New 3203 with loader and hoe

[GreatWhitehunter]

I'm not posting to stir anything up. It's just ridiculous to put on attachments that the manufacture doesn't recommend. Who here feels they have more engineering knowledge than the oem? The 3203 was offered to get a bargain machine in a hydro form. Rather than only offering gear only (790). That's where the 3203 came from, The frame is different just as the fenders and other odds and ends on the machine. A far as a dealer offering the hoe and x,cx on the 3203, that's the guy who wants your money and doesn't care about you after the sale. He's got his and when your broken down he won't be there to support you. Messicks here's a for instance for you. Suppose the tier two l39 rolls in and you come across a customer **** bent on the 2 missing hp. Are you going to suggest bumping up the engine. No your going to point out the obvious. That the 2 hp is not going to be an issue. But if the customer still feels he needs the 39 hp then you'd show him another model with what he fells he needs. This post reminds me of all the towing post where the poster claims he's towing 12k off the bumper of a half ton and it's totally safe and designed to do so. Engineering is about safety reliability and know parameters. It's not gut feelings and it fits so it must be ok. Anyone who doesn't get that is a fool. And post like this just prove it. This is not a rant to meant to be insulting just pointing out common sense.


Matt T.

 

[flyngti]

I'm more than willing to bet that the lack of backhoe support has more to do with upselling people to the next model than it does the lack of structure. If thats the case, you'd better not use a box blade, weight box, rear blade, or anything else that can torque the back of your tractor.

Surely you're not suggesting that a box blade, weight box or rear blade can torque the back of a tractor as much as a backhoe can?

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Surely you're not suggesting that a box blade, weight box or rear blade can torque the back of a tractor as much as a backhoe can?

Yea I am. If you catch the corner of a box or rear blade, you put insane stress on the rear of the tractor... I'd venture way more than a subframe mounted backhoe. I'd bet we see 10x as many damaged tractors from 3pt implements than we do modern backhoes. The Woods hoe will do just fine, as I said... this is more about positioning a product in the market place than it is about what it really can do. If its true that this machine can't support a backhoe than its one pathetic piece of equipment. I don't think there is another tractor on the market that can't run a hoe.

 

[Superduper]

Yea I am. If you catch the corner of a box or rear blade, you put insane stress on the rear of the tractor... I'd venture way more than a subframe mounted backhoe. I'd bet we see 10x as many damaged tractors from 3pt implements than we do modern backhoes. The Woods hoe will do just fine, as I said... this is more about positioning a product in the market place than it is about what it really can do. If its true that this machine can't support a backhoe than its one pathetic piece of equipment. I don't think there is another tractor on the market that can't run a hoe.

Well, there you have it. What more can we say. So when your tractor cracks in half, remember to send the not-covered-under-warranty bill to Neil, your non-deere equipment dealer.

 

[jd4310man]

Again, it all comes down to the strength of of the main frame of this tractor. Before I purchased this setup, I did my own research and looked at my options. I looked over the frame of both the 3X20 series and the 3203, and came to the conclution that both frames were very much alike. I really dont think Deere designed a weak tractor hear, like MessickFarmEqu said, its all a marketing issue! Also Woods put their butt on the line for designing a mount to fit the 3203. If it is such a poor idea to mount up a hoe to the 3203 and if most 3203's equipped with a hoe have major failure to the frame of the tractor because of mounting then im sure it would eventually get back to Woods. Also, the only way to mount a hoe on any tractor is to use a solid subframe mounting, NOT a 3 point hitch mount! If one went with the 3 point setup, then yea I would expect a severe failure becase all the stress would be put on the very rear of the tractor frame.
Both my dealers didnt have any problem with the issue of the tractor not being able to handle this setup! I seriously doubt that they were just looking at making a sale. This is my third tractor from the same dealer and they have done nothing but good to me even after the sale. Both dealers have been in business a long time and I doubt they have a whole lot of dissatisfied customers either.

 

[Superduper]

Seriously, the two backhoes mount entirely differently. The woods backhoe appears to have a full subframe. The deere hoe mounts using rockshaft assist. The full frame probably should give sufficient strength. But the warranty you get is part of the feature set you receive. Use the hoe responsibly and you'll probably not have a problem. When there is a problem though and Deere voids the warranty, you'll have to look at yourself in the mirror. We all have free choice. As long as we understand that and accept the risk, then there is no problem.

 

[dqdave1]

Does your owners manual state that you cannot use a backhoe and if you do the warranty is voided? If it does not state it , then I would put it on. If this unit cannot handle a woods hoe of this size, shame on JD.

 

[jd4310man]

I did look at the warranty statement and Deere will not cover "any product that has been altered or modified in ways not approved by John Deere, Depriciation or damage caused by normal wear, lack of reasonable and proper maintanance, failure to follow opperating instructions, misuse, lack of proper protection during storage or accident." That is taken directly from the warranty statement. I doubt that adding a backhoe would qualify as "modifing" the tractor. It is simply adding an attachment within the tractors capability. A 7 1/2foot backhoe is not an unreasonable attachment for any compact tractor including the 3203. The BH70X on my 3203 works great!, I already have dug out some stumps for my neighbor and the little hoe worked very good, considering the size and power of this unit. I am very pleased so far.

 

[Whitey]

Boy I am almost sorry I got this started. This all stems from me trying to find an affordable HST tractor without all the frills and extras that the 3x20 series have. I really like the 3203. I sat on one on Saturday at a dealer that was near where I had a business meeting that day. I asked him the same thing, why Deere did not offer a backhoe. He said price point. But......he felt that Deere was under pressure to release a model backhoe to fit this unit and also be able to upgrade the loader. He really had no comment on the after market backhoe. I left that showroom hopeful of a Deere solution to this tractor by this fall. I will wait and see.

JD 770 / 70 FEL / 7 BH - 425 AWS / 54" MMM / 54" FMP

 

[swampercj]

Not to bring a old post up from the dead But I gotta ask anyway. How is the 3203? Does it still have the hoe on the back and did it have enough power? Being a 3203 owner, I was told the the limiting factor was the rear end. the rear wouldn't support the extra weight.