Buying Advice Ready to bite the bullet?!?

[nkubota]

New to the forum and have been wanting to upgrade from my 1952 8N. With the new emmissions tractors coming on and the shortage of "regular" tractors, need to decide between a L3200, 4WD, HST and FEL with pin on bucket versus a L3800, 4WD, gear drive transmission, and pin on bucket. Having a hard time justifying either but just want one. I have a little less than 2 acres. I will be cutting 6-8 large oaks in yard soon either tractor will be helpful to pile, burn, dispose of, ... . I do have some dirt work to do in yard but not a lot. Don't envision getting into a lot of dirt work with repetitive motion. I hunt and do bushhog roads at the camp every year. May be able to do a little road work with a FEL. Just curious what y'all's opinion would be as to which tractor to go with. L3800 price quoted to be $400 more than L3200. Thanks in advance for your time and comments!!

 

[bigbull338]

either tractor will do what you want.just make sure you get 4x4 and HST unless you prefer gear.the hst will help doing loader work as loader work is is going farwards and backwards.

 

[Fallon]

I like my L3200 hst & R4s. Before I loaded the tires it was traction limited, now it is often power limited. I'l love the 6 extra ponies of the L3800, However the usability of the HST (even with it being 15% less efficient & robbing an extra HP or so) trumps the extra power in that equation. If you do a lot of loader work or tight maneuvering, the HST will handily beat the gear even with the HP penalty.

Just check that the 3pt is livable. Some can be pretty rough when making fine adjustments (mostly up) when there is a heavy implement on them (doesnt show up without a load most of the time). Mine is a bit jerky & annoying, but still very usable & liveable.