B3030 or L3400?

jstreet · May 2, 2005

I'm going around and around trying to decide which tractor would be best for me -- a B3030 or an L3400.
I want it to handle my Bush Hog SQ600 5-foot rotary cutter (to mow about two miles of mostly grassy trails; not much real brush), move snow with a FEL and a 5-foot rear blade, and pull a clunky old wagon carrying up to a face cord of firewood.
I know the general advice is to buy the biggest tractor you can afford, but maneuverability in some tight places in the woods and on the trails is also important to me.
Will the lighter 3030 do a decent job with my 5-foot Bush Hog? (My trusty Ford 8N handles it now but doesn't really enjoy it.)
Any pros and cons on either choice would be much appreciated.

Dozernut · May 2, 2005

I used to have a B8200 Kubota (approx. 19 hp) that I used a 5' brush mower on. Yes it was too large for that tractor, but you use what you have! The tractor would handle all but the thickest weeds and brush. I would imagine a 30 hp tractor with more weight would have no trouble handling that size mower.

ronjhall · May 2, 2005

I run a 60" rotary cutter with my B2910. It will bog down in heavy grass type weeds. Just let off the hydro pedal and the rpms will pick up. FEL must be on to balance the load. I plow snow with my B2910 with a 6.5' snow blade and a 72" back blade. Tractor has plenty of power to use both of these blades.
That being said, I bought my B2910 to cut grasss. If mowing is not on your list of task get a bigger tractor. Last year there was several post that stated a Grande L 3130 could be bought for about $100 over a B2910.
In case you are not aware the B3030 is the replacement on for the B2910.

Henro · May 2, 2005

Lots of people run 5' brush hogs on the B3030 size tractor. I have one for my B2910. IT is a Woods Brushbull 60.

The problem might be if you 5' hog is more than a light duty one. I know a medium duty is too heavy for the light weight of the B series Kubotas.

A medium duty brush hog might weigh 1,200 lbs if I remember right. The B 3030 may only weigh 1700 plus the weight of the loader. I could be wrong on the BH weight. I just remember checking back when I bought my BB60, and it seemed at the time that the only 5' brush hog that was reasonable for the B2910 (same size as the B3030) was a light duty unit.

I'm not familiar with your SQ600, but if it is medium duty...it might be too heavy for the B3030...light duty, no problem from what I see myself and what others have reported here in the past.

jerryb1973 · May 3, 2005

Wouldnt the L3130 be a good one to consider also??

Bob_Skurka · May 3, 2005

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Wouldnt the L3130 be a good one to consider also?? </font>

The L3130 has more weight and capacity than either the B3030 or the L3400. It is considered a more deluxe tractor and would have features similar to the B3030's features but in a size and weight that is substantially larger/heavier. With a 723 loader the L3130 is among the highest capacity machines for its horsepower ranking.

Tractors are really like cars. There are economy versions, sport versions, luxury versions, HD utility versions, etc. Each fills its own spot in the market. The reality is that the B3030, the L3400 and the L3130, while all within a couple HP of each other, are really radically different tractors intended in many ways to be used for different purposes. You would not want to use a B3030 for heavy duty log pulling and you would not want to use an L3130 to mow around your wife's prized flower beds on a moderate size suburban lot.

jstreet · May 3, 2005

Yes, I've considered the 3130 also. My son has one and loves it. But still I am concerned about getting too big a machine because of my need to maneuver in some fairly tight spots in the woods. If I leave the FEL on to balance the rear cutter, I would think maneuverability would suffer even more.
On the other hand, maybe the smartest thing is to buy the tractor by the pound, which I think would make the 3400 and maybe even the 3130 better buys than the 3030.