This might be a stupid B3030 trade-in scenario

[bandit67]

I love my B3030. Power is great, size is great. I love the open station in the summer, as where I live, it doesn't get very hot.

Winter is another story, though. Sure, I have all the gear, but every winter, I long for a cab. I use a mini ex every summer and fall, and am not a particular fan of the cab in the nice weather, hence my decision to buy another open station tractor in 2008. But I am really getting tired of plowing snow and working in the rain with the open station machine. Guess I'm getting old, and I keep thinking about how much worse I'm going to be complaining as I get even older and wimpy-er. :ashamed:

So, I am considering adding a Laurin cab to my machine, or simply trading my machine in on a leftover new B3030 and adding the new BH77 backhoe. I guess I will go with whichever option is less expensive. Waiting on a price from a local dealer on the new machine. Got a price on the Laurin cab delivered at just about $8k. Ouch

Just seems a bit silly to move laterally, size & power-wise, just to get a cab because I'm getting older and turning into a bit of a wuss. But my machine is the perfect size for my personal needs and for the small amount of outside work I do, as I have partnered up with a guy that has a mini-ex and a skid steer, so my B3030 fits a perfect niche for what we need to do on paying jobs.

Anyway, I just thought I'd see what other folks have to say about this ridiculous :ashamed: exercise I'm going through. Then again, I may get a final price after trade-in that makes me say forget it, suck it up, and bundle up and keep the open station machine you big baby.

 

[srs]

I love my B3030. But I am really getting tired of plowing snow and working in the rain with the open station machine. Guess I'm getting old,

Need I say more????????

 

[Ductape]

The whole reason I ended up in my 3030 cab was because I priced an aftermarket cab for by B2400. You are preaching to the choir here my friend ! My advice is......... trade for the B3030HSDCC. The laurin cabs are beautiful, but 5 - 8 grand and you still have no A/C ??? The Curtis and Simms are decent, but by the time you account for all the options like headliner, work lights, heat, etc, you are well within a grand of the factory cab...... and that was installing myself. Again, no A/C. Any chance you could save a buck by keeping your current hoe?

 

[JJZ 109]

The whole reason I ended up in my 3030 cab was because I priced an aftermarket cab for by B2400. You are preaching to the choir here my friend ! My advice is......... trade for the B3030HSDCC. The laurin cabs are beautiful, but 5 - 8 grand and you still have no A/C ??? The Curtis and Simms are decent, but by the time you account for all the options like headliner, work lights, heat, etc, you are well within a grand of the factory cab...... and that was installing myself. Again, no A/C. Any chance you could save a buck by keeping your current hoe?

Along the same lines, I ditched my JD 790 when all I could get for it was a crappy Sims cab with vinyl doors and no heat for the in the ridiculous neighborhood of $3 large.
Nice to blow snow in a sweatshirt no matter the weather outside. That function works very well on the HSDCC. I've also used the A/C when brush hogging more than I ever thought I would.

 

[bandit67]

Again, no A/C. Any chance you could save a buck by keeping your current hoe?

AC isn't really necessary where I am, unless I start doing more work down the hill during the summer months, which I guess is possible - so far, most of it has been in the high country, but the guy I'm working with is picking up more work in 100* summer country, so I'd be liking the cab for that work if it increases.

Can't keep the BH75 - won't work with the factory cab. The new BH77 works with the factory cab. The Laurin cab works with my BH75. Of course, the new BH77 has the curved boom and the built-in thumb bracket, both of which I will make good use of. And I could see a hydraulic thumb conversion at some point. The straight boom can be problematic in some digging situations.

Another nice thing is the cab version will fit a little better in my attached garage, so I'll end up with 2 possible parking spaces. However, I now transport the tractor for paying jobs in my enclosed trailer, which won't work with a cabbed machine, so I'll have to pick up yet another trailer (flatbed), since the flatbed I now have and need for other tasks is too small for the B3030.

 

[Ductape]

AC isn't really necessary where I am, unless I start doing more work down the hill during the summer months, which I guess is possible - so far, most of it has been in the high country, but the guy I'm working with is picking up more work in 100* summer country, so I'd be liking the cab for that work if it increases.

I assure you that you will use the A/C quite a bit if your tractor has it.

 

[TripleR]

You will find a cab collects a lot of heat, so I would definitely recommend one equipped with an AC.

I admit freely to being a wuss and will never buy another open station if a cabbed model is available.

I do have a couple of old open station tractors for working in the woods etc.

 

[rpraymond]

A few years ago, during a particularly bad winter day, I was clearing my driveway when I saw my neighbor shoveling his. I drove up and made quick work of clearing it. When I was done he came up to me and thanked me profusely for helping him out. I opened the door of my tractor, heat and music floated out into the winter air, and I said "no problem". You'll love the cab in the winter!

 

[ChuckinNH]

Nice to see you around Bandit. I think that the dogs can give you all the fresh air that you need in the winter. I don't think that moving to a cabbed tractor is a lateral move at all. Whether the new features you need are a cab, more hp, larger, (or smaller) size, or whatever, the point is that you are moving to something that suits your well thought out needs defines. I know you from your last upgrade, and know that you choose wisely for those needs. Go for it.

 

[JJZ 109]

You will find a cab collects a lot of heat, so I would definitely recommend one equipped with an AC.

First year with my 3030 cab I thought that I'd get by with removing the doors for the summer. After a month or so I put them back on and started using the A/C.
As I've stated elsewhere on the forum, my only cab issue has been hydro whine/engine noise drowning out the stereo when working at rated speed. Sounds like bandit uses his 3030 for some real work so stereo probably wouldn't be an issue.

 

[bandit67]

Geez, I thought at least someone would call me out for being a girly-man. Thanks a lot, guys. :laughing:

Things sure have changed around here over the years. Seems we have quite the support group at TBN. Support for our tractor addictions and our addictions to spending money on our tractors. And what's with all the wives agreeing that their husbands need these fancy toys, er TOOLS, I mean. :drink:

Well, no sense in just giving one dealer the chance to kill my buzz. I'm back to a full blown search for the best price from multiple dealers. Uh Oh, looks like I just might be getting a new tractor.

So Chuck, when are you moving to a cab? I know your winters are just as bad as mine.

 

[nybirdman]

I traded a perfectly good 400hr L3130HST open station for a L4240 HSTC for exactly the same reason.Really liked the original tractor but traded up for a cab in winter.I found it is also very nice for hot ,dusty and rainy conditions.
You will use the a/c in summer,no choice those cabs are like a fish bowl.
Mine comes on at 65 degrees.:thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

First year with my 3030 cab I thought that I'd get by with removing the doors for the summer. After a month or so I put them back on and started using the A/C.
As I've stated elsewhere on the forum, my only cab issue has been hydro whine/engine noise drowning out the stereo when working at rated speed. Sounds like bandit uses his 3030 for some real work so stereo probably wouldn't be an issue.

I can imagine the whine might be annoying. Our BX2660 is pretty noisy, but we don't have a cab on it. Our L5030 doesn't have significant HST whine and our M8540 is geared. I don't listen to a radio in anything, so that is not an issue for me. Now my sons listen to the radio, but the "music" they listen to sounds worse to me than transmission whine anyway.:laughing:

 

[JJZ 109]

Now my sons listen to the radio, but the "music" they listen to sounds worse to me than transmission whine anyway.:laughing:

I'm thinking that our parents probably said the same thing about us.

 

[TripleR]

I'm thinking that our parents probably said the same thing about us.

Oh, I am sure they did.

 

[JJZ 109]

Oh, I am sure they did.

I used to listen to Bachman Turner Overdrive. The band's logo had a gear in it and one of their album covers was a box of gears.
My stepdad used to call it my "New Process Gear" record.

 

[TripleR]

I used to listen to Bachman Turner Overdrive. The band's logo had a gear in it and one of their album covers was a box of gears.
My stepdad used to call it my "New Process Gear" record.

I remember my son's reaction one year in deer camp we were listening to some of his favorite songs when the cutaway announced we were listening to a "classic rock" station.

 

[bandit67]

And so the dealer games have begun.

I'm getting all sorts of stories from different dealers on some of the combinations that will and won't work. One dealer called me after talking to Kubota's office in California to tell me that the BH77 won't work on the B3030 cab, but the BH75 on my open station machine will. I told him no way, and he better talk to someone else at Kubota because I knew that was flat out wrong. He called back and confirmed later. I was on the BH77 going onto the B3030 after another dealer told me it would work a couple of days ago. Now I'm having doubts.

The dealer that told me the BH77 will work on the B3030 called today to tell me that a B3030 cabbed machine had just arrived. He was supposed to be calling me with pricing. I said that's nice, now what about the numbers? He then started asking about my trade-in and told me the sales manager wanted to stop by tomorrow to take a look at my machine. I told him to hold his horses, I had work to do across town and I reminded him that I previously clearly stated (to everyone I'm talking to) that a trade-in may not happen as there are a couple folks that claim they're interested in my machine. I had to remind him that I actually needed numbers to determine whether or not I was going to buy a machine.

I cannot believe that tractor dealers are still pulling the sleazy car salesmen pitch in this economy. I cannot believe the car dealers are still pulling their crap, as we've been looking for a new car for my wife. These salesmen seem to think they can strongarm someone into signing for a new vehicle without even giving them a price.

And these local bozos wonder why I bought out-of-state the last time. At this rate, if I do buy a new machine, it's looking like I may be buying out-of-state again. In 2 1/2 years of Kubota ownership, that has not come back to bite me as I haven't had to take my B3030 in for any service, and haven't had to deal with getting put in the back of the line. Though I suspect that isn't something that is happening these days, as even the service departments around here seem extremely quiet.

So it's looking like a leftover B3030 cab & Woods BH80X or waiting for the new B3000 cab and the new BH77 may now be my only options as far as new machines are concerned. We'll see how this all pans out, but the Laurin cab may end up being my best option after some of this initial new-tractor BS. :thumbdown:

 

[JJZ 109]

And so the dealer games have begun.

I'm getting all sorts of stories from different dealers on some of the combinations that will and won't work. One dealer called me after talking to Kubota's office in California to tell me that the BH77 won't work on the B3030 cab, but the BH75 on my open station machine will. I told him no way, and he better talk to someone else at Kubota because I knew that was flat out wrong. He called back and confirmed later. I was on the BH77 going onto the B3030 after another dealer told me it would work a couple of days ago. Now I'm having doubts.

The dealer that told me the BH77 will work on the B3030 called today to tell me that a B3030 cabbed machine had just arrived. He was supposed to be calling me with pricing. I said that's nice, now what about the numbers? He then started asking about my trade-in and told me the sales manager wanted to stop by tomorrow to take a look at my machine. I told him to hold his horses, I had work to do across town and I reminded him that I previously clearly stated (to everyone I'm talking to) that a trade-in may not happen as there are a couple folks that claim they're interested in my machine. I had to remind him that I actually needed numbers to determine whether or not I was going to buy a machine.

I cannot believe that tractor dealers are still pulling the sleazy car salesmen pitch in this economy. I cannot believe the car dealers are still pulling their crap, as we've been looking for a new car for my wife. These salesmen seem to think they can strongarm someone into signing for a new vehicle without even giving them a price.

And these local bozos wonder why I bought out-of-state the last time. At this rate, if I do buy a new machine, it's looking like I may be buying out-of-state again. In 2 1/2 years of Kubota ownership, that has not come back to bite me as I haven't had to take my B3030 in for any service, and haven't had to deal with getting put in the back of the line. Though I suspect that isn't something that is happening these days, as even the service departments around here seem extremely quiet.

So it's looking like a leftover B3030 cab & Woods BH80X or waiting for the new B3000 cab and the new BH77 may now be my only options as far as new machines are concerned. We'll see how this all pans out, but the Laurin cab may end up being my best option after some of this initial new-tractor BS. :thumbdown:

Too bad that the local boys have to play the game with you, when you've obviously bought Kubota before and know what you want and need this time around.
Biz must be absolutely booming for them if they believe they can jerk you around and not think that you'll go elsewhere.
Numbers should be easy enough for them. They give you a figure, you counter, and then continue until you either agree or not. Then you either buy there or move on.
I have a seasonal business myself. When I give an estimate, that's the deal. If someone tops me, they get the job. It is what it is. But I don't jerk customers around. I seem to get all the work I can handle, so something must being going right.
I hate the games and luckily my local guy didn't do that when I bought my 3030 cab. I had numbers from several different dealers across my state when I bought. The cheapest would have only been about $300 less than the local guy, so I bought at home and paid the extra $300 but saved myself a 4 hour ride each way to pick up a new tractor.
Like you, I'll travel when it comes to a major purchase. I haven't bought a truck from the local guys in many years. There is military base nearby, so apparently most dealers don't need to deal anymore when you have young military personnel willing to waltz in and pay sticker for everything. The dealers don't care to earn the business of the local guy who gets online and does his homework and strives for a fair deal.

 

[bandit67]

Business isn't booming for them, that's why I don't get it. One Kubota dealer closed its doors last spring. This particular dealer has been around for a while, but did a lot of construction business selling yellow New Holland products. But their lot is empty and they aren't selling any of the big machines, and very little of the smaller stuff, so I know they're hurting.

Must have the gov't syndrome - when revenues are down, raise prices (taxes) to try to make up for it, then wonder why revenues continue to plummet.