Downsized from L4630 to B3030: expensive mistake!

Gods Country · Apr 29, 2013

I'm quite certain I would have kept the tractor and traded in the wife.

crazyal · Apr 29, 2013

I've got a side by side and do use it for firewood but for the most part I block everything up in the woods and then use it to haul the wood down to the splitter. When I use the 4240 I just drag the whole tree down. I usually will cut it in half but that's about it. I would love something like a Farmi 501 but even now with chains I can usually get to any tree and drag it out. While the UTV can get into tight areas it's still a lot more work.

I would say get what works best for you. If you don't you'll always wish you did. When you do finally break down and get it you'll wonder why you waited. Plus, as I see it, we are not getting younger so finding ways to reduce the amount of work that's needed also has a value. Have you thought about used? I assumed not since you were planning on taking a loan. It's hard to beat 0% interest.

Will_C · Apr 29, 2013

Good luck on whatever you decide Pete-it's good to see you posting agian.
Will

Boondox · Apr 30, 2013

Update: Another dealer has an L4260. New model so the savings would only be $5k or so. But they also have a 3 year old L3240 (brand new, less than 10 hrs) that would be very affordable. Not much in the HP department, but all other parameters look good. Years ago I had an L3010 with a Farmi 351 winch, and it handled the vast majority of my needs. The only reason I upsized to the L4630 was it could handle a larger backhoe...but then I discovered the joys of a mini-excavator so never pursued that. I was pretty happy with the 3010

So I'm going over to check it out this weekend, kick the tires, see if there's any wiggle room for a brush hog...

Wish me luck.

Will - I pop in now and then, but most of my joy these days is motorcycle travel with my dog in his sidecar. You can follow our adventures at TravelsWithBarley.com. No tractor content, but a fun site.

Pete

Gordon Gould · Apr 30, 2013

I have an L3010 and love it. Weighs 5000 lbs with loaded tires, loader, winch, grapple and chains. Gets around in my rough woods pretty good if I stay on the tractor roads. But if I was going to change tractors I would go bigger. I didn't realize the B3030 was that much different from the L3010. You might be disappointed again since you now have the bigger tractor experience as a comparison.
I think what TripleR said at the beginning is pretty much right.

Turbys_1700 · Apr 30, 2013

My daddy sold tractors for a living...
Over 30 years...
He told me many years ago...
Never trade...
Just buy another one...
That is how you accumulate them...
Sorry for your remorse...
In some instances downsizing is the best solution...
In most cases it is not...

Will_C · Apr 30, 2013

Pete-my brother has a 3540. we have been using it some in his woods-it is an entirley different tractor than my B2620-of course you knew that! His woods were just logged, so we have 100-125 tops to cut up. He is going to use some of the proceeds to get a winch, so by fall we should have an idea of how that works-based on what we have skidded with chians, I suspect it will be quite a woods machine.
i'll check your site-is Barley another rescue dog?
Will

Will_C · Apr 30, 2013

Pete-my brother has a 3540. we have been using it some in his woods-it is an entirely different tractor than my B2620-of course you knew that! His woods were just logged, so we have 100-125 tops to cut up. He is going to use some of the proceeds to get a winch, so by fall we should have an idea of how that works-based on what we have skidded with chians, I suspect it will be quite a woods machine.

I'lll check your site-is Barley another rescue dog?

Will

xring100 · Apr 30, 2013

Glad i don't have that problem my wife convinced me it was okay to get an m8540 over the m6040 i was looking at

i agree with TripleR 2 tractors solves the problem. Plus if you get one stuck you have another tractor to get you out or get stuck depending on your luck

Boondox · Apr 30, 2013

Will_C said:
Pete-my brother has a 3540. we have been using it some in his woods-it is an entirley different tractor than my B2620-of course you knew that! His woods were just logged, so we have 100-125 tops to cut up. He is going to use some of the proceeds to get a winch, so by fall we should have an idea of how that works-based on what we have skidded with chians, I suspect it will be quite a woods machine.
i'll check your site-is Barley another rescue dog?
Will

Will - With the L60s coming out the L40 pickings are getting pretty slim. Locally there is the L3240 (which I'm going to check out this weekend) and the L4740. But unless I hate the 3240 at first site it looks really good with FEL, loaded aggies, ice chains, block heater, one set of rear remotes, hydraulic-angled rear blade, and a Farmi 351 winch. The logging roads on my land traverse pretty steep forest slopes that range from 30-50% grades, so a winch is needed to bring the dropped trees to the tractor on relatively level ground. I've become pretty good at using snatchblocks to put the trees where I want them!

Barley is my pack elder and a tough little golden on his own turf. Not a rescue, though he helps us with golden rescues we bring into our home. He has 24,000 sidecar miles under his collar now and we'll be riding to Oregon and back this July.