Going green with a 2520.... or maybe 3120.

[tomd999]

Hi All,

Well, had a couple, 3 tractors at the house for the weekend, got to look at them side by side and work them a bit without the salesman's glaring eye. Of my steel guests, the Deere 2520 was my choice for the new around the house beast.

I had my doubts about going hydro after 35+ years of gear drives but the 2520 worked so well I'm sold. But I have to say the 2 range diff is geared a bit high for me, (I'm used to 4x3 setups) would rather see about a 30% reduction in overall ratio but I guess if I had to shuttle between fields, I may feel differently.

The dealer is also suggesting I consider a 3120 with e-hydro. The inner tractor guy in me went right for the 3 range diff, load match, the big #'s on the loader and 3pt but considering the intended use and acreage (About 5 landscaped acres around the house, loader, snow duty for a 450 foot driveway, build/maintain a 400 foot gravel road and a small 1 acre garden, no finish mowing or hogging) it may be a bit too much tractor.

I may regret this but.. Your thoughts as to 20 or 30 series?

Tom

 

[RollTideRam]

Here is my story. I used to co-own a JD650 with my father and a x475 mower. The tractor was about 20 years old, and I kept looking at the shiny new ones. I sold the 650 and traded in my x475 for a 2520 and a gator. Finally got the kinks out of the mowing deck on the 2520, but missed mowing with 475. I mow a couple of yards on the side plus 3 acres at home. I figured out the gator was just an expensive toy and sold it, and bought a x495. This is a great mower for what I do and easier to haul around. I was thinking about selling the mower for the 2520, and bought a lx5 for it. I got a couple of bush hogging jobs now and longed for a little bigger tractor. I have now ordered a 3320. This is the tractor I wanted to begin with, but I had to have that gator.
I said all that to say this, get the tractor that you will be happy with. My 2520 is a good tractor, I just like the ride and hope I like the stronger loader on the 3320. I have a grapple and have wanted a little more power and weight when popping up sapplings. JC

 

[Chris2520]

I have a 2520 , and have been very happy with it. i have a loader and backhoe. it has done all i have ask of it and then some.
if you decide you want or ( need ) a bigger tractor than a 2520 ,
dont even bother with the 3120. its under powered for its size. my dealer
has made mention deere is considering discontinueing the 3120 after this next year due to poor sales.
jump to at least to a 3320 and up. but it sounds like what you are wanting
to do a 2520 would be fine...

Chris.....

 

[Malvern]

tomd999

I love my 3120, heck I went from a 2210 to a 3120 and contrary to what Chris2520 said about the 3120 being under powered, I think not!

I did at first think my 3120 was to big but after 50 hours of loader work and mowing I changed my tune. Since I had something to compare to I'm doing twice the work twice as fast.

I say get the 3120 even if Chris2520 is right about the poor sales, maybe you could cut a better deal. The only difference between the 3120 and the 3320 is 3 HP and $200.

Just my opinion
Malvern

 

[aesanders]

I've never heard an actual owner of a 3120 say it is under powered. Only the occasional poster that suggests another model?

I've never run one myself so I cannot comment, but know the posters on this site that have one really like it.

The loader will clearly outshine the loader on the 2520, so if this is impotant to you, then I'd strongly consider it. I don't think it is two big for 5 acres at all.

 

[orlo]

Tom:

I have a 2305 (About 2 years old) and a few month old 3720 Cab. I had a open 3320 before I got the 3720. My first word of advice before saying anything is buy the biggest one you lust after - It's not about need - most of us could survive with a shovel and a riding mower . Trading in is expensive. I should have gotten the cab when I got the 3320 but didn't and ended up trading in 9 months later. I actually didn't lose that much but anyway you get my point.

I use the 2305 on a 2.6 acre lot and the 3720 on a 6.2 acre lot. I used to use the 2305 on the 6.2 acre lot until I decided to get another tractor since I liked the 2305 so much I wanted it on the smaller lot instead of just a Lawn tractor.

The 2305 did a very respectable job mowing (I mowed 4-5 acres), loading, cleanup, etc. I used to transport it and blow a 250' 40' wide paved driveway and parking lot and it was great there also. (Except for always getting snow blown back in my face). I even have a woods BH6000 backhoe for it and it does an amazing job for a small back hoe. I used a DR I have for most of the brush hogging so never did that on the 2305. I have an LX5 now that I've run on the 3320 and the 3720 and either one would run a 6 footer no problem.
I would argue the except for speed (only if you have a big Rear finish mower) the 2305 is the better choice if mowing is your prime duty. I have the 62D on the 2305 and a 72"MMM on the 3720 (Soon to get an 84"RFM) and I've many time stated it's either a tie or the 2305 mows faster. Not due to power but the large lot is 1000' long and 'mostly' flat as the desert - I can mow flat out on the 2305 in high (just over 9mph) but would bounce and sway way too much on the 3000 series. I mow usually 6mph max, sometimes up to 7 on really extra smooth areas.


The 2520 would easily do whatever you need it to. Now that you can get them with a 3rd SCV you can even put a grapple on it, etc.

The 3000 series is going to be a LOT heavier on your lawn than any of the 2000 series. My 3320 was a little under 5000# mowing weight and my 3720 cab is almost 6000#. 3320 = 2900 + 900lbs loaded R4 (Large one) tires + 1100lbs for the loader without the bucket + 450 for the MMM, etc. It adds up quick. You can take the whole loader off and save over 1000lbs for just the 300CX loader frame, boom, etc. but I don't bother, I just drop the bucket.

That said, I used to run R4's but just switched to R3's - Haven't even tried them yet. Even unloaded R4's will leave some marks on the 3000 series if the lawn is wet. If you have soft soil they will be noticable. If it's dry and hard it's not bad at all unless you are in 4wd or cut the corners very tight.

Will you be transporting it? You'll need an 8000-10,000gross trailer to transport a 3000 series safely with a loader, etc. on it. (My 3720 is going to be well over 6500lbs with the loader and #1000 ballast block on my trailer).

Anyway, if it was me and I could afford it I'd still get the biggest honking tractor with all the gizmo's I could almost afford...

I'd also say if you do get the 3000 series take a good look at the cabs, they are soooo nice. Also, I would get at least the 3320 non cab or the 3520 cab. PTO HP is 25 on the 3320 which is a decent amount if you plan on running some moderate HP implements. Also, the 3320 has the largest block in the series. The 3520 and 3720 actually have smaller blocks than the 3320 but are turbo charged. For a cab I'd go with the 3520 cab minimum instead of the 3320 cab due to the A/C compressor and bigger alternator taking away a little power from the engine.

 

[tomd999]

Hi All,

Well, I'm still deciding between the 2520 and 3120. I should also clarify my original post a bit, the acreage this new tractor will be used for is the 5 acres around the house, I have more land and other machinery for that.

I went back to get some seat time in a 3120 the dealer had that was going out to someones place later in the day. It had the tall turf tires and on pavement and level grass it felt OK but out in the "playground" in back with dirt in the bucket even in low range going slow over small ruts it felt way too tippy for me (huge pucker factor ). I drove it back to the lot and parked it and told the salesman that if they feel like that, I can't use it on my house lot as I live on a mountain.

They let me try a 3720 with the large R4's and ya, it was a powerhouse out in the playground and it wasn't as tippy, felt a bit tall but hardly any pucker factor. It was a beast on the material piles. (hearing the turbo spool up was way cool too.. )

Talked to the salesman for a while and I'm still up in the air. I told him I'm buying one or the other but still unsure what one. He left the 2520 at the house and told me to put some hours on it. This is my first brand new tractor and after 35+ years of buying used, I'm not used to all the choices I have.. (This is like ordering a wife from a catalog.)

I put about 2 hours on the 2520 doing some loader work and york raking today. It didn't feel tippy. It ran out of traction way before it ran out of loader or power climbing my hills. (no ballast box or loaded tires just a huge 7 foot rake w/gauge wheels hanging off the back) What I didn't like was the bouncy feeling of the loader with a full 61" bucket of wet hardpack and the scv joystick is not for a person with long legs. (hits my leg when I reverse and roll the bucket back) Other than those 2 things, it performed well.

The price difference is about 2K between the two packages.
2520
61" material bucket
cx200
72" Landpride rake w/ wheels
Imatch
ballast box
forward lights w/ brush guards
Balistar loaded R4's
47" Deere blower w/mount "OR" loader mounted Myers 6' plow with additional port/scv for angle (dealer installed power beyond as part of the 3rd scv)

3120
ehydro
load match with automotive cruse control
72" HD bucket with bolt on hard edge
cx300
Deluxe hood guard
Deere 72" loader mount angle blade
3rd scv
additional ports on loader for blade angle
same 72" LP rake
Imatch
ballast box
Balistar loaded R4's
forward lights w/ brush guards

So I'll ask some questions:
How is the 3120 on hilly ground? Is it as tippy as I have heard about?
Will loaded tires set wide and wheel weights make them feel less tippy?
Will the 2520 loader take a plow and not tweek out of square? (up on the mountain, we get snow, lots of it, so snow duty is about 40% of it's use)
Will the 72" Deere loader mount blade work on the cx200 and work? (with a 3rd scv of course)
How is the Deere blade in heavy snow? (12" plus)
How is the 47" Deere blower? ( either powder or heavy wet types)

Thanx in advance,

Tom

 

[Chris2520]

Tom , Maybe Gunmaker can answer your questions about plowing snow
with the 2520. he has a snow blade on his 2520.

as for the loader. i have carried large heavy weight with pallet forks.
lifted stumps with chain hooks. carried 61 inch bucked full of
concrete and dug hard in clay with tooth bar. and i have had no problems
with the loader on the 2520. i dont find the 2520 very tippy at all.
and my property is very hilly and uneven... and your right.
you will run out of traction long before you run out of power.

Chris.......

 

[RollTideRam]

I have mowed some pretty steep ditches along the highway with my 2520. I do not have the tires filled. I worried about it, but it did fine. I did not even have to use 4wd. JC

 

[orlo]

Tom:

Are you sure you weren't on a 4720 when you liked it? There should be no difference in handling between any of the 3x20 series unless there were tire differences, etc.

You WILL feel tippy. Read my other post. I just put 6" extensions (to widen the stance 12") on my 3720 cab. I'm now running loaded R3's which are probably a tiny bit lower than the large R4's (Was running those unloaded and without the extenders).