B3200 or L2800

[cdcj]

I am looking at purchasing a new tractor. I had looked at the 1500 series Massey and 1510 New Holland to compare to the L2800. Due to research and talking to people who use these type tractors for a living, I am going with the Kubota.

I went by a Kubota dealer and drove the B3200. I am going to get the loader with my tractor along with a 5ft bush hog, box blade and disk. I know the L2800 is a larger frame and has the larger rear axles. It weighs roughly 1000 lbs more than the B3200 making the B easier to pull around with my half ton pick up. The B3200 is $500 less than the L2800. I am going to be cutting 3 acres of grass every 2-3 weeks and 40 acres 2 times a year. Some of the areas will have small gums and briars growing up in them. I will be fixing 200 foot of gravel drive and pushing up a few stumps. When my mower gives up on me, I will purchase a fininsing mower for the tractor (2-3 years).

What would you guys recommend between the B3200 and L2800 and why?

 

[medicshawn]

I don't think you gain anything by going to the L2800. That 1000 LBS difference towing is huge. If you add up the weight of the tractor, add the loader, Filled tires and a bush hog. That quickly eats up the capacity of a 7K trailer. No to mention of you load a finish mower or anything else. I had a B7800 and is pulled a 6 foot finish mower fine. I don't think I would have tried a 6 foot bush hog though.

One think you do gain with the L2800 is skid steer quick attach for the loader if you are getting a loader.

 

[LD1]

First of all I would consider the l3400 and not the 2800. It's the same tractor, same weight, but more power and better pto.
I don't think their's that much price difference either.

Now compairing the 3200 to the 2800/3400, If the majority of what you want is to mow, I'd say the b3200. If you plan on doing much dirt work at all, you greatly appreciate the extra weight, larger tires, and stronger loader.

The 2800/3400 fully loaded can be towed just fine on a 7k trailer. Fully loaded they weight about 4500lbs. (Tractor 2500 + 500 filled tires + 900 loader + 600 bushhog = 4500lbs) Most 7k car trailers can handle that without any problems.

It all depends on what you will be doing. The 3200 is great for mowing due to high HP in a smaller tractor, But not so good for dirtwork, where the 3400 will run circles around the B3200 just due to the extra weight/traction.

 

[lawn_king]

Having owned both series, i would get the L. The big frame machine has more power everywhere, more fel lift, 3 pt. lift, pto, etc. B series are great machines, compact powerhouses best suited for light dirtwork and finish mowing. The l is way more machine and will cut that 40 acres in half the time. JMHO.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Having owned both series, i would get the L. The big frame machine has more power everywhere, more fel lift, 3 pt. lift, pto, etc. B series are great machines, compact powerhouses best suited for light dirtwork and finish mowing. The l is way more machine and will cut that 40 acres in half the time. JMHO.

This forum is great. 2 people with same experience see things totally different. I've had 8 Kubotas in 5 years and still have 3. I had a B7800 with 31Hp and traded it for a L3240HST 32hp which is 2000lbs heavier than the B. After 35 hours of not feeling as comfortable on my hillside property with the L I traded it for a B3200. Using the same 6' Landpride RFM on the B7800 and the L3240HST the L would slow down at the top of my hill but the B7800 never did. The RFM would sort of swing my B at the bottom of the hill but was never a problem because I knew it was going to do it and the L acted like it wasn't even on it. An extra 2000lbs has to take part of the hp for just forward motion. Never an issue on flat ground. The idea that an L pulling the same mowing deck as a B mowing faster is in my opinion not right. The Grand L has a great seat which would make it more comfortable mowing that 40 acres but I don't think it would do it any faster. The B3200 32HP VS L3240 (2000 lbs heavier) 32 HP. I prefer the B to the L after trying them on my hillside property. I also hated hauling the L because it had my dual axle trailer maxed or maybe above max but B trailers sweet. Just my opinion from my experience.

 

[RadarTech]

I tend to agree with all the L3400 comments..
I have an L3400 HST 4x4 with a loader, loaded AGs, 5 ft box, 6 foot scrape, 4 ft finish(it was a gift, and I wouldn't complain)....

My gravel driveway is about 1/4 mile, up hill in both directions. and another 1/4 mile of pavement. with almost 200 hours on mine, there just does not appear to be way a smaller tractor could have made it. Dirt work can really make a smaller tractor struggle....
My tractor was purchased 15 months ago and during that time here is a little list of accomplishments:
1. Graded and maintained the driveway.
2. Backfilled the garage, 2 car - 5 foot deep on average, 25 ft wide, 25 deep.
TOUGH!!! ( I stopped counting at 40 buckets of dirt...)
3. Cleaned out drainage areas.
4. backfilled around the house
5. spread mulch- about 30 yards and counting..
6. moved small logs-- 20 feet by 8 inches up to 10 ft by 16 inches
7. graded out an old logging road for ATV use (took 6 hours for about 1/4 mile-- it was so bad there were 1 to 2 foot wash ditches!)

8. pulled the bank back on several driveway sides...

If I were to be doing this with a 3200-- I would estimate my hour count would be about double..

One other question that should be posed is type of land.
Is it hilly? if yes, the L3400 can be tippy... the B3200 well it might fair better...

With all that said, my money goes to the L3400-- $500 now or thousands later....

good luck!!!


J

 

[lawn_king]

This forum is great. 2 people with same experience see things totally different. I've had 8 Kubotas in 5 years and still have 3. I had a B7800 with 31Hp and traded it for a L3240HST 32hp which is 2000lbs heavier than the B. After 35 hours of not feeling as comfortable on my hillside property with the L I traded it for a B3200. Using the same 6' Landpride RFM on the B7800 and the L3240HST the L would slow down at the top of my hill but the B7800 never did. The RFM would sort of swing my B at the bottom of the hill but was never a problem because I knew it was going to do it and the L acted like it wasn't even on it. An extra 2000lbs has to take part of the hp for just forward motion. Never an issue on flat ground. The idea that an L pulling the same mowing deck as a B mowing faster is in my opinion not right. The Grand L has a great seat which would make it more comfortable mowing that 40 acres but I don't think it would do it any faster. The B3200 32HP VS L3240 (2000 lbs heavier) 32 HP. I prefer the B to the L after trying them on my hillside property. I also hated hauling the L because it had my dual axle trailer maxed or maybe above max but B trailers sweet. Just my opinion from my experience.

With all due respect, 35 hours of experience on a grand L hardly makes you quailified to comment. The big machine will cut that 40 acres much faster!

 

[RadarTech]

While I may not go as far as lawnking..
I will say that knowing the limits, capabilities and safety factors of the equipment you are on is very important..

There has been dozens of times the pucker factor on my 3400 was pretty good...
BUT I know what I can and can't do.. I have learned...
our property is VERY hilly..
so much so I was laid up all day Sat with a swollen knee from slipping and sliding down a hill...

I don't trailer mine anywhere, so I can't comment on that..

but for the rest of it--- size the tractor based on the most common work..
If the hilly work is most of it then MAYBE a smaller tractor..

check the local rental yards-- try before you buy..
~$200 for a weekend may be better than a bug $ mistake....


Good luck!


J

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

With all due respect, 35 hours of experience on a grand L hardly makes you quailified to comment. The big machine will cut that 40 acres much faster!Now much faster and before you said half the time.

With the same amount of due respect, The L will not cut it any faster with the same mowing deck. In fact the B will probably cut it faster than the L. I see you've moved up to an L which I also did then I moved back to the B3200. Have you tried a few hundred hours on a B3200 model to determine your qualifications concerning the ability of a B3200? I've owned/own both and my comments come from owning and operating both. I never said I was an expert but 35 hours does qualify me to comment on my experience between the 2 machines. If 35 hours is not enough, what is the required number of hours to be qualified to comment?

 

[lawn_king]

I have hundreds of hours on both, B3030 & Gl3540. If you think the b is going to cut that plot faster than the L, i dont know what to say? So i will just say have a good evening.

 

[cdcj]

I guess my question would be why would the L be that much better on dirt work? Larger tires, bigger heavier frame? The B will have more engine hp and only .5 less pto hp. I would assume that they will mow close to the same with the same cutter. I will be working on some pretty good hills and have a large area that will be wet most of the year. I thought that smaller, lighter tractor would be better in that area. I like the idea of having more loader capacity with the L but not as much difference there as I thought.

 

[lawn_king]

You get the dealer to drop off both machines for demo, you will see for yourself.

 

[art]

I always like to look at the amount of different types of use that you will have and put the operations into the time for each. When mowing is taken into consideration as being the main criteria of ownership then the lighter chassis will prevail.

I can understand that heavy equipment when setup properly will normally give a better ride although with safety in mind to high of a ground speed while mowing can be dangerous!

The B-series does allow for mid mount as well as front mount attachments which the L-2800 and 3400 do not!

I often try to attach attachments to the tractors to keep the need of high speed for mowing lower. With L-3400's I often attach the bush hog SQ 84T mower so you can slow down and see what you are mowing.

 

[dodge man]

As you step up in size in the Kubota line of tractors, say the BX series up to the largest M series, what you are doing is going from something that is more like a large garden tractor (BX series) up to a pretty serious farm tractor (M series). The B is going to be lighter and better for finish mowing your lawn. Most of the time, it is just going to feel handier. If it wasn't for mowing the 40 acres, I'd say go with the B. The power may be about the same, but I would say the L would be better for brush hogging the 40 acres, just due to the size of the tires and the weight. If it is really smooth, the B might work just as well. The L is also going to be better for serious work such as moving dirt and gravel logs etc.

Take a hard look at both of them again, and imagine the tasks you will be doing and the number of hours performing each task, and that may help you decide. I bought a Bx about a year ago, mainly as a lawn mower, but I have found that half of my time has been FEL work, and I only own about 3 acres. I'd say get an L and buy another mower for finish mowing around your house when the current one dies. If you don't want to buy a seperate mower in the future, get the B.