Thinking of downsizing L3800 to BX2370

[tractorshopper]

I feel like John Thomas. :laughing: I've had my L3800 for 2.5 years now and have done most of the major stuff that I've wanted to do. It only has 160 hrs on it. I put 50 hrs on it in the first 6 months, then 100 hours in the next two years. I'll be using it for some box blade work this weekend at the hunt club, but really I figure if I trade to a smaller tractor, that i'll get more use out of it because I will mow with it a lot also.

I realize I'll take a pretty big hit with a nearly new tractor being traded, but if I can come out in decent shape on the trade, I'll be getting more value by using it more. My brother recently bought a BX-25D and we could jointly buy implements to share (I know I can't borrow the backhoe, but we can trade tractors periodically).

Thoughts? Trade in L3800HST 4x4 with FEL, tooth bar, BB, Reverse Tiller, and Brush Hog for BX2370HST 4x4 with FEL, tooth bar, MMM, BB, and Brush Hog. Brother already has the smaller tiller.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

You already know my thoughts.
Find one of those new guys that have been listening to those "biggers better" guys and you could come out in great shape on the trade. Book to book should be s "good" deal for both parties, they want bigger and you want smaller.
I'd look at current new MSRP for both machines and look at the difference in price and that's the number I'd work with. Private sellers usually don't collect and forward to the local state taxing bureau as the law says to do but dealer have to so a straight out sale and then purchase from a dealer could come out not as great as trading with a dealer which in Ky the tax is only on the trade difference. No difference then no tax, in Ky. Out of state buyers don't have to pay Ky sales tax if delivered out of state.
Maybe that biggers better buyer with a BX will see this post.:thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

What John says, we own tractors from 22 to 85HP; sometimes bigger is better and sometimes smaller is better, trick is getting the size you need. It makes no sense to keep a tractor you don't use, in my opinion anyway. If you ever need one jut rent it, we rent a couple of times a year to not have money tied up in a seldom used piece of equipment.

 

[HEC]

I would do my very best to sell it yourself or make a trade like John is saying . A dealer is going to hit you hard . I don't know about your area but used Kubota's sell very well in mine . As far as going smaller I can sure go along with that idea if that is what you would use more .

 

[boggen]

your asking for a down grade and only give tractor specs and implements, but nothing about acreage and amount of mowing?

my thoughts are to keep mowing and tractor units as 2 different units.

you talk about brothers unit. but is it worth having brothers smaller unit with backhoe, for some things, and then a larger tractor for other things, and being able to switch between the to of you the smaller vs larger tractor?

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on other hand being still very low hours. and down grading now might be a good deal. and still getting more of your money back, before you take a major hit in price drop.

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i am not a large fan of MMM (mid mount mowers / belly mowers) i hate dragging the stupid things in and out from under the tractor, there heavy and just plain big and hard to maneuver easily. a 3pt hitch finishing mower, heck some folks use rotatory cutters and keep blades sharpened more like finishing mower blades , lower the gauge wheels down and use them just for that purpose.

 

[bp fick]

I wasn't particularly thinking about downsizing, but when a fella from the next valley over stopped by last winter and really wanted my B2320? Sure, I was ready to downsize anyhow. Fact is? AFter 3 1/2 years I was ready to downsize as my larger chores were also finished and I wasn't getting any younger. My buyer paid me handsomely for my shop kept, spotless B. Honestly, the "loss" was so small as to be not worth mentioning, especially after getting 3 1/2 years out of it.

Private sale. It's always worked well for me. Each situation is different, but I privately sell my used trucks, cars, RVs, boats, etc. Some of it is just because my stuff is well maintained and kept clean and dry, and never abused I suspect.

Grabbed a 24 clock hours "used" BX2360 off my dealers lot at a steal price and pocketed $3000 on the swap. I've never looked back. Love the BX for what I have to do around the place, which is mostly the gardens, firewood, moving chicken pens, and, oh yeah, snow. Lots and lots of snow.

Sounds to me like you've thought this through. I don't personally see taking the "big hit" you describe, but every area is different, I suppose.

 

[bigcut]

Ryan,
You raise some interesting points that I hadn't thought of. Hope Tractorshopper gives it due consideration before making a final decision.
John

 

[tractorshopper]

Yes, good points here so far, thanks. Ryan, more info here: My brother lives about 30 miles from me, so swithing tractors in whole is only an occasional consideration due to the hassle of trailering, plus I don't have a big need to borrow a backhoe, but only if I build another building at some point and want to run water or power. We see each other every week or two, so just putting an implement in each other's truck bed occationally would be handy enough.

I live on 3.5 acres, most of which is grass lawn with lots of slopes and decent amount of trees so I do not mow and wouldn't consider ever mowing it with my L3800, but with my failing JD L118 42" lawn mower. My lawn mower is at least a decade old now. I also own another property that needed bigger clean-up work and trail establishment/brush control and taking back some of the land. I have that property now to where I bush hog about 4 to 4.5 acres of it a few times a year, but more than half of that bush hogged amount I used to mow with my lawn mower before I got a tractor (it was originally pasture already), and now after bush hogging for several years, I could probably mow the vast majority of what I want to keep up with with a belly mower. The rest of it is pretty mature trees and some privet that is a pain, so I'll probably just let it do it's thing where it keeps trying to regrow. I dug a pond with my loader and have done a good bit of "smoothing" with box blade at home and at my property. I also maintain our road with the box blade several times a year.

Absolutely no doubt would I miss the extra power and weight, but frankly, I don't use it a lot now and by downsizing, I could get more use and be able to do my mowing work quicker. I'm not a major farmer, but more of a hobby farmer/weekend warrior.

HEC, Dealer came by and took a look at my stuff. Will work up a deal to offer me. If it makes sense and I want to do it, I will. If deal is not good, I won't make it. He knows that and told me if he can't come close enough, that I could sell on my own and then buy a new one from him.

I'm leaning in the direction of pursuing this, but haven't totally made up my mind. I just think I'd get a lot more use from the new tractor than my current one and that seems to be money wisely used. I'll cut down on my mowing time and get more use from a tractor. If not, I'll have to buy a new lawn mower soon anyway.

 

[tractorshopper]

BP, I figured if I came out about 2-3 grand ahead on the trade, it would be a no brainer. I believe if I did a private sale that I could achieve 3K +. It has been garage kept and washed when necessary and looks very nice just like new except the bucket itself is marked up and paint is off the bottom of the bucket and lowest area of the box blade. Tiller and bush hog look close to mint condition being the least used implements.

 

[bp fick]

Well, you could "fake" it up a bit with orange rattle can, but most buyers sure aren't gonna hold that against it, I wouldn't think.

I do NOT mow with my BX either, as stated above. Never been one to swap out that MMM. Don't even sound like something up my alley. My wife does as much mowing as I and I tricked her up a Craftsman 18.5 hp lawn tractor and it still works perfectly fine, at 10 years of age. I'd buy another. For the $2500 for an MMM, I can buy a heck of good lawn mower. That's my thought process anyhow.

I need my BX to be in full tractor dress, 24-7, 365. Again, this is the individualistic part. Everyone's different. My BX is my tractor, not my lawn mower. That's the beauty of this whole thing. Everybody gets to do what's right for them. Moving up to a B series was dead on right at the time. Moving back to BX was the best thing ever. I love my BX if you couldn't tell. Fits both me and my life style perfectly.

I can tell you're thoughtful and are weighing all the options here. Do what's right by you and all will be well in the universe.