Help me decide on the LS I need.

[chas0218]

Sorry guys for another one of these threads.

I thought that the smaller HP LS XG3025 shuttle shift was going to be the perfect tractor for me. After driving my FIL's JD 3032e around and working our garden with a 3 point tiller I found the JD bogging down when it got into muddier end of the garden. Granted this is very heavy sticky clay but I was expecting a lot more from that tractor. Growing up on our farm we had a few different tractors over the years and I have become accustomed to 40hp and larger tractors but we also pulled a lot bigger equipment making those bigger tractors work. The 3032e was running a 5' tiller and I was less than impressed with the tractor, it is rated for 31 engine HP/25 PTO hp. The 3025 is rated at 25/19 and I fear that it will be worse in comparison to the JD. The JD is also hydro but I'm not sure that makes much of a difference. I have never owned/operated a hydro tractor other than a lawn mower and the 3032e so I don't really know how to compare it to other tractors. FWIW the XG3025 capacity wise can do more than the JD even having less HP. I just don't want to get into a tractor then have buyers remorse needing a bigger tractor or vise-versa. I just don't have the money to do this twice.

So I was thinking that I should step up to the XG 3027 or the XG3140. I don't need 50 hp it is just too big for my needs. My plan is to clear some land around our 40 acres for hunting and a little further down the road my own little hobby farm with some chickens and goats, maybe a couple pigs. But for now it is only going to be for clearing brush and low lying vegetation, plowing snow, and firewood.

I'm trying to keep it below $20k for tractor and loader. I will add a backhoe (approx $6k) at time of purchase and I'll install the 3rd function and wicked grapple myself.

 

[CMV]

Does it have to be LS? Nothing wrong with them, but why limit to one brand when there are a lot of good competing models in the size you're looking at?

If not adverse to crossing 25hp threshold, still a decent selection around your $20k target.

XG3135/3140, L2510/L3301, CK2610/3510, 2538, RK37, etc....lots right around or under that price.

 

[chas0218]

I've looked at other brands but no one compares when it comes to the capabilities of the machine. I looked into Kioti and around me there is only 1 dealer that is close and want 2k-3k more for a tractor that has the same capabilities as the LS. I'm not partial to any single brand but looking to get the most bang for my buck. I like Kubota and JD but they want a lot more for a machine that will do all the stuff the LS will do.

 

[chas0218]

The other thing that has me limited is not wanting hydro. I want the gears as adding "Cruise Control" is an added cost to the hydro units that are already more than a shuttle shift.

 

[CMV]

If you are set on that one brand, best thing to do is spend afternoon at dealer lot comparing the various models. Dealer should be able to help once you've told him all the different tasks you have for the machine. Sounds like an MT125 might be a little undersized, but you can get one of those with the backhoe for way under your budget. Lots of owners in the LS forum seem to really like theirs.

Is your tiller reverse rotating? Just wondering because my 6' forward rotating turns NC red clay to powder with ease. But I've only used on fairly dry ground so maybe that's the difference - but it seems to need very little HP

 

[donaldj]

I have the LS XR3135H. I have not run a tiller, but I will say that when the box scraper is full, this thing really works at keeping it going.

I have a low spot on my property with some 'muck' to go through. The tractor bogs down in these and once had to tow out with my Jeep. So, aside from a treaded machine, not sure what would help you other than ensure you have proper tires for that work (not the turf saver ones).

I think the 3135 or 3140 might be enough PTO HP for you... But this is just data sheet analysis.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have never ran a reverse rotation tiller, but I find the forward rotating ones require very little power to turn and since you should be running very slow, power to pull the tractor thru mud should not be a problem unless you are running it in high range.
You should have no problem running even a 6 foot tiller with a 25-30 PTO HP tractor so you may want to bump up your size a bit from the 19PTO HP LS model if your budget can stand it.

By the way, you shouldn't be tilling in wet clay to begin with. You will succeed in making some very hard clay balls when it dries.

 

[ThirdMan]

LS is just introducing some new models that might be in the range you are looking at. The MT3 series has 45HP or 50HP in either hydro or synchro shuttle. They also offer a backhoe option. A post claimed the tractor-loader was in the 20k range, but I can't find any other pricing online.

 

[chas0218]

I have never ran a reverse rotation tiller, but I find the forward rotating ones require very little power to turn and since you should be running very slow, power to pull the tractor thru mud should not be a problem unless you are running it in high range.
You should have no problem running even a 6 foot tiller with a 25-30 PTO HP tractor so you may want to bump up your size a bit from the 19PTO HP LS model if your budget can stand it.

By the way, you shouldn't be tilling in wet clay to begin with. You will succeed in making some very hard clay balls when it dries.

The problem was the surface looked fine but as soon as it dug down a little the softer layer of clay underneath allowed the tiller to sink down more allowing it to get more bite. I was going quite slow about as slow as the tractor would let me go in low range the other parts of the garden it didn't do too bad just that one section really made it bog down. I am thinking that I should step up to the next size tractor so I could run a 5' tiller.

I have the LS XR3135H. I have not run a tiller, but I will say that when the box scraper is full, this thing really works at keeping it going.

I have a low spot on my property with some 'muck' to go through. The tractor bogs down in these and once had to tow out with my Jeep. So, aside from a treaded machine, not sure what would help you other than ensure you have proper tires for that work (not the turf saver ones).

I think the 3135 or 3140 might be enough PTO HP for you... But this is just data sheet analysis.

It definitely wasn't muck, but it was wetter than we had figured. The tractor I buy will have AG tires as I will need to be able to get around in some light mud.

If you are set on that one brand, best thing to do is spend afternoon at dealer lot comparing the various models. Dealer should be able to help once you've told him all the different tasks you have for the machine. Sounds like an MT125 might be a little undersized, but you can get one of those with the backhoe for way under your budget. Lots of owners in the LS forum seem to really like theirs.

Is your tiller reverse rotating? Just wondering because my 6' forward rotating turns NC red clay to powder with ease. But I've only used on fairly dry ground so maybe that's the difference - but it seems to need very little HP

It was a forward rotating taylor way tiller, in the dryer section of the garden it was better but still didn't expect it to bog as it did.

A 40hp tractor wouldn't fit for the majority of my needs my 40 acres. Most of the property is wooded with about 3 acres around the house that are clear. The main reason for the XG3025 was the size of the tractor being full framed it could run cat 1 implements and give me a little more stable footprint. My property is slightly sloped with some diversion ditches to help route water away from the house and some that have collapsed and need to be fixed. I know the backhoe is a large added cost but it is needed for maintenance around our home and cottage. I think the XG3032, XG3037 or equivalent tractor in another brand would all be contenders. In all honesty the 3032 seems like the best with all the same capabilities but more HP. I'll have to look at other brands and get final price quotes from the dealers in my area to figure out my best deal.

 

[chas0218]

LS is just introducing some new models that might be in the range you are looking at. The MT3 series has 45HP or 50HP in either hydro or synchro shuttle. They also offer a backhoe option. A post claimed the tractor-loader was in the 20k range, but I can't find any other pricing online.

Good to know, I'll have to look into it. I haven't seen anything yet but I haven't been looking for it either.

EDIT: I looked yesterday and there wasn't anything on there but today they have the MT3 series on there.