Is the L3240 enough tractor?

[rbargeron]

Originally Posted by Buckwacker

We're gonna look at the Mx5100, it seems to be a lot more tractor for about the same price.

It sure is a lot more tractor -
Hope I'm not wearing out my welcome, but now that you are considering tractors bigger than the L3240, it might be a good time to suggest a Woods RM-990 for cutting those 25 acres. It works best with at least 35 pto horses - but it's the best 7-1/2 ft rotary hog / finish cutter on the planet. I liked mine so much I bought a bigger tractor for it.

[art]

Originally Posted by The Gardener

The main use of the tractor will be brush hogging 25 acres...

That's a lot of cutting, and maxing out the PTO hp for that length of time does not sound like the best thing for long term use. I sort of relate that to red lining a car. OK short term, but not something I'd choose to do long term. I prefer to have a bit of a cushion.

I'd suggest a PTO with no less than 40hp. That gives you a 7' mower and 5hp of untapped power. Unfortunately, that bumps you up to the L4740 which I suspect is a big bump in price as well.

I will differ!!!! If you choose to use car or truck oil, I'd agree! Tractor engines are designed for full throttle and full load operation unlike car or truck engines. Tractor engines used in trucks often are often rated at 100 or more horsepower over the tractor versions for there operation because they are not under the same types of load!

We have L-3400's out mowing with Bush-Hog SQ84T mowers doing pastures fine. General bushhoggin might require more but I'd go to a six footer for a 3240 and never worry!!

It does only give you about 3 acres an hour at four miles an hour with a 72" deck in most conditions!

[Buckwacker]

Originally Posted by rbargeron

It sure is a lot more tractor -
Hope I'm not wearing out my welcome, but now that you are considering tractors bigger than the L3240, it might be a good time to suggest a Woods RM-990 for cutting those 25 acres. It works best with at least 35 pto horses - but it's the best 7-1/2 ft rotary hog / finish cutter on the planet. I liked mine so much I bought a bigger tractor for it.

Nope, your not wearing out your welcome. I will take all the advice I can get. I'm pretty new to all this stuff. We've just always used what we had at the farm, which has been there for 40 years. So I'm just trying to catch up with technology. We have a Woods right now and it works great, but we will definitely be buying something bigger. Thanks!

[stimpee]

When you say you are "bush hogging" 25 acres of pasture, what condition is your pasture usually in when you mow it?

I maintain only 5-6 acres of pasture with my B3030. My pasture is pretty clean land. It ends up being heavy grass in areas where the horses don't eat, and obviously the weeds and stuff that grow up over time, but nothing too huge.

I mow it with my 72" MMM set on the maximum height. I can mow in medium range at pretty good clip with this, and get a very nice cut to boot. Depending on how "finished" your pasture is, it might be worth considering.

A good friend of mine has a 3430 with basically the same 72" MMM and has been taking care of nearly 11 acres of pasture with it for many years now and is as happy as a clam...

Steve

[Buckwacker]

Originally Posted by stimpee

When you say you are "bush hogging" 25 acres of pasture, what condition is your pasture usually in when you mow it?

I maintain only 5-6 acres of pasture with my B3030. My pasture is pretty clean land. It ends up being heavy grass in areas where the horses don't eat, and obviously the weeds and stuff that grow up over time, but nothing too huge.

I mow it with my 72" MMM set on the maximum height. I can mow in medium range at pretty good clip with this, and get a very nice cut to boot. Depending on how "finished" your pasture is, it might be worth considering.

A good friend of mine has a 3430 with basically the same 72" MMM and has been taking care of nearly 11 acres of pasture with it for many years now and is as happy as a clam...

Steve

Right now we don't get to mow as much as we would like so the pasture is pretty messy. If we had a tractor that made it more enjoyable we would keep it groomed. After finding some prices I found out that the 5100 is about the same price as a L3240 HST. So the 5100 seems like the better choice.

[pitt_md]

Originally Posted by Buckwacker

We're gonna look at the Mx5100, it seems to be a lot more tractor for about the same price.

It is but they are basic work horse's. One thing that I would add to this unit is a rear hydraulic control if not equiped that way. Comes in real handy.

[texbaylea]

As a different perspective. I have an L3130 which is quite close to the L3240 in specs. I use a 75" flail for general mowing which includes light to medium brush behind it with no strain. The flail is a Caroni TM1900B which you can find discussed at length here on TBN. Looking at what you discribed as the uses planned, I believe that the LA724 loader (very similar to my LA723) would be adequate. Yes the L4400 and the M series are more tractor but if you like the comfort features of the Grand L's that is a major factor.

Only you can rank your priorities.

I normally mow at around 2 mph but that is a comfort controlled speed not a power limited speed. In high grass I mow more slowly to give the mower time to mulch it finer.

Vernon

[pecanguy]

Originally Posted by Buckwacker

Right now we don't get to mow as much as we would like so the pasture is pretty messy. If we had a tractor that made it more enjoyable we would keep it groomed. After finding some prices I found out that the 5100 is about the same price as a L3240 HST. So the 5100 seems like the better choice.

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago. My 7 acres of grass was cut by a Ford 2300. The 5100 was a really nice upgrade and we now keep the grass cut much more often. I normally use a Woods 84" finishing mower in 6th gear at about 2100 rpm. The tractor doesn't even know it's there.