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!!!

 

[grainger12002]

Wow, Very nice set up, now the weather has to co-operate to get her dirty !!

 

[RRX]

My dealer just called and said they rcvd the L2239 bucket, but it didn't have the chain hooks. Did you have those welded on and your bucket repainted? I'm still getting the bucket because it just looks beefier and is drilled for a tooth bar.

 

[herefromthere]

My dealer just called and said they rcvd the L2239 bucket, but it didn't have the chain hooks. Did you have those welded on and your bucket repainted? I'm still getting the bucket because it just looks beefier and is drilled for a tooth bar.

Dealer welded hooks on and touched up paint afterwards. Did you decide to get the bolt on cutting edge?

Your mention of the bucket being drilled for a tooth bar made me think of something I'd been wondering about. Once the bucket is used, there won't be any removing and reinstalling of the the bolt on edge due to the bolts getting completely thrashed. Most tooth bars won't fit over the bolt on edge, I'm guessing. What are the options for using a tooth bar in this case?

 

[RRX]

I mis-spoke when mentioning a tooth bar. I meant cutting edge, and yes I did order it. I looked at tooth bars and they are $$$. As for your question, the bucket is steel, so any small hole it it can be welded closed and grinded smooth and painted.

 

[herefromthere]

Where I was going with that was are there tooth bars that fit over the bolt on cutting edge? Seems most tooth bars are designed to fit snugly on the front edge of a normal bucket, and that they might not fit over the extra thickness of the bolt on edge.

The bolts for the edge stand up into the bucket, and the ends are going to get beat, plus dirt will get into the threads. The dealer said they don't bother trying to unbolt them, they just cut the bolts when it's time to remove them. Because of that, it would be a huge pain to try to unbolt the cutting edge, then change over to a toothbar (and vice versa.) If a tooth bar fits over the bolt on cutting edge, then that would be great. Does anyone know if standard ones do, or does it require a different style?

Haven't heard anyone say they regret buying the bolt on edge, so hopefully it works well for both of us! Will the dealer weld on some hooks for you as well?

 

[RRX]

There's a dealer on eBay who will make a tooth bar any size you want. You could ask him if he'd drill the holes in the same pattern as the cutting edge so you could bolt them on together, and you'd then just need longer bolts. I'll wait and look at mine when I pick her up TOMORROW!

 

[tractorshopper]

My toothbar wraps around the leading edge of my bucket with it's own leading edge that is much beefier than the bucket edge. Imagine a tight V around it. Then it's bolted onto the side walls of the bucket.

 

[RRX]

I wonder if that tooth bar would wrap around the cutting edge and still bolt to the sides.

You got a picture?

 

[RRX]

The eagle has landed. We brought her home today! My 9 y/o son took to it quickly and can drive it easily. What a sweet tractor. I can hardly wait until it cools a little so I can go out to the property and start work. :thumbsup:

Poor old Tundra could probably uses some air bags in the rear suspension! Haha! But it pulls very nicely.

 

[BlacknTan]

Very nice machine!

Your son and you are both gonna' love it!