Friendly Kubota guy stopped by and

Boondox · Dec 9, 2004

I have an L3010 with R1s, a logging winch, a backhoe, blade and rake. It works just fine for my 155 acres. The L3830 would be able to support a BH with a longer reach, which would be nice, but with only 8 acres... Heck, if you have the cash, go for it; the exhaust note from that 4 cylinder alone is worth it! Just don't be so certain a smaller L can't do the job.

The only thing I take exception with your dealer on is the choice of R4s. Unless you plan on wearing chains constantly, I can't imagine anything more frustrating than trying to manuever R4s in muck!

Pete

Henro · Dec 9, 2004

All the above advice is good, but we need to remember when it comes to tractor size, in the end...

Utility is in the eyes of the owner... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Myself, I always come back to thinking about Rick Jay, member here who has a B2910 on 2/3 acre and doesn't regret his decision to buy it. Or my neighbor who has had a International 454 38 PTO hp tractor on just over 4 acres for over 25 years.

If I had 8 acres and a lot of work to do getting them into the condition I wanted them to be in, I would not be afraid to go with the L3830. I probably would not buy smaller than a B7800/B2910/new B3030 though.

A number of people here are happy with L3130 sized tractors on about 5 acres. The best tractor to buy is the tractor you want to buy, after considering the great advice that is given by knowlegable members here.

Also remember that the dealer who recommended that L3830 walked on the ground where the tractor will be used...

sanmigmike · Dec 9, 2004

Let me defend the dealer. Okay, he feels that R-4's might be right since the trash (logging and people trash) and so on in the yard gives us a real risk of having flats. He feels that the R-1's will give better traction but at the risk of having flats. Limits either way (R-4's only down the hill in conditions like this versus both ways with the R-1's), we will get better traction with the R-1s but he feels that we will at least have a real risk of flats on the fronts. The yard has too much trash that makes us have a real risk of flats. That is why he feels we need to foam at least the front tires, essential in his opinion if we get R-1's. We have found two sythes, a mower deck and an assortment of other tools, all hidden in the brush. When they started clearing some so they could cut the trees they found trees that had been replanted after an earlier logging, impossible to see since the berries and scotch broom were up to eight feet. We are new here but neighbors, relatives, friends and the dealer assure us that getting rid of that stuff is not a one time deal, it takes a few years...

The berrys and scotch broom and other stuff was so thick that we walked across the yard one time without ever touching dirt, on brush, logs and so on. Took over an hour! He did say rent a backhoe when we need one since what they offer will not do a quick job on the stumps.

As an aside he he used to log. When asked if we should get a bigger chainsaw to trim the stumps before grinding he said get a Sthil, they sell Husky. Gave advice on how to do it and what kind of chain. All on a brand that they don't sell. he also sells the three point stump grinders but feels that a stand alone unit would work better for us.

He called around to find a bucket to both save us some, since he found one that had been on a rental for a week that would save us about $600 and three weeks....

As Henro points out he did come out here and walk around with and without me, actually seeing the land, trash, and slash, and the "projects" we plan. So, I do trust him.....to a point. I do remain aware that he does make his money selling me something. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My wife also points that with the power of Tractor by Net that if he screws up that all the people here will hear about it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kub0ta · Dec 9, 2004

Eh.

I had a big dicesion to foam fill tires because i had to keep calling a tire repair service to fix the tires on my Kubota, from nails and screws on the construction site. We later disagreed due to its purpose, box blading. We figured all that extra weight wouldnt be good for the L35 so we just bought a few gallons of slime.

Henro · Dec 9, 2004

That is why he feels we need to foam at least the front tires, 

I would agree with that assesment completely.

I flatted on the fronts within couple hours of delivery of the tractor with R4s. It cost $70 each to fill them on my B2910, and $38 to fill the fronts on the BX (both with foam).

Filling the front tires is pretty cheap compared to the rears. I never flatted on the rears but thought I would...

Foam filling the frontss sounds like sound acvice to me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

sneaky_pete · Dec 9, 2004

( The front tires are foam filled on both my B2910 and BX2200. Granted these are smaller tractors. And they both have liquid in the rear tires.

I have noticed that the foam in my fronts do have some give and are not like having concrete inside them. I don't think I notice a lot of difference over air in the front. No experience on the back though.)

My comment is after using a neighbor's L series for a morning, mowing a relatively flat pasture with a Bush Hog. He had all four tires foam filled and they are all like concrete. Sounds like maybe the dealer that filled them didn't fully understand what they were doing.

Pete

frank_f15 · Dec 9, 2004

( The best tractor to buy is the tractor you want to buy, )
VERY VERY SOUND ADVISE.

Theowegian · Dec 9, 2004

I have an L3130, with 200 hours on it. Bought it new this summer for use on 7-3/4 acres. Sometimes it seems a tiny bit too big, but normally I like the size perfectly. I can see why the L3830 was recommended. You are going to be doing a lot of ground engagement activities. THe extra HP makes sense to me.
Since I successfully convinced my wife that a L3130 is the right size today, now I'll work on her to get a BX tractor, for the near future.
"In the end, I'll do what ever I want to anyway, "so the mrs says.

My point is this. Like Frank already said. If it makes sense to you, then go for it. It worked for me.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

stevenf · Dec 9, 2004

Hey Pete
Now you got me thinking how long ago did your neighbor have his filled? I've only owned my tractor for a couple of weeks although the tires have been ready for over two months the dealer ran into fulfillment problems on my order that took two months to staighten out. Maybe this foam gets harder with age and I have something to look forward to down the road now that would s**k hopefully the guy that filled your neighbors used the wrong mix or filled them to full or something at least thats what I'm hoping as I'm in the hill country and bumpy roads and pastures don't fully describe some of my terrain.
Steve

sanmigmike · Dec 11, 2004

Okay, I might be sorry but going for the L3830 with the heavy FEL with a 4way bucket, off a skid steer,used five days, box scraper, used around the dealership and rotary cutter. Will have some hooks and one other thing welded to the bucket. Getting r-1's due to the mud and all and all of them will be filled with the softest foam, softest out of three grades.

Wow, do I feel strange! It should be here on Wed.... Not sure how to feel.