which to buy ???

[Steppenwolfe]

Guys, I really need some help here. I am torn between a new M 5100 with loader ( and $28,000 ) or a nearly new L 3400 with loader and backhoe @ 67 hours and $ 19,000. I know the horse power is a big difference, buy not really sure I need that much. I currently have an L 2600 dt with loader and need more tractor hp. We have an 80 acre property with woods, hills, and about 8 acres in meadows. I want to use a 3 pt. hitch chipper, splitter, and all the other normal implements. I'm thinking the 3400 will work, but worry about buying too small of a tractor. I would greatly appreciate any opinions. By the way, my lovely wife thinks bigger is always better... and yes I know which door I just opened, lets keep our comments to tractors. Thanks.

 

[Gator6x4]

Backhoes are nice, I have a small TLB (JD2035)which I use for when the wife decides she wants a bush moved or planted. I also use the unit for yard maintenance, spraying, fertilizer - lime distribution, mulch distribution, mowing, etc. With the acerage you have to cover I would not consider anything smaller than the M 5100 and would actually want something larger. Eighty acres is a lot to maintain with a small tractor. Tractor backhoes work and do a good job, if you have lot's of time. A dedicated unit, like the 59 designed for backhoe work does a better job and a track hoe will really shine if a lot of work needs to be done. With all that being said I would look beyond the backhoe and put that money towards a larger tractor and rent a small track hoe for work requiring the use of a back hoe.

 

[Carl_NH]

I guess it depends on how much you will do in the 80 acres - if you are just maintaining 10 ac of the 80 ac then the L3400 is probably OK. If you are doing work in the woods, grappling trees and brush I would go bigger.

Agree also with Gator a BH is an indispensible tool to have, especially if you will be doing drainage, stumping and other odd jobs. But you can buy a small excavator used for $15K range (half the cost of a dedicated BH for the MX5100) so you have multi tools.

You didnt mention if you will keep your L2600? If you are I would get the 5100 also I think in reality the L2600 to L3400 jump while a nice upgrade might not get you enough gain to justify a spend of $19K whereas the MX5100 is in another class in size and capability.

 

[gumshu]

Tough decision with these two nice machines... but you said it yourself... "I currently have an L 2600 dt with loader and need more tractor hp." I always wish I had gone for the one with more HP. With 80 acres, I'd go with the M5100. I have a 35 hp. I have less acreage than you and I could use more HP... the time always comes. A backhoe is great. I have one on my BX, but you can always buy one later on and it's certainly more expensive to buy a bigger tractor than a backhoe. That's my .02 cents... Good luck

 

[Gary Fowler]

A backhoe even on a smaller tractor can do things that a larger tractor with just an FEL cant do. If I were contemplating using the tractor for clearing the under brush in the 72 acres of woods, I would go with the tractor with the backhoe. If you need the power at the PTO for tasks then that is another story. Backhoes put so much more utility into a tractor that they are truly worth their weight. Speaking of weight, they make excellent counterweight for traction. I cant lift as much with my B26 as I can with the LS P7010 but I can push a lot with it due to the weight and the FEL works better than the 7010 for cutting into hard material due to the added traction. I never loaded the tires on the LS so it spins a lot but even without loaded tires it weighs twice what the B26 does.
A hydraulic thumb on the backhoe adds a lot more versatility to moving things like rocks and trees, pulling up roots etc. So if getting the backhoe, add the hydraulic thumb and you will be glad you did.

 

[bigbull338]

i would go with the new MX5100 no question.with the size of place you have youll need more hp.

 

[Bluegill2]

Do you need a backhoe? That's one of the few things I don't really need.

I take care of 400 acres with two tractors and the L3800 sees to most of the work. So 'size' is not everything.

 

[TripleR]

My preference would be a MX5100, but as Bluegill2 states, you can often get by with a smaller tractor, I just prefer not to.

I have no need for a backhoe, so my needs may very well be different than others.