Buying Advice Advice on 2320 purchase for mowing and snow removal

[jenkinsph]

I am certainly no expert on snow removal but from what I have read here the rear mounted blower with front blade is a good way to go. Maybe othere can tell you more about changing from fel to blade as I recall this takes some doing.

If you purchased 8 acres to keep long term then I would consider a small cabbed tractor, the 3520 cab unit comes to mind. It seems no one regrets buying a cab tractor but lots of people regret buying an open station unit. It is far cheaper to get it right the first time than upgrading at a later date.

John,
That was my thoughts as the first reply on page one.
I still think this is the way to go but as a less costly route the 3038E for about $15,000 would be better to me than the 2320. My reasoning is the lawn mower should be fine for mowing and either the 3520 cab or the cheaper 3038E would handle some ground engaging tasks and possibly a rear mount blower.

There is a tendency to buy too small and get bit when you upgrade. Perfect example is a X748 or X749 would have been about perfect for this property if the main concerns were mowing and snow removal. Adding a hardside cab to this would make the task of snow removal less of a hardship. The X500 is a lttle light for the snow removal here but is doable. I would caution the buyer not to make the same mistake by buying a tractor too small again. I would think that the 3038E with a 3 pt blower would make quick work of this driveway. I would check both the 3x20's and the 3038E and their options and attachments and compare this to the 2x20's before deciding.

 

[turbo36]

I would agree the 2520 might be a smidge better than the 2320 with regard to PTO work; most of my experience has been in ground engagement, where the 2320 and 2520 are about the same. To me, the aerial view of your property indicates that you might be a candidate even for a 3000 series. I do not know if you are planning to buy outright or finance. I have always been a "cash on the spot" kind of guy, but with JD zero percent, it might be worth considering a no interest plan. If this is the case you might wish to re-run your numbers and see with a purchase program whether you could justify going into a 3320, for example. Trust me, financially though more pricey initially it will save the buyer money if he or she does not need to re-buy in one-two years (as I have in the past). I would still say the 2320 is a different beast from any of the X series or from the 2305, as it is a true compact tractor. Powering a 60" snowblower would probably tax it, but powering a 54" front mount likely would be fine for it. The question is does our OP want more potential for the future.

John M

Isn't it fun to spend other peoples money?

The reason I like the 2520 so much (and the 2720 more) is that it reminds me of my old 955 that I miss so much. Sorta like your High School sweetheart that you broke up with when the girl with the big,,, well, never mind , you know what I mean. By the way, I married my High School Sweet heart and still with her 31 years later.

 

[Dutch445]

heck
before this thread is over,
you'll be in a 9330 with trips
pulling a 30' mower and pushing
a 15' silage blade to handle the snow

 

[JJKJ]

heck
before this thread is over,
you'll be in a 9330 with trips
pulling a 30' mower and pushing
a 15' silage blade to handle the snow

and divorced.

 

[Dutch445]

and divorced.

Ahhhhhhhhh Freedom!

 

[jcmseven]

Dutch, let's not go overboard here. He can easily get by with an 8000 series, until he needs to trade up. He does have to tow it behind at 1/2 ton pickup to his neighbor's, you know.

John M

 

[jenkinsph]

Ahhhhhhhhh Freedom!

She keeps the house and NEW TRACTOR!

 

[jcmseven]

On somewhat of a serious note, I should mention that I personally LIKE the 3030e series (I think they look tough, especially with the R1 tires) but my dealer loathes them. He thinks that the 3030 series machines are "cheap" and lack the features of the 3020's, which is in part true. One thing I know one should be careful about is the rating on these tractors. I do not have the stats directly in front of me but I believe the market ploy used by Deere is "a bunch of power for the dollar" on these machines, but when looking at torque ratings, the actual thing that gets the work done, the 3038 is very close in rated torque to the 3320, which is a lower HP rated machine. Now, the deal does not seem so good, when one factors in the low back seat, sparse instruments, lack of ehydro and three ranges, semi-open engine compartment, smaller fuel tank, lower hydro flow, etc. The factor in that if John hit the jackpot and decided to go with that nice 59" snowblower after all, he cannot use it on an E series tractor because the loader is not quick removable. Dutch can perhaps comment further on these machines as he works with an sells them every day and I am just a stat monger.

John M

 

[jenkinsph]

John M,
I am sure Dutch could tell you that dealers make more money off of the more expensive models, more money if you trade up multiple times and sell you more attachments that won't fit the next tractor too.

The 3038E has 30 pto hp, the 2320 does not.

Edit; My 820 canopy weighs close to the same as the 4520 and can handle most of the implements I have but is not as comfortable or as fast.

 

[Dutch445]