Price Check L3400HST Price / Usage / Sanity check

[ArmsOutWide]

I'm just about to take the plunge on a new tractor, which will be my first machine larger than a lawn and garden tractor. I'm hoping you guys can help me out (I've been lurking around for the last week, learning as much as possible as quick as I can).

Property/usage specs:
10 acres, ~6 acres of tall grass/weeds needs rough mowing. The rest is rocks/trees/pond.
Plenty of dirt and rocks to re-arrange (10 years of honey-dos at least).
Neighborhood dirt/gravel road (1/2 mile) that washes out a lot that needs regrading several times a year (and being tractorless, I've not taken my turn at it yet).
~5/8 mile of fence / fence posts to put in at some point
Maybe some snow/ice removal if needed (I live in NE Oklahoma)

Based on a neighbor's recommendation I started looking at Kubotas (he loves his L2900). Based on my budget and lot size, I'm leaning strongly towards a new L3400HST with the matched front end loader, R4 tires, 5.5' box blade, and 5' brush cutter.

I read nearly all the posts here on TractorByNet about the 3pt hitch problem, the PTO cable problem and the PTO cam problem. All those seem to be fixed in the tractors currently coming out of the factory, which is why (plus the 3yr 0% financing) I'm going new instead of used. My sales-guy has assured me that these issues are fixed now and said if I had a problem with anything that they would take care of it.

So:
Question 1: Am I picking the right tractor for my needs?
Question 2: Am I sane for picking up the 3400HST after reading all those threads? Is everything really good now?
Question 3: Is the following a decent quote? It chews up 99.99% of my tractor budget so I want to be sure it is a fair deal. (I might get $200 knocked off of the tractor if the shipping can get split with someone else)

L3400HST (R4 tires) with FEL - $16,800
Rhino 160 mower (5 foot) with front/rear chains - $1,500
5.5' Rhino box blade - $500
Post hole digger - borrowed from neighbor!​

Thanks in advance for your feedback - I feel that I'll be asking a lot of questions around here before too long, as this is by far the best place on the web for talking tractors that I've been able to find.

 

[canoetrpr]

All tractors - every brand and probably every model will have the odd issue that surfaces. Some will be widespread, others not. Some will be major and most will be minor. It is the nature of the beast when dealing with anything that is a machine.

The L3400 or Kubota is not immune from this. When you put it in perspective and compare to the odd issues that have come up with other brands/tractors in the past, IMHO the L3400 issues are minor.

I'm not trying to belittle any unresolved problem that anyone is currently dealing with. Kubota and the dealer need to address these if they come up.

The biggest problem BY FAR with the L3400 has been the arrogant attitude and poor communication skills of Kubota when they deal with a customer that is unhappy with something. The jerky 3 PT was unacceptable - that it was there is one thing - what was really the problem was that so many people got the run around and the "economy tractor" rhetoric and how different each area's warranty service seemed to be on this.

Remember that all problems of any type with any make or model seem amplified on the internet. This doesn't make it less important for Kubota to appropriately resolve customer complaints without taking a "well... you are a cheapskate so you get a jerky valve" attitude. You do need to keep things in perspective and remember that there are a LOT of people that are using the "economy" tractors, quite successfully and with no problems at all.

Personally, if I had to do it over, I would go for the Grand L3540. I think that a LA723 loader with QA, extra weight, slightly larger frame, telescopic 3PT, better seat etc. etc.. features would be worthwhie for ME. That doesn't mean that my L3400 (with the new valve - but original PTO CAMs) isn't doing exactly what I expected it to and that I am unhappy with it. It's been good, reliable and is a nice simple machine that will probably serve me well for along time to come.

If I was someone who was plagued with some incessant problem with the L2800/L3400 I would feel differently - so you have to keep things in perspective.

Also given that you are going for a new tractor on what is now a pretty mature platform any known issues - big or small - have already been addressed.

Just MHO - and worth every penny you paid for it.

 

[teg]

I would look for a tractor company that *will* stand behind ALL their tractors... whether it's a "Standard" tractor or not.


_

 

[TalonDancer]

Welcome to TBN. After reading your post throughly and thinking about it quite hard, I regret to tell you that you are almost certainly....

... SANE

Fortunately that can be changed, if you hang around here enough

I'll let the L3400 owners address specifics of your task list vs an L3400. But in general it seems that the L3400 would be a very good match.

If you can beg, borrow or whine enough to the CFO i'd recommend looking at the lower Grand Ls. FWIW I originally though the difference was just "bells and whistles". After 70+hrs of seat time in the last 2 months, I've realized how much the HST Plus tranny, heavier duty QA FEL and easier to attach/adjust 3 Point add to the value for me.

Since you mention "rocks to re-arrange"...
I've been "re-arranging" some pretty big rocks (individual rocks barely fit in my FEL bucket) to build a landscape feature. I use the FEL to pop the large rocks out of the limestone ledge and carry them to a flat area where I drop them onto 4x4 stringers. Then I use the FEL QA to switch to the pallet fork which allows me to precisely place them along the edge of a "dry creek" with little or no manual lifting, shoving, straining, cussing.... well there is still _some_ cussing

Talon Dancer

 

[clenhart]

ArmsOutwide

I have the L2800 HST and after having the 3pt. valve changed to alleviate the jerky operation, I have been very happy with my tractor. I have 350 hrs. on it and use it for finish mowing about 3.5 acres, shredding with a 5ft. cutter, plowing a vegetable garden, and lots of dirt work. I wish I had gotten the 3400 for the extra HP when cutting some of the tall, tough southern grasses we have here, but otherwise have not seen where the extra HP is necessary. I considered upgrading to an L3540, but really for what I am doing the extra weight and size would in some cases be a liability instead of an asset.

Overall I am very happy with my tractor and would not hesitate to buy a new 2800/3400 now.

This is just my opinion, but that's all I have to offer

Chip

 

[bradyky]

We love the L3400s and sell more of those than anything else in our line-up. However, with current programs, you can get into an L3240 shuttle tractor for around the same money as your L3400 hydro quote. The biggest difference is the hydraulic lift capacity of the L3240 (not to mention the seat, deluxe hitch, digital dash, etc.). The hydro is available also but adds in another $1400 or so. Also, the problems have been fixed. The L3400s and L2800s are very reliable. The L-40 series will give you more capability to move those really big rocks, but I am not sure that is what you are after.

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

I purchased a new L3400 HST/w loader this summer and love it. The problems suggested here have been addressed and this is a very reliable machine. The prices you quote look right and this machine will do all you intend to accomplish. This is my first Kubota and I have been very pleased. If you use a tractor the way I use mine it will from time to time need some repairs! That is why we call them tractors.

 

[ArmsOutWide]

Thanks for the feedback!

I'd love to take a serious look at something a bit larger / nicer / more expensive, but my wish list started at the L2800DT, so I've already "upgraded" twice by my wife's estimation by getting my quotes on the L3400HST. And now I'm just $400 shy of what I spent on my wife's car this summer (2007 Kia Sedona, bought with 24k on it - safest minivan out there and it runs great) and I don't dare go a penny past it!

Given that I'm teetering at the top of my budget, and my complete tractor newbieness, I'm just happy to see that I'm probably sqeezing the most tractor I can out of what I have available to spend.

 

[TalonDancer]

...I'm just $400 shy of what I spent on my wife's car this summer (2007 Kia Sedona, bought with 24k on it - safest minivan out there and it runs great) and I don't dare go a penny past it!...

Now you know why you should have bought her a more expensive vehicle

Seriously, the L3400HST is a very nice, very capable tractor that will serve you well for many years. And unlike minivans, you can always upgrade it one implement at time

FWIW I originally planned to buy an L3400HST. But lucky for me, my CFO had spent more on her own vehicle. So I had a little more wiggle room

Talon Dancer

 

[Double Orange]

Go For It !!
Nice WORK HORSE!!
Remember TBN Rule #5 Don't loan it out!