Is the XR3135 really worth it?

[Cramblit26]

I'm looking for my next LS. And I'm curious as to whether or not the XR3135 is worth the extra cost over the XG3140/MT240E?

I'm wondering if anyone has either and if they can give me real world accounts as to why one is better than the other.
I know the XR comes standard with remotes and a fancy seat.

All input would be graciously welcomed.

Thanks,

 

[shooterdon]

It would be helpful if you told us what your will be using the tractor for. The 3135 can be had with a cab for $4k extra and that would be important to me. A cab is a really nice thing to have in MI. Great in the cold and A/C in the heat....and NO BUGS.

If I did not want/need the weight and lift capacity of the 4140, I would have bought the 3135.

 

[George2615]

I too wanted a cab and didn't need to lift over a ton so I bought my XR3037HC 5 years ago and never looked back. 80% of my use is in winter. The fancy seat and remotes are a big plus for me. The 3100 series is almost identical to mine but has the LS engine. A friend of mine just bought an XR4140HC w/ Backhoe two weeks ago and he loves it. He just installed his radio a couple days ago.

 

[Cramblit26]

It would be helpful if you told us what your will be using the tractor for. The 3135 can be had with a cab for $4k extra and that would be important to me. A cab is a really nice thing to have in MI. Great in the cold and A/C in the heat....and NO BUGS.

If I did not want/need the weight and lift capacity of the 4140, I would have bought the 3135.

I knew i forgot something.

General property maintenance, maintaining our 1/2 mile private drive all year round. Brush hogging, tilling, and light hay work. And whatever else that may come my way.

Thanks.

 

[PJSprog]

If you anticipate spend much time at all on/in it, you'll definitely appreciate that "fancy seat."

Our XR3135HC has been awesome so far over the last three years. Spent about an hour-and-a-half in it yesterday mowing the pasture. I definitely don't regret spending a little more to get more.

 

[curtthegreat]

You live about 80 miles southwest of me.

Hesperia in the winter; lake effect + wind + cold = cab. You can thank me later.
Hesperia in the summer; bugs + humidity + lake effect= cab. You can thank me later.

I bought mine last summer, I wanted an open station, my wife insisted I get a cab.... She makes me thank her every time it rains, snows, windy, cold, hot, humid, etc. The woman knows nothing about tractors, but she was right about the cab.

 

[PJSprog]

I bought mine last summer, I wanted an open station, my wife insisted I get a cab.... She makes me thank her every time it rains, snows, windy, cold, hot, humid, etc. The woman knows nothing about tractors, but she was right about the cab.

My wife does the same thing to me. She talked me into getting a cab when she reminded me of the ground hornets in the pasture. That was more than enough. She does still like to point that out to me, too.

 

[sodamo]

I vote the XR. Had a neighbor visit day after I got mine and I derived enormous pleasure pointing out all the XR features I knew he didn’t get on his Kubota that cost him more. Also that those were things that came into play time and time again when I use the tractor.
Can’t speak to a cab. We don’t get snow to plow and sun shade is enough in summer (planned, not built yet) i really don’t mow in the rain and like that as an excuse, but the reality is too slippery to mow in the rain and I enjoy my open station year round. Tee shirt, shorts, and rubba slippahs all year.
Good luck with your choice.

 

[Doofy]

Our Wives have better instincts than we. Mine also strongly advised the cab. She was right on the mark. She said this is it, get exactly what you want and any attachments you think you need. You worked hard all your life so get the best. I did and am happy.

 

[sodamo]

Great supportive wives are a Godsend. Mine has always been supportive, encouraging when it comes to tools, and never been wrong. I constantly remind and thank her

 

[Cramblit26]

All valid points. Although I'm not sure that i can justify the added cost. My dealer and myself went over a few tractor combinations last night, and he did point out the cab on multiple machines. But would throw in the number of or types of implements that I could get in lieu of the cab, which I thought was a very valid point. Honestly, I think I might try to make a removable cab. In the last year, I've upgraded my fabricating equipment and I think if I'm patient enough, it should turn out decent.

Also, I walked out of the dealership last night with a very decent quote on a XG3140. So that might very well be the direction I end up going.

 

[Scottw32]

I have an XR3135C, and just like the rest of these guys are saying the cab and the seat when you find yourself putting in long hours on it are well worth the added cost. On those days I have to plow snow it stays t-shirt comfortable in that cab while my neighbors are bundled up like snowmen!
I use the added ports in the rear year round for top and tilt on my box blade and plan on adding a 3 point snowblower next year using the ports for the rotate and angle of the the snow-shoot. This tractor has spoiled me!

 

[shooterdon]

If you decide to build a cab, insure the doors or windows are easily removable. They are little greenhouses in the sun.

I intend to keep my machine for the rest of my life (late 60's now). The $4k additional cost will not be much per year for the advantages gained. But I understand the need to stay in budget.

As to the all the implements you can add in lieu of a cab, consider making do without the "nice to have" until you save more money. They can always be added down the road or in some cases borrowed from a neighbor for occasional use.

One last thing. Have your wife drive both types. There will be times she may need to get the work done and having her on board with the decision is important. In my case, getting the larger cabbed tractor was a no brainer after my fiancé drove both and realized she would be using it too. It did cost me a $200 radio that she wanted if she was going to spend much time in it...LOL.

 

[PJSprog]

One last thing. Have your wife drive both types.

I can't disagree with this at all. My Wife loves to work with tools, and taking her to the dealer to test drive one helped the sale go through that day. When it was delivered, she was the first to jump in and take it for a spin, asking all kinds of questions about what all the controls do. She uses it nearly as much as I do, moving landscaping and plant materials. And, since women tend to outlive us, she'll probably be using it longer than me.

 

[Nate71]

A couple things I noticed that were important to me when I bought the xr3135h, beyond the seat, was the larger platform around my feet and most importantly was the fuel tank location. I have to keep fuel in 5 gallon cans. I didn't want to lift them up that high behind the seat when I turn 70.

 

[3gunr]

I own 4 tractors and none are Ls. But i just talked my buddy into buying a new xr4140hst because of what you get for your money, my next tractor will be an Ls.

 

[Croomrider]

I bought an XR3135H and I think all of the extras you get with it are well worth the extra money. For me one of the biggest was the adjust-ability of the seat. Not only is it a much nicer seat which absorbs bumps by riding up and down on adjustable spring tension, but it also has arm rests and moves back a lot further for longer legs since the gas tank is not directly behind it. Other features include an adjustable steering wheel, a fender mounted loader joy stick, 2 rear remotes, lower gas tank, extendable lower links for 3pt hitch, lever to raise lower 3pt from back when attaching implements, cruise control, and maybe some others I've forgotten. According to the specs I think it is also a little heavier than the MT2xx, but I'm not sure. They are physically the same size. So far I love the tractor, and have no regrets. I did not need or want a cab.

 

[Doofy]

The right hand cab door is useless because of the fel control (unless you are a skinny contortionist). This also makes the RH step unnecessary but the location is a good spot to add a much needed tool box. The LH step is a little to narrow for both my boots at once (not agile enough to just use one foot and up). Lastly, the factory stereo speakers are totally lame and worthless (cheap and tinny sounding).

The rest of the tractor is near perfect.

 

[smartascii]

Maybe I use my tractor less than some of the others on here, but I have an XG3140, and I have never regretted saving the money over the nicer version. YMMV.

 

[hks003]

If I lived somewhere where I had to move snow in sub zero weather, a cab would be a must have, whether factory (with ac) or a removable one. I've lived in the south all my life, so heat and bugs are just part of the deal when outside, and my yard stays so wet in the winter time that the tractor doesn't move much so to keep the grass from being mud.

But, since it seems like you'll be dealing with snow, I'd say go for the cab. My guess would be getting a cab later would run you more than at the initial sale. Also, you can buy implements one at a time as you need them, so it's not like you have to go drop that extra $4k tomorrow.

As someone with the "base" model G3038, I could definitely use features like the standard rear remotes, gas tank location, loader controls location (although I think the newer XGs have them on the fender now), and fancy seat that the XRs have.