L3560 vs L4060 from L3200

[s219]

I am seriously kicking tires and thinking about upgrading from my L3200 to a Grand L open station tractor. I had sort of decided the L4060 was about right, to get a notable increase in power and capability over my L3200, but I looked at one today and my gut impression is that it's just too big. That leads me to consider an L3560, but I can't find one anywhere to look at to judge how much smaller it would be than the L4060 or how it compares to my L3200.

I know a bunch of folks have gone from an L3200/3800 to the 3560 and 4060 Grand L models, and am wondering if you can give me a feel for the relative size of the three platforms.

I priced the L3560 with the bigger LA805 front loader that the L4060 gets, again to get a notable increase from my L3200, as the smaller standard LA555 loader on the 3560 isn't much better than my LA524. As equipped, the price jump from the L3560 to L4060 is pretty small relatively speaking, so the 4060 does seem to be a better value to me. But it really seems too huge for the areas I need to maneuver in. I don't get that impression sitting at the wheel, but walking up to the tractor and standing near it makes it seem obvious it's going to be cumbersome around parts of my property.

I'll need bigger implements either way, so no real difference there.

thanks,
219

 

[jeff9366]

I had a Kubota B3300SU, tractor-loader package, purchased new. After 400 engine hours decided I needed more FEL lift and more weight for stability. Sold the B3300SU and purchased my current L3560 with LA 805 FEL + SSQA L2296 HD/RB Bucket.

I spend considerable time doing trail and 'commons' maintenance in my 400 acre, upscale residential community. I purchased the B3300SU for its ability to power a 60" Bush Hog while still passing between closely spaced trees, especially Oaks. Once I decided I needed more weight, my research showed to go from 1,929 pounds, bare tractor, to 3,494 pounds, bare tractor, only increased width from 58" to 60". I never considered a L4060/4760/5060/5460/6060 because of the increase in width to 66.5", 10% additional, which I knew was going to limit my passage between trees frequently.

So, yes, the L3560 is more compact than the larger Grand L's, which share a single chassis. And, yes, it feels more compact than the larger Grand L's. For me and my woods conditions, the L3560 has a perfect size and the larger Grand L's would be cumbersome with the incremental weight being slightly better but the 10% greater width a BIG impediment.

The LA805 lift is great. I have air filled R4s. When not doing Three Point Hitch work I routinely carry a 60" / 700 pound ETA Cultipacker on the Three Point Hitch as counterbalance. Cultipacker is a compact, easy to mount, implement which milti-functions well as ballast. When I anticipate heavy FEL lifts I mount my 60" / 625 pound Rollover Box Blade as counterbalance. While not as heavy as the Cultipacker, the ROBB protrudes farther to the rear and provides more effective ballast. Most of my FEL loads are dead trees and tree debris. I am prone to cut the trees into 1,000 pound loads for the FEL, or to drag them from the rear/center Drawbar, rather than lift 2,000 pound loads with the FEL, however sometimes the one ton lift of the LA805 comes in handy.

With the LA805 I suggest you order the L2296 SSQA Heavy-Duty, Round-Back Bucket in lieu of the default bucket.

The quiet engine, telescoping Lower Links and pinned stabilizers, and the multiple good features included in the HST/PLUS transmission, of which Stall Guard may be the best, are a blessing to my aging body every day.

Money well spent.



TractorData.com Kubota B3300SU tractor information

 

[s219]

If the 3560 is a little bit bigger than my L3200 with improved FEL capability and deluxe features, it would be exactly what I want. I suspect I may need to upgrade to a wider box blade (current is 60") and wider rear blade (current is 72") in order to cover the tire tracks on the 3560, but that's not a big deal.

I would prefer to have more power -- I'm thinking at least 40HP for the weight -- but will reserve judgment on that one until I can test drive a 3560. The dealer I talked to yesterday was going to see if he could maybe get one for me to demo.

 

[jeff9366]

I would prefer to have more power -- I'm thinking at least 40HP for the weight -- but will reserve judgment on that one until I can test drive a 3560.

As you will experience, unless powering PTO implements, weight contributes more to capability than horsepower.

 

[s219]

As you will experience, unless powering PTO implements, weight contributes more to capability than horsepower.

There have been a few cases where my L3200 could have used more oomph when pulling a box blade full of heavy material -- it was working hard but still had plenty of traction, so lack of weight wasn't a limitation. Most other stuff, the L3200 is traction limited, so the extra weight of the 3560 will be beneficial in those cases.

My previous B2920 was always traction limited. That thing never ran out of power. It was like a hot rod compared to the L3200.

 

[kubotacres]

Your situation is exactly the same as mine was.I used my dad's l3240 for years before getting my l3200. It was a great little tractor however I could never get used to not having the Grand L features. After owning the l3200 for almost 5 years I decided to upgrade. The non-syncro transmission,transmission driven PTO, and non-QA bucket were my biggest complaints. Power wise it was dead on. I also like you contemplated on the l4060. To me the added size/power wasn't worth the extra 2k for my needs. Power wasn't my issue anyways it was the features. I went with a L3560 La805 loader with loaded R4s, and HST. I can walk circles what i used to do with my l3200 and it's just a tad bigger in width. I still run my 5' implements and they work fine. I have 0 complaints after having almost 50 hours on it.

 

[nybirdman]

Only complaint I have ever read on the smaller Gran L's is lack of power when a back-hoe is installed.
I had a L3130 HST and it worked great for all my needs;only traded up to get a cab.

 

[s219]

Your situation is exactly the same as mine was.I used my dad's l3240 for years before getting my l3200. It was a great little tractor however I could never get used to not having the Grand L features. After owning the l3200 for almost 5 years I decided to upgrade. The non-syncro transmission,transmission driven PTO, and non-QA bucket were my biggest complaints. Power wise it was dead on. I also like you contemplated on the l4060. To me the added size/power wasn't worth the extra 2k for my needs. Power wasn't my issue anyways it was the features. I went with a L3560 La805 loader with loaded R4s, and HST. I can walk circles what i used to do with my l3200 and it's just a tad bigger in width. I still run my 5' implements and they work fine. I have 0 complaints after having almost 50 hours on it.

Thanks, that is great info. If I can keep my implements, that would be a bonus. The 72" rear blade has some leeway (especially since I mainly use it for snow removal), but the box is going to be marginal as it's just barely/exactly wide enough for my L3200.

Heard back from the dealer this morning, and he can't get a 3560 on "terms" from Kubota until March (I took that to mean Kubota won't give him one for his inventory on their dime). The only way he can get one is as a customer order. So I'll try to glean as much information as I can here and elsewhere, and decide if it's worth putting in an order sight unseen.

 

[kubotacres]

A 6' could easily be pulled but it's up to you if it's worth the money to upgrade. For me it wasn't especially since it just barely covers the tracks. I test drove mine at a local dealer and then ordered mine over the phone once my mind was made up. Plus it was nice paying for a new tractor straight out of the crate rather than sitting on a dealer lot for a year.

 

[Fallon]

I sold my L3200 a month ago & my new L4060hstc is now in my garage... May have the info you are looking for.

The L3560 is 2 more HP than the L3200 & not quite double the weight... it's under powered. All the Grand Ls other than the L3560 are the same frame just with different engines & tires. My L4060 roads hills about the same as my L3200, not as good as I like, but $5k more for the L4760 was to much. If you don't road it or run PTO gear the L3560 probably works well, & would often be traction limited. But lots of people including myself think it's under powered.

Despite being the same frame you can only get the big LA10something loader on the L4760 & bigger. The L3560 is a few inches shorter & smaller than the big frame. Really wish they would have offered the 3000 series grand with a 40-42hp engine.

The L3200 is fixed at 60" with R4s. The grands at their narrowest are 66" & I think that's only with R1 ags. My R4s are set to 72" on the adjustable R4s. Might be able to squeeze em in to 70" or even 68", I haven't looked. As I need to upgrade from 60" implements, 72" is a good next step so I'm sticking there. I'm sure I'd get more stability going wider, but it's already less maneuverable than the L3200.

The L4060 is noticeably bigger than my old L3200. More stable & more powerful, but less maneuverable too. I can't see the bucket or SSQA as well either.