Newbe needing help picking a new tractor. 3520?

[taz5king]

Hello everyone, great site and tons of info. I enjoy reading about all the projects and just tring to get some ideas from all the experts.

We recently purchased 52 acres of land in North west Ohio, 16 land and 36 woods. The house is almost complete and looking for a tractor now.

Went to the John Deere dealer and told them I wanted to do most of the landscaping around the house and pond. And finish mow about 4 or 5 acres and then just rotary cut the rest once a while, and clearing the snow in the winter. They recommended the 3520 with a 72" MMM with a loader and ballast box for $24,500. Not sure if this is a good price or not, did not think to ask about which loader it was. I do not know much (or anything) about tractors, All they said about the 3520 was it was a "stock machine". I now realize there are many more options, they did say it would have turf tires, since I would be doing alot of mowing after the landscaping.

Also they priced a 59" snowblower for $4,150
655 Tiller for $2,000
LX4 Rotary cutter 48" for $1,250

Once again I do not know anything, so any help on what to ask or any info as far as if I am looking at the wrong machine or what not would be great.

Thanks

 

[beenthere]

Welcome to the forum
I'd expect that price to include the 300CX FEL. The FEL would be the a reason to include the ballast box.
That is my choice for an upgrade to my 4300. So far have not made the decision when to upgrade, but I know that it will be to the 3520.

E-hydro would be my recommendation, and R-4 tires.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Welcome to TBN. I am also fairly new.
That price looks real good. So the $24.5K was with the loader and 72" 7-iron?? Awesome regardless of 300X or CX loader. CX is the Heavy duty one and prefered.

Is it EHydro? Get the Ehydro model.

I am buying a used (50 hour) JD 3320 with 72" MMM 7iron and 300X, E hydro and R4s and 3rd svc for $21K.

As far as stock machine - well actually standard is is very nice by itself as the 3X20 series has a lot of features. Plus adding the MMM means most likely you will have the 3rd SVC contol valvel installed.

I am going with R4s for tires instead of R3 turfs. I am liking the R4s for snow traction and for loader work when I need it. It is nice to be able to use R4s with a MMM as opposed to a Kubota GrandL 3130 where you have to use turfs with a MMM.

I would be all over that $24.5K for a new 3520!! That is a turbocharge diesel model with 35 HP! good price as compared to IL midstate dealers.

 

[inveresk]

If you'll be acting as the landscaping contractor and not just maintaining the landscaping, won't you need a FEL and possibly a backhoe?

 

[taz5king]

Yes 24.5K was with a 72MMM and a loader with ballast box.

As far as me needing a backhoe, I had not thought about it. I was thinking the FEL would be used to move some dirt around and what not. Not sure if I would use the backhoe or not.

 

[inveresk]

You'll know best. It's just that if you have hard landscaping projects to undertake, walls, stairs, ponds or the like, you're going to need to be able to cut foundations and do it bit of excavation. The FEL isn't the right tool for some of those tasks. But if all you're doing is shifting some surface dirt around, it might be fine.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Nail down which loader, Only settle for the CX. You cant lay $500 on the small laoder and it turn into the heavy one.

Turfs will be good on your lawn. But not as great under the loader, and maybe very bad brush hogging if they end up full of holes. You need to make sure they won't or get industrial tires. Any of them can mark your lawns. You need to be careful how you use 4WD on soft ground.

LX4. Are they SERIOUS?!!! Its too small and too light duty. You are NOT going to pay all this money to end up cutting 16 acres with that cutter. Don't settle for less than an MX5.

 

[deerefan]

i am a new john deere owner and maintain about 42 acres in louisiana. I went to John Deere and looked at 2 tractors--the 990 and the 5103. I bought the 5103 (2WD) for about $12,400. It has excellent bang for the buck value and thought I have only had it 2 weeks it was very to become accustomed to. I do not know if you want something quite that big but it is a solid tractor at an excellent price.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The 3520 is a great machine. Make sure the quote is for the CX loader and E-hydro. You can shop around by phone to make sure the price is in the ballpark.

Do you have a riding mower? Reason I ask is this, I could show you some pic's of my 5' rotary cutter (with sharp blades) and you almost can't distinguish the cut quality to a riding mower. You should at least get a 5' cutter. Hold off on the MMM until you see what the rear cutter will do for you. I recommend you cut close to your house with a rider and switch to the tractor somewhere away. I also recommend the R4 tires for best all around usage and toughness. Later, if you feel you want a better cut quality, look at a rear 3 pt finishing mower. A 3520 will handle up to a 7 footer with ease. This depends on the number of trees or obstacles you need to mow around. I use my 5' shredder in between our tree areas. I can drive it within an inch usually of the trunks. A MMM is easier around obstacles but is harder to take on and off. It will be in the way if you want to do FEL work over rough terrain.

A 4WD works better for clearing snow and for FEL work. Your dealer has recommended the appropriate machine for the tasks you have mentioned...good luck in your search...Kyle

 

[deerefan]

i would like to second what kyle said and add a little bit....if you are cutting thick grass, such as bahia, a rough cut is the best bet. My 6ft finish mower was using too many belts eventhough I cut every week or so and I noticed that if I sharpened my cutter blades regularly even a trained eye saw no difference in the quality of the cut. I'm not sure what type of grass you have but bahia is by far the dominant grass in my location.