MX5200 HST vs. L3560 HSTC

[conropl]

I currently have a 2014 B2320HSD with 200 hrs. It has a Loader, 60"MMM, 50" Front Mount Snow Blower, 60" back Blade, and a set of 48" home made forks. It was my first semi decent sized tractor with a loader, and I have found this to be a very versatile set up. I have a 500 ft drive and lots of turn around areas to keep cleared of snow in the winter, and grade/level during the rest of the year. And I mow about 3 acres (fairly flat).

However, after a few years of use, I find myself wanting more. More weight, more lift capacity, and more PTO power eventually. What I would like to do with it is:

• I have 20 acres clear. My property has really gotten overgrown over time to the point you can not walk it anymore. I plan to get a root grapple to clear out much of the heavy brush, and eventually get a bush hog (72") to finish clearing and to maintain it.
• There will be a construction job that will require some clearing this summer.
• I plan to trade-in/sell my my B2320, so the new tractor will need to be used for snow clearing (84" snow blade to start with). And I would have to buy something else for mowing (most likely a zero turn).
• The plan is to get a 72" Box blade with rippers to smooth out the yard and then I need to replant. I just had a new pole barn built. Between the delivery trucks and cement trucks, they destroyed my lawn. 4 cement trucks got stuck and buried to their axles. It took two other cement trucks to get them pulled out. This has left 2.5 foot ruts all over plus a lot of other damage.

I went to my local dealer expecting to look at an L4701; but as the dealer explained, the MX tractors are not that much more, and are more tractor. They had an MX5200HST that I tested out, and I really liked it. The loader control was much smoother than my B. There was also a L3560 Cab that I had already written off because it is to expensive... but the dealer said he would make me a great deal on it, and he did. So the L3560 is now made the decision a lot harder.

Either way I go, I plan to equip the tractor with a loader, a 72" box blade, and a third function valve. Separately I will buy a root grapple. Before next winter I would get a QA snow blade with hyd tilt. And sometime next year I plan to get a rotary cutter at least 72" wide. Eventually, I will get back to having a snow blower.

To mow my lawn, I would need to get a zero turn or keep my existing tractor for that purpose. It seams a waist to keep the existing tractor vs. getting a zero turn, but keeping the B2320 would also allow me to have a front mount snow blower until I save enough to get a blower for the new tractor.

MX5200 vs. L3560

• Basically equivalent weight (L3560 is a slightly heavier)
• Lifting capacity at the pin is significantly higher on the MX (approximately 1 ton vs. 3/4 ton).
• HP of the MX is significantly higher than the L (at the PTO: 44.2 hp vs. 28 hp)
• Cost is surprisingly close (MX=$30,700 vs. L=33,030) with same options.

The Intangibles:

• I am getting older and having the Cab in the winter would be really nice... and is one of the biggest reasons I keep thinking more about the L.
• As much as the cab would be great in the winter, I really like being out in the open during the summer. It's not like we get a lot of sun here, and I would like to enjoy it when I can.
• The L has the power up switch on the joy stick... I really like that.
• I did not like the auto throttle that much, but I never really got a chance to adjust it. But it rode a lot smoother with that feature turned off.
• Part of the reason I did not like the auto throttle on the L was because the seat was bouncing me all over the place, and my foot was not very steady in the peddle. I tried adjusting the seat but not much. I need to spend more time to see if I can stiffen the suspension up... if not, then I do not think I like the ride at all (to bouncy).
• The MX rode really nice.
• I plan on using a snow blade with the new tractor and hope it will be enough to keep up with winter. However, I do like that blowers keep the banks low... because the driveway is usually as deep as the banks when we get any kind of wind.
• I may eventually get a blower, and I do not like the idea of a neck breaking rear blower. You can get a front blower for the L3560, but it would be more than $8k to do so (my cheapness will probably never let that happen). So if I do get a blower, I can get quit a bit bigger blower on the MX (84" vs. 72" ish).
• Going with a larger Grand L to get the power and lifting capability at the same level as the MX5200 is out of my budget and will not be happening.

The MX5200 makes a lot of sense for the work I want to do, but I am not sure the L3560 would not be adequate. The dealer, thought I would probably be more happy with the MX (and he has seen my property).

So my logical side says get the MX, but that Grand L is sure nice and I would like a cab in the winter. The cab is probably not as big a deal when plowing, but if I get a blower it would be great.

I am leaning towards to MX, but I think I would regret not getting the Grand L. I could get a cab eventually on the MX for about $6.3k... which totall blows the cost advantage.

So are there any thoughts out there on which way to go? For me it comes down to a decision of power and lifting capability versus comfort. Am I missing anything. All things considered, I would go with the MX, but I have changed my mind several times now.

This si a lot to read... sorry about that. It helps me to write down my options... so it got a little long.

 

[conropl]

The Reader's Digest version:

Two choices:
1. Get the tractor that has the power and lift capability to get hhe job done quicker with the size impliments I would like to use for the work I have. That is the MX5200.
2. I am getting old and winters are getting longer. It may take longer to get the job done, but it can be done in a lot more comfort with the Grand L3560.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[Redlands]

The auto throttle on the 3560 can be turned off.
Snow and the need of a cab seems to be a long term issue. Lots of winters ahead of you.
Seems to me the acrage work is a short term problem. Once you have the acreage cleared do you need the extra lifting power ?
Cabs are also nice in summer dusty mowing jobs.

 

[TripleR]

Unless you just can't swing it, I'd forget both and buy an L5060HSTC. Age has a way of changing priorities and what may seem "nice" now can become a "necessity" as time passes.

If money simply isn't there, go for the L3560HSTC.

 

[conropl]

The auto throttle on the 3560 can be turned off...

Thanks for the response
Correct... I did turn auto throttle off when I was testing it out, and liked the ride much better. So your are correct, I do not think the auto throttle is an issue.

... Seems to me the acrage work is a short term problem. Once you have the acreage cleared do you need the extra lifting power ?

Higher HP would be good for larger rotary cutter to maintain the cleared land, and for getting a larger snow blower. But you are correct, I could just go smaller implements, which lets me get on the tractor for a longer time - not all that bad.

... Cabs are also nice in summer dusty mowing jobs.

I like being out in the open spring-fall. But I am sure that would change if it gets real hot. Doesn't get above 85 F around here very often.

Unless you just can't swing it, I'd forget both and buy an L5060HSTC. Age has a way of changing priorities and what may seem "nice" now can become a "necessity" as time passes.

If money simply isn't there, go for the L3560HSTC.

Appreciate the comment.
I cannot swing the large Grand L's. This is bigger than the B2650 Cab, and way nicer; but it is about as big as I am going to want to budget.
The thought of having a cab was what got me looking at different tractors originally. This year was a light winter around here. I still managed to get totally covered in snow while blowing it on windy days a several times this year. I guess I need to remember back a couple years when I was out there about everyday from November through April. I do like winter, but about this time of year I am ready for it to be over.