New tractor for smallish property : J2023H vs G3033H vs G3038H vs XR3032H

[mangler]

I just bought a 7 acre property, 3.5 of which is a wooded very steep ravine. I am sure I want a CUT, but I'm not quite sure where I should stop.

I initially looked at the J2023H, mostly because of price, and because I can probably get it with turfs and run around on the grass without too much incident. Duties will include brush/yard maintenance, and gardening/tending to a food plot (think personal garden, slightly up sized). Also have a 450ft driveway that will need grading/snow removal. Lawn cutting will be handled by my craftsman garden tractor, so belly mower is not in the cards.

After reviewing the J2023H, most people are happy with it, and it seems like it would be plenty of tractor for me. But the G3033H seems to offer a lot larger size and capability, for not much more. Then the plus up to a G3038H seems worthwhile...

The only thing I don't get is the advantages of the R or XR series. What exactly do you get with these series vs G? The price difference gets substantial when you move to the XR3032H, and the options I can see that come with it don't seem to be worth the cost, so I must be missing something.

Also, anyone running turfs on their J2023H or G3038H? Can you get the traction back with chains in winter? Most people seem to find the R4 are a bad compromise. Wondering if you can get away with turfs and an aggressive set of v bar diamond chains for winter.

 

[skidsareforkids]

The XR won out for me when I was shopping between a G3038, XR3037, and XR4040. The XR comes with 2 sets of rear remotes, draft control, FEL controls are way more convenient, and the operators station is more comfortable. Even taking out the comfort items the draft control and rear remotes won out for me. I went with the 4040 instead of the 3037 because I didn't want a turbo on a piece of equipment I'm hoping will last twenty years.

I drove a G3038, XR3037H, and XR 4040. I ended up with the 4040, but I can't see how you could go wrong with any of them. I'd suggest going to an LS dealer and looking at as many as you can.

 

[mangler]

After review looks like the XR3032H is a turbo motor, so that's out. And XR4040 is just to much tractor ($).

The R series looks like a decent compromise. The R3039H may be in the cards depending on final price. Shortlist now is J2023H(there is a dealer here selling for 14k Canadian, which for a change seems competitive with US pricing), G3038, or R3039. Anyone know what the price spread is for those 3 models?

 

[catton93]

I thought the 4040 was to much for me also but I'm going pick it up Monday. It's just to much tractor for the money to pass on it. Good luck

 

[Olympus]

I'm a happy J2023 owner and I use my machine on 6 acres. It's more than enough for my property, but you'll want to fill the rear tires for extra weight. My tractor has R4 tires and it would easily lose traction going up a hill in damp grass or leaves. The fluid solved that issue.

The issue you'll run into is the J2023 is no longer being produced. It has been replaced by the XJ2025, which is the same basic tractor with the tier 4 engine. It will be more expensive than the 2023 because of that. You might find it difficult to find a 2023.

 

[mangler]

Yep Tier4 is really bumping up prices. God forbid we kill the environment 50 hrs/year at a time...



I've read people have snagged the J2023H for 12500, and XJ2025 seem to hover around 14k. That's a lot for a suspension seat and a made up emissions improvement. I just hope that Tier 4 engines in that range don't come with stupid doodads like particulate canisters or diesel exhaust fluids to replace.