L2800 vs. L3400 vs. L3130

[LSUalum]

I've been reading these forums for awhile, but I finally decided to register and post. First of all, right now I have a Kubota L175 that has done everything I have ever asked of it, but I need to upgrade due to more needs.
I'm in the market for a ~30hp, 2WD tractor that will be used for mowing 3 acres and for using around our small horse farm. The mowing is probably going to amount for about 75% of the use, while clipping 6 acres of pastures, spreading fertilizers, moving round hay bales, and grading gravel driveways will take up the rest of the time. We are starting to build our new house very soon, so I want to make sure I buy something versatile enough to do all the jobs that will need to be tackled once the house is finished (Landscaping, dirt spreading, etc.....)
Honestly, I started out thinking I was going to go with a JD 790, but after looking at the specs on lift capacities and such, then I started leaning toward the Kubotas.
Visited the dealer today and looked at all three mentioned above, he even had a JD 790 to compare to (He is a JD & Kubota dealer). The size of the L2800 & the L3400 seemed perfect for what I was looking for, but the L3130 seemed a little too big. Not so much being bulking, but I am worried about the extra weight of the 3130 for mowing our lawn.
Pricing seems pretty much in line: It was roughly $9500 for the L2800 and a $1000 more as you went up to the L3400, then another $1000 for the L3130.
Dollar for dollar, the L3130 seems like the best tractor for the money, but I'm just concerned with the weight . FYI....all of these will be setup with R4s.

Any advice or comments are welcome.
Thanks,

 

[psdx]

If weight is a concern (as it was for me also), perhaps you should also consider the B-series. The B3030 has more power, more lift and greater FEL height than the JD 790 and lighter as well. The B7800 has the same power and FEL capabilities with fewer bells & whistles for about $1800 less, therefore less money than the JD 790. They are both 30 hp. Good luck with your search.

 

[art]

Coming from the 175 which is most like the 2800 for features I think any of them would work fine for you but the 3400 would be a step up and then one more step up in features to the 3130. Depending on operators you could find that the 3130 is the most operator freindly. As far as the weight for mowing, some lawns can handle it and some can't depending on the soil condition. To think that some of the zero turn mowers are pushing 2000lbs it is getting to be a problem in some areas.

 

[SteveA]

Our L3130 is a great machine for our needs so far. While weight was not a concern for us I was (like everyone else here) was looking for the best bang for my buck.
We settled on the 3130 due to the extra whistles and bells but mostly due to the increase in FEL capacity. The price difference we were quoted for the 3400 and the 3130 was minimal so we went with the "upgraded" model.

 

[machmeter62]

I have a L-175 that I use for my orchard spraying only. I also have a JD-790 4x4 that I use for light loader work and pull a 5' box scraper. As you mentioned the tractor has it weakness on each end with limited lift/height on the loader, and the three point will only lift 800#. I have a 2004 L-2800 in my fleet with the LA463 loader which is more capable then the JD. But the Kubota has a shortcoming also; the "quarter-inching valve", on the three point, which will jerk on the up cycle when trying to lift slowly. It makes grading a (PITA)! In fact, there were so many complaints about it, that Kubota upgraded it to the infinite positiion valve for free! If you decide on the Kubota, the new ones may have that valve installed already. Unless you get the HST transmission, the basic difference between the L-2800/L-3400 is hp/ clutch. You will always run out of traction before hp. If a bushhog is going to be one of the implements; they require 5 hp/ft of width. The L-3400 has the overriding/ two position one allowing you to stop the tractor without stopping the PTO implement. The additional HP will cost you $1100+-. The R-4 tires cost more than the R-1's, but will treat your lawn better also. What ever you buy, get the 4x4; it is money in the bank if you ever try to sell it. With a home under construction it will also make it worth while. The 3130 is a nice tractor, but maybe a little more confining around the worksite of your home, or more tractor than you need. Good luck on your choice.

 

[machmeter62]

I've been reading these forums for awhile, but I finally decided to register and post. First of all, right now I have a Kubota L175 that has done everything I have ever asked of it, but I need to upgrade due to more needs.
I'm in the market for a ~30hp, 2WD tractor that will be used for mowing 3 acres and for using around our small horse farm. The mowing is probably going to amount for about 75% of the use, while clipping 6 acres of pastures, spreading fertilizers, moving round hay bales, and grading gravel driveways will take up the rest of the time. We are starting to build our new house very soon, so I want to make sure I buy something versatile enough to do all the jobs that will need to be tackled once the house is finished (Landscaping, dirt spreading, etc.....)
Honestly, I started out thinking I was going to go with a JD 790, but after looking at the specs on lift capacities and such, then I started leaning toward the Kubotas.
Visited the dealer today and looked at all three mentioned above, he even had a JD 790 to compare to (He is a JD & Kubota dealer). The size of the L2800 & the L3400 seemed perfect for what I was looking for, but the L3130 seemed a little too big. Not so much being bulking, but I am worried about the extra weight of the 3130 for mowing our lawn.
Pricing seems pretty much in line: It was roughly $9500 for the L2800 and a $1000 more as you went up to the L3400, then another $1000 for the L3130.
Dollar for dollar, the L3130 seems like the best tractor for the money, but I'm just concerned with the weight . FYI....all of these will be setup with R4s.

Any advice or comments are welcome.
Thanks,

To get the most utilization out of your investment; you will save money now buy also getting the loader! It is a Hi- Tech wheelbarrow that will save your back and add years to your health when you start your home. The loader can also be a bargaining chip for the whole package.

 

[gone2dawgs]

Is this a great site or what?

I am getting ready to buy my first ever tractor. I have an very large track loader clearing out about 4 to 6 acres right now as I write this. I have about 1/4 mile of gravel driveway to maintain in central VA. I have many more acres of woods up a steep hill and I hope to get a few additional acres (2 to 4) eventually as I reclaim the woods back to sloped pasture.

So here I am, wondering what tractor to buy. I need a machine to perform the final grade on the land after the monster Cat 953 has finished. A box scapper for sure and maybe rent a disc to prepare the red clay for the scrapper. I will be working on hills so I am confused about the HP vs. weight issue. What tires to buy; AG for the final grade but maybe I need the Industrial tires for the long term?

For the first couple of years, I will be ussing the FEL to collect all the debris the CAT has left (what will not burn). I hope to drag a disc around to break up the soil, move it about with a scrapper, before I lay seed. I will always be pulling out roots and stumps from small (less then 5 inch diameter) trees. I have no idea if AG tires wll destroy the grass I hope to have or maybe it is safer to go with Industrial tires?

I have narrowed it down to L2800, L3400, or L3130. It seems to me the L3400is the best bang for the buck (1,000 more than the L2800), but the L3130 sure is pretty! But why is the L3130 so much heavier (about 800 lbs.) than the L2800? Is it TOO heavy to pull a box scrapper up a hill with the FEL and filled tires?

Any comments would be helpfull. Thank you.

 

[LSUalum]

The weight is my only issue L3130. I would sure hate to get it and it be too heavy to mow my lawn without cutting ruts. The R4s should help, but 800lbs more than the 3400 is a lot. I have a neighbor with a JD 870, which is the same weight as the Kubota L3400 and it does not mark his yard up at all even with R1s.

Anyone with firsthand experience with the L3130 and mowing a lawn, please chime in.

 

[SwampGuy]

I just had the same decision to make and chose the 3130. I would have gone with the 2800, but I didn't like the tran driven pto. People say you get used to it, but I liked the live pto on the 3400. I was going to for it, but wanted the skidsteer type quick attach plate for the loader. Kubota doesn't make that style for the 3400, but you can add after market parts to make your loader skid steer compatible. By the time I added those parts ($1400), the L3130 was actually a few bucks cheaper since it currently has a rebate on the 2006 models.

What I've found out about tires is that if you think you are going to be operating in slippery and soft conditions get the R1s. The R4's will be much nicer on your final yard. If you switch tires later you are in for a big bite out of the wallet.

Lastly, weight on a tractor helps with traction. More weight generally means more traction. There are some interesting discussion on TBN which revolve around this very topic.

 

[LSUalum]

Thanks for the advice, Swampguy. Since you did a lot of comparisons on the 3400 vs. the 3130, then can you give me any other reasons why you chose the 3130? I do like the flat deck, but it doesn't make that much difference to me. Since I'm going 2wd and gear trans, then I don't see many other differences between the 3400 and the 3130, until we get back to the weight issue. I will probably head to the dealership on Monday and drive them both again.
Thanks again for all the replies....