REPLACING B-7800 WITH ??

[EAGLE1PAR3]

I have been reading post here for sometime, thought now was a good time to jump in. I sold my B7800 and am looking to purchase something a bit larger.
I have narrowed it down to :
L4400 more h/p no creature comforts
M4800 more h/p no creature comforts & no HST ?
L3940 more h/p and Grand options
L4240 w/cab more h/p Grand options and creature comforts a/c heat radio
Having been groomed on the B7800, I am not sure that I or my son would enjoy as much not having the HST.
I cant see paying the extra $6000 for a cab over the extra h/p (though my wife & son would disagree).
I would love opinions from GRAND owners and anyone that actually has a cab installed, is it worth the money or would I be better opting for extra power.
Primary use is FEL work, mulch, dirt, driveway grading & mowing 10 acres of fields & clearing 10 acres of trails, also am considering a rear mounted roto tiller for our 100' x 100' family garden and selling our Troy Bilt Pony.
All opinions are appriciated
Also looking to replace a Craftsman 26 h/p lawn tractor with perhaps a MMM finish mower, we have an acre mostly flat front yard.

Greg

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I also had a B7800 FELfor 3 years. Traded it for a L3240HST FEL. Just traded L3240HST Grand after 1 year for a B3200 FEL I have hillside property and never felt really comfortable with the L. If I had flatland I would prefer the Grand L because the seat is great. I don't mow when it's to hot and we don't do snow in my part of Ky so I have never considered a cab. Any of the models you mentioned will run a 6' Rear finish mower for your yard mowing. I have a rfm I used on my B7800, L3240HST and will use on my B3200 some. I have a BX2350MMM for most of my hillside mowing. Also any model you mentioned will power a tiller and if you till and have a tractor the only way to go is with a tractor powered tiller. It doesn't look like you have a great demand for the most HP so for me I'd take the comforts of the Grand HST over extra HP. 39Hp should handle all your jobs. Maybe even less. Did your B7800 meet you HP needs? If not, then you will need more than the L3240HST.

 

[bandit67]

I haven't used a Grand L, but basing my experience with a B7800 rental and my current B3030 on my hilly mountain property, at 8500 feet above sea level, I can't imagine that you will ever need more than 39hp with the list of things you are doing with a tractor. My 30hp machine loses 30% to 35% of it's power at my elevation - that would put me at around 20 gross hp, and I have yet to run out of power. A 39 hp machine should be a beast at sea level.

I'd say go with the GL3940. You can always add a cab later, or get the cab now if mowing takes up a big chunk of the chores - that hot humid summer air back east is pretty nasty, especially if you are out mowing in the hot sun, so a cab would be a nice option. Keep you from sucking in all that green mowing dust, too.

One thing I'd be willing to bet is that you would be miserable going from HST to any sort of a gear tranny.

 

[medicshawn]

I sold my b7800 and traded up to an L3940. Big difference. I have no regrets and it will do all you need it to do. I love the HST and wouldn't have anything else. I added the skid Steer Quick attach to mine, a 3rd function valve and 2 rear remotes. I have since added a canopy. The canopy/cab might not be desireable depending on how much traveling in the woods you need to do. If you get a mower I like the Rear finish mower over the mid mount. Cheaper and easier to remove. Guess it depends on how tight your acres is. the 3940 is much bigger than the B7800. You also might look into a flail mower to cut grass with/bushhog.

 

[EAGLE1PAR3]

I stopped by my local Kubota dealer today, he felt the L3240 HST GRAND would be enough machine for what I need, Quite a difference between the
B7800 and the L3240. I was quoted a price of $23500 for the L3240 & FEL.
I am also looking for a 6' brush hog, 5' roto tiller and a rear mount finish mower.he quoted me $32427.00 for everything including tax. That was a bit more then i had expected, I had $25000--$27000 budgeted. I left my number in the event they will work a better figure meanwhile i continue my search

thank for all the info

greg

 

[medicshawn]

Try Brady at Barlows equipment. I bought a 3940 for less than that 6 months ago. You could also try Messicks. I have to disagree with your dealer. You don't get much except a bigger heavier frame just going to a 3240. You could have just kept your 7800.

 

[medicshawn]

He also quoted you 9000 for 3 attachments. That seems ridiculous.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Try Brady at Barlows equipment. I bought a 3940 for less than that 6 months ago. You could also try Messicks. I have to disagree with your dealer. You don't get much except a bigger heavier frame just going to a 3240. You could have just kept your 7800.

I agree. Check with Barlows. They like Kubotas but they don't want to keep them. They want to sell them and get more!

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Eagle, give me a call. We just got an L3940 from a dealer who went out of business thats a few hundred under the normal 2008 invoice price. No doubt it will be way under the L3240 you where priced.

Neil
www.messicks.com

 

[EAGLE1PAR3]

Thanks guys for the feedback, I too thought the dealers prices were a bit inflated, checking the specs on between the B7800 and the L3240 other then 4 h/p, larger load capacity, a larger footprint and the GRAND options it seems pretty close to what i just sold. After reading your replies I am pretty confident that I can do better in price even if I need to travel out of state to do it. I sure dont mind trailering a tractor home in order to save a few grand on a GRAND.
Thanks again, I will update here my progress

Greg