Have you moved to a higher horsepower tractor?

[allen in texas]

I want to hear about your experience.
I've posted here a few times about how I take good care of my L3240, feeding it only the best oils and fuel in the hopes that someday it will grow up to be a L5740. It appears that maybe next week, my tractor is finally going to grow up.
I have always been amazed at what the 3240 can do but I have still yearned for more power. I have a few implements that tax the little tractor a bit but if I double the power (rated PTO) there is nothing I have that will phase a 5740 in the least. I will use all the same equipment because going larger will defeat my purposes of having a CUT in the first place.

Like I said, I'd like to hear about your experiences that may be similar to what I'm about to do.

Thanks

 

[TripleR]

My experience is not quite the same, but when I went looking at tractors in this size, I was going to buy a L3240, but after my wife and I thought about it a while, based on owning similar sized tractors, 600&800 Series Fords, we bought a L5030 HSTC and have been very happy with it. If I was going to buy now, it would be a L5240 or L5740. I don't really need the extra power, so I will keep what I have.

 

[teg]

...I have a few implements that tax the little tractor a bit...

You can spend your money how you like... I really wanted some extra ponies under the hood. Got the quote for the up grade (not bad at all, I can do *that*)... I decided that instead of throwing $$$ into HP, I decided I would take that same amount and just upgrade what I have... grapple, 3 remotes, top N tilt... glad I did (or will as soon as I get it hooked up) What implements are bogging you down (I'm guessing that your tractor can handle what you want to throw at it, just not as fast as you like). For instance, You might have to get a set of R1 tires for better traction...

 

[DJ4wd]

Just last week I upgraded from a 1987 MF210, 25HP, 2WD, CUT
To a
2001 Rhino International 35HP, 4WD, power steering, live clutch.
So far it has been wonderful, it runs the 5ft brush-hog so much better. The rest of my implement should all be a breeze.

 

[allen in texas]

Y What implements are bogging you down (I'm guessing that your tractor can handle what you want to throw at it). For instance, You might have to get a set of R1 tires for better traction...

I have no traction issues, the R4s do what I need them to do but the new tractor will have R1s
I pull my 14 inch 2 bottom breaking plow at 3.5 to 4.0 MPH but I 'might' want to pull it faster.
My 6 ft tiller works just fine until I get into good dirt and I can bury it. Then I pull down a bit. I could slow down but that's not me.

I do a LOT of shredding with my Flail and the 3240 handles it nicely except for about 10% of what I cut. I can slow down on that too but I don't want to.

I want more lift capacity on the loader, I want a third remote, I want I want...



0% interest is really attractive too. when I bought the 3240, the 0% was only available for 3 years. Now it's 5 and I'd like to take advantage of it.

 

[nybirdman]

I went from a L3130 HST open station to a L4240 HSTC,quite a move up in horse-power 31-44. The 854 loader is very powerfull....load your rears with this loader.Cab is very nice..the main reason I traded up.

 

[Creekpaddler]

Three weeks ago I traded in my 1973 IH 2400A (3 cylinder diesel; about engine 45 hp) for a used JD 5225 with 4WD: 56 engine hp and 45 PTO hp; 5 cylinder turbo diesel. I'm just beginning to work it, but I can tell that it is a BIG step up in perfomance.

 

[LoPresti Lawnscape]

There's no replacement, for displacement.

 

[allen in texas]

The 854 loader is very powerfull....load your rears with this loader.Cab is very nice..the main reason I traded up.

I intend to load the tires. I took delivery of my 3240 without loaded tires, worked it a month or so and then had the tires loaded. BIG difference.
I may actually add a couple of hundred pounds of bolt on weight too.

"Cab is very nice"

That kinda makes me sad. I work under trees and stuff a lot. I fold the rops down. I couldn't use a cab. I'd tear it up in short order
Oh well, I'll save about $6000 by not buying a cab. There' a bright side to everything, right?

 

[Mande1992]

I just down-sized from an old Universal 45hp tractor to a Kubota L3400 34hp tractor. Of course I went from 2wd to 4wd, strong arm steering to power.

Besides, not really sure how many of those original horses where left :laughing: