Replace 3032e?

[nirion]

I am considering replacing/upgrading my 3032e and am looking to TBN for input.

I purchased it new about 2 years ago to use on my 8 acres. Right now, I just have a pole barn and use the tractor to mow with a 5' brush hog. It only has 35 hours on it. I bought it with the intention of using it for all around work once we build our house (once our current house sells). I figured it would be good with a 6' rear finish mower and it had a rear blade for snow removal plus a loader for all sorts of things. The land is basically flat and almost no trees, and there is a small possiblity of adding an adjoining 6 or 12 acres in the future (also flat). It used to be a corn/soy bean field.

I have cut grass/weeds taller than the hood of the tractor and it handled it fine if I slowed down appropriately. Prior to this purchase, I borrowed an old gas Deere 2010 with a 6' brush hot. When brush hogging, I get bounced around a lot more than the 2010, I am assuming due to the shorter wheelbase and much ligher weight (60" wheelbase and under 2500 lbs for the 3032e vs 87" wheelbase and 6000ish lbs for the 2010). That didn't bother me a ton, as I knew that once we had a lawn, it would be smoother.

On two recent occasions, I have also thought a larger, heavier tractor may come in handy. 1) I got my 03 Ram 2500 Diesel stuck. The tractor wouldn't budge it. 2) I was trying to move some snow (3" or so on the ground) with the loader and it kept running out of traction, even in 4wd. I have R4 tires. The snow issue may have been lack of experience plus the rear blade would probably have worked better.

So now I am thinking should I keep it or upgrade to a larger tractor? I have been considering (all lightly used) 3520, 4105, 4120, or 5045e/5055e (have to go to 5055e to get power reverser as an option, 5045e is only syncshuttle). If I went as large as the 5000 series, I would have to get a separate lawn mower once we built the house. I think the others could all do the multi function chore.

I have a basically new tractor that will last me a long time. I bought it knowing it would be somewhat of a compromise, but thought the lighter weight would be nice when I did eventually start using the finish mower, now I'm not sure I made the right decision. So, do I upgrade or maybe just add some weight to mine and hope that helps?

I also wouldn't be opposed to a slightly older utility tractor plus a mower if the price was right, but most of the late 90s/early 2000 models seem to not be much cheaper than a 2011 5045e. I would want 4wd with a loader.

Model 3032e 3520 4105 4120 5045e
Engine HP 32 37 40 43 45
PTO HP 25 30 32 37 37
Approx Weight 2175 2900 2987 3700 5070
Wheelbase 60 68 68 71.5 80.7
3point Lift 1356 2200 2200 2500 3192
Loader lift 1186 1598 1393 2194 3133

It might be easier in this format to read the table:
View attachment tractors.pdf


Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[dusty3030]

If you go bigger skip the other 3 and 4 series and go to a 5.

Most likely though, if you like your current tractor enough I would try some options to get more traction out of it. Add some weight to it and get some chains for the snow.

I have 4120 with R4s and it will spin a tire in a heartbeat stock if you aren't carefull, with weight added it is a whole new tractor.

As far as the lawn, your current tractor with loaded tires and or wheel weights is still lighter than a bigger utility tractor. If it is too wet too wet it is too wet - don't worry about adding weight is going to ruin the yard.

Your current tractor isn't even broken in yet, I would try loading the tires and get some chains and experiment a little more before you jump ship, your 3032 is actually the perfect size for your acreage and you would give up some nimbleness by going to a bigger machine.

 

[murphy1244]

^ditto^ Load the Tires maybe spacers and wheel weights too.

 

[nirion]

Thanks, I'll try some more weight. Someone also suggested lowering tire pressure. What is a good pressure to run?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Load all of your tires, you will think that you just got a different machine. Forget about tire pressure, have enough pressure in them so that the full width of the tread is touching the ground. Very common for dealers to have the tires over inflated, they transport better that way. Not quite as critical on the fronts, but for sure on the rears.

Good luck and let us know what you think about your new machine once you have done these things.

 

[kcflhrc]

I cant imagine doing snow removal with my loader. I have a new 3032e also. I have a 6' rear blade and at the suggestion of others turned it around backwards for snow removal. Worked great and doesn't tear up the gravel driveway.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Might even look into a set of Ag tires, it will help a lot with traction and still end up cheaper than trading (wheel weights and tire chains are good too.) A 3032E is plenty of tractor for 8ac, I used to take care of 200ac with just a Ford NAA and Kubota B3200.

 

[nirion]

I had my 3032e in for the free fuel delivery valve update and just for the heck of it, asked for a trade in quote. They offered $13000 for the tractor with loader. I test drove a 5083 (only thing they had with power reverser) and that was a lot of tractor compared to mine. Also looked at a 5045e sync shuttle and 4120 hydro.

I am planning on trying more weight, but told him to let me know if he gets anything nice used in like a 4120 or 5055e power reverser.

 

[kcflhrc]

I had the tires loaded on my 3032 before they delivered it. So far it has handled everything I have tried to do. Snow mostly and a little ground clearing. Getting ready to do a lot of gravel work, we will see how it handles that. If you decide to trade it I think their offer is a pretty good one. I paid $15,595 for just the tractor and loader in January. So $13k on trade is fair I think. I only have 10 acres to play with so I think this little tractor will do me just fine.

 

[DKCDKC]

I have a 3038e, which is the same tractor with a slightly more powerful engine. I have a lot more land and use it a lot more. So far I see it as a good little tractor. I do clear my mile long gravel driveway of snow with it - using the FEL and a rear blade. Not neat, but effective. I use a cutter easily, and find it great for that. I've had my rear tires loaded and frequently carry a box blade on the back as weight if I'm doing any FEL work. I do have a little problem pulling a full box blade up my steep hills when smoothing the driveway - but had the same problem with my previous tractor - a 65 hp JD 2030 2wd model. Biggest issue with this or any CUT for me is the narrowness of the unit that makes it too easy to roll it on slopes. My older tractor could easily operate on a slope that would flip this CUT. I am planning to get wheel extenders on it later this year because I have a lot of hills. But I'd have to go to a much bigger tractor than I need just to get the stability.