Now I did it!!! New Kubota L3800 with the works

ChiefLoneWolf · May 30, 2012

After many hours doing research on tractors on the net and especially reading through dozens of posts on TBN to educate myself I finally did it.
Bought a tractor - my first one - which at present I'm still overwhelmed from.
Well, I read on one thread here that the more seat time one accumulates, the smaller the tractor tends to get.
I was opting for a Kubota L3200 but after going over the specs and getting a 'must take' offer from the dealer I 'upgraded' to a L3800.

So here's what I'm getting: Kubota L3800 with FEL LA524 (with welded on hooks), backhoe BH77 with mechanical thumb and a small weight box.
I also ordered the canopy, which I think is worth it (on backorder).
Tires are R4s. I have not had the tires filled as quite frankly I have not yet formed an opinion about this matter. I read a lot about tire ballast, pros and cons, and just couldn't make up my mind - especially with the BH77 in the back.

So as you can imagine, I'm excited. The rig will be delivered this Friday :licking:. And then it's practice, practice, practice ...

And of course - pictures - or it did not happen

.

TripleR · May 30, 2012

Congratulations on your new tractor and I can attest to tractors shrinking with time.

9973720wb19 · May 30, 2012

go easy at first - FEL can get you in trouble quickly. always use a weight box when doing FEL work. if you have to question if a task is a risk...don't do the task.

case245 · May 30, 2012

congrs man i have one they are good tractor i can say this they are light in the rear if u are going to move alot of dirt it takes alot of time i moved 12 tons it took 5 hrs

Medic2 · May 30, 2012

Hello Chief. Bought the exact tractor myself this month.....LOVE IT!

Bluegill2 · May 30, 2012

Congrats! I've had mine over 5 months and love it! :thumbsup:

ChiefLoneWolf · May 31, 2012

Thanks all for the congrats.

9973720wb19 said:
go easy at first - FEL can get you in trouble quickly. always use a weight box when doing FEL work. if you have to question if a task is a risk...don't do the task.

Yes, I have to go very easy until I know the tractor. And then I still have to go easy. I got the weight box too.

devildog1 · May 31, 2012

Great Choice, Congrats on your new Kubota. Go slow and easy for a while till you get the feel for controls, Enjoy!
DevilDog

tractorshopper · May 31, 2012

Congrats! I love mine. I moved 2 triaxle loads of top soil to reshape the grade tightly around my mom and dad's house this past weekend in about 4 hours working from the far end of the house and all the way around the back including spreading, packing, spreading, shaping, pulling all shrubs and trees and bushes around the house etc. With loaded rear R4's and box blade attached I can move heaping piles on my LA524 and 66" QA bucket. I do not have the back hoe. You'll know you have a load on the front, but I don't have any problems moving it.

creekbend · May 31, 2012

Congratulations. :thumbsup:

abeal · May 31, 2012

Just got a L3200 a month or so ago. If you plan to use it without the backhoe on there - I would definitely fill the tires. Even with the tires filled it is light in the back with the loader on there.

Bluegill2 · May 31, 2012

abeal said:
Just got a L3200 a month or so ago. If you plan to use it without the backhoe on there - I would definitely fill the tires. Even with the tires filled it is light in the back with the loader on there.

Rear ballast man! I hang 500-700lbs on my 3pt and all is good. :thumbsup:

bigbull338 · May 31, 2012

enjoy your new tractor.an as said use rear ballast when doing loader work.

ChiefLoneWolf · Jun 1, 2012

She's here!!! New Kubota L3800 with the works

Check post:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/246919-shes-here-new-kubota-l3800.html

Sammy3700 · Jun 1, 2012

As the others stated you will love it. I only have the fel and did not load the rear tires. When the loader is on I have 8-100 lbs tractor weights on a bar I made to go on the 3pt hitch. If I use the box blade it has 3-100 lbs weights plus what it weighs. Just keep the bucket as low as you can when you are in motion. This keeps your center pf gravity down. Any weight behind the rear tires (such as the backhoe) helps lighten the load on the front tires and your front axle. I also did not want the tires loaded because mine pulls a 6 foot finish mostly.

andy33 · Jun 19, 2012

Bluegill2 said:
Rear ballast man! I hang 500-700lbs on my 3pt and all is good. :thumbsup:

Hey BG, Just going over some posts and noticed this to do with the L3800 and weight. Would a box blade be good enough weight for loader work for mainly gravel and creek rock. It is going to have the tires loaded also. Or should I weld up a stand alone box or frame for concrete bags or blocks or ? I dont even have a box blade yet just an old grader blade that swivels for driveway maint.

Bluegill2 · Jun 19, 2012

andy33 said:
Hey BG, Just going over some posts and noticed this to do with the L3800 and weight. Would a box blade be good enough weight for loader work for mainly gravel and creek rock. It is going to have the tires loaded also. Or should I weld up a stand alone box or frame for concrete bags or blocks or ? I dont even have a box blade yet just an old grader blade that swivels for driveway maint.

A 500 lb+ box blade will work, but I added a couple 100 lbs to mine and will add a bit more later. I usually use the box blade when I'm using the loader, so it makes sense to have to blade for rear ballast.

Loaded tires are good for traction, but do nothing to counter the added weight of an FEL. A FEL puts a lot of weight on the front axle, fill the bucket and that's just more weight. Hang weight off the 3 pt hitch and it'll take weight off the front and transfer it to the back axle. See-saw effect.

andy33 · Jun 19, 2012

Guess I'll be getting the box blade then, priced/looked at TSC, Orschelen?,and DickyBub, looks like about $500-$600. then maybe build some kind of frame on it for more weight. Dont want to interfere with the shank hardware though.

Bluegill2 · Jun 19, 2012

andy33 said:
Guess I'll be getting the box blade then, priced/looked at TSC, Orschelen?,and DickyBub, looks like about $500-$600. then maybe build some kind of frame on it for more weight. Dont want to interfere with the shank hardware though.

I bolted a 100 lb wheel weight to each side of mine, many years ago. Works great.

jokergerm · Jun 19, 2012

Ya without a box scraper or BH the loader is not safe to fill all the way with dirt. I took my BH off tody and i was amazed i could not lift anything without wanting to tip over