Fallon
Super Member
My L3200 is the same as the new L3301 (minus tier 4 emissions stuff). I'm pretty happy with it. I don't think I'd be happy with 5+ less HP though, especially on a HST. A L3800 (4 more HP than mine, otherwise the same) would have been about $2k more & I only rarely regret not getting the extra HP. If it had been $1k more I'd have regretted it a fair bit more.
With chains on the front this year I was running short on power (in medium) when plowing 6-8" of snow. I occasionally have to ease off field mowing with my 5' rotary cutter. I typically mow in low instead of medium (what I use on the rotary) when using my 7' flail mower & occasionally have to ease off the go pedal when hitting thicker grass. Before I loaded the tires (I would say loaded tires are critical for safety as well) I was traction bound most of the time. Now with loaded R4s I'm power bound at least half the time.
The HST transmission robs you of 15% of your HP, but boy is it worth it. I just love the flexibility & precision of the HST when doing precision plowing or loader work. I have absolutely no issues sticking the pallet forks within inches of my truck when unloading stuff or what not. No way I'd get that close with a gear.
Anything over 25hp needs tier 4 emissions stuff. Hence them comming out with a 25hp tractor, which in my opinion is a bit under powered for the L3000 series frame.
While I'm happy with my economy L3200 & would do the same thing over again with the same budget I had at the time, I'm contemplating eventually upgrading to a 3000 series grand with a cab & extra bells & whistles. A bit more power & a bit more weight will be nice, although I really don't want much wider of a tractor than I have now. Blowing & plowing snow with an open station is just getting tedious, not to mention I like the cool toys. The Grands are 50% more expensive than the same caliber economy model though.
With chains on the front this year I was running short on power (in medium) when plowing 6-8" of snow. I occasionally have to ease off field mowing with my 5' rotary cutter. I typically mow in low instead of medium (what I use on the rotary) when using my 7' flail mower & occasionally have to ease off the go pedal when hitting thicker grass. Before I loaded the tires (I would say loaded tires are critical for safety as well) I was traction bound most of the time. Now with loaded R4s I'm power bound at least half the time.
The HST transmission robs you of 15% of your HP, but boy is it worth it. I just love the flexibility & precision of the HST when doing precision plowing or loader work. I have absolutely no issues sticking the pallet forks within inches of my truck when unloading stuff or what not. No way I'd get that close with a gear.
Anything over 25hp needs tier 4 emissions stuff. Hence them comming out with a 25hp tractor, which in my opinion is a bit under powered for the L3000 series frame.
While I'm happy with my economy L3200 & would do the same thing over again with the same budget I had at the time, I'm contemplating eventually upgrading to a 3000 series grand with a cab & extra bells & whistles. A bit more power & a bit more weight will be nice, although I really don't want much wider of a tractor than I have now. Blowing & plowing snow with an open station is just getting tedious, not to mention I like the cool toys. The Grands are 50% more expensive than the same caliber economy model though.