30 HP decision

margaritaman · Aug 28, 2005

I have just purchased 8+ acres just north of Dallas. It is overgrown and I need to clear and get it ready for a retirement home in about three years. The tractor I will buy in a few weeks is my first.

I have looked seriously at the following three 4 wheel drive units.

NH TC 30, Kubota L2800, JD 790. They are all within about $1000 of each other with FEL and 5' bush hog.

The Kubots is the only one with HST, not available on theDeere and an additional #1500 on the NH, Some on this forum say the HST is nearly nandatory, others seem to thnk it's no big deal.

The Kubota has a tansmission driven PTO, which the dealer says is not an issue with the HST. Others say a live PTO is ALWAYS a necessity. Have to upgrade to a 35HP Kubota to get it. Another $1400 and maybe overkill on the horsepower?

Sounds like on my relatively flat land and with a future lawn in mind around the house that R4 tires are the way to go. The Deere dealer will throw them in. NH wants $250 for them. Kubota wants $450.

Financing issues are not a concern. However, are there "end of season" deals like in the auto industry?

I know these are really basic queswtions but this seems like the best forum I can find for help. All of the dealers seem helpful and service oriented. The Kubota offered on site training in the implements. All are close

Help

browns40 · Aug 28, 2005

Hi margaritaman,

Have some questions for you, before going too far:

By overgrown do you mean harvestable wood, or giant brush?

Will your tractor becomw your lawnmower, or will you sell it?

What I'm getting at is what are the specific tasks you have in mind... how much weight & horsepower you will really need will be determined by the tasks at hand... Are the FEL & bushhog the only implements you foresee buying?

Have you checked out any of the discontinued models still in stock? You may get some "upgradeability" by looking at what's been replaced...

Have you driven all three? Checked out the dealer showrooms & service areas to get a feel for attention to detail? Which tractor & dealer did you like best?

There are some real smart guys on here that know way more than me... they will be wondering the above (&probably more).

For me, I got 40 acres this spring, need to clear 30+ yrs tree growth, build a road & pond, prep a foundation, maintain an 800ft driveway, do snow removal this winter, and have a lawnmower when it's all said & done... I got a JD3320 HST, because I liked it best as far as I could go finance-wise, and have been friends with the dealer for years. I love it!

Your needs & response to the machines will be a good start.

Look forward to hearing how it goes!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bird · Aug 28, 2005

Welcome to Tractorbynet, Ken. Many features of a tractor are a matter of personal preference and/or a matter of matching them to the work to be performed. Trying to tell you which tractor to buy is kind of like you telling someone who has never driven a car which car to buy. My personal preference would be for the Kubota L2800, but the other two you named are both fine tractors. And, personally, I would only buy the HST (regardless of brand) and that includes the live PTO on the L2800. The HST is just easier to use, requires less effort, quicker to adjust speed or change directions. In my opinion, it's safer, especially for a new operator, but even for experienced operators. In other words, you do not need to move up to the 35hp tractor. A transmission driven PTO works with the overruning clutch, but I wouldn't really like it.

margaritaman · Aug 28, 2005

It's just heavily overgrown brush, I don't think too much for a good bush hog. The tractor will indeed become my mower in the long run, both for the maintenance of the rough cut majority of the property and for the lawn area (with a finish mower). The NH dealer is the farthest away the others are both within a few miles. Both are friendly have shown me their service facilities and seem to have a large clientele for service related issues. I will be also adding (very soon) a box blade and a post hole digger.

RoyJackson · Aug 28, 2005

I can't speak of the TC-30 or Kub L2800 having no experience with either.
However, the Deere 790 MFWD unit has a 2-Stage clutch which results in a continuous PTO drive. One depresses the clutch ½ down to shift gears and all the way down for the PTO. This is a well proven design since it's been around at least since the '80's.
For brush cutting, it doesn't really matter. Those big heavy cutter blades have enough inertia that one can easily shift gears and not lose much blade speed. Finish mowing is where that 2-Stage clutch shines. Finish mower blades don't have near the mass the cutter blades do, so they lose RPM much quicker. With my previous tractor, a Deere 670 (single stage clutch) I frequently had to reverse to hit areas that were missed when I shifted (depressing the clutch).

When I bought my 790, I did look at the TC-30. I just preferred the more robust front axle of the Deere 790 (not that it's actually any stronger...but it looks stronger). At that time, the Kubota didn't have HST or a 2-Stage clutch available.

I'm not a big fan of Mid-Mount Mowers since they are dedicated to a particular brand and model of tractor. I do think HST is easier to operate in close quarters (around your house and fences) but I prefer the simplicity of gears...that's just personal preference.

Any of the machines you listed will do well. Now, it's just a matter of choosing which one you like best.

BTW, I had a fellow TBNer tell me my posts were too brusque and dry...so, this time I'll add a little comic relief:

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

rockyridgefarm · Aug 28, 2005

According to Kubota.com, the L2800HST has a Live continueous PTO with overrunning clutch. The manual version is transmission driven. The HST is a new model, and this seems to have slipped by a lot of folks...

I'd be all over that 'Bota. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

wushaw · Aug 28, 2005

I have an L2800hst, it has 62hrs on it, I have bush hogged with it only once and it preformed flawlessly. I do alot of BB, BH and FEL work and just got TnT with a Cammond 2C2-66 with hyd scarfiers, I hope to try it out tomorrow. I like my L2800 it fits my place perfectly, I have no experience with the NH or JD.

RedRocker · Aug 28, 2005

If you want to look at a CK30 I'm in Lewisville and will give you the grand tour.

margaritaman · Aug 29, 2005

Thanks for the heads up. The brochure I picked up at the dealer did not refer to the HST and that's where my confusion was. I visited Kubota.com and there was a side by side comparison of these three exact teractors. Should have gone there first. Thanks