L3010 pricing/Woods backhoe

hayden · Aug 18, 2001

Painful decisions - I feel your suffering. There actually is some rational behind the bigger, bigger, bigger mentality since it costs a lot more to replace a smaller tractor or implement that to get the bigger one in the first place, and people seem to discover with surprising frequency after a year or two of use that their tractor etc is too small. We'll spare the psycho analysis about men, things that they perceive to be too small, and compensating actions, and stay on the topic of tractors.

For Backhoes in particular I can offer some suggestions. I've had some seat time with three hoes, a Woods 6500, a Kubota 4690 (essentially equivalent to the woods 7500), and a woods 9000. To me seat time means a day or more of digging, so I'm not a pro. I would not recommend the 6500 other than as an act of lost resort. It's just too small and requires constant repositioning of the tractor. If you are a very occational user, then maybe, but that also really calls into question the cost effectiveness of owning verses buying.

The 4690 is much more usable, as I expect the woods 7500 would be. It's still a small hoe and only digs so fast and only can reach so far, but that's what's expected.

I reciently had the chance to use a friends woods 9000 (on a L3710). The extra reach is nice. The extra bucket size is nice. Both make for faster work. Can it do something the 4990 or 7500 couldn't do? I don't think so other than digging depth.

If you are going to be digging for frost walls, pulling stumps, trenches, planting trees - pretty much anything other than digging a full basement, the 4690/7500 will do it - just slower. It might even work for a full basement if you had the time.

Now that I've blabbed on here, it's probably all moot in your case. According to the literature for the 3010, it only takes up to the 4690, so I don't think it will support the woods 9000, but it's worth checking. But now you'll have to think about upgrading to a 3710 or higher so you can handle the 9000. Oops, sorry, we're right back where we started.

hayden · Aug 18, 2001

For what you describe, the woods 7500 or kubota 4690 would be fine. I also don't see anything in your list that requires lots of tractor HP, so the 3010 might be OK, but try to imagine stuff in the future. Want to run a snow blower, chipper, big brush hog? These use HP much more so than a hoe or FEL.

For lots of bucket work, I'd suggest gettign the biggest bucket you can and get loaded rear tires for better stability, traction, and counterbalance.

Also, some people have found 4 in 1 buckets very useful for pulling and hauling brushy stuff like you describe so you might consider that too for a bucket.

Peter

Tinmann · Aug 19, 2001

I personally bought the 3710 last year along with the Bradco509 backhoe. I wondered about the justification of buying such an expensive piece of equipment myself. But now I would do it again in a heart beat! I don't like relying on someone to show up with a backhoe to do a small job. There are no rentals where I am located so hiring someone is the only choice. I felt having my own would let me do the jobs at my own pace. I was correct in that it is easy to start and stop when one wants to. I couldn't be without it now. The 509 is plenty large enough for the tractor but I also would not want one that is smaller. I can't really see buying a 609 just for the extra foot of digging depth. That extra foot really costs a lot! Be sure to look to the future since you really don't want to be in the position of wishing you had spent a little more for the correct size tractor. You are the only one that can make this decision. You don't want to have to buy a second one.

Kelago · Aug 19, 2001

Gentlemen:

There ain't nothin' like introducing yet more variables to make a difficult decision more so. Yet, this is exactly what I am looking for: the benefit of your knowledge and experiences.

Yesterday's visit to Kubota dealer # 2 yielded another quote; this time with a Woods 9000 (subframe mount) for the L3010 (an increase in cost of $1,500). If I do decide on a backhoe, however, considering everything that has been said, I think I'll stick with the 7500; after all, I'm not going to be digging the next Suez Canal. One thing that keeps recurring in these discussions is the notion I should consider going bigger and better; (the value of which I don't dispute). I could go to a 3710 with a Woods 9000 or even a Bradco, but then, what's to stop me from thinking about graduating to an L4610, for instance? I have to draw a line somewhere and that line is conveniently drawn by my budget (25K). In other words, I've got to get the most for my money. When spending that kind of money, it's easy to talk one's self into spending a bit more; after all, what's two grand when you're spending 25? But, that's a slippery slope because there's always something bigger and better for a thousand or two more than that... ad infinitum...

Interesting theme because it now brings me to the Deere 4300, which I also saw yesterday. This machine is seemingly in the power class of an L3010. Of course, I'm still very new at all this, so I may be a bit off in the comparison. Nonetheless, this is an elegant machine. There wasn't much I didn't like about it. Problem is: it's $2,000 more than the L3010; which means I would have to give up on the idea of the backhoe; (interesting: according to this particular dealer, everything's a priced option; including 4WD, a "dual" valve involved in operating the FEL and the ROPS!). Moreover, bringing the Deere into the equation increases the decision/confusion factor by 10... And to hear the Deere dealer talk about Kubotas and the Kubota dealer sound off on the Deere; well, it only adds to the chaos; (though it was worth the price of admission). Hopefully, some of the questions will be answered when the dealers bring their respective machines out to my place for a day's tryout, which they both volunteered to do. That should be telling and I will be sure to tell everyone the outcome. Please keep those cards and letters coming... and thanks everyone...

(note to glennmac: your view of the PTO pump is shared by both dealers, as well as a local Kubota owner. I'm now leaning in that direction, thanks. And Hayden, thanks for the 4 in 1 bucket idea, yet another worthy option to investigate).

Kelago

HR_Mutt · Aug 19, 2001

Kelago
I looked long and hard at the L3710,came very close to buying one. Did some more research,TBN, dealers, misc. web sites, etc. and ended up with the L4610.In all the projects I've used it for I Never wished for the smaller tractor.You've read it in here before...Bigger is Better/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.My personal opinion is you could have the L4610 w/FEL and do your projects for less $$ than backhoe equipped L3710.
regards
Mutt

Kelago · Aug 20, 2001

Mutt:

Thanks. I am sure an L4610 is better than an L3010, but as I've said in previous posts, I have to draw the line somewhere and this is where I have chosen to draw it. My dilemma right now is between the Deere and the Kubota. Notwithstanding my "attraction" to the Deere, I'm leaning toward the Kubota for several reasons, though I am definitely open to being convinced otherwise.

Kelago