Question on L3940HST

[wmonroe]

We just bought a piece of property (17 acres) that we will be building a house on eventually. I am looking at getting a L3940 HST to do a number of different tasks such as a mmm for when there is a yard (about 3 acres), to mow the other 14 acres with a 72" woods brush hog, plow snow (approx. 1000' drive), maintain driveway, and all the other stuff that comes up when you have a tractor. There are some hilly areas on the property but nothing that I haven't been able to go across with my parents older B8200 hst and FEL.

I guess my two main questions are will the 3940 and FEL with loaded tires be more stable or less stable going across the hills than the B8200 with FEL and no loaded tires? What about a 3940 with a cab FEL and loaded tires versus the B8200?

Will the 3940 have sufficient pto hp to run a Woods 72" brush hog?

Thanks
Will

 

[PHILIP8N]

I run a 6' bush hog behind my L3940HST. I can set cruise at 5mph if the weeds (not thick grass) do not get higher that 4'. Have to slow down if weeds do get higher than 4'. Philip.

 

[Happyman]

I also have L3940. I run a 7' Woods finish mower behind it with no problem. Loaded tires in that machine make for a very stable piece of equipment. I say forget the cab. Makes visibility a little tougher and if you get in and out a lot you'll hate all that door opening and closing. I much prefer the outside! Get a canopy that can bolt to the ROPS for good sunshade. The cab think is really a personal preference.
Oh, yea....I would recommend against a MMM and go with a rear finish mower instead. The MMM can get in the way and is a bear to remove should you want to do some FEL work or are on a lot of rough ground.

 

[TripleR]

Yeah, cab is going to be a personal choice thing, as I didn't care much for them when I was younger and now won't go without one if at all possible. There are a couple of not too old threads on this.

Which ever way you go the 3940 is a really nice tractor.

As to stability, they all scare me to a certain extent with one exception an old MF375.

 

[wmonroe]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Haven't decided on a cab yet, keep going back and forth on it. I've been reading all the threads, but still i'm not sure. Sounds like from what everyone is saying the 3940 should not have any trouble running the 72" bush hog. Anyone else have experience running the 3940 (or similiar size) in mountainous terrain? How did you think it handled?
Thanks

 

[Grandad4]

Here's another vote for a rear-mount mower if needed vs. the mmm. But you might consider regular mowing with a good brush hog mower on the 3 acres initially, set to cut at about 6 inches. We've been doing just that on about 6 acres here for several years with great results. The fields have a well-tended pasture look to them that is perfect for rural property. It's not a lawn, but it's nearly 100% grass, and can be mowed down to lawn height very easily whenever we need an area for a family event, etc.

If you are not living there yet, that may be all that's needed for now.

 

[wmonroe]

I'm not living there yet and won't be till next summer so in the mean time I was just planning on using the bush hog to keep the grass at a decent level. Once the house is done and I have the yard replanted is when i'm going to keep 3 or so acres mowed down for the yard and continue mowing the rest with the bush hog.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Here is a 3940HST with 6' hog mowing down 6' of weeds. When it gets this tall, I have to slow cruise down to 4 mph or so. Normally run cruise at 4.5 to 5 mph. Philip.

 

[_RaT_]

I use a 72" flail mower on our 3940 with little problem other than the usual slowing down in really heavy growth. For what its worth, we never mow with the loader on, its just so much more conveniant with it off and it comes off so easy. I think the tractor is more stable with the loader off then with it on. Visibility is also so much better as well as manuverability.

 

[wmonroe]

Here are some pictures of the property:

This is standing at the top of the property where the house will go, looking toward the left

This is from the same spot but looking towards the right

Standing at the bottom corner looking towards the center where the house will go

This is my parents tractor that I've been using so far, B8200 HST