Dumb questions from a "city boy"

[theboman]

Re: Dumb questions from a \"city boy\"

The BX will more than handle the tasks you mention. I agree with the holding off on the snow blower for now if you only get 1-2 good snows a year.
The corn field. If it lays as you wish it won't be a major problem just till, till again and drag (or plow, disc, disc) and drag. Dragging will smooth it out and then you can sew the grass seed. IF'n it needs lots of landscaping to get the land to lay as you wish and it's 3 acres hire a dozer for a day and let the dozer get the land level and you can use the tractor to smooth it out and get it ready for seeding.

Bluegrass, Pick It Up!

 

[ericsink]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful posts here.

I had previously planned on putting a snow blade on the front of my truck. A knowledgeable friend discouraged me from doing this. He said that it ends up putting a lot of wear and tear on the truck, even a big V8.

I'm currently inclined to skip the truck blade and just get a FEL for whatever tractor I get. It sounds like the FEL will deal with snow issues, and it's a lot more versatile.

I would have had to move fast to grab that BX2200 on clearance at the local dealer. It has already sold. The posts here had convinced me to look seriously at a somewhat larger tractor anyway. That same dealer has some pretty good prices right now on a couple of 3710s, but those just seem too big and pricey for my needs. After all, this tractor is going to spend a lot of its hours on finish mowing. I'm going to run over and have a look at the 3710 anyway. I think he's got a 3010 as well. I had begun to think the 2410 might be the right size, but this dealer doesn't have any of those around, so I won't get a chance to look at one close-up.

I'm still looking.

 

[Knight9]

Re: Dumb questions from a \"city boy\"

I have 10 acres and settled on a B2410 due to the need to balance the work that had to be done with my budget! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I have been very happy with it so far as far as size/power goes. I am rough cutting about 5 acres of that and once my lawn grows I'll be finish mowing about 1.5 acres.

Kevin

 

[MChalkley]

As someone who's never owned anything smaller than the smallest L (and that was a long time ago), and spends most of my free non-sleeping time (and a good part of the sleeping time, as well) trying to figure out ways to get more power, I'm eminently un-qualified to answer your question, but most anyone here will tell you that's never stopped me before... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

At any rate, I'm going to offer you the advice you're already suspecting from me: Very few people have ever sold a tractor in order to buy a smaller one, but the woods (and fields and lawns) are crawling with folks who hocked their tractors to get a bigger one. As someone who's done that four times now, I can state with assurance that it's easier to go at least one size bigger than you think you'll need to begin with. Of course, that recommendation is predicated on the assumption that you're like me, which you, mercifully, most likely aren't. Which I guess leaves me only with Rosann Roseanadanna's famous parting line: Ne-e-ever mind...

Seriously, though, if you have to make a choice between two, you're a lot more likely to be happy picking the larger of the two.

MarkC

 

[glennmac]

Re: Dumb questions from a \"city boy\"

eric, I'll also add that I think you should hold off on a snowblower. The fel alone may be enough. You can then add a backblade for $300-$500, which is what I use for my 300 gravel driveway both to plow snow and to maintain the gravel.

 

[ericsink]

Re: Dumb questions from a \"city boy\"

Well, I spent some time today drooling over a 3710. It looked enormous at first. It certainly is more tractor than I originally planned, and more money than I want to spend. However, with everyone schooling me on the short-sightedness of buying a small tractor, I'm beginning to think of some good rationalizations.

The 3710 looks like a very nice machine. What should I get for finish mowing? Will it take a MMM, or do I need a finish mower of some kind to pull behind it?

 

[MChalkley]

Eric - I think you're definitely barking up the right tree now. The L3710 is an excellent size machine, very versatile. You said earlier that you were only interested in HST, and you should definitely be happy with that choice.

The L3710 will take a MMM, but the L4310 will not. Some folks like them better, others like the rear-mount finish mowers better. Personally, I like the MMM's better, but I'm not much of a grass mower, so somebody else will be better suited to assist you on that one.

MarkC

 

[glennmac]

Re: Dumb questions from a \"city boy\"

If I could convince myself to trade up to a the size of a Grand L from my 2910, which I have not been able to do, I would skip the 3010/3410 and go right to the 3710. The loader specs on the 30/3410 are not that much better than the 2910 and neither is the pto power.

The 3710 gives a jump up in hydraulic power and gives you a 4 cylinder engine instead of a 3 cylinder. It is the largest Kubota to take a midmount mower. However, be aware that only the turf tires are compatible with the midmount mower, and that the mower is a bear to install and remove. This is one of the reasons I cant convince myself to get a 3710: the 2910 is better lawn mower in that it is more maneuverable, lighter, and has a 72" midmount mower that is very easy and fast to remove and install. The majority of my hours are finish mowing, and that percentage will increase as I continue to remove the stumps and brush from my other acreage.

I would go to a rearmount mower if I had a 3710. And, of course, I would use Freedom Hitches.

 

[John_Mc]

Re: Dumb questions from a \"city boy\"

Ericsink- I'm going to buck the 3710 trend here and suggest you take a look at the 3010. While it may be a bit slower for some of your initial heavier work than the 3710, it seems to me to be enough to handle the tasks, and plenty of tractor to handle your ongoing tasks on your 10 acre parcel.

If money is not an issue, and you don't have tight spaces where the larger size of a 3710 would be an issue, then by all means, go for the larger size. But for myself, I'd look at the 3010 and have more $$ left over for attachments.

 

[frank_f15]

Re: Dumb questions from a \"city boy\"

eric: i know they say u can never have too much tractor BUT i think the 3710 may be a little more than u need, there are times i wish i had one or even bigger, but not very often. u must take into consideration what u want to do with the tractor MOST of the time.a bigger machine is sometimes not always best.(don't beleive i said that) take into account that a larger tractor will leave a much bigger and deeper footprint. u have to decide what is best for u.