??? what tractor-help

[fom]

I'm real close to purchasing a new tractor.I've definitely decided on a Kubota Grand L series.It's primary task will be rough cutting 15-20 acres(hilly,rolling,flat) 3-4 times a year.Also I will be maintaining some trails and working up an acre or so for deer food plots.I can't justify a FEL at this time so was considering the standard DT tranny.I originally had decided on a 3430 but after searching the previous discussions wonder if I'd be smarter with either the 3130 or 3830.I'd also like feedback on a 5 or 6 ft. bush hog if I go with the 3830(very tall weeds now but few saplings) Thanks in advance for all of your help!!

 

[popeye]

Look at an MX5000. I almost bought an L4310 and fortunately they didn't have any. You will get more hp (shaft hp. to run larger implements) for your money and spend the rest on implemets. If you are not doing a lot of loader work (I still highly reccomnend a loader) the shuttle shift will do just fine. I gather from your post you will be doing mostly mowing and planting. You don't need the extra expense of HST to do that. The extra hp. to run larger implements and increased ground speed will pay off. Just my .02
Mike

 

[Gil]

I would highly recomend the GST transmission. I had a 3010DT, and the hassel of a double shift to get to half the gears that is in the middle of your work range, was to much. Now I have a 3130GST, The extra gears ratios and no clutching makes this a wonderful operating machine. I love the fact that it is solided gear drive for plowing and a click to another gear. This transmission is a dream to operate.

I Wish You well

Gil

 

[MossRoad]

I'd still consider HST. If you've never driven one, test drive both in real world conditions before you buy. Just my humble opinion /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[accordionman]

FOM,
i suggest you shop around, and do not nix the FEL yet. you might
get a better deal, if you buy the tractor with the FEL. and you
will be able to do so many things with the FEL. good luck.
accordionman
william l. brown

 

[frank_f15]

2 THINGS 1) GET THE FEL 2) consider the hst. at least give it a try.

 

[CountryBoy]

Get a 4 in 1 frontloader.........

 

[fom]

I live on 5 acres and could use the tractor at home but I mainly will use it on 87 acres about an hour from where I live.What uses with the FEL am I missing.I'm really having problems finding $ 3-4,000 in activities for it.I'd love to have one just to have it but if I'm not convinced I'll have a hell of a time convincing the wife!! Suggestions are really welcome.

 

[rtimgray]

Front end loaders can be infinately useful, but you can probably get by without one too. You can use them for digging, lifting, as a crane, a jack for changing tires on trucks/cars/trailers, a powered wheel barrow, an aerial work platform, plus many more uses. However...

there are tons of folks that have tracotrs without FEL and still get tons of work done. I grew up on a farm with 3 tractors, none with loaders. Could we have used one? Sure. Did we ever have to have one - no. A box blade, scraper blade, pond scoop and boom pole will to about 80 percent of the work that a FEL does. The other 20 percent is the high, heavy lifting chores, and really only a loader is up to the task.
Is it worth $3,000 or $4,000....that's tough. If money's tight, a loader can always be added later.

And on that subject, you mention about going with a straight gear transmission versus shuttle versus Hydrostatic. I've always been partial to gear transmissions, and I have a shuttle shift Kioti now and think it's pretty cool. I've used some HST tractors on rental time before (Kubota and John Deere) and they're fine, but I don't see the extra dollars. If you can save some money going with the straight tranny versus the shuttle or hydro, and money is tight, I'd say go for it. There are tons and tons and tons of tractors with straight gear trannies out there with loaders and they get plenty of work done, so I don't see that as being too big of an issue. I've used loaders on straight shifts (Belarus at that), shuttle shift (Kioti) and the rental HST units and I would say the difference is minor once you get used to whatever equipment you are using.

Good luck and happy hunting

Take it Easy

Tim Gray

 

[frank_f15]

staying on the FEL question. i can't give u one particular ereaso to get fel, i will just tell u that i have done so many thingss with it that it is not normally used for. just the other day i wanted to move my little grandsons sand box, 400lbs of sand in it, just fired up the tractor and got the fel under it a tad and just pushed it where i wanted it. odd things like that that make it indispensible as far as i am concerned. just keep that in mind and you have to make the final call. good luck.

 

[gadgetman]

I recently bought an M4900 Kubota with FEL. Had a hard time justifying the FEL--what would I use it for???? EVERY dealer (even the ones that didn't have a 4WD in stock) said that IF I EVEN THOUGHT I would get a FEL later to invest in the 4WD. Believe it or not, my wife was the one that finally decided on the FEL (I sure love that gal)!!!!!!! As for a piece of equipment I had no use for, I've put almost 10 hours on it. I've filled in the driveway, carted away several loads of limbs, cleaned out a grown up area for a new flowerbed (got to stay in good with the wife), helped my brother-in-law remove a 14" dia pecan tree lost to a wind storm, etc. As for the 4WD, several times I couldn't move in 2WD but when I locked in 4WD--no problem. I also bushhog about 15 acres between my place, my brother-in-law, and father-in-law. I use a Woods 6' bushhog. If you went with the MX5000, it would handle the 6' with no problem. Just my 3 cents worth.....

 

[Typhoon]

Here is my 2 cents worth. Before joining this website, I had decided NOT to get the FEL, and I also decided to save some money and get the gear tractor instead of HST. Well, I can't thank the guys here enough for the advice I got. EVERYONE here said the same thing (and for good reason). They all said get the loader!! And HST.. Well I did and man am I glad!! I have used the loader for something different every day so far. It is like having a crew of 10 men at your disposal at all times. Moving brush, filling gulleys, digging a ditch for a drain pipe, carrying tools, the list goes on. It will pay itself off in a month im sure of it! And the HST... well it makes the loader work just that much smoother and easier. Choose both, I promise you won't be sorry.
-Brad