SJBill
New member
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to my newbie "I'm buying a tractor and need advice" thread.
I'm trying to decide if buying a new tractor is worth the ~$7,000 difference in price vs. a 2008 model.
I've looked at a used 2008 Kubota L3940HST with cab, and the LA724 Loader. (Quick attach bucket, I think it's the HD bucket, but I'm not sure on that.) The tractor has 630 hours on the clock, and looked to be in exceptionally clean condition. It had no noticeable rust or significant dents, dings or scratches, in fact the bucket itself looked nearly new. The cab liner was a bit scratched up where the operator gets in and out, but otherwise it was in great condition inside too. The asking price is $24,500. The tractor is about 200 miles from our farm, so it'll be a bit of a haul towing it back to home, but for the price a few hundred in gas and trailer rental doesn't seem so bad.
We wanted a sanity check so today we went to our local (about 10mi away) Kubota dealer and saw a two comparable tractors that I had the salesman quote prices.
Here's what he quoted me:
L3950HSTC-3 w/LA724 and Std. bucket:
$31,765 cash, or $32,765 0% for 60 mo.
L4240HSTC-3 w/LA854 and quick att. HD bucket:
$34,329 cash, or $35,329 0% for 60 mo.
I'm not sure if the extra 4 horses and heavier duty loader are worth the price difference. And I'm really unsure if a new tractor is worth more than a lightly (apparently) used tractor.
Here are my specific quesitons: Does anyone know if the 2008 model HST has the same automatic throttle settings as the current versions? For the work I'm likely to do, will the extra HP on the 4240 be needed?
We have a 14 Acre farm that is quite flat and open and has been farmed for many years in soy and/or corn. We're converting it to organic pasture to raise sheep, and will be doing a lot of cover cropping and ground conditioning for the next three years. Basically planning on tilling it, planting sudex and/or sun hemp, then mowing that 1-2X per month for the summer. Then roller-crimping and overseeding the next year's cover. I was thinking a rotory tiller would work, as well as getting a 6' or 8' rough-cut mower.
After the pastures are in, it will pretty much be used for farm utility use (bucketing stuff around, etc.) and occasional pasture mowing, brush clearing, etc.
We'll also be using it to maintain our 700' gravel drive, so eventually a box-blade will be in our future...
Thoughts? Advice? Pointing and lauging?
Thanks,
Bill in South Jersey
Welcome to my newbie "I'm buying a tractor and need advice" thread.
I'm trying to decide if buying a new tractor is worth the ~$7,000 difference in price vs. a 2008 model.
I've looked at a used 2008 Kubota L3940HST with cab, and the LA724 Loader. (Quick attach bucket, I think it's the HD bucket, but I'm not sure on that.) The tractor has 630 hours on the clock, and looked to be in exceptionally clean condition. It had no noticeable rust or significant dents, dings or scratches, in fact the bucket itself looked nearly new. The cab liner was a bit scratched up where the operator gets in and out, but otherwise it was in great condition inside too. The asking price is $24,500. The tractor is about 200 miles from our farm, so it'll be a bit of a haul towing it back to home, but for the price a few hundred in gas and trailer rental doesn't seem so bad.
We wanted a sanity check so today we went to our local (about 10mi away) Kubota dealer and saw a two comparable tractors that I had the salesman quote prices.
Here's what he quoted me:
L3950HSTC-3 w/LA724 and Std. bucket:
$31,765 cash, or $32,765 0% for 60 mo.
L4240HSTC-3 w/LA854 and quick att. HD bucket:
$34,329 cash, or $35,329 0% for 60 mo.
I'm not sure if the extra 4 horses and heavier duty loader are worth the price difference. And I'm really unsure if a new tractor is worth more than a lightly (apparently) used tractor.
Here are my specific quesitons: Does anyone know if the 2008 model HST has the same automatic throttle settings as the current versions? For the work I'm likely to do, will the extra HP on the 4240 be needed?
We have a 14 Acre farm that is quite flat and open and has been farmed for many years in soy and/or corn. We're converting it to organic pasture to raise sheep, and will be doing a lot of cover cropping and ground conditioning for the next three years. Basically planning on tilling it, planting sudex and/or sun hemp, then mowing that 1-2X per month for the summer. Then roller-crimping and overseeding the next year's cover. I was thinking a rotory tiller would work, as well as getting a 6' or 8' rough-cut mower.
After the pastures are in, it will pretty much be used for farm utility use (bucketing stuff around, etc.) and occasional pasture mowing, brush clearing, etc.
We'll also be using it to maintain our 700' gravel drive, so eventually a box-blade will be in our future...
Thoughts? Advice? Pointing and lauging?
Thanks,
Bill in South Jersey