TLB 3520 or 4120???

[KB9UDE]

Hi everyone. I am looking at getting into light residential/commercial construction and landscaping. My choices right now are between 3520, 300cx, 448 or 4120, 400x, 448. Which would you choose and why?? I like the 110TLB, but it is out of price range right now. We do not dig very many basements, mostly footings for a crawlspace in central IL.

2nd question: Will the 4120tlb be to heavy for a 7000lb tandem trailer??

John

 

[jcmseven]

John,

I have not owned a backhoe with any of my tractors, but I have owned both 3000 and 4000 series machines and can quickly contrast the differences. I currently have a 3720 which is about the perfect machine for me. It has a lot of power and operates a loader quite well. I also had a 4310 (similar to the 3320) and a 4520. The 4520 was a hoss. It is much larger, which is both good and bad. Pulling heavy duty attachments it did great. It had ample power and with the increased weight could operate larger attachments well. It also had a very stable feel with loaded tires, and rode great over bumpy terrain or with a full loader bucket. The 3720 is its equal in power, the 4310 would not compare with either. With a bucket full, or on rough ground, a mid frame and does not ride quite as well over bumps. My 3720's loader performance with a 61" bucket is similar to the 4520 with a 72". It is much more manuverable, though. I can fit my 3720 into spaces that the 4520 had no hope of going. I can almost go where my former 595 could as far as space, but with much more capability. In more open spaces the 4000 series would be a better choice, but if you have tight areas or soft ground the mid frame is the choice. There are many areas on my property where the 3720 would work circles around the larger machine due to its manuverability. It is heavy enough to do heavy work, and with 35 PTO HP can easily power most any PTO, or hydraulic attachment. The weight could be an issue with a backhoe, but I think either machine would have limitations here in certain cases. As for your trailer, don't do it with a large frame. My neighbor with the 4320 hauls his on a 7K trailer and it REALLY does not appear safe. I had a 7000# trailer initially with my 4520 and it was a load!!!!! You can figure a 4120 spec'd to your needs would weigh 7000# alone and both your trailer and tow vehicle would have a job. I currently have a Gator-Made 14K trailer and it would haul the 4520 easily and barely notices my 3720. Do not scrimp on the trailer. On the other hand, if you like the 7K trailer it would haul a mid frame fine.

John M

 

[minimax]

I have a 3720 with a cab and no backhoe and love the tractor,I had a 4400 TLB and the backhoe are so-so for that kind of work any think out 2.5 to 3 feet will be very slow,the prob. with TLB for that type of work is bucket size and not being able to swing 360 dergees like a mini x, I bought a 35 deere mini x and can out work a 3720/4400 TLB 4 to 1 in what i get done,my best day digging a 1' wide by 3' deep trench I did about 70' to 80' feet a hour on my mini x digging a 1' wide by 3' deep I did 250' to 270' feet a hour. so rent and try before you buy.

minimax

 

[minimax]

Here's a few pics of the mini x working.Try digging a hole like in the pic. with a TLB.




minimax

 

[KB9UDE]

Thanks for the responses so far. I looked into the mini excavators and they are nice and I agree you could work faster, but I need the compact tractor for other reasons also like plowing snow, mowing, etc.

 

[JimParker]

I recently purchased a 3320 w/ 300CX and MX-5 (among other things). The tractor (like all the 3x20 series) weighs 2900 lbs. The 300CX weighs roughly 900 lbs. The MX-5 has to be between 500-700 lbs (can't find the weight in the specs). All together, I'm at about 4500 lbs, plus the trailer itself, which weights 1800 lbs. Total comes to 6300 lbs. If your backhoe weighs 1400 lbs or less (I have no idea of the weight), you would be OK with the 7000 lb trailer if you went with the 3520 TLB. If the BH weighs more than that, you'd be over the weight limit for the trailer.

If you go with the 4120, all the weights go up pretty dramatically. I think you would definitely need to go with a heavier-duty trailer to be legal and safe.

By the way, my rig rides pretty darn well behind my Chevy 1500 pickup (limited to 6900 lbs tow). It feels very stable under way, and I'm quite pleased. It's a Big Tex 70PI model. I spent a bit more ($200 upgrade) to get brakes on both axles, and it makes a pretty big difference! I actually had to back off the electronic control quite a bit, even with a full load. The guys who set it up for me left it set like they would have used it with a single braking axle.

 

[dirtworksequip]

minimax, just out of curiousity. How come in the pic of the electric conduit run you are digging with your boom offset -the blade to the rear and not on the ground?

 

[minimax]

Well for a few reasons, the owner of the grass on the left did not want it tore up, and once I got to the trees I would not have the room to dig with thw boom in the center, Ilike to dig with the blade behind me if the ground is soft because you get a few more feet of dicth before you have move.

minimax

 

[dirtworksequip]

OK, that explains it. Was just curious. Thanks

 

[KB9UDE]

Thanks guys

If I was to purchase a 3520 tlb what could I charge per hour for this size of machine??

John