B3300 or L3400

[TripleR]

Sounds like a really good set up for your needs. I only know anything about BIFCO; never even saw one, but I have two 10' Woods rotary cutters and they are really good. I have 7' and 8' Caroni finish mowers that have also proven themselves to be almost indestructible and one will even cut very light brush as it has blades similar in design to those on a rotary cutter with three or four inch hardened swinging cutting tips.

I know you will enjoy your new equipment.

 

[medicshawn]

Sounds like a good setup. I have heard of Befco but don't really know much about them. I do know Woods and Landpride are top notch. I have a 7 foot Landpride RFM and I like it but would have also been happy with a woods. I'm guessing the mowers will run you 2K -3K. I would keep my eyes out for a used unit you can save some good money and they hold up so well.

I also suggest you look at flail mowers, they might fit your situation better. Closer to the rear than the finish mower. Will chew anything that's on the ground, and some you can offset to the side so you could get closer to the trees. My landpride is only 6-8 inches wider than my tires. I know someone else mentioned the Caroni mowers. Check out Agri Supply - Farm Supplies, Tools, Lawn Mower Blades, Cast Iron Cookware even with shipping they have good prices on Caroni flail and finish mowers.

I would also look at the Woods RM990. It's a hybrid finish mower bushhog. The blades swing free in you hit something. Might be nice if there's any debris under the trees sticks etc.

 

[CJBOTA]

Where's JOHNTHOMAS when I need him. I have been thinking about this deal all weekend. I think I might throw the dealers a curve ball in the morning. What about the L3700, I have been hearing about? Since I haven't decided anything yet I may as well consider it, after all that 84" rfm could probably use a couple extra ponies.
In my mind I keep going back and forth on the R1's vs the R4's. At first I didn't want to pay extra for the R4's but they have worked pretty good on my 2920. They just don't tear the @#%? out of everything.
Actually, i took my 3 year old grandson over to the one dealer this afternoon and we walked the lot. ( they were closed ) The nut didn't fall to far from the tree because my grandson likes tractors as much as I do. Anyway, I sat him up on a big "M" series (didn't notice the model but it was huge) His first word was "whoooa" then he said "ooooha" then he said get this one grandpa. Then I said, "that's not going to happen".
While we were walking around we saw an L3700 which took me by surprise. So that is where I got the idea to look into it a little further. I'll keep you guy's posted on what happens. I hope JOHNTHOMAS don't miss this post.
cj

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I hope JOHNTHOMAS is still reading this thread because he loves this crap. I visited two dealers this morning. ( my dealer and another one not to far away) Neither dealer had a B3300 yet but expect to very soon. But that doesn't matter. Both had the L3400 HST. After looking closer I decided I can make it work. The one dealer had the L3400 parked right next to a B2920 and I could easily see that it is not that much bigger and I would not lose that much compactness while gaining alot more tractor.
Also, while driving around I decided that I could live with giving up the hyd front blade for the rear grader blade, which should help offset the price a little. Those hyd. front blades are nice but exspensive.
Anyway, my set up will look like this: L3400 HST with BH, FEL, 84" RFM and 84" rear blade. My dealer sells BEFCO rfm and the other dealer sells Woods. I would like your comments on these two mowers. I am thinking they should be comparable.
Now, before anyone gets two excited about the 84" rfm, I must tell you my orchard is flat and I am not using it as A brush hog. I know the the L3400 will pick it up for transport. The wider mower will reach under the trees better as they mature.
Both dealers will have a final number Monday morning for me. They were both very busy with all the normal Saturday morning crowd. I am expecting the price won't be that far from the B3300 to be a deal breaker.
cj

I am. Been gone a few days and just catching up. Your right , I love the deal and even get some thrill out of other people making the deal. I had a cheap RFM on a B7800. Traded it to a Landpride 6'RFM which I traded to Barlows but is still at my house. Any way the cheapo kept breaking so Barlows gave me what I paid for it ($1200) on the Landpride($1750). The Landpride is a tank. A consideration: The Landpride would swing my B7800 around when I reached the botom of my hill and never knew the cheapo was attached. On level ground the 7' probably won't be a problem but check power requirements for a 7' mower. Check/compare weight when buying implements. The weight is one of the major keys to what your getting.

 

[docboos]

I've noticed in this post, the term R-4's. I've also noticed in other posts, the same term but R-1's or even R-3's. As a newby, what does that mean.

Thanks
Mike

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've noticed in this post, the term R-4's. I've also noticed in other posts, the same term but R-1's or even R-3's. As a newby, what does that mean.

Thanks
Mike

I think Residential is what the R stands for. I which does mean Industrial is the same as the R. I/R4 is the same tire. It's a middle tread all purpose type tire. A-Agricultural has wide space bars/tread. Turf is really fine tread pattern more for yard type work but also good in snow per my experience. Never tried anything but Turf in snow myself.

 

[CJBOTA]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant ag tires vs R4's (industrial) Although I thought the Kubota website refers to ag tires as R1's. I will look into that.
cj

 

[magicheater]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant ag tires vs R4's (industrial) Although I thought the Kubota website refers to ag tires as R1's. I will look into that.cj

R1's- AG, R2's- ?? R3's-TURF, R4's-IND Can anyone solve the ??,? Maybe it is the odd tires on a previous thread.....

 

[medicshawn]

If you're moving up to an L series Make sure you get the skid steer quick attach for the bucket. And if you move up to the 3700 definitely look at the RM990.

 

[TripleR]

R1's- AG, R2's- ?? R3's-TURF, R4's-IND Can anyone solve the ??,? Maybe it is the odd tires on a previous thread.....

We often tend to confuse some with all these designations of R1, R4 etc., my manual simply uses the terms Bar, Industrial and Turf. Some will interchange "bar" with "Ag", but this is not true across the models as a bar on the smaller tractors aren't the same profile as a true Ag tire. Tire selection can be fairly confusing even if you "kinda" know what you are looking for; went through this on my Case last year when I tried finding a tread pattern I liked only to find it was out of production, Good Year. Tires that looked alike had different designations.

Some may find this informative; some maybe confusing; demonstrates that often things are not as simple as we think.

The Small Tractor FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions