B2710/2910 or Ls3010

[RayBee]

DAP
I love tractors. Love to look at them, love the sound of a poppin john, watch them on classic tractors (satellite tv) and I own a 53 Ferguson & JD322 lawn & garden. When
I began researching compact tractors a year ago TBN was the place I got all the info I needed to make my decision for a wise choice. I was a biased JD fan and was sure
that I would ultimately own a JD 4200 or 4300. The JD 4000 series is a handsome beast. I love the color combo and the great logo, it's some how fits the american idea of a
rugged machine that would magically transform me into that dirt cowboy I wanted to be.

I now own a B2710 w/BH & FEL, R4's. ( What happened?) I listened to what the knowledgeable
contributors here at TBN were happy about and what they were complaining about.

I don't believe that bigger is better.
I subscribe to the notion that large enough to complete the task (using ingenuity and common sense will almost always give you the same results and much more satisfaction) .

I like the way my B2710 can thread it's way thru the woods to dig up native shrubs and trees and return to transplant elsewhere on my 9 acres.
The way my FEL w/ chain can pick up a 20 in. x 10ft pine log and move it elsewhere to be processed.
The way it can dig out sand & gravel from the hillside and make the woodland roads that allow me to go deeper into the before un reachable areas of the property, and yet not leaving the scars of large equipment.
Size and ease of operation and all the power to complete the tasks I planned to accomplish, was the criteria that drove me to my choice.
Now that I've own it for a year (130 hrs.) I'm extremely happy with the 2710 and don't miss the extra 2 hp of the 2910. The tractor is used exlusively as a TLB it is the grunt machine at my place. Rule of thumb that I use is, when digging, if the rock is the size of the tractor, I bury it where it lies. If however its the size of the FEL bucket, then I push it slowly in low range w/4wheels working. Have'nt been stymied yet.I added hooks to the FEL bucket and it dramatically can lift more things that don't fit
into the bucket.
I recently added a fork lift device from a scrap yard and the tractor's usefulness is remarkably even more versatile . I know as time wears on that this rugged little powerhouse
will be given more tasks .
It does'nt lack power and I've never broken traction due to loaded R4's and the BH & subframe
out back. It does'nt mow grass or push snow ...It works! GGrrrrrrrrrr !
Let me re-iterate (ingenuity & common sense) are as important as size and horsepower.
My JD mows and pushes snow just as
it has for 12 yrs. ( I did'nt wan't to reinvent the wheel with the Kub) .The Ferguson has a grader blade and it's task is clearly defined by it's 3pt hitch.

Some tasks are made easier by shear mass of the tractor, but that same mass will cost
you in fuel,oil, storage, maintenance etc,. Define your needs, be as informed as possible.
Good Luck.
The four available choices for me at the time of purchase were B2710/2910,JD 4300 and L3010. Hauling the extra 1000lbs to get the same work done did'nt make sense to me. IMO

 

[fishman]

DAP,

I had a choice between the 2710,2910,and 3010. All were equally good deals, actually great deals. I chose the 2910 for the following reasons:


Comparison to the 2710
The extra 2 hp and added features seemed to be worth the extra $800 premium over the 2710. In retrospect, I'm not sure. I have plenty of power, and primarilly use the tractor with the FEL and box blade, so the extendable links and cruise control haven't been helpful. The seat is really nice, and the tilt steering is o.k. I am one of the unfortunates who's right thigh is ALWAYS pushing the cruise lever slightly to the right and disabling reverse. Let me be clear, the 2910's cruise lever is POORLY DESIGNED for my use. All of that said, I love my tractor.

Comparison to the 3010
I chose the smaller framed tractor because maneuverability on my 10 acres was very important. The 3010 was just too big for my hills and brushy conditions. In fact, the 2910 is bigger than I would like. As far as power for mowing, tilling, etc., the extra 2 hp of the 3010 did not seem to justify moving up to the extra mass. I also needed to be able to trailer the tractor, and the 2910 was much more suited to the trailer/tow rig I have. Also, it takes up less room in my crowded garage. Lastly, if the additional weight of the 3010 is needed for "grunt" work, I figured I could just load the tires of my 2910 and make up a lot of the difference.

I have been able to do everything I need with the 2910, so far. That includes hauling all kinds of stuff around in the bucket, putting corn in my deer feeder, digging a bunch of black dirt out of a dry tank for creating a lawn, hauling cut firewood, box-blading my driveway, using my box-blade rippers to break up my garden, digging a giant hole through compacted caliche rock to plant a nice live oak, watering numerous plants by dipping water out of my tank into the FEL bucket (got the idea from Harv's "uses of the FEL" montage), unearthing lots and lots of boulders, pushing over LOTS of trees up to 5" in diameter and ripping out the roots, and (carefully) pushing over a 18" diameter 50' tall dead cedar, which has to be the coolest thing I have done yet. I'm sure I've forgotten lots of things, but I only have 18 hours on my tractor so far. My main problem is running out of traction, not power, so I am considering loading my rear tires (r4's).

I'm sure you could do all of these things with a 2710 or a 3010. I'm sure the extra loader capacity of the 3010 would be helpful in my situation (and perhaps yours) but for me the smaller size of the 2910 was the deciding factor.

 

[DAP]

Fishman... Raybee .. thanks for the candid responses. In fact due to what you've both said, I was able to come to some sort of resolution.

I feel much better now.

Of course, someone else will add something to change that .. and that's OK! That's what this forum is all about!

Have a great holiday to all TBNers.

Doug

 

[john_bud]

Doug,

Don't forget that if you need a bigger tractor just for a few large jobs, you may be able to save money in the long run by renting a monster for the weekend. Not only will that cut a large job down to size, but you won't wear out your tractor. (And it's cool to have a 15,000 pound machine rumbling around.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

John Bud

 

[glennmac]

I have a 2910 on 11 acres. It is the right size. For your 6 acres, the 2710 or 2910 will do the job. I dont think you need a 3010, and I dont think, in general, you get much more with a 3010. You get a lot more weight but not much more horse power or hydraulic power, at the cost of maneuverability. I would go right to the 3710 if I wanted a large frame Kubota, but dont think you need it. However, that doesnt mean you shouldnt get it.

As to the decision between 2710 and 2910, I think the price difference is worth it for the extra hp, torque, and seat. The cruise is of little practical use and can be annoying, and the 3ph improvements were irrelevant to me because I always planned on getting Freedom Hitches.

All three will do the job. You're not off base to get any of the three. In close cases, let the subjective factors make the decision. Forget specs and all these analyses. Just buy the one you like the most in your gut.