3K more, but is it enough tractor?

[TBJolly]

Still haven't bought anything. Do have a nice price on a basic Mahindra 4025. Kicking tires down at the LS dealer, I was offered a G3038 for about 3K more.

Heavier framed 2WD, no loader vs. lighter frame AWD with FEL.

I'm replacing an old Long 350 (35hp PTO), which I do a bit of everything with - bush hog, grade my driveway, skid an occasional log and make a pretty fair sized garden. I'm just wondering if the little LS is enough tractor for my 24 acres?

If not, do y'all have any other suggestions in that $13-$16K range? (I'm writing a check for this - I'm getting old enough I don't care to finance one).

 

[ishiboo]

I could never get by without 4WD, or FEL. You may not think you need either, but I think you'll find both come in very handy. And I think resale value on a 4WD w/ FEL is a lot better. We've had a local rental shop sitting on a 2wd loaderless Mahindra for a long time.

 

[KevT]

I own more than my fair share of implements, but I use my FEL more than any other single implement.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Compacts are so light, you really do need MFWD to get needed traction for the HP they have.

Personally, I wouldn't even consider a 2wd in a compact, especially if I didn't own a second bigger tractor, for jobs that require more traction.

SR

 

[TBJolly]

Compacts are so light, you really do need MFWD to get needed traction for the HP they have.

Personally, I wouldn't even consider a 2wd in a compact, especially if I didn't own a second bigger tractor, for jobs that require more traction.

SR

A 2WD 4025 weighs 4400 pounds, bare.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That may sound heavy to you, but it's not by farm tractor standards...

SR

 

[Sysop]

If you do everything with your Long350 you want to do, you just want a newer unit with a little more grunt (more weight, more lift on the 3pt, more hydraulic flow), the 4025 is the better choice in my opinion. The 4025 is not a compact, it is rated as a full utility by tractordata and the manufacturer...

The LS is a compact utility and will weigh less than the Long350 (and half as much as the 4025), it loses a lot of 3pt lift ability (2660# Long350 vs 1808# LS vs 3527# Mahindra 4025). The only thing the LS really has going for it are the 4WD, loader, and it has more hydraulic flow.

4WD and a loader will help resale value, but will they help you in your tasks? If your Long gets around fine on 2WD, the Mahindra with more weight on the same size rear tires will do even better and 4wd probably isn't needed. The LS loader will lift 1900# to height at the pins, if you were to order a loader for the 4025 it would lift 2870#.

1PTO horse isn't going to be a noticeable difference during operation on 99.99% of tasks. The weight difference will be the biggest noticeable difference in the machines and be noticeable at nearly every task. The 4025 is going to be more like what you are used to and will be a step up in nearly all regards. I would never recommend replacing an old utility tractor with a newer compact (unless you need less capability), I'd stick with the full size utility lines like the 4025.

TractorData.com Long 350 tractor information
TractorData.com Mahindra 4025 tractor information
TractorData.com LS G3038 tractor information

 

[jeff9366]

You are experienced with operating tractors.

Why are you fooling around?

Buy a properly equipped, sufficiently sized machine.

You keeping posting regarding equipment marginal for your needs.

Why penalize yourself for years with a less than optimal selection?

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR. BUY A TRACTOR WITH 4-WD.

 

[TSO]

Why do you want or need a new tractor anyhow?

 

[the old grind]

TBJ, IMO the choice you mentioned in post #1 is a no-brainer. Having had two 4WD slightly smaller than the LS 3039 (NH) and two 2WD slightly larger than your Long (JD) it's for heavy lifting (rare) with the FEL that I even keep a 'big' machine, but for o'all versatility that I 'do it all' with a shorter, narrower one (60"/5ft wide).

Barely 30 PTO hp works my 7' disc, 60" tiller, 5' Bush Hog, & 5' box blade, with ease. Having a FEL will spoil one quickly for all its uses. (self-propelled wheelbarrow/tele-handler, esp if SSQA-equipped) Still, I'd love to have that little bit more hp, bigger tires, and twice the FEL lift capacity :licking: and perhaps only one tractor at a time. The LS sounds like a nice deal if the hrs aren't too high or condition is not too rough. I suspect you might get a lot more service/repair help here on TBN for the LS.

The Mahindra sounds ok though, and if you haven't been used to having a FEL you may not miss it. Tire choice may be critical depending on your weather & soil specifics with either option, as may be weight or distribution (adding bulk to FEL is easy, when needed). Tough to guess which machine would be easier to pull from belly-deep mud, etc. I'd consider size of implements already on hand as to whether the larger machine's extra hp was needed. btw, running out of traction before running out of horsepower isn't exclusive to either 2WD or 4WD from my experience.

IMHO the LS would be the first choice for several reasons; features (FEL), parts, resale (w/FEL), and my own experience. There'd have to be something really iffy about the LS to make the larger 2WD look nearly as good to me despite the $$ dif. tog