L2800 enough power?

[DanielTerence]

I recently ordered a Kubota L2800 with HST, FEL and a 6ft brush hog. We have 47 acres, 1/4 mile gravel drive, 4 overgrown pastures, and a barn full of manure. After I ordered, I discoverd these forums. Now I am worried that the tractor may be underpowered for my needs. What is that the L2800 can't do that the L3400 could?

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I'm thinking that 22.5 PTO HP may not be enough to use the 6' rotary cutter for anything but light cutting. What's the minimum HP recommended for your cutter?

 

[ronjhall]

A 6' brush hog may be on the large size for a L2800HST. I would want a L3400 to run it.

 

[Henro]

With 47 acres I would go bigger.

Many of us here have tractors similar to the L2800 on properties about 10% the size of yours and don't regret it.

I suppose it depends on what you want to do though. If you own 47 acres, but only want to deal with a couple of them, and let the rest in the natural state that would be one thing. If you want to improve and work most of your property in one way or another that is another thing.

<font color="blue"> What is that the L2800 can't do that the L3400 could? </font>

The bigger tractor will just do more faster than the little tractor. But it will also do more slowly. I mean, it will have more pull, more lift on the loader, and so on IF YOU NEED IT. Maybe you won't need it.

But is seems to me that once we get our tractors, we find that more is usually better when it comes to working them. You WILL find ways to work the tractor you buy if you intend to utilize those 47 acres I bet...

That being said, every tractor is a worker and will work many times harder than you would by yourself. You will not be sorry regardless of what you buy. The key is to match your needs with your first purchase, and to avoid having to do it a second time, which costs a bit extra.

Good luck in your decision to either keep what you ordered or change to something bigger.

If it were me...I would go bigger rather than smaller...

 

[Fredex]

My choice would be 50-60 hp utility tractor for 47 acres.

 

[DanielTerence]

My mistake, it's a 5 ft. International brush hog. I don't know the PTO HP requirement, it's what the dealer recommended.

Another question, can the FEL pickup a bucket full of gravel? I'd like to maintain my driveway.

 

[simie]

My L2800 4wd was delivered today (!!!!). I fretted over power, but I think this will be fine. Granted, more power is always handy, but you have to stop somewhere. I have 40 acres, mostly hill. Only about 10 acres will be maintained.

 

[solo169]

You can search the threads for L2800 and get the details. I bought an L2800HST and traded it in a day later for an L3400HST. I say the L2800 is underpowered for its size. The 6 extra ponies is definetley worth the extra $$$$$!

 

[canoetrpr]

Daniel:

Without a doubt, if I were you I would move over to the L3400.

That said you will probably be able to do the things you want with the L2800 but those extra 6 horses WILL help - especially when bush hogging in taller grass etc.

Heck, if budget was not the limit, with the amount of land you have, you really can't go too big.

The price difference between the L3400 and the L2800 is worth it IMHO for the extra power. You will get the extra dough back even in 10 years if you plan to trade in or sell.

You might even consider moving up to a 6ft bush hog if you want with the L3400 - if you have a lot of pasture to bush hog. I have the L3400 and a 5ft Woods bush hog. Can't wait to use the darn thing. Certainly looks to me like this tractor would handle a 6ft std duty hog just fine and if I were to do it again I probably woudl have gone with a 6ft.

Make sure you get enough ballast to handle a bucket of gravel. I've got a ballast box and I am considering getting the tires filled as well.

 

[wushaw]

I have the L2800 and 12 acres, with 47 I would go for more HP.

 

[billdorn]

Everyone keeps saying your going to get more "power" & "lift" ?

can someone explain this too me. I have a brochure in front of me & it looks like they have the same loader to me with the same specs for lift? i dont think more horsepower is going to make a loader lift more? correct? I'm no expert, but isnt the FEL controlled by the hydraulic pump & they both have about the same output in flow through the pump.

I just put money down on a l2800 yesterday & have been wondering if i should get the l3400 instread. I will be doing a lot of digging & stump removal & dirt moving. will never be doing mowing, which is why the salesman recommended the l2800, he said i would never use the extra horsepower unless i had large implements running off of the PTO like a big mower in tall grass.

if this isnt true i would like to know ASAP, so i can call the dealer before its too late.

thanks,

 

[JerryG]

The biggest problem that I would have with the L2800 would be the transmission driven PTO. That wouldn't be a problem with a hydro, but would be a major problem on the gear drive models. You did say that you don’t expect to mow, so the PTO shouldn’t matter either way.

 

[billdorn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The biggest problem that I would have with the L2800 would be the transmission driven PTO. That wouldn't be a problem with a hydro, but would be a major problem on the gear drive models. You did say that you don’t expect to mow, so the PTO shouldn’t matter either way. )</font>

thanks, i am getting the Hydro, what implements use the most horsepower? I am thinking about a wood splitter & 5ft brush hog. I said i wont be mowing, but i will occasionally, mostly just spring brush growth, only a small area of grass until i get it smoothed out enough to use a riding lawn mower & then i will put something in there to eat the grass eventually because i hate mowing.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> what implements use the most horsepower? </font>
If grass is tall and thick it will take all of the hp that the tractor can muster. If you have a PTO powered tiller if can also take a large amount of power in heavy and / or packed soil.