Buying Advice Trade 4310 for 3520 with 448 BH?

[KML]

Ok, in the what the heck am I thinking category....

A few months ago I bought a 2004 4310 with 853 hrs for $9k even. Added a new 300CX and was out the door after taxes, 3rd SCV, etc for $15,300.

Well, my dealer just traded for a really clean 2007 3520 with 690hrs, a 300X, 72MMM, and a 448 BH. He's asking $19,995. Sounds like a great price to me!

He shot me an offer of my tractor + $7,900 for the 3520. I'd be paying a $3k "idiot tax" for trading so soon. ($12k for my trade, but it is at 994hrs now)

The offer I have in mind is:
- Trade my tractor for the 3520 + $5,500
- Swap loaders. I want to keep my new CX!
- He keeps the belly mower, I have NO use for it. The 4310 is setup for one.
- Work a 3rd SCV into the deal, need my HTL!

That puts me into the 3520 for ~$21,500 with taxes:confused2:

I don't NEED a BH but sure would like one. Third tractor from this dealer and I trust that if there is a problem with the tractor he'll take care me as he has in the past.

Maybe I'm just trying to rationalize this but I'm thinking this would be a $37K tractor new and even if I'm in it for $23K I'm in good shape. Not as good as if I had bought it out right but...It's 3 years newer, has less hours, a BH, and is the current model.

Have I lost my mind? On the plus side - the tractors are so similar my wife probably wouldn't notice anything but the BH....:thumbsup:

I guess it boils down to: Is the 3520 with BH worth $21-23K from a solid dealer?

 

[RoyJackson]

The 3520 has a few more HP (engine and PTO) then your 4310...one advantage.

If you don't need a backhoe..well, it would be a very expensive addition that may set around for a long time.

Only you can make the determination about trading up...and I suggest you follow your plan:

The offer I have in mind is:
- Trade my tractor for the 3520 + $5,500
- Swap loaders. I want to keep my new CX!
- He keeps the belly mower, I have NO use for it. The 4310 is setup for one.
- Work a 3rd SCV into the deal, need my HTL!

And see how the dealer responds...can't hurt a thing and won't cost you any money if he declines your offer.

 

[KML]

Update:

Talked to him and the loader swap is no problem, no change in price. He said he figured I'd want to keep the 300CX from the get go.

Told him I had no use for th 72"MMM, said he didn't either.

Already has the 3rd SCV.

He's said they have room in the price...It's on it's way out to my place for a look see.

The more I think about it, the more i'm inclined to do it. A BH was in the plans in the future anyhow. Rarely see them used and they aren't that much cheaper than new when you do see them. I figure a new BH is $8k plus ~1K to get it on the tractor.

The newer tractor, lower Hrs, and more power are just bonuses!

One thing that concerns me is the turbo. Seems like a more "complicated" engine is more source for trouble down the road. Any one have issues with them when the hours get up there?

 

[JiminGa]

keep the oil changed on time and don't baby it, the turbo should not give you any trouble.

sounds like a great deal to me, you'll love having the hoe around!

 

[RoyJackson]

One thing that concerns me is the turbo. Seems like a more "complicated" engine is more source for trouble down the road. Any one have issues with them when the hours get up there?

I doubt you have a lick of trouble with the turbo as long as you operate it correctly, shut it down correctly and maintain it correctly.

 

[AKfish]

Sounds like a really good deal... Hard to pass up - one of those times when you're lookin' at your feet to see if you'll be kickin' yourself later on - if you don't make a move..

Roy's got a point - let the engine idle for a few minutes before shut-down - especially during the summer, etc. And as JiminGa mentioned, clean oil... The turbo bearing's will last for several thousand's of hours of trouble-free use!

Good luck.

AKfish

 

[Martian]

If you have the money to spend I would go for it. You will be happier down the road. And be sure to keep the backhoe as they are a very nice toy!:thumbsup:

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Sounds like a good price to me for the TLB part. If you don't want the MMM and neither does the dealer and there is no change in the price - take the MMM. If nothing else with all the mounting hardware you should be able to sell it to someone with a 3x20 and offset some of your up charge.

 

[Martian]

Sounds like a good price to me for the TLB part. If you don't want the MMM and neither does the dealer and there is no change in the price - take the MMM. If nothing else with all the mounting hardware you should be able to sell it to someone with a 3x20 and offset some of your up charge.

Someone will surely be looking for it and expect around 1000 on craigslist. Someone would be looking for it.

Does the 3520 have a cab?

 

[JDTank]

I would definitely go with it 100%, that is a good price. That backhoe alone is almost $9,000 if I remember correctly. A backhoe is one of those things that you know you shouldn't buy because the price is just so insane it doesn't make sense. But, once you have your own at your disclosure, what you can do is endless.

I wouldn't worry about the turbo at all. Turbochargers are the simplest most efficient way to get large amounts of air into an engine. The bearings in today's turbo's are leaps and bounds over turbo's even from the 1980's. Unless you worked the tractor hard and were using boost for a good period of time, you could shut it down almost immediately.

I would find a way to install a boost gauge on it, as well as a oil temperature gauge, but I am the type who loves to have a gauge for everything. Every gauge tells a chapter of the story of how your tractor is running and feeling. My guess is it hardly get's any boost anyways in such a small engine, probably 5 PSI.

I had a 2004 Kenworth W900L with a C15 Accert Cat engine in it when I used to own my own semi and was long hauling. I hit 50 PSI of boost with that twin turbo setup. When I sold the truck in 2010, I had 1,300,000 KM on it, and still the original turbo's!