Buying Advice used 790 or 3203 as first tractor

[Deaner]

Hi all, firstly I'm a newbie to this forum and to tractor ownership. A little background on myself might help. We just bought a new house on about 7 acres of land mixed about 1/2 and 1/2 with timber and lawn. We also have a fairly long driveway, about 1/3 of a mile of gravel. We live in central Illinois so I expect to get enough snow to make snow removal one of the chores for this little tractor. Although I didn't grow up on a farm, I do have a fair bit of experience operating a number of tractors on the farms that I worked on growing up. My wife will be operating the tractor frequently, however, and she has zero experience.

So let's get to my question. I'm trying to decide between a used 790 and a used 3203. For the purposes of this discussion, let's assume that they are evenly priced. The 790 is cheaper but the price of the 3203 includes 2 attachments that I plan on buying in the next year anyway, a boxblade and a finish mower. My plan going into this was to buy the smallest, simplest, most reliable tractor that would meet my needs and I think the 790 fits the bill perfectly. But now I'm wondering if it would be foolish to pass up the "free upgrade" of the slightly larger and more powerful 3203 with it's hydrostatic transmission?

I have read some miscellaneous threads and offhand comments here and there about possible quality issues with the 3203 whereas the 790 seems to be simply bulletproof.

 

[foggy1111]

I owned a 790 and now own a 3320. I am not going to bash the 790 as it is a very capable little tractor.

BUT.....with lots of loader work I really tired of the straight gear tranny and the the two-range limitations for gearing. I also needed more hydraulic capacity for some new implements (front grapple) and wanted better lifting at the three point and with a loader......therefore my new ride.

The 790 is a good tractor with a bullet proof reputation. But it has its limits. They are all good.....some are better at other things. :thumbsup:

I am not familiar with the 3203....but the reviews at the top are pretty good on this model. Check 'em out.

 

[foggy1111]

It was a short lived economy model a few years ago, somewhat similar to the 3032E of today.

OK....was just doing some reading on this model (3203).....and it sure sounds like a good basic tractor to me.

.....Was also reflecting on my 790 experience. I used mine for about two years and made $200 on it when I sold it (not counting some "improvements" I made.) One thing about these little tractors.....they are pretty easy to sell again if you want another size or more features, etc. GOOD stuff is always easy to sell again! :thumbsup:

 

[RoyJackson]

Although I'm a gear guy, I'd suggest setting on both machines and seeing which one feels the best. The 790 is a bit tight if you have some heft to you.

I owned a 790 for about 6 years and really liked it except for reverse gearing. Reverse Low was really slow (handicapped snails are faster) and Reverse High (at PTO RPM) was too fast. As far as loader work, I didn't have any problems using 1st High to Reverse High (using the foot throttle with the hand throttle set at 1500 RPM). Shifting was quick enough to get the job done (even a non-synchronized transmission is pretty quick once you get the hang of it).

The one thing I would definitely compare is the PTO HP. Also, the 3203 does not have off-seat PTO capability if you intend to use a chipper (which can be worked around but would be a show stopper for me).

BTW, the 3203 manual is still on line: OMLVU17604_K7

 

[ctlguy]

The 3203 was a darn good little tractor. No oem backhoe though and no power beyond, no mid pto. Was disapointed when they dropped it for the 303 e series tractors. The E's are def dumbed down version esp with the loader mounted joystick and non (are atleast non easy) parking loader. But 3203 used the same 300 loader the current 790 version takes w/ integrated loder joystick.

 

[Deaner]

Thanks for all the thoughts guys. I don't think the lack of a mid-pto is a problem for me. I don't plan on getting a snowblower or rotary broom anytime soon. And although I wouldn't mind playing around with a MMM to compare it to a finish mower, my understanding is that the 790 will only accept a MMM with turf tires installed. So they both seem to be limited here.

The PTO output on both units is actually about the same. I guess the HST of the 3203 robs the extra engine hp from the PTO. So this is a near wash.

Roy, I've read your earlier posts about the offseat PTO. I guess I'm confused about this. Doesn't the 3005 also have this same safety feature, the engine will shut off if the PTO is engaged and you raise up off the seat? Does the 3203's safety switch function differently? Was this a safety feature introduced AFTER the change from the 790 to the 3005? I admit that I haven't read the 790's manual yet.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the lack of rigth/left brake pedals to assist with steering on the 3203. This would be nice to have.

I'm leaning towards the 3203, it's hard to pass up the simplicity of the HST, the bigger size, more hp, greater 3pt lift cap, and higher axle ratings, particularly when I don't have to pay anything for them.

What I'm looking for is if there is anything I'm missing here, like reliability issues of the tractor or the HST or other limitations. Like the offseat PTO, for instance, that would have been an easy thing to miss.

Anyway, thanks for all the feedback I've already gotten. This really is a greate forum.

 

[JD755]

Most tractors for many years have had a seat safety switch that will shut off the PTO. The difference here is that they also provide a manual override position for the switch to operate only the rear PTO when you want to use implements like a chipper. The 3203 tractors do not have this override position.

 

[ctlguy]

Seat overide

Large Brick :laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy, I've read your earlier posts about the offseat PTO. I guess I'm confused about this. Doesn't the 3005 also have this same safety feature, the engine will shut off if the PTO is engaged and you raise up off the seat? Does the 3203's safety switch function differently? Was this a safety feature introduced AFTER the change from the 790 to the 3005? I admit that I haven't read the 790's manual yet.

There's a difference between the seat switch (which shuts the engine off if the operator leaves the seat (as in falling off the tractor) when the PTO is engaged and "Off-seat PTO capability".
It the tractor is used as a stationary power source (generator or, in my case, powering a chipper), there is a specific procedure to allow the engine to keep running (transmission must be in neutral, for example and the seat switch on a 790/3005 must have a knob pulled to the open position) when the PTO is engaged. My 4400 has a procedure for off seat PTO operation too.

But, for some reason, Deere had some "value" tractors with no such capability unless you disabled the switch or "fooled" it using a weight (bag of sand, for example). Always seemed like a foolish decision on Deere's part, IMHO.

If you have no need for this capability...well, then you'd never miss it. But, if you ever buy a chipper or generator...

 

[jjmarotz]

The 3203 is a very nice intro tractor with capabilities that MORE than surprised me when I bought mine. I put 380 hrs on it without it ever seeing a wrench other than oil changes and add ons I did. She helped me install close to 400 fence posts with auger, load literally tons of scrap steel to make room for horse corrals, blow snow, load horse manure, subsoil pastures, move snowmobiles, haul gravel, you name it she done it. Sometimes you would lug down a bit, but easily regain your power by backing off the pedal.

My wife, ( with NO experience) with tractors picked up on how to run this machine in little to no time!!! Heck, even my daughters helped a bit with it, (under supervision).

Spring of '10 I did upgrade to a cabbed 3720 because our needs for larger tractor with more capabilities arose. All in all I would recommend a 3203 to anyone for ease of operation, simple no frills extra gizmos to worry about, and just plain good lil tractor. As for the seat PTO switch...(that can be solved in under 30 seconds)