 4 horsepower, someone please correct me if I'm wrong. (As if they wouldn't, LOL). So probably still a fair comparison, in fact I checked out the TC30 and the JD 790 before I settled on the L2800.

You really won't go wrong on any of them.

/Todd

 

[john_bud]

I have been pricing tractors at my local dealers, I have Kubota, NH and JD all local. It seems the TC30 is the least expensive of the big 3 I have looked at. The tractor will be used a LOT at the start but then it will taper off to an occasional box blade job and possibly tilling 1-2 acres. To start I'll be using a FEL grapple to clean out logs and branches and a chipper attachment. Which of the 2 would you rather have the L3800 or TC30 ?

Considering a BH attachment but not too sure. We are in the process of building a house, just bought an ATV for the property and a new trailer. I can afford a tractor by any of the big three, need about 30 or so HP but once I buy the tractor I need to get the box blade, harrow, tiller and or disker, FEL, grapple, and possibly a Back Hoe. Right now it looks like the implements I need are going to cost just as much as the tractor and most of them will be used the first 1-2 years then very seldom.

Rich

I would get a "farm smart" buddy and hit the spring auctions. Buy an old ag tractor from the late 70's thru the mid 90's. One of the nicer ones will be a Ford 4000 or 5000 series tractors. They can be had with a loader for 5000-$10,000 and will be much more of a tractor than any 30 hp CUT out there. For 10-15k you will be able to get a decent used tractor with all the attachments (except grapple and backhoe). Then when you are done with the heavy work, you can sell the whole shee-bang for what you paid for it - or more. Same goes for a Tractor/Loader/Backhoe - except it's real hard to find a decent TLB that isn't beat to snit and in need of some serious $$. Can be done, but not for the first time buyer! IF you are going to look at used TLB's pay a professional to inspect it. Cheap money. Heck, it's worth it to have a pro inspect a used ag tractor too (in retrospect, farm smart buddies are few and far between).


I would recommend renting a BH if you need it for only a week or two. Figure on 1000-2000 a week for delivery, pickup, fuel and rental. Depends on size and local market.

 

[SCRich]

SNIP>>
I would recommend renting a BH if you need it for only a week or two. Figure on 1000-2000 a week for delivery, pickup, fuel and rental. Depends on size and local market.

I guess I just got to call and find out. I started thinking of renting a chipper instead of buying. Called a couple of rental places and they want $168 a day, bit high but OK fair. Till' the guy also stated the day is 4 hours based on the hour meter!! To HECK with that! I got probably 4-5 FULL days of chipping to do since it's just me (wife is pregnant and our son is only 7) and that would work out to be over $1,000 just in rental.

Since that call I am not too crazy about renting but I just got to try. I know a ditch witch is about $250 a day and I would have several days of using it also, probably several times a year for the first few years hence my want of a BH.

I may also be able to see if I can find a farmer who has an extra tractor or BH that is in need of some money that is willing to rent it out. If it were not for my need of a grapple I could just probably rent a tractor privately and get the bulk done and once we move in THEN know how much I have left in the bank an make a good decision based on that.

I kind of know 1 farmer (I am new to the state) and that is it, I guess I just got to go out there and ask around.

 

[SCRich]

OK OK you guys affirmed what I was thinking and I appreicate it. As of this afternoon it's a done deal, I hope to have it by next Friday. L3400, LA463-1 FEL, WRLong Root Grapple, Linebech 556HD Box Scraper. I am looking for a chipper but the one he had a price on was $4K, not sure I can deal with that much for a chipper since it's more than half of a BH and I really want/need one and am holding out.