Buying Advice Kubota L3800

[Zepaholic]

Any pros/cons about a L3800? Looking for a tractor & thinking about this one. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[djp1218]

that is a great tractor plenty of power are you buying new or used?

 

[k0ua]

Well they are a good rugged economy tractor and many of the guys here are very happy with them.. They lack certain amenities. The most telling is the lack of telescoping 3pt lower links and stabilizers. And rear remotes are going to be a little pricey. I owned its predecessor the L3400hst. Do you plan on grading with a box blade? If so you would need to put one on and attempt to slowly raise the 3pt hitch to simulate feathering out the dirt load in a box blade. Or do you intend to use a boom pole? It would pay to try to raise it slowly. Some of this line of tractors are not the smoothest in slowly lifting the 3pt. Some owners report no problems.. Mine was pretty bad. Click here if you like or do your own search. Or you can read about it here. Or a bunch of other threads. Now all of that said, That was about the only trouble I had with my L3400hst.. it was tough and dependable, and a good value. So like one wart on its nose. If you can swing the Money and you want a Kubota.. the Grand L line of Kubota's are as near trouble free as any tractor I know of and have really smooth hitches, and a world leading hydro-static transmission. There are plenty of other brands to look at too. I will shut up for now.. I you want more of my opinion, let me know. Good luck in your hunt.

James K0UA

 

[boblibido]

I own one and love it.

If I had to do it again, I would buy it again. I would prefer if it had some extra amenities, but those always cost money and I would never have enough time to fully utilize those extras.

The little girl has never failed me, and I enjoy every second on her.

 

[Zepaholic]

that is a great tractor plenty of power are you buying new or used?

Honestly I don't know yet, it will depend on how much $ difference/condition of a used one vs. a new one.

 

[Zepaholic]

Well they are a good rugged economy tractor and many of the guys here are very happy with them.. They lack certain amenities. The most telling is the lack of telescoping 3pt lower links and stabilizers. And rear remotes are going to be a little pricey. I owned its predecessor the L3400hst. Do you plan on grading with a box blade? If so you would need to put one on and attempt to slowly raise the 3pt hitch to simulate feathering out the dirt load in a box blade. Or do you intend to use a boom pole? It would pay to try to raise it slowly. Some of this line of tractors are not the smoothest in slowly lifting the 3pt. Some owners report no problems.. Mine was pretty bad. Click here if you like or do your own search. Or you can read about it here. Or a bunch of other threads. Now all of that said, That was about the only trouble I had with my L3400hst.. it was tough and dependable, and a good value. So like one wart on its nose. If you can swing the Money and you want a Kubota.. the Grand L line of Kubota's are as near trouble free as any tractor I know of and have really smooth hitches, and a world leading hydro-static transmission. There are plenty of other brands to look at too. I will shut up for now.. I you want more of my opinion, let me know. Good luck in your hunt.

James K0UA

First off I appreciate your opinion, anymore info is appreciated.
Second the 2 links you provided I could not open up.

 

[Zepaholic]

I own one and love it.

If I had to do it again, I would buy it again. I would prefer if it had some extra amenities, but those always cost money and I would never have enough time to fully utilize those extras.

The little girl has never failed me, and I enjoy every second on her.

Thanks for opinion.

 

[k0ua]

Let me try this way

Kubota L3700SU Jerky 3pt Hitch - YouTube

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/233308-l3400-3-point-hitch-adjustment.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/270861-l3800-jerky-3pt.html

 

[murphy1244]

Those 3 links James posted are a must see before you buy.

 

[LD1]

Yep, check out the hitch. That is the ONLY complaint I have with mine.

They are a basic, no frills economy tractor. Everything I wanted, nothing I didnt. The more features a tractor has, the more potential for failures there are. At least thats how I look at it and one of my main reasons for getting the tractor I did.

Now.....how about you tell us a little about what you plan on doing with the tractor? Are you sure this is the size you want?

 

[Zepaholic]

Let me try this way

Kubota L3700SU Jerky 3pt Hitch - YouTube

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/233308-l3400-3-point-hitch-adjustment.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/270861-l3800-jerky-3pt.html

Hey I appreciated the links.

 

[Bluegill2]

I've had my L3800DT for 1-1/2 years and absolutely love the thing. Like said, it's a basic no frills tractor and that's exactly what I like in a tractor!

Mine sees most of it's use pulling a 5' cutter, log skidder (it's Great in the woods) and it does a fair bit of road work with box blade and loader.

My 3 pt hitch isn't quite a smooth as a Grand L, but not "jerky" either. Wouldn't have even checked it had I not read about that here.

All in all the L3800 has surpassed my expectations and I'd buy another today if needed. Actually I do need another larger tractor, but The L3800 is not going anywhere, it's just too handy.

Great rig for the money! And dang near bullet proof! :thumbsup:

 

[peterc38]

Well they are a good rugged economy tractor and many of the guys here are very happy with them.. They lack certain amenities. The most telling is the lack of telescoping 3pt lower links and stabilizers.

James K0UA

There is a Telescoping stabilizer kit. It is a dealer installed option. If you go to "Build my Kubota" it is listed. It is a $175 option. I have it on my L3200 and it works just fine.

 

[k0ua]

There is a Telescoping stabilizer kit. It is a dealer installed option. If you go to "Build my Kubota" it is listed. It is a $175 option. I have it on my L3200 and it works just fine.

Very true, and you can also retrofit the telescoping lower links from a Grand L as well as the stabilizers also. Or you can get one of the quick hitch aftermarket products to solve the entire problem.

 

[Bluegill2]

Mine has the Telescoping stabilizer links, they were on the rig when setting on the dealer's lot.

They are pretty nice!

 

[Tomtint]

I have a 3700SU, very similar to the 3800. 3PH is horrible if you are trying to fine tune your implement. As a analogy, it would be like hammering finish nails with a 10 pound sledge hammer. I also find the loader a bit lame, it may be because I'm accustomed to a Cat 246 skid steer. There have been several times I thought the L3700 should pick up something and it did not. Mine also had the pin break in the BH at about 20 hours. It was repaired under warranty but I still don't really trust it. On a scale from 1-10, I would give it a 6.

 

[Bluegill2]

The L3800 isn't a large tractor and for it's size it's perfect for what I do with this size rig. If one needs more, he needs to look at a larger tractor.

Tomtint, you might want to check the pressure of your hydro system, some are set low. I've been impressed with the lift capacity of mine!

 

[motocephalic]

I have the L3200 and about the only thing I don't like is the lack of the live PTO. The 3ph is smooth as silk on mine. Oh course I always want more bucket power but for what it does, it's an amazing little tractor.

 

[Bluegill2]

I have the L3200 and about the only thing I don't like is the lack of the live PTO. The 3ph is smooth as silk on mine. Oh course I always want more bucket power but for what it does, it's an amazing little tractor.

I started out looking at the L3200, but went with the L3800 because it has live PTO with 2 stage clutch. They really are an amazing little tractor!:thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

I started out looking at the L3200, but went with the L3800 because it has live PTO with 2 stage clutch. They really are an amazing little tractor!:thumbsup:

Ditto here, only a few years earlier. Was looking at the L2800, and dealer advised to make the jump to L3400 for not much more $$ for that very same reason...