What am I missing out on w/a 3400 4400

[WIshane]

I am fairly new to the CUT market as different machines available and multiple machines with the same hp. I am looking for a machine to replace my 64 ford 4000 w/FEL I have a 40 acre woods and I make wood to heat my house and shop I have an outdoor furnace. I have 3 creeks on the property and a little bit of field where I plan to plant Xmas trees. Some of you fine folks have pointed me in the direction of the 3400 or the 4400 but have also told me this was a pretty basic model. Please excuse my ignorance but what am I missing out on with this as far as options go? I realize that I cannot get a HST transmission with the 4400 but what else am I missing with these machines. I handle large (about 8ft) pieces of wood with forks and load them on to my dump trailer which I pull with my tractor. I also will be trying to smooth out some trails removing large rocks some possible stump removal in the future.

 

[mjarrels]

I would look at the L3010 and larger series... larger and with more comfort features.

mark

 

[FL4400]

I would look into the 4400 they are agreat tractor for the money with tons of power. I don't think you would be missing much.

 

[wushaw]

The 3400/ 4400 are basic tractors to fill the needs of somone not needing a digital readout instrument cluster, better seat, stronger FEL and 3pt, smoother 3pt, heavier tractor, cool OEM rear remotes....mmmmm I know I'm missing something but that's all I can think of.
That being said I have one of them basic L2800HST models and couldn't be happier

 

[Nik]

My brother has a L3710 HST with FEL and forks. This tractor has served him well. The bucket and forks are quick attach and easy to hook up. Definitely get a FEL with these features rather than clamp on forks. The grand L series have lots of power and the HST and position control hitch are very smooth. The grand L has been improved so you may want to get a brochure on this updated version.

I used this tractor annd fork setup to easily load the back of a pickup truck with a 5' JD 513 rotary cutter I sold to someone. The tractor lifted this effortlessly and I had a great view of the cargo. A bucket with clamp-on forks may not afford such a view.

 

[hilltopvt]

I'm a new member to this forum but have had alot of tractor experance Started driving tractors when I was 5 years old on different farms and our own non working farm. Late this June my father and I bought a new l4400 with a 703 fel and a quick detach bucket. What a great machine, plenty of power easy to use, no frills but it gets the job done and much cheaper than a grand L To us this is a work tractor. Ido notyou can go wrong with and L4400.


L4400, 5' bushog, 7' ford sickel bar mower, 2 bottom plows,Farmi winch, disc & spring tooth harrows, and a 12' trailer for hauling what ever.

 

[Bob_Young]

Hi shane,
I've got an L4300, predecessor to the L4400. It too is a 'basic tractor', if anything it's more basic than the L4400.

The most significant thing you'll miss out on with the 'Basics', gear versions anyway, is the near effortless direction reversals and gear changes. You'll be clutching the 'Basic' and trying to get it to drop into gear, when an HST or GST version would be on its way. Sometimes the gears don't line up, so you have to clutch an extra time to get them spinning and try again.

Since you've got a '64 Ford 4000, you're probably used to this and are saying, "No big deal". If you don't have a lot of loader work to do, it's not a big deal. In fact, the L3400/L4400 will probably be easier to handle in this respect than my L4300 thanks to the new transmission which puts Reverse in the range selector and puts Low Range Forward directly across from it in the shift pattern....so getting gears to line up may not be an issue.

On the move with a 'Basic' and looking for another gear involves clutching, stopping (according to the manual...but we know how that goes), and getting it into gear. With a GST you just select the gear you want; with HST you move the pedal....no stopping or clutching with either one.

Another issue with the gear Basics is that you have a limited number of ground speeds available for any particular PTO RPM. Again, this is no different from your Ford; but think of the possibilities. If you wanted a rear mounted snowblower, you would have only 4 reverse groundspeeds available at 540 PTO RPM; and I guarantee that 3 of them would be too fast. With HST, slowing down to a literal crawl to power through a snowdrift while still turning 540 at the PTO will be as simple as raising your heel a mite.

I'd say in a commercial operation where time is money and you have to be competitive, GST or HST in a Grand L is the way to go. The HST L3400 would probably work well in this setting also. The straight gear machines are for guys like me, hobby farmers on a budget who don't mind taking a little longer. They shine at field work as well. If you're plowing or discing you don't need to be constantly changing direction or gears.

Other significant factors which differ:
1) weight: The Grand L's are significantly heavier. Weight is good.
2) hydraulic pump capacity: The Grand L's have greater capacity and thus more hydraulic versatility. Still the 'Basics' seem to handle their loaders and 3-pt hitches with ease.
3) Loader and 3pt hitch capabilities: The Grand L's will lift more at both ends, but the issue is almost academic. The loaders on the Basics will easily lift the rear end off the ground even with the rears filled. Same deal with the 3pt. hitch. If they had more muscle, they couldn't use it.
4) The deluxe models offer an option that allows skid steer attachments to be used on the loader. This could be very good
5) cost: With the Basics you have $$ left over for implements

FWIW
Bob

 

[Scott in IN]

I was looking at the Deere 3320 and the Kubota L3400 (I bought the Kubota). Anyhow the things I noticed were more $$$$ for the Deere, fancy dash on the Deere, better suspension seat on the Deere, expando 3 point links on the Deere. To me it wasn't worth the extra money for a "deluxe" model and I couldn't be happier with my "basic" tractor.

 

[bkheur]

Some of you fine folks have pointed me in the direction of the 3400 or the 4400 but have also told me this was a pretty basic model. Please excuse my ignorance but what am I missing out on with this as far as options go? I realize that I cannot get a HST transmission with the 4400 but what else am I missing with these machines.

I have been wondering the same thing. It seems to me that the Grand L models just make your wallet miss out on a lot more $$$Money$$$

Sure they have may have more features but how much do you really use or need some of those features?

 

[john_bud]

I am fairly new to the CUT market as different machines available and multiple machines with the same hp. I am looking for a machine to replace my 64 ford 4000 w/FEL I have a 40 acre woods and I make wood to heat my house and shop I have an outdoor furnace. I have 3 creeks on the property and a little bit of field where I plan to plant Xmas trees. Some of you fine folks have pointed me in the direction of the 3400 or the 4400 but have also told me this was a pretty basic model. Please excuse my ignorance but what am I missing out on with this as far as options go? I realize that I cannot get a HST transmission with the 4400 but what else am I missing with these machines. I handle large (about 8ft) pieces of wood with forks and load them on to my dump trailer which I pull with my tractor. I also will be trying to smooth out some trails removing large rocks some possible stump removal in the future.

Shane,

So, what's wrong with the 4000?

jb

 

[WIshane]

Thanks, Guys for all the input it is definetly helping me make a decision and as far as my 4000 nothing really is wrong with it. The thing is alright and it does do the job but it is all of the maintenance and sloppyness and leakyness that ends up getting to you after a while.

 

[N80]

I think the primary issue is what you want to spend your money on. I wanted and needed horsepower and mechanical simplicity. I wanted as much power as I could get for the money. And I'm not knocking HST or comfy seats, I'd probably have them if I could afford them. The question you need to ask yourself is what you want and need most and what it will cost you to get it. If it is the ease of HST, a fancy dash, cruise control and a plush seat then by all means get them. If it is horsepower, etc get them. If you have the money for both, well, that's THE ticket. I had about $19K in my budget with little or no wiggle room. I also had a good idea that I would need and use as much HP as I could get. That has come true in spades. With that budget and those needs, the L4400 was a perfect fit. So if you think you need 45 hp, look at the L4400. Then look at the fancier models with HST that also have around 45 HP. Then compare prices and let your wallet decide.

P.S.: Rear remotes aren't necessarily just available on fancy machines. I had a set put on my L4400 at the dealer and still came in under $19k.

 

[canoetrpr]

If you compare my L3400 to my neighbour's 40 year old Allis it dosen't look basic. It has HST, power steering, hydraulics a 3PT hitch and brakes (not that you ever use them with the HST).

If you compare it to a Grand L - it does look basic as it lacks a better 3PT valve, nicer dash, telescoping 3 PT links (although a Pat's fixed that pretty nicely).

As far as remotes go you can get them added on.

IMHO these machines offer you the luxuries that you really need (minus HST for the L4400) without some nifty extras that the Grand L series offers.

The L4400 is about the best deal that you can find on there on the CUT market IMHO. Other than the lack of HST it is less basic than the L3400. Better hydraulic capacity, better loader, better valve, independant PTO (I believe). Pretty amazing bang for the buck if you are not into hydro. It wouldn't be the ticket for me because I really do like the hydro but if I was looking for a machine that size it would be hard to pass up given the price difference between it and a Grand L with similar capabilities.