Grand L3240

[lawn_king]

I wish i had installed remotes. Aside from that im still in love with my gl 3540 after 3 years. Awesome machine!

 

[PHILIP8N]

I have the heavy duty round back bucket. Feels pretty indestructable, even when lifting with hooks. Yes, the L4240 has a stronger loader, but I have filled my bucket with just about everyting to the brim and there is nothing that I have not been able to pick up. Stonger loader might shine with pallet forks if you have that need. Philip.

 

[arsenix2001]

I think if I was to go larger I would jump all the way to a 4240, but I started with looking at the b3000. Just seems too small, even though I think it would do all that I need. From a 3240 to a 4240 it's 5k to jump up in size, but other than 3hp, jumping from the 3240 to a 3540, I just don't see that it offers any other advantage. And from someone coming from a Honda 500 to remove snow with a manual snowplow, to a grand L3240 cab I'll just have to push it to it's limits. I still don't understand the correlation of loader lift with a skid steer versus a tractor. For the last couple of months I've been using a 57hp skid steer with lift capacity of 1500lbs, and if I go to the 3240 it will have 1800lbs of lift. So shouldn't they be about the same?

Its actually not true, aside from a hp increase, the jump to a 3540 nets you a larger battery, bigger cooling system capacity, larger oil resevior, more cubic inches. I was suprised when reading my owners manual about all of the small differences. You can see some from the spec sheet. Imo i am very happy i paid the extra 1250 or whatever it was. Although your right, the next step up for me would have been a 4240 to get the bigger loader.

And you got your numbers mixed up, the lift on a 724 is 1,587lbs at bucket bottom mid point. The 1800 lb figure is at the pins which doesnt mean dookie. Its also listed for the 3940 as well.(not sure how much difference that makes). The bucket bottom midpoint is your best guess for what its really going to lift, in includes attachment weight and the load being farther out. Ive owned 42, 74, and 88hp new holland skid steers, and i would take a stab that the 57hp skidsteer would lift more. It gets worse with forks as the load moves farther. The 724 is a pretty strong loader, dont get me wrong...that being said, plan on getting a ballast box or heavy implement for the rear since you seem to be concerned with max lift. My 724 will easily lift the rears with a woods box blade at 550lbs. I had to get a 1000lb sand ballast box.

 

[Baby Grand]

Wish I had 3 remotes added when I ordered mine - I would be using them all.

LA724 loader with HD bucket & removable cutting edge.

If there's a swivel seat available, I would pay whatever - my back doesn't swivel like it used to.

 

[teg]

...I still don't understand the correlation of loader lift with a skid steer versus a tractor...

They are talking about how the bucket attaches, that's all...

 

[TripleR]

I can't really add anything useful to the advice you have been given. I do however agree with arsenix2001 my wife and I looked at the 3240/3540 and would have gone with the 3540 for the reasons mentioned.

Yes, you can go to a 3940 or 4240, but if you keep "stepping up", you can buy too much tractor believe it or not.

We went with a bigger tractor, but have several hundred acres and needed a backup for an 80 HP to keep from running it between farms so much.

 

[crazyal]

I think if I was to go larger I would jump all the way to a 4240, but I started with looking at the b3000. Just seems too small, even though I think it would do all that I need. From a 3240 to a 4240 it's 5k to jump up in size, but other than 3hp, jumping from the 3240 to a 3540, I just don't see that it offers any other advantage. And from someone coming from a Honda 500 to remove snow with a manual snowplow, to a grand L3240 cab I'll just have to push it to it's limits. I still don't understand the correlation of loader lift with a skid steer versus a tractor. For the last couple of months I've been using a 57hp skid steer with lift capacity of 1500lbs, and if I go to the 3240 it will have 1800lbs of lift. So shouldn't they be about the same?

I started out looking at the B7800 (roughly the same as the B3000). Since I needed a mid PTO it limited me to some of the B series tractors and the GL tractors. The deluxe model of the 7800 was the B3030, lots of people said how much nicer it was so it also was on the list. But the 3240 really wasn't much more and you got quite a bit more. Even the lighter loader lifted more. So I started to lean that direction.

People say the rule of thumb for a bush hog is 5hp per foot and the GL tractors are 6' wide. The advise I got was the 25 pto hp of the 3240 was really going to be on the bottom end of what I would want for a 6' brush hog. That kind of got me looking at the 3540.

The only reason I went with the 4240 was for the extra lift height of the loader. I wanted the extra height to reach over the side of my dump truck. I think the 3240 would do everything I wanted, it would just mean going slower. I'm not sure how much or often you think you'll be using a brush hog (and I'm sure others can offer better advice) but if it's going to be something you do often I would look into it a little further.

You can always go bigger with tractors. There will always be a model with more HP, stronger loader, etc. The trick is to limit yourself to not getting more than you need while not limiting yourself to less than you should have gotten.

The LA724 is rated for 1865 at the pivot pin and 1415 500mm forward.

 

[nybirdman]

Having owned a L3130HST(replaced by the L3240) open station:I really liked the tractor...six ft.sub-frame snow plow,pulled a two bottom plow,62 in roto-tiller,five ft bush hog.I use all the same on my L4240 HSTC.I traded up mostly for the cab/larger loader.
If I had purchased a L3540 HSTC to start I never would have traded.The extra power would be some help when useing the A.C.My new tractor is a little big around the house..but a bear in the fields.The L4240 also has a eight foot FEL mounted snow plow...a beast.

 

[Whitnel]

I really like my 3240. I am running a 6' cutter with no problem in 2' to 3' stuff i can run 3 to 4 mph have not tried faster as the fields are not very smooth. 4' to 5' I have to slow down some. Don't have any other attachments at the moment. I did make sure to find a used one with the larger loader with QA bucket.

 

[smartdog]

The FEL specs say the max is 1865 at the pivot pins - 1500 is more the working limit.

I agree with Crazyal, if you go up to the 3540 you will get 3HP more at the PTO. You will need it for brush work, or tilling. I have a 3240 and it grunts at times.

Of course if you have the space, and there is no maneuverability problems go with a 3940. Sometimes I wish I did. The 3240 is great on fuel. But the 3540 gives more power especially at the back end.

Don P