Buying Advice 2501 or 3301--Questions, Questions, Questions

[ChevyCam]

Consider going with a unit that offers a Live PTO if you are doing any serious brush hogging.

L series tractor is a great machine overall.

Good luck.

 

[prof fate]

Tires can take 100 gallons of liquid, and 100 gallons of say, windshield washer fluid will be $200 or so. Plus the time to fill them...dealer told me it added a day to the delivery prep.

HP after a point isn't useful 'enough' - if you're gonna hay and pull a baler with a wagon behind up a hill - yes, HP matters a lot. But the diff between 25 and 40...other than bigger mower/tiller not sure it matters a lot.

HST eays SOME power, but not a lot - 2.8hp manual vs hst on the kioti ck35. so 28 pto vs 30.8. Well worth the 'loss' for the 'gain' of the hst and variable speed for mowing, plowing, etc.

4x4 is well worth it, i agree!

I just picked up my new L2501 this week, and used it for around 6 hours over the weekend for brush hogging the pasture that had really grown over, and doing some rock work on the driveway thinning some thick areas out, and building an extension of the driveway for my son to park on gravel. Granted, I'm new, and have very limited experience, but here are some of my thoughts, after reading through this thread.

1. paying to fill tires? Surprises me, my dealer did that for free, water and alcohol mix. Is there something special and more expensive some dealers are charging for?
2. Power. The L-2501 fit my price range (barely). Will it do what I need it to? Clearly, yes. We only have 10 acres, all pasture. It was pretty thick, and had to really go slow in some thick areas, especially up hill. We have lots of slope, and terse rows on top of that. It did it, but a bigger tractor would have done it much faster I think. I would skip the L3301, and jump to the L3901 if you can afford it. I wish I could have, but just wasn't able to make that investment for what will essentially be a big lawn mower. If I had more than 10 acres to do, I think I would have.
3. they are light. On the terse rows, some were a little sketchy, had to really adjust our angle to go up or down them, felt unstable a few times as we learned. I don't like that. Also with all the rain, on a few sloped areas with mud, the front end slipped downhill a couple times. That is a scary feeling. I think that was more operator inexperience than tractor issue, but something to be aware of.
4. It's a great tractor for the money. I wanted an American tractor, in a different color, but the build, ability, and reliability record of the orange one sold me. And operating it, I really think it's going to do everything I want/need it to, and more, just need to stay within the realistic capabilities of it. I like the full size of it, but could use a bit more power, but not only was the cost of a 3901 a turnoff, so was the emissions/DPF stuff. That sold me on it.
5. Buy an HST. I have used my neighbors older Kubota 3800 I think, with direct transmission. REALLY like the ease of the HST.
6. 4X4. DO it. Seriously. It's very helpful.

 

[RickB]

15 x19.5 Tire’s take about 30 gallons each of liquid ballast. Takes my guys about 45 minutes max to load a pair. Every Tractor with a loader that leaves the dealership I work for leaves with liquid ballast in the rears.

 

[Trailfarmer]

Well, we finally brought our "new" tractor home Saturday, after having to wait for 2 (long) weeks.

My brother was generous enough to donate his time and use of his truck\trailer to drive the 2.5 hours to pick up the Grand L. We got it home, unloaded it, and put it to work almost immediately. It easily moved a tree that my B struggled with.

Saturday while we picked up the tractor, the "tree guy" came and topped out 3 trees for me and Sunday afternoon the L helped make short work of a large pile of branches (about 20 x 20 and 3' deep). I am amazed how secure it felt working along the edge of a 60' hillside and how it easily got into tight spaces.

It's comfortably resting in the garage while my old truck sits outside. I need to get the B cleaned up and posted for sale but it'll have to wait a bit as I'm swamped on all fronts for the next 9 days.

I've got some pics and will try to post them sometime soon.

This is a big investment for us (I paid far more for this tractor than any car we've ever owned) but I can already tell it will pay big dividends.
Thanks to all (especially my patient, supportive wife)for your feedback and advice--it was helpful, educational and appreciated!