Price Check Will a L3400 do it - What about this price?

Nutso · May 5, 2009

I've been lurking and have learned alot - thanks! I've never owned a tractor before but could use one to grade a long gravel driveway, do landscaping work around the yard, move a trailer around our property, move stacked, sawn lumber that has been air dryed from one place to another (using pallet fork attachment), and to pull logs between 18 - 25 inches in diameter that are 8 to 10 feet long out of a wooded, hilly area.

I've decided on a Kubota because the nearby dealer is reputable and is really helpful. We have around 9 acres that are mostly pretty densely wooded; a lot of it is pretty steep hills. This is the area where we want to pull the logs from.

I've been looking at a L3400 (2007) with HST, a FEL, industrial tires, and around 110 hours.

What do you think? Will this tractor do what we need done? The smallness of this model is one thing that is attractive as we've got a lot of trees to get around. We looked at a few other models L4400 and L3240 but concluded that they were both too big to probably move around easily on our property.

So, the asking price is just a little under $15,000. Other than the FEL, there are no attachments that come with this machine. I'd like to pay something closer to $13,500.

What do you say - what do you think is a fair price?

Thanks.

easygo · May 6, 2009

For the L3400 HST with such low hours I don't think it is a bad price but it never hurts to try if they are willing to go lower. Any warranty left on it? I know that around here the new ones go for over 18k plus tax. Try to look at prices on Tractorhouse.com for comparison. See if you can find some in your area just to compare local pricing.

Almost forgot. I would say the 3400 will haul those logs for you all day any day without missing a beat. Make sure you have the rear tires filled for the hills. It can be great help with traction and stability/safety.

Pirwin21 · May 6, 2009

I just bought an L3400 HST with 68 hrs for 15900, but mine did come with a couple attachments (5' rhino brush hog, seeder, canopy), so that seems like a pretty reasonable price. If you haven't checked with Barlow's yet, I'd see if they had anything in line with what you're looking at.

Diamondpilot · May 6, 2009

If you are going to be pulling lots of logs I would want AG tires. We log a lot and the other guy I work with has a JD 33 HP with industrial tires and my 28 HP tractor with Ags will pull 2 times as much. This may not be necessary for you but we log a lot, maybe 35 hours on each tractor per year.

Chris

Nutso · May 6, 2009

Thanks for your replies! I forgot to mention that the loader is a Rhino 1485 w/quick change bucket. It looks substantial, but is it comparable to the Kubota loader? Do you think this should affect the price one way or the other?

Rice Rider · May 6, 2009

That price is reasonable. Try to make an offer, you might get lucky. I have a L3400 HST and my property is just like yours, lots of trees and hills aplenty. I did end up purchasing a backhoe to pull all the stumps and trench out a foundation. I don't think you will find a better machine for your needs. I fully agree in reference to filling your tires and look into a counter weight for your 3 point hitch. (When that rear wheel lifts off the ground, the pucker factor is high)

LD1 · May 6, 2009

I agree that the tractor will do what you want it to do, if you get the ags. However, you can never have too much power. Their are times when I'm doing loader work, or cutting/dragging logs that I wished I had the 4400. But then when I mow my yard and it's just a little wet, I'm glad I got the 3400, it's a trade off.

What I can tell you, is that the 3400 will do anything that any other tractor in that physical size range will. Actually if you compair tractors by dimensions and weight, you'll find that most other brands that are this size are in the 27-30hp range. Which is basically what this tractor is (2800) with a larger motor stuffed under the hood.

For low hours the price does seem reasonable, but do you plan on paying cash or financing?? If you plan on financing, base you're decision on monthly payments and not the selling price of the tractor.
An example (and I don't know what current rates are)

Buy new for $18000 0% 48 months your paymens are $375 and total cost of $18000

Buy used for $15000 6% 48 months your payments are $352.xx and total cost of $16,9xx.

So the $3000 cheaper tractor will only be $1100 cheaper in the long run.

Basically what I am saying is don't rule out buying new, do your homework and compair the total cost of buying the tractors and not just the selling price.

newbury · May 6, 2009

LD1 said:
<snip>

Buy new for $18000 0% 48 months your paymens are $375 and total cost of $18000

Buy used for $15000 6% 48 months your payments are $352.xx and total cost of $16,9xx.

<snip>

As an official CB (cheap ba$,,) I've got to blow the whistle on this!
Since you are looking the at Kubota you might want to see if you can slam it on a Kubota credit card at prime - (THAT'S MINUS) 2%. Revolving Credit Offers

dglenn1983 · May 6, 2009

I have a L3400 and I absolutely love it, the 3point hitch is kinda jumpy coming up but not down, but this was no problem with me after I bought it, but before I bought it, it kinda worried me a little bit, but the industrial 4 tires do not but no where near as good as the ag tires, for cutting grass their perfect, but for hills they absolutely suck, make sure the pto doesnt click when you have it on with the clutch down on slow down, if so make them fix it before they sell it to you, kubota will pay for parts because of warranty, theres a serial nuber from a certain date on that this was fix, do further reseach on here and you will find it, some men on here are just great and really know what they say, the price seems a little high I paid 12900 for mine, it was a 2006 with 111 hours on it with the kubota 463 loader, Im from covington tennessee and i think you can get a brand new one for like 16500 brand new email me if you need and maybe i can help you dglenn1983@aim.com

LD1 · May 7, 2009

newbury said:
As an official CB (cheap ba$,,) I've got to blow the whistle on this!
Since you are looking the at Kubota you might want to see if you can slam it on a Kubota credit card at prime - (THAT'S MINUS) 2%. Revolving Credit Offers

I was just listing those # as examples and did not imply that that is what the current rates are. I'm mearly pointing out the fact that most brands of new tractors offer 0% on their new stuff, and that has to be weighed against whatever financing you can get on used. If you can get good financing on used, by all means do it.

But I will point out that the 2% you're talking about is a variable intrest rate. If it were me, I'd stay away from that. Their other option is 0% for 7 months and then 7.99% fixed.

Having bought and financed several things in my life, from houses, atv's, tractors, and vehichles, Best advice I can give is to go with a fixed rate simple intrest loan. STAY AWAY from that credit card and adjustable CRAP