L3830 w/ Bradco 509 vs. New L39

_RaT_ · Jan 30, 2005

Except he already owns the L3830. Take a 15% to 20% hit on the sale of it plus the sales tax on a new machine if that is applied and from a cost point of view if that is even an issue. Add in that you may well need to add a mowing machine and it gets more costly. All in all, Jim, I was kind of in the same boat as you. I bought the L48 thinking why not start off right and get more machine then I might need. What I did not take into account was just how lousy the L48 was at mowing, a big chore of mine. From my exerience and .02 cents of advice, the L39 doing that much work will indeed at the end of it, have wear. My L48 after 200 hours certainly did. It's where I really realize the difference between industrial and the compacts. As great and fun as it is to do the work yourself and I admire your desire to do so, the practical side in me say's hire a guy with a small dozer to do the road. Dig the trenches either with your own hoe be it a L3830 and a Bradco or a L39. I can hire out a fellow with a CAT hoe to do my digging and with the power and reach (22') and his expertise, I'm way ahead on cost's. On the otherhand, if you just want to do this because it's something you always wanted to do, that's reason enough to go with the Bradco or L39. Right now I suspect your L3830 should be in excellent shape. It would be the time in it's life you can easily expect the most value for it. I sold my L48 for $25,000 after spending $28,000 on it.

PS - it was mentioned about the loader that it is really important. The differences in specs on the two are not significant enough to make or break a deal. Ater having the L48 with a much stronger loader then my L3830 with almost 1/3 more capacity of my L3830, we are still talking about such small volumes that quite frankly, I feel like your picking fly poop out of the pepper. I have yet to come across things with my L3830 and the loader that I could not one way or another work out. As nice as the loader on my L48 was, I really don't feel like my LA 723 is inferior, just different. For every 2 loads on my L48, I need to take 3 loads on the L3830. On the otherhand, the gear ratios on the L3830 are more suitable for loader use as they are much quicker. 0-4 in L, 0-7 in M and 0-17 in H. The L48 was 0-2, 0-4 and 0-17. Oddly with all the more power in the L48, H on the L3830 is much more useable. This is also where I think the L39 will have an advantage over the L48 having GST. I'm not talking you out of what you want to do. I'm hoping to simply make you aware of some of the issues that will undoubtedly come up if you end up selling the L3830 and going with a TLB like the L39. I too will be curious to take a look at it when my dealer gets one. He has 4 JD 110's sitting in his lot right now. Rat...

DK35vince · Jan 30, 2005

( Tilling...Now that would take some time. )

It depends on the soil conditions. Lots of rocks and roots would be difficult with a tiller.
I put in my 650' driveway and turn around area last summer by tilling it first then scooping up the tilled soil with the loader.
I had few large rocks or roots so tilling first worked out to be much easier, faster and smoother for me then trying to dig it loose with my backhoe.

btolle · Jan 30, 2005

Now I am going to throw a monkey wrench in this whole discussion.

Since it seems there are 2 major jobs at issue here that require a backhoe of some proportion and finances are almost always an issue have you considered buying a used TLB or trackhoe for those 2 chores and then reselling it? The hit you take would be far less than the hit you would take for depreciation on a new unit.

I too try to look at what it would cost me to have someone else do a job and then look at what it would cost me to buy the tool or equipment and do it myself. That is the reason I did NOT buy a backhoe for my B7510. At somewhere around $5,400 it is a significant purchase. While a backhoe would be nice for digging out some stumps (and I admit, fun to play with) I really don't have much other use for a backhoe.

At the point where I really did need a backhoe I hired a big backhoe with operator and fuel included for $45 an hour, 3 hour minimum and he brought a laborer along with him. I suspect he is up to $55 an hour with the fuel price now but since I have only used him for a total of about 8 hours I am only out $360.

Granted, this is not a 1,000 foot driveway. If it were I would seriously buying a used TLB and reselling when I was through.

It doesn't take a PHD in math to figure out that a 20% loss on a used $15,000 TLB is $3,000 while the same 20% on a new $30,000 tractor is $6,000.

I am keeping an eye out for used TLB's or even a small trackhoe just for the heck of it. If I were to happen to stumble up on a nice used unit that I think I can resell later for as much as I paid for it I will buy it. Otherwise, Willard is still out there with his backhoe and will drop by any time I am ready to open up my checkbook for him.

Of course not everyone has the lovely Charlotte who allows me to do things like buy a backhoe just because I want to. She was really happy when I told her I was considering the new B7510 because our old B7100 did not have power steering. I am truly blessed to have a wife like that. You should all be so fortunate!

Bill Tolle

LarryRB · Jan 30, 2005

you also have to consider the cost in you're area as you posted at 45 per hour, will get you a half hours work here, and I know of no one who will go to a job site for less than a 4 hr minimum. On top of this, we all pay transport fees for the machines, and these fees vary considerable.. It's easy to say, just hire out, as long as you compare apples to apples..

gordon · Jan 30, 2005

At times no matter how you figure it it's best to either rent a piece of equipment or hire it out. 1000 foot long 20 foot wide and 18 inches deep plus or minus is alot of dirt.

Now Vermont = ROCKS. So what happens if you happen into some big boulders with the small hoe?

Of course it's the always the most fun to do it yourself! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

So I guess it would be best to to use a large piece of equipmet but I might be so inclined to use the compact. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Never know unless you try I guess. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Gordon

gordon · Jan 30, 2005

( 0-4 in L, 0-7 in M and 0-17 in H. The L48 was 0-2, 0-4 and 0-17. Oddly with all the more power in the L48, H on the L3830 is much more useable. This is also where I think the L39 will have an advantage over the L48 having GST. )

How well does the L48 do at loader work in high range? Sounds like you could push a house over in low range, other than that pretty useless. Medium on the L48 is sort of like low on my L4310 used once in a while by me. Most of my work is done in the medium range.

I have been considering upgrading to the L48 as well because of the cost for a hoe on my 4310. Seems as though gear ranges sort of stink on the L48 speed wise that is.

Gordon

JimMorrissey · Jan 30, 2005

My dealer is faxing over the papers to place an official order for his sales meeting on Tuesday in New Hampshire. I'm leaning toward the L39, but not convinced I'm going to sign them tomorrow. I need to get on the list before Kubota starts shipping to dealers in the south with no orders. If I decide to do it, the rig should be here sometime in February.

I'm reasonably certain I'll be happy with what shows up on the flatbed in a few weeks.

JimMorrissey · Jan 30, 2005

Does anybody have any solid numbers on the width of a L39? I"m hoping my 72" RFM & box scraper will be wide enough to cover the rear tires. Check this link and see if the "Tread" (rear 51.8") spec is the actual width. I'm not sure it is...my 3830 is right around 67".

Good link for complete L39 specs:

http://www.deenimplement.com/kubota_l39-series.htm

JimMorrissey · Jan 30, 2005

Larry,

How do you think a L39 would handle a 24" bucket? I like the idea of 24" for trenches and earth moving. It won't be great for stumps, but I'd probably get another bucket at some point for stumps/rocks.

gray · Jan 30, 2005

I would guess that the L39 will do well with the 24" bucket. My L48 does well with it and the L39 has the same bucket roll and dipper forces on it, just a foot less reach.

I had an 18 " bucket on an L35 I had and it had ample power but was slower digging do to the bucket capacity. I have not wished I had the 18 " bucket on the L48.

You should do fine with it.

BTW- The high range on the L48 has only been good for travel but no amount of work. I would like to have seen a 0-5mph mid range, as the mid range is a bit slow at times. The low range is real power but slow as one would expect.