L3130.Farmtrac360DTC,JD5103,etc..

[20acres]

20 acres, 6 wooded, 2 home area..will not use tractor. About 12 acres to tend to. Currently bushhogging the 12, moderate slopes, would say 8 acres fairly flat with 4 hilly and of that 1acre very sloped.
FEL work would make up less than 10% of use of time.
In future would like to fence in and raise some cows from spring to sell in fall. So bush hogging may cease in a couple of years.

With all of this I 've veiwed L3130wFel 17,200
Farmtrac 360DST (39HP/33Pto) (nice lifting specs) 18,000
5103 (2W) 16999
1533 MF 18500
Mahindra 3510 17900
Kioti DK35 17800

All with fel and no other attatchements. Gear drives on all with various differences most of you already are aware of I'm sure. HST is not that important to me. Reliability and Safety are primary concerns. Price is flexible within a 1-2K.
Kubota dealer is closest and probably trust the most.
will visit Farmtrac (Montana) later this week.

Any thoughts and suggestions will be welcome. Size of Tractors suggestions really appreciated as the more I look the more I seem to get confused.

I've enjoyed being a silent observer for the past 2 weeks.
Currently TO20 that is worn out. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[btownacres]

20acres-
From another new guy here, my advice is don't forget to look at the little things like which tractors offer detachable buckets, mid PTO's etc. I just went through the same decisions you are but needed a tractor one size smaller for my needs. The dealers also should have some input on that for you. I ordered my MF1531 HST, FEL, 6' rake, toothbar, forks, & loaded tires, last week. I found that on the size I needed, some of those goodies were not available. However, they're all good machines as I can see. I think you'll find the guys here to be very helpful as well. Good luck to you!

 

[20acres]

thanks btown for the reply, I took the liberty to look at your prior post, kinda makes ya feel a little better knowing others go through a similar process.
I'm struggling with the " get more HP at a lower cost" idea. The MF and Kubota dealerships are close with good reps. Others are a little further away. I know from those with expierience on this site, it seems having a good dealer is kinda the trump card. But If another dealer is 20M-30M away with 6-7HP more and same price do you go for the xtra power. It seems I can't get away from the PTO power thing as I've struggled with BH with the old TO 20 for a couple of years. Should the 5103 be in the picture? Lowest price 2wd but 50HP and 42+ on the PTO would make BH'ing a breeze. Of course I may need to upgrade my little 5' BH to handle the new tractor (more money again. lol)

I really liked the set up on the MF1533 laid out great. The L3130 is like riding a car. The Mahindra is a little to far away probaby as well as Kioti (30-40miles on both).

anyways thanks for the insight and reply as it is much appreciated from your neighbor down south.

 

[20acres]

Btown,
Then I see this Farmtrac with 39HP and 33at the PTO with 4W and now have to go see it. At what point did you stop the madness?
Or am I mad? Should you look at everything avaialble? It seems pricing for the tractors I'm looking at are all relatively close.

The L3130 grabbed me a week ago but then you start seeing 32HP and 25Pto compared to others higher at only slightly higher prices makes you stop and rethink. The Grand L did have some nice amenities I'm just wanting to make sure its enuff tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[DmansPadge]

Will you do your own maintenance? (oil changes, etc.) If you do I wouldn't sweat a dealer being 20-30 miles away. But if you take it in for everything (nothing wrong with that) the distance might be a factor.

I'm more partial to orange and red... but thats just me!

 

[EdKing]

I have a 360DTC (Its labeled a Landtrac, I purchased it before Long started labeling all their tractors Farmtrac) and it was some of the little extras, as well as the closeness (2 miles) of the dealerthat made me decide on it. I purchased the tractor in January of 2002, and after aproximately 850 hours I have no complaints. I run a 5 ft brush hog on mine and the tractor handles it well, so you can use your existing brush hog without problems. I also use a chipper/shredder, a log splitter, heavy 6 ft blade, 6 ft box blade, 2 bottom plow, 6 ft disks, and my latest attachment, a log skidding winch, all of which work well with the tractor. One thing to definitely check on the other models you are looking at, does that price include rear hydraulic remotes, or are they an option that costs extra ? The 360 comes standard with 2. I use a hydraulic top link when I am brush hogging, makes it easy to adjust the rear hight of the deck on the fly, like for mowing banks, and across small creeks. I don't think you will be disapointed with any of your listed choices, just wanted to give you the view of a happy 360 owner.

 

[Kiohio]

One thing I did notice about your choices, the L3130 is the least HP at 31. The 3430 may be a better tractor to use as a comparison. Same size unit, more HP.


KO

 

[20acres]

3430 is starting to get a little higher than wanting to spend.
TY though

Kinda narrowed search to 3 tractors with good local support.

L3130W523
MF1528 or 31 (seeing this afternoon)(again)
FarmTrac300DTC (15999)5140MFel

Drove Farm Trac this morning and only dislike was the view with Fel, seemed fel was in the way just a bit (sat up to high with the midmount location. Lift specs were good and so was price. Cab area not quite as refined. However I don't want to base decision on that as I'll probably on put 50Hrs or less a year on it.

Question will I notice a big drop off on the specs of HP and PTO power

L3130 32HP 25.5PTO
FarmT 30HP 26PTO
MF1528 28.4 24.5

Transmission diff L3130 8X8 sync
Farm Trac 12X12 syc
MF 9X3

Pricing 17200 Kubota
FarmTrac 15999
MF will work on this afternoon with test drive again.

Trying to decide this week and buy.
Thanks to all

 

[20acres]

TY EdKing,
Have you hand any problems with Hyd lines on bottom of tractor. One at dealership had rubbed against bottom edge frame of fel and was cuttng into it.
Ground clearence oK.

I'm gonna look hard at this on others this afternoon.
TY again.
15999 sound ok with 300DTC with 5140M fel. Tires filled and free delivery.

 

[billbill1]

I wouldn't be afraid of 30 miles from a dealer, at this point, which tractor seems to fit you the best and is the most comfortable to operate? All would do a good job for you.