trying to choose between three tractors...

[Anonymous Poster]

This will be my first tractor purchase, and I'm trying to weed through all the posts and get an idea of what ya'll think is the best for my needs...essentially, I have 30 acres (6 to mow as a "lawn", the rest to bush hog, pull dead trees out of my three creeks as need be, has to have a front end loader to muck five horse stalls, need ease of use, as my wife is the principal mucker, and have narrowed it down to the green, blue, or orange...

Any thoughts on the pros and cons of the TC33, JD4310, vs the L3430 would be very much appreciated. I also just saw some posts about the NH TC30 HST, which I'm not familiar with. I am going to the various dealers for each in the morning, with the wife (I know, that may be a mistake, but she is going to have to drive it as well)....Ya'lls input would be appreciated....Capper

 

[Holmes57]

I just went through the same selection process but was considering the 3130 Orange. The grand L seemed too big for my needs(hard to move in stalls) and the FEL had a rough but powerful feel. The TC33D had the weakest FEL with the 7308 and I would have chosen to wait till they came out with the curved version like the 17A/16A on the larger Boomers. I ended up selecting the 4310(should have it later this week or early next. I would suggest you and your wife ride all 3 and see what feels best and make sure you are comfortable with the dealers. Good luck.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

thanks for the input!

We are going to the three dealers in the morning, and sit on them all to help decide. The ability to get into the stalls is well put, and I want, as alot of folks have posted here, a tractor that is "big" enough to do the job, but small enought to manuveur aournd the tasks at hand....will let you know how the test drives with the wife go tomorrow...Capper

 

[rancar]

If your budget permits, go with as big of a compact tractor as you can. As you say...big is better, and you'll likely find projects in the future that'll require the larger engine, engine torque, and PTO HP. Best of luck to you in your shopping.

....Bob

 

[markie61]

All of these tractors are good - the most important thing, though, is the dealer. When you are at each dealership, visit the service department and and meet the service manager. Ask for a tour of the service bays. Ask to see the parts area. Make sure you have the support you will eventually need.

BTW, the TC30HST from New Holland (and the TC30, its gear drive counterpart) are the "budget" tractors from NH. They are a pretty good deal, if it meets your need. They just don't have the "niceties" of the newer Kub/JD/NH models - very basic.

During my bid process, the big three were within less than $1000 of each other, so the biggest issue was dealer.

My opinions:
Kubota has the nicest HST
NH has the nicest user interface (especially the "D" models)
JD has the nicest shuttle shift (powerverser)

Good luck!
Mark

PS There was a brand-new "in-the-crate" TC30HST on ebay, if you need some reference pricing.

<font color="red"> I went to ebay to try to find the auction, but it was gone - guess they ended it early....... </font>

 

[thcri]

Capper,

Any of the three tractors will do you good. Test drive all three of them and go with the one that you feel the most comfortable with. Also your dealer is probably the most important thing in making your decision. I started out going for Kubota or John Deere. The Kubota dealer bad mouthed New Holland so bad I just had to go find out how bad they were. Gee, I ended up buying the New Holland. I liked the way everything was located and easy of operation. I loved the Hydro pedal being one pedal in lieu of two pedals. As far as the 7308 loader having the lowest lift capacity. I would not let that bother you. I have that loader and it has done everything I have asked it to do. I put 800 lbs softner salt in it yesterday to take around to the back of the house. The loader was fine, but being on the hill with counter weights I worried more about my tractor tipping. In other words, your tractor can only hold so much before it becomes a dangerous situation. There is aftermarket loaders you can put on the TC33D that will give you more capacity but I still would worry some.

With 6 acres of finish mowing I definantly would go Hydro especially if there is a lot of trees. Hydro is nice with the FEL also. New Holland does offer the Super-steer and I have it. You would be amazed on how you can go around trees with it. It does add about a grand to your purchase price but in my case it is worth it.



Murph

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks Murph!

The wife and I went out the kicked the tires on the Blue and the Orange this morning, didn't have time to make it to the Green before she had a board meeting during lunch with our towns Main Street America folks. Here's where things stand right now.

My experience with the sales managers was just the opposite of yours. We had to ASK for someone to help us with the NH folks, he tried to sell me a used TC25D with 160hrs on it (with supersteer, HST, loader and 6 ft belly mower for $17,500. For a new TC29D similarly equiped, he wanted $22,000..these appeared to be "knee jerk" prices, didn't write anything down for us...one of those, well the loaders about 2500, and the mowers about 2500 deals.

The kubota sales manager couldn't have been more cordial (McKeel Equipment here in Murray, KY)...asked us what our needs were, did we have any kids (teens) that would be using the tractor, asked about the lay of the land...you get the picture.

Itemized everything out for us, showed us list, then his price on three different tractors...

I'd like some opinions from the "tractor wise" folks on the board about which of these three ya'll like best...

The Grand L L33130, with RC72-38 belly mower, LA-513 loader, and nice turf tires: MFSP was $23,358 ($16,470, $2,948, and $3,940 respectively)...our price $19,500 delivered.

Last years L (had this one on the lot, and got to drive it, kick the tires, and play with the bucket) L3010 with belly mower and FEL , out price $18,800

And lastly, the smaller footprint 30 horse B7800 (List price $14,899, bucket $3,398, 72" belly mower $2,948..total list $20,745)...our price $17,750 can knock off $356 bucks if I went to a 60" mowing deck (probably better suited to this size tractor).

The wife felt alot more comfortable on the B7800....I of course, would rather have the L3130...

Still have to go look at the Greens, but they are going to really have to be great folks with a great product to steer me away from the sales manager at Kubota...absolutely trusted him. I still want to look at the JD 4210 with the 420 loader and 72" mid-mount mower...any thoughts on what a good price for this unit would be would be appreciated. I'm going to run down to the nearest dealer here this afternoon (it's in Paris TN, I'm in Murray, KY), and look at them.

Also, for what its worth, although I'm not financing it, they (Kubota) have 0% interest for 36 months right now...Also, of the big three, it's the only local dealer (NH is 30 miles away in Mayfield KY, JD, as I mentioned, accross the TN line down south)



Any thoughts are appreciated....Guess I'm having color problems now...I'm from Arkansas (RED), Live in Kentucky (BLUE), and I'm now looking at a Tennessee or Texas colored rig...kind of goes against my grain..Maybe I should look at the Case IH DX29!.... : )

Ya'lls thoughts are very much appreciated....Capper

 

[thcri]

Re: Thanks Murph!

Capper,

As I said don't worry about them three colors. You dealer is the one most important thing. Even though you are really happy with the Kubota please check out the John Deere yet. Based on what your telling me I think you have pointed yourself to the Kubota. And you will be happy with the Kubota also. One thing I would comment yet and this is based on my opinion only is, I am not sure I would go to the smaller frame tractor based on the acreage you say you have. I actually did that myself first with a TC21D and was not happy. The horsepower was there but stablility was not. I ended up trading back in for the TC29D.


Murph

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Gotcha Murph....

I'm heading out to sit on a JD 4310 right now...I just have to convince the wife (I think I read on another thread here not to take them tractor shopping until you had the "big one" picked out), that we need the larger size tractor...

Will check back in when I get back from the Green dealer...Capper

 

[Bird]

Re: Thanks Murph!

I'm with you. The 7800 is a nice tractor, but for the size of your place and the price difference, I'll bet you'll like the 3130 a lot better, and I'll bet your wife will, too, if she ever drives them on unlevel terrain.

And while I think you've already found the right tractor and right dealer, I'd still recommend you go look at the Deere's so you don't wonder later whether you would have liked it better. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif