Tractor Sizing Pre-Purchase homework - L3301DT Package

[chinton]

I'm planning on purchasing a L3301DT Package from my local dealer. He suggested the smaller L2501 but I want more HP than my Husqvarna mower has.
Their package is the L3301DT 4WD, LA555 Loader, LandPride 60" Cutter and 60" Box Blade. I'm planning on adding R4 Tires and fluid.

I'm planning on using it to get my ~3 Acres back in shape (I'm going to win the battle with the honeysuckle this year) and start preparing for a small apple orchard, some nut trees, and garden. I'm going to be cutting many trees and chopping most of it up for mulch.

My "soil" is described as Nixa with fragipan within 12 - 30" (see below). I've verified that the soil is mostly impermeable to hand tools and light equipment (rental 1-man PHD). A steel rod is pretty much required to make progress with digging post holes by hand. A bobcat with auger is recommended (keep the steel rod handy though).

My main question is around how well the FEL and/or box blade can be at digging. My research leads me to believe that my fruit and nut trees will be most successful if I'm able to dig a trench at least 4' wide, probably more like 6', to about 2' (fruit) and 3' (nut) deep. If I'm not through it by these depths I'll break out the steel rod and re-evaluate. I'm thinking I'll use the teeth of the box blade to break up the "soil" and the FEL or BB to scrape it out and pile it aside for amendment. How nuts am I?


Description from the Govt (Web Soil Survey)
Description of Nixa

Setting

Landform: Hillslopes
Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope
Landform position (three-dimensional): Nose slope
Down-slope shape: Linear
Across-slope shape: Linear
Parent material: Slope alluvium over pedisediment over residuum weathered from limestone
Typical profile

Oi - 0 to 1 inches: slightly decomposed plant material
A - 1 to 3 inches: very gravelly silt loam
E - 3 to 10 inches: very gravelly silt loam
BE - 10 to 18 inches: very gravelly silt loam
2Btx - 18 to 43 inches: very gravelly silt loam
3Bt - 43 to 80 inches: very gravelly clay
Properties and qualities

Slope: 8 to 12 percent
Depth to restrictive feature: 11 to 30 inches to fragipan
Natural drainage class: Moderately well drained
Runoff class: Very high
Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Very low to moderately low (0.00 to 0.06 in/hr)
Depth to water table: About 9 to 28 inches

 

[Citydude]

Why not the 66" box blade instead of a 60"? Also, the 3301 will run a 6' cutter. I think your not using the horsepower you bought.

 

[chinton]

The dealer has these packages and the only thing that changes is the tractor (L2501DT, L3301DT or L3901DT). All three come with the LA555 loader, and Land Pride RCR1260 cutter and BB1260 box blade. I've not asked about the cost differential with larger cutter or box blade.

 

[motownbrowne]

Personally, I'd want a hydrostatic machine for what you want to do with it. Unless you're sure about a gear model, go test drive a hydro. Assuming your soil isn't full of large rocks, the loader will dig that trench. A toothbar will help greatly.

 

[Citydude]

The cutter is fine for 3 acres, just pointing out that the 3301 will run a 6' cutter. With the work your planning for the box blade, I'd at least ask about the 66" model. I have a 60" on my 2501 with R1 tires set out as wide as they will go with spacers due to the slopes I work on. The 60" is too narrow and doesn't cover the width of the tires. I need the 66". It will pull the 60' full of wet heavy material with no problem.

 

[s219]

If he's getting R4 tires, the 60" box will be fine and will cover the tire tracks. I have a 60" box on my L3200, and it's pretty good most of the time, but the tractor could use more guts when the box fills with soil and gets heavy to pull. I would not want a wider box blade unless it was an L3901 with more power.

 

[Citydude]

Wont your tires lose traction before running out of horsepower?

 

[jeff9366]

For such tough soil I suggest first pre-ripping trenches with a (shear-bolt protected) Subsoiler or Middlebuster. One of these implements will save you net time.

As you intend to DIG with the FEL, get a Tooth Bar for the bucket. Piranha Tooth Bar is favorably reviewed here.


I used to travel Arkansas occasionally on business, visiting wine distributors. Regret I never got to the NW part of the state.


VIDEOS (3): middle buster - YouTube

compact tractor subsoiler - YouTube

piranha tooth bar - YouTube

 

[super55]

If your soil is that hard a box blade with rippers is 1. either going to stop tractor dead in it's tracks or 2. not be able to adequately penetrate the soil. You might have some success with a single point subsoiler but I am willing to be that will even really tax the limits of the tractor if the soil is as hard as I think it is.

You might be better off to hire someone with a dozer and a ripper plow on the back to open up your trenches for you. To me trying to get a CUT to open that up just sounds like a good way to break something.

I had a Kubota L2500 DT and it is a great tractor. I used to run a 6' bush hog off it all the time and could run it in the second to highest gear without issues unless I was in some really deep nasty stuff. Also ran a 6 1/2 foot disc off the back without any issues. The gear transmission had incredible drawbar power. With Ag tires on you'll run out of traction long before you run out of pulling power.

 

[4570Man]

Wont your tires lose traction before running out of horsepower?

My tractor does and it's a HST.