Selection for my needs

[TheBigO]

Hi all. What a great site this is. I am a newbie to tractor owning and am very excited about buying one. I have been reading and reading posts and bought the new online book. I just want to see if I am in the ballpark with a tractor selection. I am looking at a b2710hst or b2910hst. 4wd. fel, mmm or rear mount mower (undecided), box scraper, front or rear blade(undecided), bush hog, r4 tires. in the future log splitter, snowblower.

I own 40 acres in nw PA. My immediate needs are alot of land scaping. Ground leveling, refurbishing a small pond, maintanence on a 400' sloped shale driveway including snow removal, hauling stone and other material. Only about an acre of mowing. It is all high weeds now but plan on turning it into lawn. I am also toying with the idea of cutting and selling some timber myself if these tractors are up to that task. I also have alot of trees to be cut and split for firewood.

Any help on the size (hp) and choice of implements for my needs would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone has dealt in nw PA and can give me an idea of a good dealer and pricing would help alot too.

Much thanks in advance. Leaning towards the 2910.

Steve

 

[glennmac]

I think with that much land, and where you have a lot of very important chores that require muscle--digging, lifting, hauling--you should be looking at a larger tractor. The Grand L series, if you like Kubota. I own a 2910 and will usually recommend it where mowing chores predominate over muscle chores.

 

[Bird]

Steve, glennmac has the 2910 and I have the 2710; nice tractors and you can do what you're talking about doing if you have plenty of time and take it in small bits. But for that many chores on that much property, and if you can afford it, you'll probably be even happier with one of the Grand L series tractors, and in my opinion the bigger the better.

Bird

 

[TheBigO]

Thanks for the help guys. Time is not a factor and after all muscle work is done, it will be most likely light duty stuff (plowing,mowing,log splitting). Hate to spend the extra on a larger tractor when future needs are met with a smaller one. Would the wear and tear on a b series for awhile be worth the money saved by buying a smaller tractor? While i own 40 acres, most of that will not even see the tractor. All wooded acres.
Plus I would like to get a mid mount mower and r4 tires. I see that they are not compatible with 3010s.
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by TheBigO on 08/02/01 04:08 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[glennmac]

O,

A 3010 is probably only $1000 more than a 2910, maybe less if you negotiate a good deal. It is 1000 lbs heavier, significantly larger in size, has stronger hydraulics and can handle larger implements. If you havent already, you should drive around on both to get the feel. A 3710 is maybe $2800 more than a 2910. It has significantly stronger hydraulics than a 3010, more power, and a 4 cyl engine compared to the 3010's 3 cyl. Only you know your situation, but these are not large increases in financial outlay when you consider the long term over which you will own the tractor. Not trying to talk you out of a 2910; just suggesting you fully investigate the larger ones too.

 

[toddler]

The 3010 and the 3710 are both available with Mid Mount Mowers and R4's. They might be a bit harder on the 1acre of mowing than the lighter B's, but all of these are kind of overkill for just mowing. Can you be more specific about the landscaping you'd like to do, and how large the trees you might want to cut and skid will be? If you only really plan to work with a portion of the land, the B's might be the way to go.
Todd
2710 and 10 acres

 

[TheBigO]

the tree skidding was just a wild thought. not sure i`d do that anyway. would be nice to cut a middle man out and do the cutting myself tho. As far as landscaping, uneven ground needs leveled and alot of fill needs brought in and spread. there`s also alt of cut stone that needs gathered and put off to the side for future use. also have stumps i`d like to get rid of.

 

[john_bud]

Steve,

Nobody seems to ever talk about how they returned thier first tractor for a smaller one. In the world of tractors, heavy is good. Heavier is better.

Listen to that little voice in your head, "get the big one, get the big one"

John Bud
L3410 - I listened/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[glennmac]

Sorry, John, but with 240 acres you should have bought at least an M120. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[toddler]

If the stumps are recent cuts, more than 6-8", or in hard soil, you'll probably need a grand L or bigger to pull them. The L's extra weight will also help with ground leveling, or fill moving. Given no time constraints and the limited amt of heavy work, it's a tough decision. I went B and farm out excavating and soil moving, although I do some.

Maybe you can have the dealer bring one of the choices out to your property, once you decide who you'll buy from and the cost of all choices. Then make your decision.
Todd