3320 for 2.5 acres way overkill or what?

[ddivinia]

T

I went with a 3520 for my 20A, and I'm seriously thinking I'd like to move up to a 5000 series just because of increased productivity with the loader for snow removal, moving dirt/soil amendments around and working that in, and various other tasks. It might be a little overkill, but it would likely also be a significant time saver, cutting a much bigger swath with a brush cutter, and so forth.

Then again in the future there is likely a possibility of buying the neighboring 40A parcel also.
.

It is amazing how these tractors get smaller as we consider our time into the equation. I bought a 2210 to manage 20 acres. I was going to have the big parts mowed by another guy - never worked out. I ended up going to a 4720 and a z track.

When we bought the 160 acres next door, I added a 5525 cab to the mix. Sometimes I think I went too small and should have gotten a 6420 or so. Oh well, the 5525 works out fine.

Also, 2.5 acres in one place might not be as easy to work as 2.5 acres somewhere else. I mow 4 acres around my house with my z track. If my house was on another place on my property - I would need a tractor to do it.

D.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Also, 2.5 acres in one place might not be as easy to work as 2.5 acres somewhere else. I mow 4 acres around my house with my z track. If my house was on another place on my property - I would need a tractor to do it.

D.

There lies the key to all these discussions! It is often more about conditions, and the kind of work that needs doing than it is about acerage! Obviously, if one has 50 acres to brush hog v.s. 2 acres, a much larger tractor makes sense. My land is rocky, and I want to do some stone wall work, so lift capacity is important. Still, by actual use on the hourmeters over the past few years, I have spent twice as many hours on my garden tractor as I did on my BX22 without a mower deck, and the ideal tractor for mowing sure isn't the ideal one for moving large rocks, or improving my 10 acres of tough woodland. Choices! They are both fun, and frustrating with limited funds, and each of us needs to find the best compromise for our needs. I have found the input here on TBN to be very valuable!

 

[ddivinia]

A good example is my 15' batwing. What a great tool for large areas. Smaller areas - what a paint. I dont even do my road ditches - too hard to turn around and not get hit by people driving way too fast.

D.

 

[swines]

I have 1.25 acres and use a 3320. I had a Ford 1720 for nearly 15 years prior to getting the 3320.

I think what you need to do is just quantify how you're going to use the tractor. I move a lot of gravel, dirt etc. - and don't have a lot of time to do it. So, for me, the larger bucket on the 3320 allows me to accomplish more work in a shorter amount of time.

We just got a sewer put in and now I need to dig out the gravel in the septic tile field area so that you can actually plant something and not have the water instantly drain away. Bigger bucket, larger box blade = work done faster.

Also, the 3320 will pickup bigger implements (that's right BIGGER) - and the pallet forks move larger loads.

As for those who claim overkill - that's your opinion - I base my needs on what I'm doing and the amount of time I have to do it - not on lot size.

I also have an Aerway aerator that I use on 5000 square feet of lawn....that's right - a $5K, 1130 pound, 72-inch wide aerator on 5000 square feet. Why? Because we have a hard pan clay area under the lawn. A standard plug aerator does nothing, zero, zip, nada to break up the clay under the lawn area.

The clay slowly gets harder and less permiable to water - the weeds take over and in about 5 years the entire lawn has to be redone. The last time it took June, July, and August of one year to get the weeds killed, roto-tilled, roots raked out, etc. to plant.

I don't want to have to keep doing that again, and again, etc. A trip over the lawn with the Aerway 3x a year - the grass looks great, and the weeds don't take over. I have way more fun things to do than replant lawns. Best $5K I've spent in a long time.

Overkill? Hardly....my time is worth something too unless riding a tractor is going to be your hobby. It's not mine, my tractor is just another tool and the faster I can get work done - the better I like it.

Pick your tractor based upon the work you plan on doing, the implements required to do the work, and how fast you want to do the work.

3320 on 1.25 acres works for me.

 

[Superduper]

The "technical" definition of overkill means in excess of what is required or appropriate for any particular purpose. But in practice and for the purpose of this discussion here, the technical definition of overkill doesn't take into consideration other factors such as future needs, ease and comfort of use, etc.

Using a 3320 in place of a 2520 or even a 2320 is no more overkill than say, driving a SUV in place of a Geo Metro or Toyota Corolla as both gets you there. Or how about driving a F150 (or F-250 or heck, even a F-350) when a Chevy S-10 or a Ford Ranger will suffice 95% of the time. And I know that nobody here does THAT, right?