which to buy B2920 TLB or B3200 TLB & why

[nra4ever]

Need a little help here. I just sold my BX and I am looking at these two to replace the BX. I have 8 acres only mostly woods and brambles that need bush hogged the rest 3 acres is house gravel drive which will be paved at sometime garden 30'x40' two barns and grass. valley in the woods with two creeks so there will be hills. the price difference between the two is about 3k. I will do some tilling, loader work, and use the back hoe to plant an orchard and new drain lines for the house and both barns. plan on getting a chipper also for the rear pto and who know what else for the rear pto down the road like a bush hog etc. there will be no mowing since i already have a ztr mower.

I like the increase in pto power and loader capacity of the 3200 over the 2920 but in the end is it worth 3k for a homeowner? and the 2620 makes no sense at all when it is only 750 cheaper than the 2920 and less pto power. the reason i got rid of the bx was clearance was terrible. the clearance dif between the 2920 and 3200 is about 2".

if it were you which would you buy and why. I hope to get one of these delivered by the end of the week.

thanks

 

[powerstroke444e]

If its only about the money I would go for the cheaper one. If you want something that is very similar in size go for the B26 with hydraulic thumb and built a little heavier. But know idea what price differance is.

To me it would be hard to see 3k of differance but its your money and both will really impress you over the BX. Have fun shopping.

 

[nra4ever]

Its not just about the money its about value. Is the differnce between these two really worth spending the 3k. that takes me from 20k to 23k. it may just be a mental thing and 20k just sounds nicer lol. if it is worth it to me I will spend it i just dont know if i need the 3200 over the 2920. the b26 is 32k so no way i am gonna spend that on a tractor that may only get 100 hrs per season. just wanted some opinions on is the difference between the two tractors worth it or not for what i am going to do.

thanks

 

[medicshawn]

If you're possibly spending 23K you should look at the Grand 3240 and up. You should be able to get into one of those I paid 22000 for my L3940 6 months ago.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I am a 5acre hillside, gullied few trees lot owner. I have a B3200 and love it but I had owned a B7800 and traded it for a new L3240. Preferred the B size so traded the L for the B3200 so I was working toward some cash back but still spending a little more money. I don't have a Back hoe so can't address that aspect. If I had been doing a cash purchase I would have probably went with the B2920 but in truth I never considered it. Don't know why but I didn't. For me between the 2 not considering back hoe I would only pay $1000 more for the B3200 and that's because of resale not because of performance of one machine over the other. For some reason after buying 8 Kubotas in 5 years I now consider resale.

 

[devildog1]

I to had a hard decision on what size tractor to up-grade to. My BX23 TLB did everything I had to do, and it did it extremely well too. I had what I and other TBN members called tractor envy, "I need a bigger and more powerful tractor". So When I looked at Kubota's web builder I was all set to buy the B2920. Then I went to dealer and they had a picture of the B3200 TLB and that was it, I ordered it on the spot. Oh, I do love this tractor, more the the BX23, why bigger is better right? Just remember that the bigger the tractor the more weight on finished lawns. Hope this helps you make your choise?
DevilDog

 

[medicshawn]

Ok sorry I missed the backhoe part.

 

[bandit67]

Go to a dealer and sit on and try out both machines.

I sold a subcompact Case IH, same size as the BX, to get a bigger machine.

When I test drove both the B2920 and the B3030, looked at them side-by-side, and evaluated the cost difference and the difference in size between those 2 machines and my former subcompact, it made my decision a bit easier.

For me, it didn't make sense to move up to a machine that just didn't feel a whole lot bigger than the subcompact I just sold. Also, when I was looking, the price difference between the B2920 TLB and the B3030 TLB was only $3k, so it was a no-brainer to go with the bigger, more capable machine.

I have 191 hours now in a year of ownership, and I love the B3030. I had a chance to rent a B7800 prior to buying my new machine, and it is what helped me to decide that the largest B was probably the best fit for me - not too big, not too small. I haven't yet wished for a bigger machine, but love the smaller footprint - it just seems like a very capable, very powerful small machine without the small machine setbacks. With my subcompact, I pretty much started wishing for a bigger machine by the time I hit 20 hours.

Again, trying out both machines side-by-side should help you decide. Don't just look at the up-front price difference either - try to look at it from the point of view of 10 years of ownership, which may be easier to get to with a larger machine, as you'll be less likely to want or need to trade up again so soon.

I am really, really, really glad I did not go with the B2920, as I would have already been dreaming about a bigger machine, with no chance in heck of getting my wife to agree to another move up so soon. Yes, money's tight right now, but I do not regret in the least spending the extra $$ on the bigger B3030. Did I mention I love this machine?

Good luck.

 

[ChuckinNH]

If the backhoe is a certain purchase, I would go with the B3200. Reach, digging power, and boom swing are all important, and the BH76 shines over the BH65 in all those areas while being not that much more expensive in the scheme of things. For other jobs I have been quite happy with my B2620.

 

[jambx]

Funny - your story and mine are very very similar.

I sold my BX22 in January to go to a larger platform for more clearance, more power (although the BX could have torn down a house) and the old "I needed the bigger tractor to scratch that itch the BX gave me for the last 700 hours".

I actually waited to buy until the B3200 was on the open market - I was almost convinced it was the way to go for me (especially with the integrated BH seat and the loader valve placement under the seat) but it was not until I "saw and sat" on each of the machines side by side when I "easily" made my selection. The B3200 was (in my seat of the pants feel") WAY TOO BIG to fulfill my next size up (funny how those pictures in the brochures dont do size justice) . Although I agree that the B2X20 on the surface seems a small jump from a BX its not until you climb into the seat when you feel you are sitting on a monster - its not only feels but is a much larger platform.

It all comes down to personal preferance, need and budget. I happen to live on 2 acres and have another property of 25 acres where I go play from time to time. 75% of my tractor time is on the 2 acres...if it was the other way around and I was going to be mostly on the larger property I may have been swayed to go to the 3200.

Either way both are awesome machines - I am sure I will move up again but for now I am extremely please with my small step to the next size up.

Sit on them and few times back and forth - you will be surprised what your seat in the pants tells you

Either way there is no wrong answer - Good Luck!

~jim