Hey guys! I have a 3120/300x that I've had for a handful of years that I absolutely love... easily handled the tasks around the 6 acres we own. I mow just 2-3 acres right now with a ZT so no need for a mower at this point. We now have 80 acres... 60 tillable and rented... the other 20 acres has 2 ponds, a creek and a lot of trees and rough fence lines that need cleaned up. Much of the work will require much larger equipment I don't have and won't ever have. Our tenant is fabulous and has both a full size backhoe and small dozer... they've already been amazing with the cleanup.
So... I want (more than need realistically) a backhoe and will purchase shortly. I've been shopping and I'm ready to purchase. In the long term it'll be used for occasional mowing on the property and continued maintenance of course... in the short term, there is a lot to do to get waterway, fencelines and ponds cleaning up. Speed would be nice but not a priority. Both the 485/485a have reach of 8' so I plan to tinker a bunch around the ponds to clean up shore lines and so on. I thought about a 110tlb and keep a 3000 series, but I think the tractor combo will be better long term and just the one machine.
I'm leaning towards a 4120/4044r with fel/backhoe (485/485a)... I may have the opportunity to buy a basically new 3520 pretty close to what I may be able to sell my 3120 for... That would add some horses for PTO work. I would probably put my 300x loader on it and add a new 485 backhoe which could then be switched over to a 4x20 later if I find the 3000 series doesn't quite do what I need from it. So I'm wondering just how much better is the 4000/backhoe than the 3000/backhoe? I'm leaning towards just getting a 4000 series now, but I love the 3000 series versatility at home still while still being able to work on the 80 acres. I know the FEL alone has a 1000 lbs +/= capacity on the 4000 series...
The land is 20 miles from home so the tractors will be trailered most days which of course comes into play keeping with a 3000 or 4000 series as well.
btw... I've looked through the archives here... tons of good stuff on everything!! Just looking for a little more insight... hopefully this thread can be useful to others too.
So... I want (more than need realistically) a backhoe and will purchase shortly. I've been shopping and I'm ready to purchase. In the long term it'll be used for occasional mowing on the property and continued maintenance of course... in the short term, there is a lot to do to get waterway, fencelines and ponds cleaning up. Speed would be nice but not a priority. Both the 485/485a have reach of 8' so I plan to tinker a bunch around the ponds to clean up shore lines and so on. I thought about a 110tlb and keep a 3000 series, but I think the tractor combo will be better long term and just the one machine.
I'm leaning towards a 4120/4044r with fel/backhoe (485/485a)... I may have the opportunity to buy a basically new 3520 pretty close to what I may be able to sell my 3120 for... That would add some horses for PTO work. I would probably put my 300x loader on it and add a new 485 backhoe which could then be switched over to a 4x20 later if I find the 3000 series doesn't quite do what I need from it. So I'm wondering just how much better is the 4000/backhoe than the 3000/backhoe? I'm leaning towards just getting a 4000 series now, but I love the 3000 series versatility at home still while still being able to work on the 80 acres. I know the FEL alone has a 1000 lbs +/= capacity on the 4000 series...
The land is 20 miles from home so the tractors will be trailered most days which of course comes into play keeping with a 3000 or 4000 series as well.
btw... I've looked through the archives here... tons of good stuff on everything!! Just looking for a little more insight... hopefully this thread can be useful to others too.
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