L3540 or L3800 or CK35 ?

[stub]

I'm looking at moving up from my B7510HST with la302 loader and 60" MMM - 21hp (17 pto) to work on 30 acres of farmland we are buying.

On paper, I pretty much had my mind set on the Grand L frame, but I went and looked at one and they look HUGE to me, 6 feet wide with R4's, tall and long. But I haven't driven one yet. I saw at the dealer an L3800, which doesn't look as big, but it's missing all the GL features. I'm leery of the B series on lack of weight for dirt work. Also considering Kioti CK35.

Please comment on:

Will a Grand L shrink to a more comfortable size after I get some hours on it? Biggest tractor I've ever run is a Ford 8n 30 years ago.

R1's vs. R4's - R1's look awful thin, I'm afraid they'd just sink esp. on the front. Would R4's float better on softer ground? Lawn damage is not a concern, I mow around the house with a ztr.

Would an L3540 HST - 37 (28 pto) horsepower handle a 6 or 7' disk and/or 6' tiller, and a 6' rotary cutter? Are there any wider implement options for mowing? I don't want another MMM, too much hassle getting off and on.

The ground is flat tillable land, soil is heavy clay, it has drain tiles but gets pretty soft when it rains, which is most of the time it seems.

Uses for tractor:
1) Build and maintain fence for about 8 acres of pasture for horses
2) Plant and maintain 15 acres in WSG, add a few trees, horse trails, small food plot strips
3) Mowing pasture and trails a few times.
4) FEL work grading around future barn site, cleaning manure out of a lean-to, no stalls, drilling post holes, clearing brush and junk trees around the edges, cutting and hauling firewood
6) Pulling a small disk or tiller, and maybe a planter for the food plots
7) Help maintain 1/2 mile rock driveway.

thanks

 

[moship]

Stub,

A few months ago I moved up to a L3130 coming from a JD 750 about the size of the larger Kubota B2xxx. At first I thought it was too big, but after a few hours of use it is not an issue. Using my neighbors B9200 felt too small after experiencing the L. So yes, shrinkage will occur.

I went with the L3x30 because of the frame size and just overall stout of everthing relative to the smaller series. The extras on the Grand series seem over the top, but I hate to admit they are very nice to have. Tilt steering, comfortable seat, extra larger user platform, telescoping 3 pt lower arms, even the digital dash is neat. The newer L3x40 are even nicer.

Not qualified to answer your other questions as I have no experience mowing or tending to stalls.

If buying a FEL: Get one with the skid steer quick attach even if you have no immediate need to change front implements.

 

[art]

You aren't the first person who was intimidated from the size of the tractor but they do get smaller as you get used to them.

I'd think that the Grand L would be an awsome tractor that could do all the work you described. I feel the standard model L-3800 would do equally as well with the sizes of equipment you mentioned.

Kubota tractors have some of the smallest turning circles in the industry so manuverablity is a plus with them. the industrial tires will give better floation so the rutting would be less then an ag tire in your situation.

 

[ejkessler]

I owned a a L3540 for 2 1/2 years and just replaced it with a L3940 cab. The 3540 is a great machine and everything you describe sounds to me like it would handle it fine.

I like the R-4's though they will not do as well in straight mud or clay for traction they do float better, but they are bullet proof and don't tear up the lawn should you need to drive on there. Having clay like you do seriously going with the R-1's deserves careful consideration for traction vs flotation.

They make 84" mowing decks but I advise against it unless it is purely for pasture, you will scalp a lot even with the 72". I tried mowing my lawn which is fairly flat with a 72" rear finish mower when I first got it and switched after the first season. Went to a zero turn. It's not practical as a lawn mower IMO. Field and pasture mowing yes, just doesn't make sense to me to be using a 4000 pound plus machine on the yard.

6' disc would probably be fine, 7' in clay I have my doubts.

The 3800 are nice machines as basic units. If you decide to go to using a BH you will be limited to the BH77 as opposed to either the BH77 or BH92 with the 3540.

The loader specs on the 3540 are considerably better than the 3800 also. If the maneuverability is not an issue with the loader work I do not believe you will regret the bigger machine. Rarely do people regret that especially with everything you describe doing.

To get the features of the Grand L which are NICE!!! You will need to stay that series. The 3240 is the same frame, engine and chassis just bored smaller in displacement. The 3940 and 4240 are bigger and so on. If I had originally purchased the cab model in a 3540 I would have kept it.

I don't wish to comment on the Kioti specifics. They are good tractors in their own class but IMO you would be better served with Grand L series for what you want.

 

[TripleR]

I operate a L5030 and M8540 and after a few ours they do tend to shrink. I was really a little reluctant to get the L5030 even though I drive bigger tractors, it just "seemed" bigger than I needed, but it has turned out great.

Unfortunately on many if not most tractors, unless you are willing to pay extra, you will often wind up with a narrower Ag tire than you may want. Some people opt for aftermarket tires worked into the trade. I like Industrials on my L5030 and Ags on our M8540.

To me the "extras" on the GL are well worth it after looking at other models.

As to the implements, it depends on your usage and type of equipment, light, medium, heavy duty. I have a RCR2672 Land Pride I use on my L5030 and would not want the weight on a smaller tractor and I need the power to cut the stuff I do, but it is pretty tough. Same goes for a disk, different angles, weights etc.

The L3540 sounds like a good fit, just don't overload it.

Someone on here has given good advice and I will plagiarize. Determine the tasks you intend to do and implements needed then pick the tractor that will handle them. "Without implements a tractor is just a slow ride to the mail box."

 

[LD1]

I'll give you my thoughts here.

The CK35 and the L3800 compare nicely. There isnt much difference at all in the important specs like weight, loader lict, 3PH lift, etc.

The GL3540 is considerabally bigger though. Which will make it exell over the other two for ALL loader and ground engaging tasks.

However, since you mention a 6' cutter AND a 6' tiller, I would personally want a little more power than the 3540 offers. If it isn't TOO much more, I'd consider the 3940 or 4240 in the GL line-up. They arent any bigger physically, but offer more HP. And the 4240 you get the MUCH stronger 854 loader.

But if you are considering the L3800, it seems you are at least considering a tractor without all the bells and whistles of a GL series. So I would consider a L4400 as well. Physical size is about the same as a 3540 that you mention, comparable lifting specs as well, but a good bit more HP than the 3540 for those 6' implements.

Also, if lawn isn't a concern, forget the R4's. Get the ags. Nuf' said.:thumbsup:

 

[bigbull338]

with what all your wanting todo,id look at going up to a mx4400 or mx4700 both less than 50hp tractors.

 

[crazyal]

I love my 4240. It does look big but when on it I can see the corners very easily, and that's what really matters. Since getting it I now snow blow my walkway. I can easily get within inches of things like steps or around cars. It feels like the bucket on the FEL is a little far away but I think that's never caused me any problems the few times I've used it, I just haven't used it much yet.

I would get the ag tires if your ground gets slippery. They will dig in a bit and make a rut but, at least around here, the R4s clog up and just spin. After all it's a tractor and neither it nor the tires go fast so traction is what powers you though mud. I don't know how much, if at all, smaller the ag tires are on the 3540 compared to mine but I've never had an issue of being too narrow and sinking. I will say this, the front ag tires do not look like they will handle the weight like the R4 tires will. So if heavy fel is something you plan on doing then I would get the R4s.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree with others who say that you'll get used to the larger size. It will stop being intimidating pretty quickly but you'll still have to deal with the limited manuverability etc compared to the smaller tractor.

I also agree that the CK35 compares reasonably with the L3800 although the Kioti has a few extra features. The Kioti equivalent in horsepower, size and lux features to the L3540 is the DK35se. The DK has the same generation HST as the L3800 though. The cost equivalent Kioti to the L3540 is probably the DK40se which has more hp and lots more loader and weight/size. I've owned a DK40se for three+ years and am very happy with it.

 

[teg]

...I also agree that the CK35 compares reasonably with the L3800...

How the 3ph? Is it smooth? That would be the deal breaker for the L3800. :2cents: