I can't believe the difference the front loader makes to a tractor. I've been driving tractors since I was a kid but this L3450 is the first I've driven with a loader. The difference between having the loader low or off completely on hilly ground is astounding. For the sake of the 10 minutes it takes to remove it, I always opt to take it off. It takes no longer to mount or un-mount than any other implement. The bottom line, in my opinion, is that these machines are designed to do most of their work at the back and are balanced accordingly. And always have ballast with a loader on.