Looking to purchase my first tractor. Have always been around tractors and borrowed/used family tractors but now owning some land calls for a need to have my own. I know my two choices are on totally different ends of the spectrums but so far those are the choices I have in mind. I like the creature comforts offered by both machines. Not crazy about the HST on the LX but I can live with it. Most of the required work will be loader(moving some dirt, logs/brush and some boulders), maintaining a gravel driveway, keeping the land clean after having it brush mulched, and maybe a small garden. 10acres of land, .25mile driveway, ~7acres wooded/overgrown land. How important is the weight of the tractor? Most of the land is flat, no major slopes. Also possibility of encountering standing water or water soaked ground. PTO implements in mind would be rotary cutter and tiller, can’t think of anything else that I need. Thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I am currently considering the same options to replace my B3350.
I already have an L6060 and agree with the earlier posters about the HST+ transmission in the 3560, which is the same as that in my L6060. It is wonderful and you will love it! Nothing wrong with the HST transmission in the B series but it does not have the hydraulic Hi/Lo nor does it have the servo activated HST pedal which reduces fatigue. The other HST+ features are nice but not so important in my opinion.
When I decided to replace my 2018 B3350 (don't ask) I originally planned to replace it with the new LX3310 but am now considering the L3560 because it is considerably more tractor (though I don't need more tractor for the purposes that I use my B3350) and not much more expensive. It would be a no brainer if I did not have multiple implements for my B3350 which would need to be replaced at additional expense.
Can't help you with the FEL options decision as I have the same question myself. My thinking is to buy the lower cost FEL if I buy a 3560 because I already have FELs for my L6060 and M9960 so do not really need extra capacity at additional cost. Would still buy a FEL because it is difficult to sell a compact tractor (future) without a FEL.
One additional thing to consider is rough cut (bush hog) mower capability. Though either the 3310 or the 3560 have sufficient PTO HP to handle a 5' rough cut mower, the 3310 is limited to 500 Lbs. for a rear mounted rotary cutter. To stay within this limit, you would need a very light weight (cheap) 5' cutter or a 4' model. The lift of the 3560 is rated to handle nearly all 5' rotary mowers and then some.
Finally, a point often not considered: HP/weight ratio. The 3560 is much heavier than the 3310 but offers only 1 HP more at the PTO. It takes HP to move weight, especially uphill. This may be an insignificant issue if you have level ground but I have some ground that is very steep so it is not insignificant in my case. OTHER ISSUES IGNORED, a B3350/3310 will walk away from an L3560 pulling just about anything uphill because it is much lighter. The only negative comments that I have heard about the 3560 relate to power. Granted, most such comments are from owners that expect too much from a small tractor rated at 28 PTO HP. Still, something to consider.
SDT