John Deere 3038e, should I change to a 4?

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I have a 3038e I bought new 2017 with 406 hours. It runs great. D160 FEL, 9.5 ft BH, 10 attachments. The problem is lift capacity. I just got new 350# forks and wanted to remove a 4x4x8ft hay bundle (about 1,100#) off of truck into horse stable. I've been unloading bales no problem, but I'm 70 thinking about 75-80 years old? Yesterday I have bush hog on back + 200# ballast and lift one bale row down...but it just wouldn't quite make it. So I (here it comes ) slowly drove truck away and fluid filled tires lifted a couple inches. I quickly eased it down. Then tractor around other side, I had two pallets in breezeway (all concrete floor) and managed by bouncing load barely get it on pallets.
Now I'm faced with choices:
1) sell/trade for a 4 series, 4044R, 4052R (4066s are hard to get here). I'm told hydraulics same, just hp. I'm guessing I'd pay $30K difference? Would attachments I have work on 4 series?
2) can I boost hydraulic pressure a bit? Would that make much difference? I have a pressure gauge but never tried it.
3) have two pallets in truck bed, cut hay bands here and unload in two halves? I could buy a pallet jack to move them where they need to go.
Wife says buy new & write it off!
Decisions, decisions. Thanks in advance.

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[dusty3030]

Since you can write off (section 179 deduction) used equipment I'd just get a skid steer and keep your tractor the way it is.
$20,000 to $30,000 can get a nicer late model one (with tires not tracks, tracked ones are more) with 1,500 hours or so.

 

[ruffdog]

You're at the edge of lift capacity.....time to upgrade.

 

[dusty3030]

Example - Deere 314

Deere 314's for sale

 

[jeff9366]

I have a 3038e I bought new 2017 with 406 hours.

John Deere 3038E​

2008 - 2023

Model year 2008-20122013-2023

Compact Utility tractor

Dimensions
Wheelbase	60 inches 152 cm
Length	111 inches 281 cm
Width	56.5 inches (min) 143 cm
	58 inches (max) 147 cm
Height (hood)	51 inches 129 cm
Height (ROPS)	82.3 inches 209 cm
Operating weight	2,175 lbs 986 kg
Max weight	4,410 lbs 2000 kg

305 Loader
1,186 lbs lift (full at pin)
537 kg
845 lbs lift (full at 500mm)
383 kg

D160 Loader
1186 lbs lift (full at pin)
537 kg
845 lbs lift (full at 500mm)
383 kg

1) sell/trade for a 4 series, 4044R, 4052R (4066s are hard to get here). I'm told hydraulics same, just hp. I'm guessing I'd pay $30K difference? Would attachments I have work on 4 series?

John Deere 4052R​

2014 - 4R Series Compact Utility tractor

Dimensions
Wheelbase:	73 inches 185 cm
Length:	130.6 inches 331 cm
Height (ROPS):	100.2 inches 254 cm
Height (cab):	97.4 inches 247 cm
Weight:	3770 lbs

I could not find a published WIDTH for this series Deere.​

There are several FELs available for this series.

Lift to full height at 500mm from pin 2,200 to 2,400 pounds.



For regularly moving 1,200+ pound round hays bales SAFELY most here recommend a tractor of at least 5,000 pounds bare tractor weight.

 

[jeff9366]

We need a tractor capable of moving large hay bales (rounds 1,200-1,700 lbs)

In my area of Florida, which is hay country, round bales seldom weigh over 1,200 pounds.

An open station tractor with a bare weight of 3,700 to 4,000 pounds can lift and move 1,200 pound round bales using a bale spear on the Front End Loader and stack bales at least two bales high. However, the tractor will feel very tippy to a new operator lifting bales to stack.

An open station tractor weighing 3,700 to 4,000 pounds can transport 1,200+ pound round bales safely with a Three Point Hitch mounted (rear) bale spear but can only lift bales a few inches. Transport but no stacking. The tractor is stable because the bale weight is low and bale weight is carried on the large, rear tractor tires, which do not pivot/steer.

A tractor with a bare weight of 3,700 to 4,000 pounds is suitable for actually working 10 to 25 acres of farm acreage. Working acres, not total acres.

For safety most recommend a 5,000 pound bare weight tractor for moving and lifting bales heavier than 1,200 pounds using a bale spear on the Front End Loader and for safely moving/stacking 1,200 pound bales by inexperienced tractor operators using a front bale spear. A 5,000 pound bare weight tractor can stack round bales three high.

A tractor with a bare weight of 5,000 pounds is suitable for actually working 20 to 40 acres of farm acreage. Working acres, not total acres.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.​

 

[jeff9366]

I just got new 350# forks and wanted to remove a 4x4x8ft hay bundle (about 1,100#) off of truck into horse stable.

Awfully heavy pallet forks considering the Deere 3038 FEL lift capacity.

Every pound in clamp-on pallet forks subtracts from FEL payload lift capacity.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Awfully heavy pallet forks considering the Deere 3038 FEL lift capacity.

Every pound in clamp-on pallet forks counts agains FEL payload lift capacity.

These are made in USA, really nice. I looked at lighter ones, mostly Chinese, but probably only save 100#.
The other choice is use larger boom cylinders and increase pump pressure a bit.

 

[jeff9366]

The other choice is use larger boom cylinders and increase pump pressure a bit.

Larger cylinders take longer to fill, so slower FEL operation.

The probability of bending some part of your FEL goes up with these two types of modification. A tweaked FEL is really expensive to repair.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Well...I checked with my dealer and he has a 4044 hydro, 4052 power rev, 4066 per rev.
All open station which is fine, he has a 4066 hygro cab but he thought it was sold, another in transit. For $10k I really don't need a cab, and like he said get out the pole saw!
He didn't think my backhoe would work on the 4 series...and that's another $16K for a 485A. So...I'm still thinking. The backhoe I have is a BH75.
The price difference with my trade seemed a good deal.