Sanity check on tractor size for me

[TripleR]

Some very good points. I really like the Grand L Series, we were initially interested in the 32/3540 which is an excellent tractor, but decided to get a little more capability in a not much bigger package as we have a bit more acreage. Tractors seem to shrink with use. Our L5030 "seemed" big for a while, but now seems pretty small; not too small, but certainly smaller than when first purchased.

 

[Sawdustsmb]

jay, I bought a property in 1974 - woods and meadow. Mowed the meadow with a Ford 9N, 3000, and now a 4000 all with a 7' flail. My wife didn't mind the 9n on her lawn around the house - the 4000 is really frowned upon!! She enjoys her rider - I stay away. IMHO always load the rear tires. 1. weight to counter the FEL 2. more important - stability side to side especially on side hills. Most of the weight is out and down.
Bob

 

[Bluegill2]

No such thing as the 'perfect' size/model tractor.

I keep thinking I should have bought bigger, Grand series, etc... But every time I get on the L3800, it does whatever I ask of it and does it well. A 6' mower and larger loader would be helpful, but I have that in the old 3750. The 3800 is SO much handier in the woods though. We were also budget minded and wanted to pay cash, no financing...

:thumbsup:

 

[MHarryE]

We have a 40, went out with the intent of buying a Kubota starting with a B and drove out with a L3710. No regrets, a rare impulse buy wise decision of mine. One caveat - we had a JD lawn tractor that can mow places that we couldn't have reached even with the B. In fact the rear finish mower we got for the L3710 proved a boon in that I could back up to mow things we couldn't reach with any kind of mid-mount. The L3710 served well for 9 years until after 1 year of semi-retirment I needed something larger and traced for a L5740 HSTC. But I did all the things you talk about - building a retirement house, garage, and machine shed, clearing brush, major mowing (3 acre front lawn) etc.

 

[jay98014]

Everyone, thank you for the feedback - this is a really great forum.

Summarizing the feedback for myself, it sounds like a 4240 is perhaps on the edge of being too big for my property\needs, and therefore I could likely live with a smaller B or L tractor (or get the 4240 plus, say, a smaller riding mower down the line). This is actually inline with my own thinking\concerns (otherwise I wouldn't have posted the question), but I appreciate the feedback as it helps me make a decision. Right now I'm still leaning toward the 4240 (ok, there is an element of "want" at work here, not just "need" ). I will be sure to post a followup after I make my final decision (and will include pictures ).

thx,
Jay

 

[crazyal]

With the amount of land you have I really doubt you'll regret it if you do go with the 4240. However once you do loader work and see just how nice it is to flick a lever (like putting your high beams on) and get more power for pushing into a pile of dirt without stopping and shifting down you'll be happy you went with the GL.

 

[OrangeRidge]

You've got two spheres of machinery use happening here : After the "
big jobs" are done , there's only going to be 1-2 acres of grass cutting -
is this so ? So ( my 2cents worth ) get a mower you're happy with for
an acre or two , and a tractor for ground work down the years ( that
won't disappoint you as your vision expands and projects come to
mind ) , since you don't want to be mowing with an L , but an L is
the right size of frame for ground work -- if you're ok with the money.

 

[HappyOne]

I have used a L4350 for years and really got used to the power. Recently I got an L3430HSTC. I recently went around stirring my compost piles, and now realize what a plus the extra loader capacity on my L4350 is. It will scoop almost twice the material without flinching. It took longer to do on the smaller tractor too.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I got my P7010 with intention of doing lots of dirt work and tree clearing but ended up using a dozer instead so the 70HP is kind of wasted. Now we have most of the clearing done, most of the dirt work except yearly crop of rocks to remove so I think the 7010 will eventually be put on the block for sale. I think most of what I will be doing in the future can be done with the B26 TLB. That big tractor is nice when moving large heavy rocks and the FEL bucket capacity can really move a lot of dirt, but it just wont get into small areas. So let me be the first one here to say that I bought too big of a tractor for the work I have left to do.

 

[NHmitch]

To save you money, and to get a great tractor, I would look at one of these. They are the company that makes JD, but you can get a tractor that is rebuilt like brand new with a loader for under10k. Then you can get all of the implements that you need right now. These are great tractors.
Used tractors for sale, used Yanmar tractors, reconditioned Yanmar tractor, Gray Market

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdCIvO8CIJ4[/ame]