2305 and 2320 and 2520 were looked at

[crzysnake137]

Hey all i just visited one of my local john deere dealers and got to sit/ look at all three machines and man am i troubled. The 2305 had the new curved boom backhoe and i likewd that and the 2320 and 2520 were pretty much stock. i was wondering how people like the 2305, 2320, 2520. Highs and lows

 

[EdC]

crzysnake137

We all like our tractors very much because they are perfect

Seriously what are you going to use it for. I needed a three point with position control and a tractor with a bit of ground clearance since my property is pretty rough. That knocked out the 2305.

The dealer also had a 2320 and 2520 on the lot and the salesman spent well over an hour going over what we would be using it for after I narrowed it down between the 2320 and 2520. Base on his recommendation and the seat test (My seat on the tractor seat) it did not look like I was getting $2500.00 of extra tractor with the 2520.

About 80% of the time I think my tractor meets my needs exactly. 10% its too small and 10% its too big so even though I may have to work a bit slower than a 2520 I think I made the right choice.

If your work includes a backhoe then the 2520 might be the tractor for you. I do not think my tractor would run a backhoe all that well; there are just too many big rocks where I live. When I do need a back hoe I'll probably rent a trackhoe and use it with my tractor.

Bottom line tell us what your going to use it for and we will certainly help spend your money.

 

[crzysnake137]

well in a year or two we might be tearing up our lawn and replacing with sod, and then in like 3 years we will hopefully be building a new house, i will not be building the "house" but like the landscaping, clearing grading and other odds and ends. i will not need a mower because my 125 is so so great!!! also i would like some implement suggestion, snow isn't big here if it was i would use the fel lite me up with ideas

 

[Deadman]

The 2520 just has so much more hydraulic speed, and more HP.
I can't imagine having much less than the 2520 has.

I came from a 2210 (which is now the 2305), and the 2520 feels like its 5 times as capable. I know its not, but thats just its attitude.

 

[VABlue]

Again, more info would be more helpful. How much land? How much and what type of landscaping? Will you be doing the site work for the new house? Plan on installing a sprinkler system, removing stumps, etc?

If you'll only be installing the yard and landscaping, the 2305 is probably the best bet. But if you'll be clearing and grading the site, or digging a lot, the 2520 is probably the better bet. Also, the 2305 (and probably the 2320) will cut circles around your 125...

Give us even more info! BTW, those cute little curvy hoe's on the 2305 do look good!

 

[crzysnake137]

ido want to be doing the sitework(grading clearing installing grass and all right nows im at about .7 aceres and with clay dirt mix soil and sometimes lots of rain. its not hilly around here but would like something incase

 

[EdC]

crzysnake137

Gotta love clay. With .7 acres and primarily doing landscaping tasks I'd probably go with the 2305. It is more nimble than the other machines. Also lighter, and with a lot of clay in your soil when its really wet outside you will leave ruts with the slightly larger tractors.

My 2320 has loaded tires and in spring I am sinking in about six or eight inches. It doesn't matter to me because I mow with my L120 so I just keep off the lawn.

No matter what anybody says the uses are you'll find other uses where the tractor will be indispensable

If you do end up with the 2305 think about getting the folding ROPS. At some time or another you will have to put it to bed for the night and the folding ROPS makes any garage/shed entrance clearance issues go away. Unless of course you forget to fold the ROPS. I can speak from personal experience that in a contest between a 2x8 sistered to a 2x10 and a 2320 with the ROPS up the tractor wins going away.

 

[VABlue]

The 2305 ROPS is shorter than the 2320, well, actually the 2320 ground clearance is higher than the 2305, so the 2305 ROPS doesn't hit the garage door (at least mine doesn't).

If you'll be grading the house site, then you probably want something bigger and more earth-moving friendly. Otherwise, the 2305 seems like a good bet. On moist clay soil mine can still leave tire marks if I'm not careful (even with turfs), so anything heavier will just add to it. The 2305 is made for homeowners that want to (1) cut grass, (2) landscape, and (3) find other things to do. The 2320 is the same machine with a higher ground clearance for off-road work (and some spec differences that you probably wouldn't notice). The 2520 is where you start shifting the priorities away from grass cutting and more towards heavy duty use - it's not near as friendly maintaining the yard as its two smaller cousins.

If you want the hoe, how much will you use it and how quickly does the project need to be finished? If the answers are 'a lot' and 'quick', go with the 2520. Otherwise, the others will work if you allow the time necessary for bigger jobs.

 

[crzysnake137]

Yea i wont be really doing grass cutting with it, i got a 125 in my family and thats what i was going to use. i want to maintain the new house which we want to have like 1.5 - 2.0 acers of lawn/ dirt area so thats what we are up to and grading and clearing and stump removal and everything else

 

[ChuckinNH]

The folding ROPS from a 2320 will fit on a 2305.