Ready to purchase but still not sure

[TonyC]

Sounds like you have some rough terrain as well as a large piece of land. I wouldn't fool with anything less than a 6' Bush hog if it were me. I have an L3600 which is similar to the 3710. It is a bit smaller tractor than I was looking for but I was buying used so my choices were limited. Now that I have it, I greatly appreciate the manuverability of a slightly smaller tractor. It also will do less damage if you plan to spend some time on the lawn. I guess what I'm saying is that bigger isn't always better. The cab is a comfort item that is a personal choice. I have a canopy on mine and I do find it annoying and in the way but it sure is terrific in the summer. Good luck!

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

you guys are making my head spin here. Very good points, especially about the cab being a hindrance and getting banged around some, but i'm confused now when I see messages about maneuverability. Aren't all three of these tractors essentially the same chassis? According to what I've seen, the 3710, 4310 and 4610 have same length, height and wheelbase. Am i wrong on this?
Also, can someone tell me why I would need remote hydraulic valves? thanks

 

[glennmac]

The 3710-4610 are all the same size, except the 3710 has a little less ground clearance because of the mid pto. I think Tony was saying his 3600 is a little smaller and hence more maneuverable.

You may have a use for a mid pto even if you dont have a mmm--eg, a front snowblower.

No one needs remote valves. However, many people want them, sometimes for rational reasons but mostly as a result of poor impulse control.

 

[TonyC]

My apologies if I confused the issue. I don't have the specs on these models and as Glen mentioned I was just referring to a personal experience. I can see how it could be confusing. One last comment to add though...I'll go out on a limb and guess that 99% of the folks on this board would trade places with you in a minute! Sometimes the choices seem staggering but to us, buying a brand new tractor is as about as thrilling as life gets. You're doing the right things in collecting the facts and opinions and processing those against your personal needs. It is an expensive and important decision and care should be taken. In the meantime, don't forget to enjoy it you lucky %$#@!&*!!!!!!!!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Boondox]

Gotta differ with you on the remotes, Glenmac. I need them! Use my remotes to angle my rear blade when plowing snow in our seven months of winter. Often the ground is so slick with ice I slip/slide/crawl to Clementine and her wonderful spiked ice chains. Getting out of the saddle to change the angle on the blade is inconvenient and at times downright dangerous for me!

Pete (snow in the forecast for tomorrow!)

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[JATO_RaT]

Pete, having remotes or lets say TnT and a remote is as important to getting work done to me as a loader. I cannot imagine being without them. Those who don't need them either don't work with a boxscraper, post hole auger, rear blade, rake, etc, or have never had the luxury of using a tractor with it. Impluse shimpulse, when you need it, you'll know it. When you use it and don't have it, you'll want it.

P.S. the 4610 is not the same as the 4310 or 3710 as far as front axle and according to the brochure, a beefed up frame to help support the no front bracing on the loader. The front steering is different and has a larger hydraulic cylinder. Rat...

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

Well, I'm not sure they would want to swap places with me or not yet. I have very little farming experience except with two old mules and a grandmother much like "Granny" on the Beverly Hillbillies who lived as a widow since I was 3. She had, let's say some very unusual farming methods to say the least so i'm not too sure I have a real successful background for this. Up until she died in '96 at age of 94, she still fed the cattle and took care of farm...although she still thought one could 'hire' folks to do work by just fixing them some lunch. Anyway, I was the only grandson, have no brothers or sisters and promised her on her deathbed that i wouldn't sell the land and I would try to keep it up and do something profitable with it. So here I am, 46 year old former school tearcher and private investigator, anything but wealthy, who spent his entire life trying to do what everyone wanted to "get away" from this life and not wished I had paid more attention when i was younger. Farm was mostly used for keeping cattle and tobacco farming, which as most of you know, here in the mts. of western NC is a dying tradtion.
So, with no 'help', very rural area, most neighbors are commuting to factory work, etc...trying to keep things going here with a family farm and I NEED at tractor! lol
I WANT a cab model, I NEED a front end loader, and I WANT a cross between a farm tractor and a landscaping tractor.
now, i want to show my ignorance a little more here....I'm kind of curious about how a cab model might not get into places in the wooded areas that a ROPS would be able to..seems there's not much difference as far as height goes with the cab and the ROPS....also, I'm not afraid of heat or cold that much..but I was thinking more for protection.
and I'm still not understanding how the remote hydraulics work yet...dont' know what TnT means either. If I got draft control with the raising and lowering lever for the PTO, how much more advantageous would it be with remote hydraulics?
sorry for the ignorance on that.
here's an attachment on land here if that helps any

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

one more pic of land

 

[TonyC]

Sounds like you got your hands full! I think what you're looking at qualifies as a cross between a landscape tractor and a farm tractor. The remote hydraulics are for running remote equipment such as a bailer, log splitter etc. Some folks never use them. TnT (Top n Tilt) is putting hydraulic cylinders on your top link and one side link that enables you to adjust the angle of your implement hydraulically (from your seat) vs manually (get off the tractor). I imagine it is a very nice feature but I'd be hard pressed to say it's a requirement. I suppose it could be for some. I don't have it and I suspect the majority here do not.

I'm no expert on draft control but I know it has nothing to do with the remote hydraulics. Draft control is designed to keep plowing type implements from digging too deep or too shallow. It is supposed to keep such an item at a constant depth. I don't have it and maybe someone else can explain it better!

The Land sure looks nice...those are some hills you got there!

 

[glennmac]

Beautiful land!

Remote hydraulic valves allow you to make adjustments to to the geometry of your 3 point hitch, or to an implement, that you would otherwise have to do by hand. Instead of turning a turnbuckle or ratchet or moving a pin, you can make the adjustment with a hydraulic valve from the tractor seat. This capability costs about $2000 dealer installed on a Grand L.

It is undeniable that some tractor owners think that this $2000 convenience is a necessity. In particular, they think it is a necessity when they use an unnecessary implement known as a boxblade. Of course, I think cabs and air tools and most power tools are unnecessary--so you have got to keep in mind that there are a lot of differing opinions on things here. And sometimes we say things tongue in cheek.

As to the basics, however, you do need to decide on the right size tractor. All else can be added later, or not. If I had your land and I could afford it, I would definitely get the 4610 in the Kubota line. With that much land and at your young age, you will find many, many useful and productive things to do with your tractor after you get it--and you will end up very disappointed if you dont get one with enough pto power and hydraulic power. I know. I bought too small and upgraded within a month. And keep thinking of upgrading again.