Buying Advice Switch from LS to Deere?

[Olympus]

Hey guys I've been doing something thinking about trading tractors. I currently have a 2013 LS R3039 shuttle shift and it's been a great tractor, only thing I've ever had to do was put a new battery on it last year. It has 39hp and a 4-cylinder Mitsubishi engine that is pre-emission regulation. At the time, I was living on 6 acres and I was maintaining a gravel driveway that was regularly prone to wash-outs, I was doing a lot of material moving with the bucket for various projects, and I was bush hogging about 3 acres. I also had bought a 100 acre hunting property and I was using the tractor to establish food plots, cut new trails, and bush hog and maintain existing trails.

I have since moved to a newer, less maintenance home on 3.5 acres in a subdivision. I have a concrete driveway now and I only have about 1.5 acres of woods behind the house to maintain with a bush hog. I still have the 100 acre hunting property, but I've cut all the trails I need so now most of the work is just bush hogging the trails once a year to keep them from growing up again. I also have been renting a rotary tiller every 3 years to till up the food plots for reseeding. So my overall needs for a 39hp tractor have lessened considerably. I'm at a point now where I've been thinking about slightly downsizing, but getting into a newer tractor with the iMatch hitch and just getting two new attachments that I would need to use instead of the mismatched, beat up, worn out stuff that I have now.

I've been thinking about trading for a Deere 3032E and getting a new bush hog and a grader blade. Interested to hear people's thought's on my idea. Thanks!

 

[Gee Ray]

Seams to me it would be an expensive trade. If the tractor is in good shape I would upgrade the mower and blade, and keep on keeping on until the tractor needed to be changed.

 

[Grandad4]

Gotta agree with GeeRay here. You'll spend serious coin and end up with less tractor. LS are decent tractors. Unless yours has issues, not sure what you expect to gain by the switch.

 

[jeff9366]

LS R3039 Dimensions​
Wheelbase:	65.4 inches 166 cm
Length:	117.6 inches 298 cm
Width:	54.3 inches 137 cm
Height (ROPS):	92.6 inches 235 cm
Weight:	2780 lbs 1261 kg

John Deere 3032E Dimensions​

Dimensions
Wheelbase:	60 inches 152 cm
Length:	111 inches 281 cm
Width:	56.5 inches 143 cm (min)
	58 inches 147 cm (max)
Height (hood):	51 inches 129 cm
Height (ROPS):	82.3 inches 209 cm
Operating weight:	2175 lbs 986 kg

The Deere 3032e is 2" wider and 605 pounds lighter than your LS R3039.
The Deere 3032e has more perishable aluminum and plastic components, relative to durable steel components supplied in the LS.

Deere is no more maneuverable, a tad less stable and less capable overall than your current LS.

I have a 2013 LS R3039 shuttle shift and it's been a great tractor. The only thing I've had to do was put a new battery in it after seven years.

This is a no-brainer: KEEP THE LS 3039.

Buy new implements and a quick hitch for the LS R3039.

Carters quick EZ hitch site:tractorbynet.com

Welcome to CARTER AND SON'S TOOL AND DIE

 

[Doughknob]

Yep, agree with everyone else so far; keep the LS. Not a Deere fan anyway - overpriced because of the color and high labor cost.

 

[milkman636]

I went through a similar process about a decade ago myself. I downgraded from a 53hp geared tractor to a 38 hp hst tractor with shorter wheelbase after moving to a smaller property. It was a game changer for maneuverability, so I get where you are coming from on this.

My only caveat would be to take a look at the 20xxR and 30xxR series tractors too. The 30xxE series seems a little underwhelming to me personally. If your patient and not in a hurry you can probably score a low hour one in the used market too. Which is another reason to maybe consider upgrading your implements separately from your tractor.

 

[Roadworthy]

You want to spend more money for less tractor? Unless the LS has turned into a money pit with lots of repairs somewhere along the line I'd stick with the LS as long as I could get parts when needed.

 

[Diggin It]

I'd see an LS dealer about trading down to a new MT2 or MT3 series or similar. You might need a smaller machine, but still want something with guts.

 

[Boss 302]

I agree keep the LS, you will be glad you did down the road.

 

[Mrsig]

Keep the LS is my vote too. Save the cash and you know you have had no problems with it.

 

[coobie]

How many hours on the LS? If not too many keep what you have.

 

[jezreel]

Yep. Ya know what you have already with the LS. A workhorse that gets the job done. Keep what ya got and use those dollars that are burning a hole in your pocket for some new implements. Sounds like you’re getting a a consensus here.

 

[Milo]

I know it's more money but you'll get a lot more with a 3033R.

 

[jeff9366]

I know it's more money but you'll get a lot more with a 3033R.

Your are correct. However, Olympus is contemplating LESS.

LS R3039 Dimensions​
Wheelbase:	65.4 inches 166 cm
Length:	117.6 inches 298 cm
Width:	54.3 inches 137 cm
Height (ROPS):	92.6 inches 235 cm
Weight:	2780 lbs 1261 kg

John Deere 3033R Dimensions​

Dimensions
Wheelbase:	68 inches 172 cm
Length:	127.2 inches 323 cm
Width:	52.1 inches 132 cm
Height (ROPS):	93.3 inches 236 cm
Height (cab):	89.7 inches 227 cm

John Deere 3033R Weight
ROPS :	3086 lbs 1399 kg
Cab :	3748 lbs 1700 kg

There will not be much perishable plastic nor low tensile strength aluminum in the above Deere 3033R.............

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other specification.

 

[milkman636]

One thing that seems be getting overlooked is that the OP is considering a switch from a shuttle shift to an HST tractor. This might be a good time to make a switch. Resale and trade values are probably near peak on the LS, and if he can find a unit that someone wants to move he may still be able to get a good deal on the replacement. I picked up a 1023E with only 172 hours at the beginning of this month for about 15% less than most similar tractors are being advertised for. It's worth the OP's time to explore options right now. Having some actual numbers might make the decision easier.

Another option to throw out there is to pick up a used subcompact like I did to supplement my larger Bobcat. My situation is similar in that I live on 3 acres and maintain a separate larger parcel. Having both sizes can come in real handy if you have the storage space..

 

[Milo]

Jeff you're right but I wasn't thinking weight, rather other enhancements like 3 range E-hydro (vs 2 range conventional hydro), more lift capacity, made in USA (I believe the 3E is manufactured in Mexico), deluxe features , etc.

 

[dodge man]

The debate between plastic and steel panels has been debated, same between aluminum and cast components. My opinion is there is no clear winner if the design is good. That said it seems like step down, but not a very big step down. Something like a 2032r might be better suited for your smaller property but then you still have your larger property. Unless you really want a new tractor and have the cash, I’d also keep what you have.

 

[mo1]

Hey guys I've been doing something thinking about trading tractors. I currently have a 2013 LS R3039 shuttle shift and it's been a great tractor, only thing I've ever had to do was put a new battery on it last year. It has 39hp and a 4-cylinder Mitsubishi engine that is pre-emission regulation. At the time, I was living on 6 acres and I was maintaining a gravel driveway that was regularly prone to wash-outs, I was doing a lot of material moving with the bucket for various projects, and I was bush hogging about 3 acres. I also had bought a 100 acre hunting property and I was using the tractor to establish food plots, cut new trails, and bush hog and maintain existing trails.

I have since moved to a newer, less maintenance home on 3.5 acres in a subdivision. I have a concrete driveway now and I only have about 1.5 acres of woods behind the house to maintain with a bush hog. I still have the 100 acre hunting property, but I've cut all the trails I need so now most of the work is just bush hogging the trails once a year to keep them from growing up again. I also have been renting a rotary tiller every 3 years to till up the food plots for reseeding. So my overall needs for a 39hp tractor have lessened considerably. I'm at a point now where I've been thinking about slightly downsizing, but getting into a newer tractor with the iMatch hitch and just getting two new attachments that I would need to use instead of the mismatched, beat up, worn out stuff that I have now.

I've been thinking about trading for a Deere 3032E and getting a new bush hog and a grader blade. Interested to hear people's thought's on my idea. Thanks!

I wouldn't make that trade. I have run a New Holland Boomer 50 which is simply an LS R4047 in a darker blue and with a different loader. This is the same tractor as yours but with the "pump turned up," it has the 47 HP fuel setting on the four-cylinder Mitsubishi and also has the same four-speed/four range gear transmission. It is a solid tractor and a decent size for running a 5-6' bush hog, blade, and tiller.

The Deere 3E is not that much smaller than the LS is, although it is quite a bit lighter. The loader on the Deere is much less capable. You can only get a hydrostatic transmission on the Deere 3E which in my book is a negative, particularly if you are doing things like running a bush hog and tiller where you go at the same speed for some period of time. The iMatch is simply a category I 3-point quick hitch, which you can get for your current LS if you want. If you downsize to the Deere 3E, or really any compact tractor larger than a subcompact (e.g. Deere 1 series) , it will still be too big to use well in a 3.5 acre subdivision lot. If there is a decision to make, it would be to either keep the LS or simply sell it outright and rent a tractor for a day or two every year for the hunting property.

 

[ljjhouser]

Sounds like you have been happy with LS. And also the LS dealer. Those are the best answer to your question. I too recommend "Keep your LS."

 

[Boss 302]

I agree stay with the LS