Getting ready to buy....

rdam · Jan 11, 2004

There's another member for your NE CT chapter of TBN Junkman.

How much property you got Murph? mowing? pasture? grass? If you don't have a lot of backhoe work, maybe you can rent a backhoe and use the savings to get a bigger tractor.

Get the biggest you can afford is the often heard mantra here. I could easily get by with an L3130 or even smaller machine. But since I don't live where the tractor does, time is limited. I can get my work done faster due to the L3830's size and HP. If I need more seat time, I can always dig a hole or mow a neighbors pasture I guess! But I have'nt had that problem yet.

I visited a John Deere dealer in south county back in June while on vacation (CFO is from Woonsocket). Beautiful machines, but the dealer rep, like some other JD dealers I've been to, had little product knowledge, and relied far to heavily on the hypnotic effect the prancing deer has on the non-ag buyer.
(Johhnn Deeerrre....Mugs, blankets, toys, day planners...you neeed Johhnnn Deeerreeee...)

I think there's a big Kubota dealer about a mile from a Massey dealer near Foxboro...You can guess what I did on vacation when I was able to escape the CFO. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Junkman · Jan 11, 2004

( I am not sure if I can or will invest in a snowblower attachment. Any comments on that? )

This might get your Irish blood boiling, but splurge for the whole package and buy the snow blower also. Don't forget the block heater for the additional $30. When I ordered my BX 22, I went over all the options that were available and ordered it the way I wanted it. You are only going to buy this once in your lifetime in all probability, so you might as well go for broke and get it equipped the way that you want it the first time. Overall, the difference in price is very little once you get over the original sticker shock. I ordered the flip over backhoe stabilizer pads for $200. It would cost more than that to repair the driveway if I were to tear it up while working close to the pavement. Life is too short to skimp when you make a purchase of this nature. Think of it as a few less dollars you will leave in your will.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ronjhall · Jan 11, 2004

the most I will be lifting is around 400 lbs. 

Murph
Last summer my wife and I put over 900 Garden Wall blocks in using our B 2910 to move them. 32 of them weigh 800lbs. That is over 25 trips. With a BX that’s 50 plus trips.
See attached picture.
We also moved 450 square feet of paver bicks and supplies.

Rick Jay · Jan 11, 2004

aloha,

( ...you should think about the L3130 )

Yes, I agree. When I was talking about "bang for the buck", I was limiting myself to the B series.

Anyone whose sanity is as questionable as mine and can count the number of acres they own on one hand (2 knuckles on one finger, in my case) should certainly consider the L series. (Henro, you listening?) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

~Rick

GregJ · Jan 11, 2004

Man this is great!...... Poor Murph comes in here looking at a BX23 and before long we'll have him signing the papers on a L3830 with a BH90 with all the trimmings..... Boy it's fun spending other people's money..... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Greg

ronjhall · Jan 11, 2004

I have narrowed it down to either a BX23 or 2910. 
Greg
Murph was not looking to buy a BX23. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

He was trying to decide whether to buy a BX23 or a B2910. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm waiting for the Green and Blue guys to come in and offer their opinions on what to buy. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

It sure is great to spend a cold Sunday afternoon spending someone else’s money. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GregJ · Jan 11, 2004

Poor Murph.... He's is starting down a road that I am sure most of us followed. I started with an "under $5,000" budget and by the time I was through I had quadrupled it.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I'm sure we'll all be glad to accelerate your journey down that road.... Has anybody mentioned "Heated Cab" yet?

Good Luck Murph!

Greg

murphdasurf · Jan 11, 2004

Nice wall, I started a simliar project this summer, carried the wall brick, backfill, and 3/4" stone almost all by hand I'll include a pic later. I can't wait to get this tractor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

murphdasurf · Jan 11, 2004

I can see it now..... I'll have to sell the house, My wife will divorce me, I'll have to sell my car, but.............. I can sleep in the heated cab, I can drive to work on the tractor, and I'll be able to move and dig anything anybody wants me too. The really funny thing is that so far (the wife not having seen this tractor forum) is that she still is giving me the green light on this purchase. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Henro · Jan 11, 2004

I have 2.25 acres that I plan on really making look well landscaped 

My 2 cents...

The L30xx series is pretty big. My gut tells me too big to do what you want on 2.25 acres...however I lust for one to use on my 3.7 acres, but won't end up with one because I feel it would be bigger than I need after the work I want to do here is done.

The B7800/2710/2910 is a nice size and not too big. It does not have the nice backhoe set up of the L30xx series, but the 3ph backhoe seems to work fine for my non-commercial needs. I like the B2910 size a lot!

The BX size tractors are workhorses for their size. One thing about them is the limited cat 1 3ph. I have a BX2200 that I bought for grass cutting and other misc things, but I can't use standard implements on it like my post hole digger presently. I hope to be able to modify it to get more lift one way or the other this spring.

From what I can see the B2910 is about mid sized, physically, right in the middle between the BX and the L30xx.

For 2.25 acres it seems to me you won't go wrong whatever you buy [bx or b series], if you stop at the b2910. If you would go for the L30xx series, you will love it while you are doing the heavy work, but after the hard work is done, it may end up being more tractor than you need. The L30xx series does give you the most tractor for your dollar though...