Well, I did a terrible thing. I went and took a good look at a new tractor last night...
I have a great little B6000 with a tiller, and was looking at adding an FEL for general farm work (manure, compost, lime, putting gravel on roads, etc) and snow removal at my place of employment. So, I could put a $2000 loader onto an old $2500 tractor and end up with an old $3500 tractor...
Or, I could go look at shiny new orange paint and see what the B series was going for now a days. But, if I got into an L series, I could actually plow the acreage myself (we run a large community vegetable garden that we plow and/or rototill 6-8 acres of our 10 every year) and mow the rest (again, hired out). Snow removal for local businesses in the winter would keep it employed a little more often. It doesn't snow much here, but when it does people pay big $$ to get their lots plowed. I already have one guaranteed customer in my employer (and free secure tractor storage as part of the deal).
So I look at the B's, and while the higher HP ones appear to have enough power to do the work, I just didn't like them as much as the new L3200/L3600. Those are what I think of when I think "farm tractor", so I skipped the B's and went straight over to the L's and took a ride on an L3200 with loader. Non-HST trans (I just like gear driven equipment better), but they have both available. It seemed like a good deal ($17,200 plus tax after all rebates, with loader) - I'd get the R4 tires for snow work, and buy a separate set of the Ag tires and wheels for between-the-row cultivating farm work (quoted $1338 for the extra set of wheels and tires).
My questions to you guys - is this a decent deal? Considering my intended usage, did I make a mistake skipping right over the B series and looking at the L's? I don't see that the higher-hp B's have a gear trans, only HST - is that right?
Also, on the L3200 it says the PTO is "Transmission driven with overrunning clutch", but he L3800 is "Live PTO with Overrunning". What is the practical difference there? Is the additional cubic inches and Higher HP at a lower RPM of the L3800 worth the extra $$ for what I plan on doing?
Not 100% sure I want to take the plunge - but that L3200 was sure sweet...
Thanks for taking the time to read this-
Hans
I have a great little B6000 with a tiller, and was looking at adding an FEL for general farm work (manure, compost, lime, putting gravel on roads, etc) and snow removal at my place of employment. So, I could put a $2000 loader onto an old $2500 tractor and end up with an old $3500 tractor...
Or, I could go look at shiny new orange paint and see what the B series was going for now a days. But, if I got into an L series, I could actually plow the acreage myself (we run a large community vegetable garden that we plow and/or rototill 6-8 acres of our 10 every year) and mow the rest (again, hired out). Snow removal for local businesses in the winter would keep it employed a little more often. It doesn't snow much here, but when it does people pay big $$ to get their lots plowed. I already have one guaranteed customer in my employer (and free secure tractor storage as part of the deal).
So I look at the B's, and while the higher HP ones appear to have enough power to do the work, I just didn't like them as much as the new L3200/L3600. Those are what I think of when I think "farm tractor", so I skipped the B's and went straight over to the L's and took a ride on an L3200 with loader. Non-HST trans (I just like gear driven equipment better), but they have both available. It seemed like a good deal ($17,200 plus tax after all rebates, with loader) - I'd get the R4 tires for snow work, and buy a separate set of the Ag tires and wheels for between-the-row cultivating farm work (quoted $1338 for the extra set of wheels and tires).
My questions to you guys - is this a decent deal? Considering my intended usage, did I make a mistake skipping right over the B series and looking at the L's? I don't see that the higher-hp B's have a gear trans, only HST - is that right?
Also, on the L3200 it says the PTO is "Transmission driven with overrunning clutch", but he L3800 is "Live PTO with Overrunning". What is the practical difference there? Is the additional cubic inches and Higher HP at a lower RPM of the L3800 worth the extra $$ for what I plan on doing?
Not 100% sure I want to take the plunge - but that L3200 was sure sweet...
Thanks for taking the time to read this-
Hans
