Comparison New guy needs help.

[huntfish]

New guy needs help 3320 or 3520

Hi guys, I'm new to the site and looking to get my first tractor. I've narrowed it down to I think to the JD 3320 or 3520. I own 80+ acres of woods and fields with some pretty good hills. It will be used for bushhogging, snowblowing (I have a long driveway) skidding small trees, tilling, log splitting and general work around the house.

A couple of my friends have 3320's and love them.

In looking at the 3520 I noticed it's turbocharged. Is that really a "must have" to justify the added expense?

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[nforktractor]

I just ordered the 3520. It was only 2K more than the 3320, and 5 more HP for the engine and PTO.

 

[beenthere]

Re: New guy needs help 3320 or 3520

huntfish
Welcome to the forum.
I'd go with the "more hp", but also think you could save the $2k and put it into attachments. If you are short on horses under the hood, then you can decide later to opt up a notch or 3.

Whatever you get, you will find those times when a few more horses are desireable.

Me...I'd go right to the 3720 and not look back.
The only thing that has kept me from trading in my 4300 for a 3720, is the folding ROPS being standard. I don't want it, as it is too high to get in my garage doors. I'd either ruin a door forgetting (not going to take that chance) or I'd remove the ROPS at the hinge (not smart, IMO). So Deere lost this customer with their decision to drop the fixed ROPS. My loss too.

 

[jenkinsph]

I think a 3000 series is too small for 80+ acres, I would go with a 4000 or 5000 series tractor. Realizing later that you bought too small of a tractor and then trading up is way too costly. There are alot of threads here where guys are wanting to move up in size only to loose money on their trades and also being saddled with implements that are too small for the larger tractor.

I would look at tractors from 60 to 80 hp with attachments to match. Buy it once and buy it right is the least expensive way to go, then keep it for a long time. Good tractors can be kept for longer than cars and pickup trucks.

 

[AKfish]

I don't know your budget constraints and I'm not real clear on the kinds of jobs (how much tree clearing, wood skidding, snow plowing, snow clearing) you have in mind for the tractor and your 80 acres.
Eighty acres is a whole lot of work for a 35hp tractor... Do you have pastures, hay, mowing - how many acres?
If you have more than 10 and plans for more than that - I'm leaning towards at least a 4000 series machine - minimum.
Steve is on the money with the observation regarding the problems of buying too small and then upgrading later. You'll take a big hit in the first 5 years if you decide to sell.
Sometimes, it's better to go bigger from the getgo - 'cause it's better to recoup your investment after many years of happy ownership versus losing money right off the bat 'cause the tractor didn't meet your expectations.

AKfish

 

[deputy11]

I got a 3520 2 weeks ago, 12 acres. I agree with AKfish that it may be small for 80 acres. Glad I did not go with 3320, wish for 3720 but budget constraints. I do like this tractor very much but the other posters are right about purchasing implements in that you may find that the 5 foot implements that are just right for the 30x20 series may be too small for what you have in mind. I can comment more on the 3520 as I see other posts in this thread that relate to your questions.

 

[huntfish]

Thanks for all the thoughts guys. Now I'm leaning more towards the 3520 or maybe even the 3720. My land is 90% woods with 2 small fields and a very long driveway. I also am going to be clearing some land for some small food plots. My wife and I are planning on building our house their in the near future and I've got her convinced that I NEED a tractor.

 

[beenthere]

huntfish
Good plan. My Deere 4300 (only 32 hp) does very well logging, but need to watch the slopes.

The 3520 (the 3720 better) will handle a log winch attachment like the Farmi winch, and bring logs up or down slopes. Forks for the FEL will find many uses that one can't figure out how he got along without them. Use them more than the bucket.

 

[jenkinsph]

Huntfish,
I would rather go with a 4120 than a 3720, weight is your friend. If you need to do much clearing at all you will find you need more weight and traction than a 3x20 is going to provide. My 4520 with weights (no water ballast) weighs about 5500lbs. and I consider this to be marginal for the work you are doing. Stumps are more easy to deal with using a backhoe though.

 

[Nuru]

I would think that jenkinsph is correct as far as the larger series will have more weight and power, so it depends on how fast, and how much you want to clear.