Tractor News New L3200 and BH77 Arrived Today

[herefromthere]

RRX:

From what I see on TBN, dealers in different parts of the country are more/less negotiable. Seems I'm in an area where they are a little bit less so based on what some people have paid for their tractors. The BH77 with mechanical thumb adds about $8,000, so I had to give it some serious thought. In the end, I decided that I had enough projects to justify it.

Note that the tractor with loaded R4's and the backhoe will weigh around 5,500#, so it's over the weight capacity of normal 7k# gross car trailers. What type of trailer did you buy?

Short Kid:

Thanks for the description on how you mounted your golf cart roof. Later this year, I'll play around with some designs and see what kinds of materials I can come up with. Would love to see your design.

 

[RRX]

Note that the tractor with loaded R4's and the backhoe will weigh around 5,500#, so it's over the weight capacity of normal 7k# gross car trailers. What type of trailer did you buy?

I have a 7x16 flatbed with 2 3500# axles. Yeah, I figured this tractor might be pushing it. Of course, it will be pushing my old Tundra to pull it as well. Good thing I only need to haul it 15 miles or so.

 

[herefromthere]

Thought it might be helpful to add specifics. My trailer has a 16' flat deck plus a 2' beavertail, weighs approximately 1,970# per manufacturer's literature, and is rated at 7k# gross with two 3,500# axles. That would leave me 5,030# carrying capacity. Some people say the DOT's are more concerned with tire load capacity, and mine are rated at 1,820# each, or 7,280# total.

Regardless, I feel better keeping the load under 5k# in this litigious day and age. If you're involved in an accident and are over legal weight, you can bet that someone will try to pin as much responsibility on you as they can get away with. One thing I thought of was to take the SSQA bucket off and load it into the back of the pickup to lighten the load on the trailer if I were to tow any great distance and wanted to bring the backhoe, as I think the bucket is around 500#. Can anyone confirm that?

Realistically, I don't see wanting to transport the tractor very often, if at all. I owned the trailer long before the tractor, and if I'd known a tractor was in my future, I would have bought a larger capacity trailer. Oh well, hindsight always seems to be 20/20.

 

[1savoy]

Don't forget to deduct the 10 to 15% weight you are putting on the hitch. That should get you within the rated capacity of a normal 7k trailer. Weight distributing hitch would help also if you had to tow a long distance.

 

[RRX]

Thanks guys. I don't think I'm going to do the backhoe at this time, so the weight shouldn't be an issue. I just put on 4 new radial trailer tires today and getting a brake controller Monday.

I talked to a Kubota dealer today and then a John Deere dealer. I'm kind of torn between the L3200 HST and the JD 3020E. Either will do what I want, and they both have reasonably good deals going on. I can get the L3200 for around 17.4K plus tax, or the 3020E for about the same with a very nice 60" rotary cutter. Decisions!

 

[1savoy]

RRX,

I love John Deere and have had five of my own. Grew up in a family that bleeds green. The JD 3032E and 3028E is where I started looking for my present needs. I like the plastic hoods and fenders of the JD. JD paint holds up extremely well, even 25 years plus. The downfall I found was the JD did not have a backhoe option from JD and the JD is two range HST. The Kubota is heavier, 3 range HST, and factory BH option. My vote went to Kubota. Good luck in your decision.

 

[RRX]

RRX,

I love John Deere and have had five of my own. Grew up in a family that bleeds green. The JD 3032E and 3028E is where I started looking for my present needs. I like the plastic hoods and fenders of the JD. JD paint holds up extremely well, even 25 years plus. The downfall I found was the JD did not have a backhoe option from JD and the JD is two range HST. The Kubota is heavier, 3 range HST, and factory BH option. My vote went to Kubota. Good luck in your decision.

I went to the Nashville Kubota dealer today and made the decision. I'm buying the L3200 HST w/ the same bucket that "herefromthere" told us about. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[1savoy]

RRX,

Congratulations!!!! I think you made a good choice. Did you drive one around and check out the 3 pt hitch? The one I tried out at a dealer was a little jerky if I tried to move the hitch very slow with a chipper on it, but in normal movements it was fine. I think the L will be a really good fit for my needs. Still waiting for mine to show up. I like that bucket also, but have not pursued trying to upgrade to it. How much extra was it, and do you know how much more it weighs? I do not think I need it, but it sure looks nice. Congratulations again. When do you get it?

 

[RRX]

RRX,

Congratulations!!!! I think you made a good choice. Did you drive one around and check out the 3 pt hitch? The one I tried out at a dealer was a little jerky if I tried to move the hitch very slow with a chipper on it, but in normal movements it was fine. I think the L will be a really good fit for my needs. Still waiting for mine to show up. I like that bucket also, but have not pursued trying to upgrade to it. How much extra was it, and do you know how much more it weighs? I do not think I need it, but it sure looks nice. Congratulations again. When do you get it?

I pick it up this Saturday. No idea on the weight difference. It just looks more stout. I don't know the price difference either, because I told him that's what I wanted instead of the standard bucket. He gave me a fair price for the tractor with that bucket, and I said draw up the papers. He said the tires will have fluid when I get there.

 

[teg]

Don't forget the most important thing... ...Photos!!!