3200 vs 3800??
- Thread starter Sammy3700
- Start date
I haven't operated an L3800, but...the 3800 is an L series tractor while the 3200 is a B series. The L series tractors are much heavier than the B's so the extra HP may be needed to make it work the same as the 3200.
All depends on what you will be doing. Plus I believe that the PTO is different from the L3200 to the L3800. I don't remember what, but just that they operate differently and that the L3800 was nicer to operate.
I think that if you will be doing a lot of PTO work or heavy dirt work, you will be happier with the L3800.
Although it is only 15% more HP, I can't say as that I have ever heard of anyone complaining about having too much power.
I think that if you will be doing a lot of PTO work or heavy dirt work, you will be happier with the L3800.
Although it is only 15% more HP, I can't say as that I have ever heard of anyone complaining about having too much power.
I haven't operated an L3800. Two and a half years ago I had it narrowed to either an L3200 or L3800. At the time (and even now) I understood the difference to be 6HP. This tractor replaced a B7500.
There is a significant difference in weight and HP between the B7500 and the L3200, going from 21HP to 32HP. Since we don't have a huge property, do farming or any commercial work, the L3200 was big enough. It has performed very well. The size is small enough to be nimble and big enough to feel like a real machine.
To be perfectly honest, my L3200 is an expensive - but very fun - lawn mower most of the time. It gets about 150 hours on it each year. I mow our place and our adopted Grandma's. Snow clearing amounts to a couple 300' driveways and a few shorter ones, plus the church we belong to. Although there are small projects that involve the tractor, most of the use is pulling a 6' RFM and snow removal. Snow removal here isn't anything like in Buffalo. We don't frequently have real winters.
There is a significant difference in weight and HP between the B7500 and the L3200, going from 21HP to 32HP. Since we don't have a huge property, do farming or any commercial work, the L3200 was big enough. It has performed very well. The size is small enough to be nimble and big enough to feel like a real machine.
To be perfectly honest, my L3200 is an expensive - but very fun - lawn mower most of the time. It gets about 150 hours on it each year. I mow our place and our adopted Grandma's. Snow clearing amounts to a couple 300' driveways and a few shorter ones, plus the church we belong to. Although there are small projects that involve the tractor, most of the use is pulling a 6' RFM and snow removal. Snow removal here isn't anything like in Buffalo. We don't frequently have real winters.
Burt
New member
Equipment
L3700SU, box blade, 6 foot rhino blade, 1 bottom plow, 3 point receiver hitch.
Sammy3700,
Tell us the size of your property, what you need the tractor for and describe your terrain.
Most of the discussions like this end up with width and weight, not horsepower so much. Therefore, OTT'ers can give you better information with a description of your purposes.
There is, however, one adage that pops up frequently...when in doubt, go bigger!
Burt
I've never operated the L3200, so I can't say I know the difference in the two as far as engine power.
I thought that they were the same size frame with two different engine options? Where as the b series is has the smaller frame not the L3200.
I thought that they were the same size frame with two different engine options? Where as the b series is has the smaller frame not the L3200.
I own a '13 L3800..A friend of mine has a '13 L3200..The difference is horse power and pto power..The pto on the L3200 is transmission driven with overrunning 26.7 hp ..where on the L3800 the pto is live-continuous running 31.5hp ..on the gear drive models the L3200 clutch is dry type single stage..On the L3800 the clutch is dry type dual stage..Other than that they are pretty much the same tractor..One is just slightly beafer
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You would probably feel it the most at the PTO. So, your usage requirements would dictate which tractor to go with. Either one would have fair resale; so if you have the money, I would say go with the L3800- you won't regret the extra horsepower, but you may regret not getting it.
Orange man
Active member
Equipment
Kubota L2501 LA525 loader , woods prd6000 mower, Land pride RB 1672
The difference in the PTO styles is only on the gear drives, The hst models are the same. Other than engine size they are the same tractors. I have been very happy with my l3200. The l3200 and l3800 replaced the l2800 and l3400.
Thats true about the hst models.. But the pto power is about 1hp less on the hst than on the gear drive models..Yeah they are the same tractor..Use same loader (la 524) etc..The L3301 and the L3901 replaced the L3200 and L3800..New models have met the tier 4 final emissions
gpreuss
New member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3200DT w/FEL, K650 Backhoe, 5' Rotary, 40" Howard Rotavator, 6' Rhino blade
I have the L3200DT. My reasoning was that the smaller engine was less likely to tear up the tractor. Since neither tractor has a record of tearing itself apart that appears to have been a false worry.
So far the only time I've seen that I could use more horses is when I'm driving on out hilly roads. I can always manage them in 7th, but not in 8th. The extra 6 horsepower would probably make it.
As far as loader work goes, I lose traction way before I run out of power. Mowing in very heavy grass I manage 4th gear fine. 5th would be too fast for the field conditions.
Since they are basically the same tractor, I'd go for the bigger one, if I had to do it again. On the other hand, I did save a thousand bucks...
So far the only time I've seen that I could use more horses is when I'm driving on out hilly roads. I can always manage them in 7th, but not in 8th. The extra 6 horsepower would probably make it.
As far as loader work goes, I lose traction way before I run out of power. Mowing in very heavy grass I manage 4th gear fine. 5th would be too fast for the field conditions.
Since they are basically the same tractor, I'd go for the bigger one, if I had to do it again. On the other hand, I did save a thousand bucks...
I do really like the 2 stag clutch on the L3800DT. The extra hp is just a bonus
when pullin a 5 or 6' rotary cutter.
when pullin a 5 or 6' rotary cutter.
I have an L3200DT. I haven't found a loss of power at the PTO at all. If you are running under 10 acres and probably under 4-5 acres of flat ground engagement, either unit will work fine. I would think the L3800 would be more required if I was pulling a hill with ground engagement implements on. Then the extra horses would help you run that PTO and pull the hill. On the L3200 you might have to drop a gear down to accomplish the same task, slowing your productive work results down.
If that property is flat, then it really becomes a matter of size of land being worked. Your better comparison is between a 30hp-ish unit and a 40+hp-ish unit.
The dual stage clutch is nice, lots of grab force there, but slightly more expensive to repair when the time comes. I haven't found a problem yet with my single stage clutch but then again, I haven't put a couple of moldboards on the back of it yet either!
If that property is flat, then it really becomes a matter of size of land being worked. Your better comparison is between a 30hp-ish unit and a 40+hp-ish unit.
The dual stage clutch is nice, lots of grab force there, but slightly more expensive to repair when the time comes. I haven't found a problem yet with my single stage clutch but then again, I haven't put a couple of moldboards on the back of it yet either!
Balvar24
New member
Equipment
L3800 HST, 5ft Rotary Cutter, 5ft Box Blade, Pallet Forks, 72" Rotary Tiller
Before I bought the L3800, I asked around. A guy I trust, who's a little harder on stuff than I am, has been running a L2800 for years with a 6' brush hog and 6' tiller and loves it. It's about the same on horsepower as the L3200, maybe a hair less.
Thanks again for the info gentlemen and a update. My father bought a L3901 hst with R4s today I really didn't want a emission tractor but, with rebates and a free box blade it was 2100 cheaper than the cheapest 3800 and the 3800 was 400 miles away
Unfortunately all your new tractors will be a emission tractor..You can thank the epa for that
I took deliver of a L3901DT R1s and LA525 on 16-Dec. I also got the "free" box blade. It has been raining around here, but I have managed to put 6+ hours on it. So far I'm very happy with it. It would have been nice if they included the right hand grab handle. The dealer I got the tractor from has one on order for me.
Marry Christmas and Happy New Year to very one!