Buying Advice Done with shopping, ready for buying...finally.

[PWM3rd]

All,
I am back with a follow-up thread posting to previous advice on getting my first tractor. After many emails, calls, informative thread responses on TbyN and dealer visits with a local dealers in my immediate area, I've decided on the Kubota L 3800 HST. It just seems with all things considered, there are a different "bells or whistles" from each tractor I drove. (Kioti CK 35/DK 40, Yanmar EX3200, Kubota L4600) I also looked at but did'nt drive a Mahindra, Bransons and New Hollands with similar horsepower as the others.

I do have to say...the sleepless nights have left me tired when thinking of what tractor to bring into my family. (Man I hope I can get a good nights rest now... )

Question is this...the FEL with tractor package I'm buying does not come with quick attach bucket, just standard FEL or any rear remotes. Should I get them now, before I bring my "new baby" home from the dealer??? Can any need be foreseen that I would really need them or can always get this done later? I'm also going to be purchasing a 5' rear cutter (with slip clutch I'm told being important??) and 5' box scraper that will be a necessity for the property I have. Thanks to ALL!

 

[arlen4720]

If you can afford it, get everything you want now. It will save you setup fees, and headaches later. You WILL want all of those options at some point.

 

[murphy1244]

Question is this...the FEL with tractor package I'm buying does not come with quick attach bucket, just standard FEL or any rear remotes. Should I get them now?

All that is standard on the DK plus 2751lbs of lift on the FEL.

 

[Thomas]

Congrats on your new investment.
What type of tires?..if R4 tires you may want to have rear tire spacers put on if using tire chains.
Have you consider having rear tires loaded?

 

[TripleR]

I agree with arlen4720, no matter which brand, we own several, it is cheaper to get it all at the time of purchase. Yes, you can get it done and I am going to do that, but it would have saved me money to do it when I bought it. On one, I simply could not go without a tractor long enough to add and on another, I just simply didn't think I would ever need it and of course now I realize I do.

 

[Bluegill2]

Very good choice!

If you need to use forks or grapple on the FEL get the quick change bucket. I don't need anything but a bucket so I got standard. With standard bucket it is closer to the arms, so ya get a little more lift capacity.

If you are going to have anything on the 3 pt hitch that requires hydraulics, get rear remotes. I didn't need any myself so didn't get any remotes.

I highly recommend R-1 AG tires, but R-4's are OK in dry conditions.

5' cutter and 6' box blade get a lot of use around here.

Congrats!!!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If you are going to grade with that box blade, you are going to end up wanting at least a hydraulic top link. You will need to have a set of rear remotes to operate that. So I would at a minimum get 1 set of rear remotes.

 

[TSO]

One of my absolute favorite features of this tractor versus my old one is the Quick Attach setup for the loader. Between the bucket, forks, and grapple ... I have literally not had to use chains (or welded on chain hooks) once since I've had this. With my previous tractor, which just had the pin on bucket, I had to use chains all the time and it was annoying. It's so easy to swap front implements too ... under a minute each time (or less).

GET THE QUICK ATTACH !!!!!!

As for remotes, mine came stock with 2, so I never had that dilemma. I would have needed to add at least one set so I could use the grapple I knew I would get eventually. and now that I'm finding more future uses for hydraulics, I'm glad that I have 2 already built-in. I have seen people say on this forum that if you add hydraulics at the time of sale, it will be cheaper because there is less, or zero, labor charge for the installation. I don't know if that's true, but I would say you should definitely add at least one set, and if that's your decision, you should do it now if it saves you on labor. Check into in anyhow.

I would also like to add that you can probably handle a six foot shredder without a problem. My buddy uses a 6 foot hog on the back of his L3540 and says it handles it just fine. I'm not sure why you decided on the 5 foot, but you can handle a bigger size if you are inclined.

Congrats on the new purchase!

 

[k0ua]

I would definitely recommend the quick attach.. I added it later to my L3400hst and paid more for it. if you think you would ever need a remote, now would be the time. I never put one on the L3400, but I wanted it. My current tractor (Kioti) came with these things as standard. It is all about your needs, now and in the future. If you will never need anything but a bucket on the front, (no forks, no grapple) then don't get the SSQA, and save the money.. If you will never need a rear remote, then don't get it and save the money.. it truly is all about YOU and your needs.

James K0UA

 

[/pine]

I'll go a step farther than Brian and say if you only get one set of remotes (Brian's min.)...and you are doing grading work on anything that is not flat as slate...you will be kicking yourself for not getting at least 2 remotes for both Top & Tilt functions...

...If you have basic mechanical skills (and have patience) you can get the kits from the dealer and install them yourself...or you can buy third party hardware and save quite a bit more...many TBN users have done it themselves (including myself)...and there is a wealth of information on the subject here to find...

Good luck with your new iron...!