L3830 vs L4330

zeuspaul · Apr 28, 2006

I am trying to decide between the Grand L3830 and the Grand L4330. The L4330 is about $2000 more.

I have about 6 acres of brush on a 25 percent slope to deal with. There is another 6 acres on a steeper slope which may be inaccessible with the tractor.

The tractor will have a 1000 lb 72 in Rotary Mower (2 in brush capacity) I need to clear the brush and then maintain it.

I'll get the box blade and perhaps later add a tiller...maybe till about an acre.

Also I want to *move dirt* as in make roads and some terracing to make the slopes more usable and open up some of the lower six acres.

I also want to move around large rock (500lb +)

I have been leaning towards the L3830. I just want to make sure I don't need the extra HP for earth work and the extra capacity of the 823 loader on the L4330 as I will probably move dirt from place to place in the bucket. Also does the extra weight of the L4330 make it more stable on a slope? And would the extra weight of the L4330 balance the 1000 lb mower better? I'll need to lift the mower and drop it on the many existing piles of brush to grind them up.

Thanks

Zeuspaul

JohnnyMac · Apr 29, 2006

I am in a similar situation as you. I am now thinking the 4330 is the way to go. The heavier weight will make it more stable and able to handle dirt moving better. I also like the extra digging ability of the 823 loader, as the ground here in AZ is very hard. The only down side I see to going with the 4330 over the 3830 is the initial cost and the extra diesel fuel it will take to run a 4 cylinder engine.

Bottom line is both would serve you nicely, but as many have said, more power is always a good thing.

_RaT_ · Apr 29, 2006

In my opinion, the only drawback to the L3830 is that the loader is not going to lift as high so loading things like dump trucks or dumpsters can be more difficult and slower. Having come from a Kubota L48 and dropping down to a L3830, I did not find the extra weight of the L48 to offer any greater stability. The L4330 is going only be slightly heavier then the L3830 particularly because the loader is a little heavier. No question though, if your going to have a need to load dumpsters/dump trucks, the L4330 or larger is the way to go simply because it has a larger loader. I could not be happier with the decision to go with the L3830 HST.

zeuspaul · Apr 29, 2006

I was back at the dealer again. He doesn't think I'll notice the difference between the two. He has sold a lot of the L3830's to contractors who use them every day with no complaints. If I were to be pulling *stuff* through the ground he thinks the more HP would be useful.

I may load a pick-up but nothing higher. So I think I'm still leaning towards the L3830 and put the extra dollars to something else.

One of my neighbors with a BX1500 suggests getting *top and tilt*?? sp ??. (I'll have to research that and probably start a thread) Something that tilts the box blade. He thinks it would be very useful when I am trying to terrace and cut roads into a slope. He has similar slopes and uses the box blade a lot to grade but says it is a pain to constantly adjust it for a slope.

I think I saw one at the dealer. I believe it was a $1700 add on with the hydraulics. At the time I thought NO WAY but now I am considering the option.

Thanks for the input. I've got a week or two before I pull the trigger.

Zeuspaul

_RaT_ · Apr 30, 2006

I also think that TnT or top and tilt is a very valuable asset on a tractor. It may not be obvious to a person not familiar with tractors but having a hydraulic cylinder instead of a threaded rod for your top link (the upper link on the three point hook up to implements) is so valuable. My tractor has a 3 spool valve meaning it has 3 valve levers. One controls the top link cylinder, the other the tilt cylinder and the third hooks to implements that take hydraulic power like my hydraulicly activated rippers on a box scraper or my Harley rake.

If you really need to do ground ripping routinely, I would probably opt for GST over HST.

zeuspaul · Apr 30, 2006

If I opt for the Top N Tilt for the box blade how will it effect the rotary cutter? The two rear attachments I will use most frequently will be the box blade and the rotary cutter. Do I have to remove the cylinders to install the rotary cutter? Or can I use the TNT to advantage with the rotary cutter?

Thanks

Zeuspaul

zeuspaul · Apr 30, 2006

I am a little unclear on the lifting capacity of the 823 loader. The spec indicates 1764 lbs @ 500 mm forward, 2374 lbs @ pivot pin and 1874 lbs @ bucket center.

The larger rocks I want to move are about 2000 lbs. I assume the pivot pin is the bucket pivot? Would I be able to rig the rock with chain and somehow attach it to the pivot pin location so I could lift the 2000 lb rock? Or would I be able to lift 2000 lb rock in the bucket or am I limited by the 1764 lb 500 mm forward which I assume is the down position of the bucket?

Thanks

Zeuspaul

jmc · Apr 30, 2006

Aeuspaul,

I have the 4330 and like it. I suspect that either will be a good choice and you could make a good argument that the $2800 saved on the 3830 and put toward top and tilt, extra remotes, etc would make the 3830 more productive than the 4330. It all depends on what you want to do with it. If you are doing mostly loader work, that L853 is a heavier one and it may be the more productive. If the bucket capacity is higher, and/or easier to fill, your number of trips will be less. The stability on a hill is independent of weight but dependent on the width of the tractor compared to the height of its center of gravity. Good luck in ferreting that out. The width and length of the wheel base is also a factor in the tractor's stability with a heavy load in the fel. When mowing heavy but intermittent growth, I suspect that the cutter's inertia is just as important as horsepower. That's not the case with heavy continuous weeds or grass. Finally, consider resale value. Can't help you with that, either.

John

zeuspaul · May 4, 2006

Getting closer...I think I have made a decision. At first I told the lady the longer we wait the bigger it gets. That's when I was looking at the BX24. Then I told her the longer we wait the more expensive it gets when looking at the L3830. Now I think she's on board

She said buy! I hit 30k with tax and I think she is afraid I will go higher.

I'm going to go for the L4330 primarily for the bump up in the loader to the 823 (with quick attach HD bucket). I think I'll also like the bump in HP especially with the extra cylinder.

I'll go for the Gearmore 72 in 30 series rotary cutter (2 in brush capacity) I think the combo will easily handle the brush and the brush piles.

Also the Gearmore G2 72 in box blade with hydraulic scarifiers and the Top N Tilt system. There is enough info here at TBN to convince me the Top N Tilt is a worth while option with a box blade.

I also think the top cylinder will be useful with the rotary cutter when dealing with the brush piles. Once the brush is dealt with I won't need the extra mower capacity but it should still work well for mowing the field. I won't have a lawn.

As soon as I get a closing date for the twelve acres I'll sign for the tractor

Unless someone here wants to try to talk me out of it and maybe save me some dollars. I am about at my limit on the upper end so hopefully no one thinks I should go bigger!

Zeuspaul

_RaT_ · May 5, 2006

Nice tractor. I had the same Gearmore boxscraper.

rk246 · May 6, 2006

I have the 3830 Hst and love it, it does everything I ask of it very easily, I have some very steep ground and it does very well on it, I also put the top and tilt and really like that for the box blade, it doesnt' seem to affect the brush hog..

Doc_Bob · May 7, 2006

( I am trying to decide between the Grand L3830 and the Grand L4330. The L4330 is about $2000 more.

I have about 6 acres of brush on a 25 percent slope to deal with. There is another 6 acres on a steeper slope which may be inaccessible with the tractor.

The tractor will have a 1000 lb 72 in Rotary Mower (2 in brush capacity) I need to clear the brush and then maintain it.

I'll get the box blade and perhaps later add a tiller...maybe till about an acre.

Also I want to *move dirt* as in make roads and some terracing to make the slopes more usable and open up some of the lower six acres.

I also want to move around large rock (500lb +)

I have been leaning towards the L3830. I just want to make sure I don't need the extra HP for earth work and the extra capacity of the 823 loader on the L4330 as I will probably move dirt from place to place in the bucket. Also does the extra weight of the L4330 make it more stable on a slope? And would the extra weight of the L4330 balance the 1000 lb mower better? I'll need to lift the mower and drop it on the many existing piles of brush to grind them up.

Thanks

Zeuspaul )

What kinda of tranny? HST? GST?
Bob

zeuspaul · May 7, 2006

HST. I know I'll lose a little power. However I think I'll have enough to run the brush cutter and a possible future tiller.

The extra weight lifting capacity of the loader on the L4330 is why I think I want the L4330 over the L3830.

Zeuspaul

Wall · May 8, 2006

I suggest you test drive the tractors on some hills. I think you will find that they have a high center of gravity. I have a L 4330 HST , Straight up and down a hill its great, but on a side hill no way.

_RaT_ · May 8, 2006

I drive my L3830 on the sides of hills all the time. You have to be exta alert and know the limitations as well as what to do if things start going wrong. Carry your loader low and if you have a mower on back, get it on the ground. A lot of driving on the sides of hills is getting to a comfort level.

GeneD14 · May 8, 2006

( I suggest you test drive the tractors on some hills. I think you will find that they have a high center of gravity. I have a L 4330 HST , Straight up and down a hill its great, but on a side hill no way. )

I agree. If I were going to use my L4330 on hills I would use R4's because they are wider and fill them with Rim guard and/or use wheel weights to lower the center of gravity. I would also adjust the rear wheels to their widest setting.
I would also be sure to use my seat belt! Good Luck.

zeuspaul · May 8, 2006

R4 tires it will be. The dealer said they fill the tires with water as standard procedure. I just did a search on Rim Guard and water. I didn't find much on water. Perhaps because it is not an option in areas where it freezes which is most places. We rarely get a freeze and when we do it is for a few hours. Once I saw 27 degrees and that was for a few hours at night. It is not enough to freeze water. My only concern would be corrosion??

Thanks for the input

Zeuspaul

_RaT_ · May 8, 2006

I don't know much about the difference in stability between R4's and R1's but I can absolutely tell you that the R4's will slide down the hill where the R1's will not. I have had two tractors with R4's a Kubota L48 and now my L3830 with R4's and a International 454 with R1's and the stick-ability to the hills goes to the R1's hands down. I am of course reffering to the side traverse of a hill.