Buying Advice Needed

[85Hokie]

Sorry if I mislead anyone but my intent was to buy a used unit.

I'm just looking for information on which models are better than others.

My budget is $25,000 but I could go $30,000 for the right tractor.

No worries at all - welcome to the place of ORANGE

if you look hard enough - you will find the right one, it is when you think you have cannot find it........two days later.....boo yaa - some guy 100 miles away has exactly what you want and you are foaming at the mouth to go get her!!!!

 

[sheepfarmer]

My calculations re safe hauling would be: the L3560 weighs 3505 lbs without the FEL and loaded tires, maybe 4500 total?

I have two horses that together weigh at least 3300 lbs. I can haul a trailer and them with a 3/4 ton with a nice heavy diesel, but I wouldn't want to do it with a lighter truck. It is a tail wagging the dog problem.

 

[virginiavenom]

My calculations re safe hauling would be: the L3560 weighs 3505 lbs without the FEL and loaded tires, maybe 4500 total?

I have two horses that together weigh at least 3300 lbs. I can haul a trailer and them with a 3/4 ton with a nice heavy diesel, but I wouldn't want to do it with a lighter truck. It is a tail wagging the dog problem.

proper hitching and truck for the job goes a long way. my hemi has air suspension that keeps the truck level regardless of load. otherwise I agree, most half tons become very bad at keeping the nose on the ground, but I tow a horse trailer with 2 large quarter horses with my hemi pretty regularly. I also tow a 24ft haulmark edge pro race trailer fully decked out with my viper and tools and such in it without issue. trailer empty weighs in around 5000 lbs, plus generator, tools, car, fuel, spare tires etc. so probably 9k or so. again without issue, proper trailer loading goes a long way. not saying a diesel wouldn't do it better, but I don't think he will have any troubles if he keeps his weight around 8-9k with a proper hitch or helper bags and not trying to haul butt, and of course proper trailer loading.

I recently sold my 1 ton dually and a 42' race trailer fifth wheel, full living quarters etc, trailer weight of over 8k empty....mainly didn't need it so I downgraded. kinda miss my dually, but the maintenance costs were prohibitive on it.

OP, keep your implements in check and I believe you will be fine. I've towed with my hemi well over 20k miles easy all at a minimum load of 5k lbs without issue. drive sane, ensure loads are safe and secure and you should be fine.

the problem I see with most horse trailers that causes the wagging is the axles aren't far enough back, most of the weight is hanging off the rear of the trailer instead of on the nose.

 

[Driggs]

Driggs,
WOW that's a lot of tractor for very little task and time.
I put 100 hours on my L in a couple of weeks doing normal tasks.
You could pull that off in style with a B or a BX for a heck of a lot less than $25K.
But hey we all want bigger and more capable.

I will say after doing some quick math, towing a tractor that large with implements should not be done with a 1/2 ton truck, it doesn't matter what engine it has, there just is not enough mass to do it safely!

I'm still learning fellas. Thanks for the feedback.

What are the biggest differences between the Grand L series and the B or BX?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm still learning fellas. Thanks for the feedback.

What are the biggest differences between the Grand L series and the B or BX?

Size is the #1 difference.
Can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the use.
Too small for to big a job is bad.
Too big for too small a job is also bad.

Go to a dealer and take a test spin on a couple tractors to get a feel for them, and what you like.

 

[skeets]

Yeah HP and torque are super in a truck,,, NOW after we get it goin,, how we gona stop the beach??? Lots of go and little or no whoa is a really, really really bad thing BTDT

 

[Driggs]

The good thing is once I get the tractor to my cabin it will not leave unless I need to have a major repair done.

 

[virginiavenom]

The good thing is once I get the tractor to my cabin it will not leave unless I need to have a major repair done.

worst case you rent a 3/4 ton or 1 ton and a large trailer, or plan that purchase in the future.