Which would be better...L3400 vs L3130

[SCOOBY14B]

I apologize if this post gets lengthy. I hope y'all will be patient and help me out here.

I have searched and read until my eyes are crossed.

I'm wanting to purchase a tractor to do the following: prep new yards for seeding/sodding, construction cleanup, rip-up old yards and redo (seed/sod), maybe some smaller bushhogging, final grading at new construction, some hardscapes like retaining walls, etc.

I'm gonna buy the tractor with a loader. Probably the heaviest thing I'll need to lift is pallets of sod, some timbers for walls, stones. I'm also planning on getting a 3 point seeder, box blade of some type, pulverizer or similar, some type of forks. If everything goes well I wanna get a Harley Rake.

I've been comparing the L3130/L3400 (both HST). I've got alot of experience running skidsteers and larger equipment, but VERY little running a tractor.

I realize the differences - weight, dash, floor opening, etc. What I'm not sure of is if those things should push me more toward the Grand L. Budget is definately an issue. There is about a $2000-2500 price difference in the two, but the loader for the 3130 (723) has more capacity. I'm planning on having the rear tires filled and that will help with the weight somewhat.

What do you guys think? I just REALLY need some help here. I don't wanna make a mistake here getting into a business from the get-go by getting a machine that isn't appropriate/ capable.

I appreciate ANY help.

 

[canoetrpr]

Bear in mind with my 0.02 $ that I am relatively inexperienced with machinery in general. Just bought my first tractor an L3400.

I think it is a fabulous machine - particularly for the price. So is the L3130.

It sounds to me like either of these machines will do for the most part what you want. There is enough PTO power on the L3130 despite its added weight to do the things you want.

The place where the L3130 is going to shine without question over the L3400 is in the LA723 loader which has more capacity and you can get a factory quick attach option which you cannot with the L3400 (after market QA from ATI does exist).

I was very limited by budget and had reached my budget ceiling long before I got to looking at the L3400. I was able to strech somewhat to get to the L3400. It worked out so that the financing was more favourable on the L3400 at the time etc. etc.

If I could have swung the extra dough for the L3130 or had the financing been more favourable, I would have bought it over the L3400 without hesitation. I think for the little bit extra money you get a tractor which dispite a lower pto hp / pound of tractor could do pretty much everything for MY application that the L3400 will do (5ft bush hog, 5.5 ft snowblower etc. etc.) and in addition to that the LA723 loader would provide the extra ooomph IF I ever needed it - along with some of the small extras that come with the Grand L.

Now I never planned on getting a loader at all and having a loader has already been great. So if you think you are just going to be picking up small things you WILL be picking up big things.

If budget is an issue then the L3400 is a fantastic machine. I have one myself and am nothing but pleased with it. For that extra $2000 or so the 3130 with the LA723 is without question giving you extra stuff that is worth more than the extra money you would put into it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Probably the heaviest thing I'll need to lift is pallets of sod, some timbers for walls, stones. )</font>

Just curious, but what does a pallet of sod weigh and are you hoping to lift it with the front end loader? If so are you thinking of getting clamp on forks or a quick attach bucket with a set of quick attach forks?

I ask this for several reasons, first, I don't know if the 723 loader has the capacity to even lift a pallet of sod. Second the farther forward you hold the load the lower the capacity so if you are thinking of clamp on forks then you definately won't be lifting pallets of sod and you probably will bend your bucket. Third, even with a QA fork set up, I wonder if you are over your lift capacity?

You may want to consider a hydraulic top cylinder and a set of 3pt forks, that would turn the rear end of the tractor into a low lift pallet mover and your 3pt would have far more weight capacity than your front loader. For the L3130 with the 723 loader, you have 1400# of lift capacity at 500mm (about 19") in front of the pivot points but the L3130 has 2650# of lift capacity on 3pt hitch at 24" behind the ball eyes. If a pallet of sod weighs 2000# then you are clearly over the capacity of the front loader.

 

[john_bud]

Scooby,

The extra $$ can be spread out over time, so the monthly payment differential is not that great. The greater lift capacity is nice, and I think mandatory for a full pallet of sod. 3400 can only lift about 1000# and I think a full pallet is about 1500-1700# (right??). The quick connect feature will let you get a dedicated pallet fork and give you more effective lift as the bucket weight will be gone. Oh, if you are gonna do misc lifting of stones and such, you will probably want a bucket grapple to allow you to hold on to stuff. Very handy when cleaning up brush piles or tree limbs.

I guess you will have turf tires on either. You will have to load them with water. Do it yourself, add 5 gal of antifreeze then enough water to get up to the top of the RIM. Not all the way full.

For detail work, you will be happier and more productive with an HST transmission.

Also, as you will be needing a trailer, get a 6 or 7 ton capacity and 20' is minimum length. 24' is probably about right. Yeah, it's too long for just the tractor, but when you bring along all your attachments, and some sod, it will be too small! Think goose neck tilt bed.


jb

 

[SCOOBY14B]

A pallet of sod weighs between 1500-2200 lbs, generally. Alot depends on if it is wet, type of grass, quality, etc. I'll probably get a dedicated set of forks to use when needed. Most companies place the sod with their machine, but in some cases I may not be on site and have to move them after they are delivered.

About every dealer around here fills the tires for free.

Thanks for the info.

Also I'll be getting the R4 tires.

 

[ccsial]

If your planning on lifting 2200 lbs with forks on the FEL neither of those tractors is really big enough.

 

[SCOOBY14B]

Any more opinions?

One BIG question...are the engines the same? I mean as far as the same line? The salesman told me they are different. I know the power output is slightly different, but has the L3400 got a "lower line" motor?

I'd like to hear from several owners of each machine. The "frills" of the Grand L series (digital dash, rubber covered/flatter deck, etc) doesn't really matter to me. They'd be nice, but at the end of the day...IMO it doesn't make you more productive.

The main things that make me wonder are the weight difference, size difference, more practical issues.

Keep 'em coming y'all.

 

[wushaw]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bear in mind with my 0.02 $ that I am relatively inexperienced with machinery in general. Just bought my first tractor an L3400.

I think it is a fabulous machine - particularly for the price. So is the L3130.

It sounds to me like either of these machines will do for the most part what you want. There is enough PTO power on the L3130 despite its added weight to do the things you want.

The place where the L3130 is going to shine without question over the L3400 is in the LA723 loader which has more capacity and you can get a factory quick attach option which you cannot with the L3400 (after market QA from ATI does exist). <font color="red"> Yes it does but most dealers don't know or want to know how to do it. L2800 QA </font>

I was very limited by budget and had reached my budget ceiling long before I got to looking at the L3400. I was able to strech somewhat to get to the L3400. It worked out so that the financing was more favourable on the L3400 at the time etc. etc.

If I could have swung the extra dough for the L3130 or had the financing been more favourable, I would have bought it over the L3400 without hesitation. I think for the little bit extra money you get a tractor which dispite a lower pto hp / pound of tractor could do pretty much everything for MY application that the L3400 will do (5ft bush hog, 5.5 ft snowblower etc. etc.) and in addition to that the LA723 loader would provide the extra ooomph IF I ever needed it - along with some of the small extras that come with the Grand L.

Now I never planned on getting a loader at all and having a loader has already been great. So if you think you are just going to be picking up small things you WILL be picking up big things.

If budget is an issue then the L3400 is a fantastic machine. I have one myself and am nothing but pleased with it. For that extra $2000 or so the 3130 with the LA723 is without question giving you extra stuff that is worth more than the extra money you would put into it.

Good luck with whatever you decide. )</font>

 

[canoetrpr]

Hi wushaw:

Is this the QA from ATI?