Upgrade or Not? That is the question

[Gem99ultra]

I have the right solution!

You're just like me... if there are new bells and whistles - I want 'em. (I did not say NEED.) And, life being so short, if you want 'em and can afford them, get them.

I'm exactly the same way with cars. At one time, I had 6 drivers. And still now, I'd have a hundred if I could afford them and a nice air conditoned warehouse to keep them in. I do still have two pickups - one half-ton and one three-quarter ton diesel. And the worse part is, I bet I don't put a thousand miles total on them per year. BUT - I want 'em both.

So - my solution is - BUY the MX5100. Keep your "old" L3430HST around. That way, you have your cake and eat it too. Later, and it won't take long, when you decide that you don't need or want two tractors around, sell one. I doubt seriously that the price of either will change much before you decide 'which one', if ever. Man cannot have too many tools, cars/trucks, or tractors. That does not hold true for a few (e.g. women) other things.

 

[archerynut]

I would trade for sure. There is plenty of rationalization here to convince anyone.

 

[allen in texas]

I traded a Grand L3240 for a Grand L5740. Never looked back. That being said, the "little" tractor always amazed me with what it could do. Problem is, I wanted more. I didn't say I needed more, I said I wanted more. Someone once said here, "I want therefore I buy".
Since I traded for the bigger tractor, I have upsized two of my implements and am working on upsizing a third implement to better utilize the additional power.
Soon I expect to need (want) a larger tractor. SOMEBODY MAKE IT STOP!!

PS, I doubled my horse power. You moving up about 45%, right? I went from a 724 to an 854 loader. Lot's of difference.
another PS, the two bottom plow pictured is hooked to my "little" L3240

 

[JoeBuyer]

...Since I traded for the bigger tractor, I have upsized two of my implements and am working on upsizing a third implement ....

LOL. Yeah, that's about how it goes. But then what fun would tractors be if you couldn't buy new attachments?

 

[FatTire]

Does anyone know if the BH90 would mount to MX5100 using the current Kubota (BH92) subframe? Or did they change something?

 

[john_bud]

And you know this how?

The dealer he is working with sells low and gives an excellent trade-in value.

I've never had a dealer give me your "extreme" use excuse over a factory designed 4pt backhoe, either.

Then he (and you) have better dealer sales people than we do. Ours look for anything to knock the purchase price down. They think they sell gold and buy .... on trade in. fFr a while our dealer wouldn't touch small tlbs as he had a big loss from one that broke the trans (or diff? can't recall which ) case. Usually, dealers have to get a profit on things they sell and as they sell fewer units per year than car dealers they have to make more % profit on each unit sold.

I was also "assuming" he would be getting a new hoe to match the larger tractor. And suffer depreciation loss, dealer profit and the impact of higher prices on the loader hoe and tractor. Plus all the attachments will be "too small" behind that larger tractor. Why run a 5' cutter when the tractor can pull an 8? Why pull a 2 bottom plow when the tractor can pull a 4? Why drag a 60" box when your new tractor can drag a 84" box? And the price of Class 2 implements are a whole step function higher than the ones for small machines. Add up all the costs involved and to me, it's a lot of money. At least it is to me. But if the loss of 2, 5, 10 or more thousand is no big deal to you ...

But my new tractor is 12 years old and my old ones are 49 years old.

 

[Parkranger]

Well, thanks for all the good input. After reading and researching I have decided to stick the L3430. As was pointed out, I would not be gaining that much in HP for all the costs involved, including the eventual desire to also increase the size of the implements / attachments. That coupled with the knowledge that a 35 hp tractor can hold its own help make the decision a little easier for me.

Thanks for all of the help!!

BTW - The BH90 backhoe will fit the Grand L30's, L40's, and the MX4700/5100. It uses the same mounts as the BH92 so there is forward and backward compatibilty.

 

[CurlyDave]

Well, thanks for all the good input. After reading and researching I have decided to stick the L3430. As was pointed out, I would not be gaining that much in HP for all the costs involved, including the eventual desire to also increase the size of the implements / attachments. That coupled with the knowledge that a 35 hp tractor can hold its own help make the decision a little easier for me.

Thanks for all of the help!!

BTW - The BH90 backhoe will fit the Grand L30's, L40's, and the MX4700/5100. It uses the same mounts as the BH92 so there is forward and backward compatibilty.

When I bought my TLB I kept thinking "this is too big for what I need". Now, 8 or 9 years later, it is just about right, and I have saved myself a trade or two, or maybe three, along the way. This has saved a lot of money -- the machine was paid off years ago, and I don't have any that monthly expense to budget.

I have had money for a grapple, forks, great big gonzo box blade, and a hydraulic thumb. Best of all, I think it is going to be just about the right size machine for the indefinite future. Now I have my eye on an equipment trailer for it, and can afford it since I haven't had a payment for years.

My advice is: buy bigger and better than you think you need, you will save money in the long run by not trading every few years. And, if you decide you just have to trade, go up in size and capability two or three steps, not just one.

 

[john_bud]

My advice is: buy bigger and better than you think you need, you will save money in the long run by not trading every few years. And, if you decide you just have to trade, go up in size and capability two or three steps, not just one.

Sounds like sage advice ! (then again, I'm a buy and hold type, so it would sound good to me)