Upgrading to L39 or L48?

[Builder]

My job situation changes too. Whatever I get either the L39 or M59 I want to be able to be able to transport easily and still maintain being compact. I guess if I need a bigger tractor I can rent whatever I need.

Doug

The L-39 can realistically be transported behind a 3/4-1 ton pickup. I hauled mine around behind an F-350 with a 12K trailer. An M-59 is going to require something more substantial, like a gooseneck on a one-ton, dually, etc.

At the M59's price, it would be impossible for me to imagine buying one over a lightly used full size.

 

[Doug Sinjem]

The L-39 can realistically be transported behind a 3/4-1 ton pickup. I hauled mine around behind an F-350 with a 12K trailer. An M-59 is going to require something more substantial, like a gooseneck on a one-ton, dually, etc.

At the M59's price, it would be impossible for me to imagine buying one over a lightly used full size.

Good point about the m59 and price. I keep going back and forth...your right if I needed a full size backhoe I could just rent one and maybe 90% of the time the L39 would do the job. Also like you said earlier getting rid of used equipment is a real problem. I have my 3130 up for sale now and can't get any bites. I may have to keep it and look for a used L39. Thanks for all your valuable input.

Doug

 

[Builder]

Good point about the m59 and price. I keep going back and forth...your right if I needed a full size backhoe I could just rent one and maybe 90% of the time the L39 would do the job. Also like you said earlier getting rid of used equipment is a real problem. I have my 3130 up for sale now and can't get any bites. I may have to keep it and look for a used L39. Thanks for all your valuable input.

Doug

There's great deals out there on L-39's & L-48's. I'd forget the M59 unless you have the exact niche for the M59. To me, it's too big to be a compact and too small to be a full size. I'm sure it's fine for some.

 

[_RaT_]

Good point about the m59 and price. I keep going back and forth...your right if I needed a full size backhoe I could just rent one and maybe 90% of the time the L39 would do the job. Also like you said earlier getting rid of used equipment is a real problem. I have my 3130 up for sale now and can't get any bites. I may have to keep it and look for a used L39. Thanks for all your valuable input.

Doug

Doug, I do not know what it is like where you are at, but backhoes up here in Norhtern California are a dime a dozen. It is much cheaper simply to hire the job out to someone with the hoe, truck and trailer not to mention the insurance needed when doing any job for a customer. From an economic standpoint, it is surely the way to do it where I am at. It may not be as fun since you don't get to do the work, but it does get done quicker with a very experienced operator.

 

[Doug Sinjem]

Doug, I do not know what it is like where you are at, but backhoes up here in Norhtern California are a dime a dozen. It is much cheaper simply to hire the job out to someone with the hoe, truck and trailer not to mention the insurance needed when doing any job for a customer. From an economic standpoint, it is surely the way to do it where I am at. It may not be as fun since you don't get to do the work, but it does get done quicker with a very experienced operator.

Rat this is partially true, we too have many backhoe operators for hire. Funny thing is when I built my second house I had a really hard time finding anyone to dig my footings and there were alot plus many retaining wall footings. Most operators said the wern't insured to do residential and only wanted to do commercial and industrial. Of course things were really busy in 2002....now that things have slowed I'm sure they may be willing to accommodate the residential guys now.

Doug

 

[_RaT_]

Rat this is partially true, we too have many backhoe operators for hire. Funny thing is when I built my second house I had a really hard time finding anyone to dig my footings and there were alot plus many retaining wall footings. Most operators said the wern't insured to do residential and only wanted to do commercial and industrial. Of course things were really busy in 2002....now that things have slowed I'm sure they may be willing to accommodate the residential guys now.

Doug

There is also the handiness factor to consider. There are times you need a hoe or loader for something to small to hire out and/or rent a tractor for so you do it by hand or forgo it. I often found myself in a situation like that. For shear convenience, nothing is easier (or more fun) than having your own.

 

[Builder]

There is also the handiness factor to consider. There are times you need a hoe or loader for something to small to hire out and/or rent a tractor for so you do it by hand or forgo it. I often found myself in a situation like that. For shear convenience, nothing is easier (or more fun) than having your own.

That's my situation. You can't keep calling an excavator back for backfilling, pile moving, stone moving, etc. Rentals might be better for me, but I'm always ready to go with my own equipment.

 

[Doug Sinjem]

Builder and Rat

I bought my 3130 when I was finishing the exterior of my last home...it was alway there when I needed it. When I bought my latest house I added the BH 90. My father and I built the house back in 1980 and now the whole 1 acre property needs a serious face lift. So I've been pulling out stumps, moving dirt, grading etc. My main business is Concrete finishing but since that is slowing we are moving towards contracting the whole concrete job. Which includes digging footings, grading etc plus I have a residential property I am planning on developing. So I want to have something fairly compact(L39)for my residential and construction sites. Like Rat says it's much more fun when you operate yourself. Plus the fact that when you have a tractor fulltime you use it for so much more than just dirt work. So when I need bigger, I guess a rental would be a wise choice.

Doug

 

[mike69440]

Untill I widened the rear track 2" and added 1300 lbs of weight to my L39, I thought it quite tippy on hills. It is still scary with a full load in the bucket.

 

[Doug Sinjem]

Untill I widened the rear track 2" and added 1300 lbs of weight to my L39, I thought it quite tippy on hills. It is still scary with a full load in the bucket.

Mike what steepness of hills are you talking about? Is this when your traversing sideways?

Are you saying when you had a load in the front bucket the tractor felt unstable?

How and where did you add the extra #1300? I know my 3130 doesn't have the same size front bucket as an L39, but when my front bucket is loaded with dirt and the BH90 hoe on I can go up a fairly steep hill.

Any more input about describing your tractor would be great.

Doug