Helpful Advice, Please

[Parshal]

Newbie here and to tractors in general. I'm buying a 5 acre horse property and I'm in need of a tractor. I will need to mow hilly terrain on my ground and, for a while, the six adjoining acres to control some weeds. I've also got 16000 square feet of dirt that needs disking and seeding with a seed driller. Addtitionally, it's got quite a large U shaped driveway that needs grading after heavy rain and, obviously, snow removed in the winter. I'd also use it to move gravel and manure around and general other stuff with a bucket. I want a FEL, blade and mower implements although I don't need the mower until spring.

I'd been looking at the B3000 series but am now thinking the L3200, 3800 or even 4600 might be a better idea. I know those may be overkill but it seems these are like gun safes, buy twice what you think you need. It's my impression that the L series I mention are more of a bare bones tractor without the extras of the others. True?

I'd really like to buy used and keep my cost under $13k. I also need to think about resale value. I found a L3400 with FEL, 6' mower deck and box scraper with 293 hours for $12,500. It seems like a good deal but I don't know for sure.

I never thought about the tractor when I bought the property but now I'm seeing it's a necessity. Any advice or help or even pointers to some used ones would be great.

 

[Benhameen]

I have the L3800, and 9 acres with similar use for my tractor. I think that L3400, with that few hours, would be a great fit for what you need and the price seems reasonable.

If you don't know the service history, do a fluid change and you should be good to go.

From what I have gathered, the L series is the "base" model but for me there is only a couple small things I like to change or add. Mine continues to impress me very time on on it.

Just my two cents, of course.

 

[Parshal]

What would you change or add?

 

[Eric McCarthy]

That's a verry reasonable price on the L3400, move on it fast before somebody else does. It wont last long at that price. And with 293 hours on the clock its not even really broken in yet. I do believe that around 500 hours a full services of all the fluids is done.

 

[gpreuss]

I'd go for the L3400. Great price. Great tractor.

 

[Benhameen]

The main thing I would add would be a light or indicator on the dash letting me know that I'm in 4 wheel drive, as well as one for the parking brake. It's not hard to figure out if the brake is on but it would be nice. I have found myself running around in 4 wheel drive on a number of occasions. I'm not really driving it on the road so I guess it doesn't really hurt anything but I've been trying not to use it unless it is needed after taking some advise on here.

A wide stance is the other think that I would like to change, which can be done pretty easy, I just have to buy the spacers. I was used to a 7' wide jD so there was a bit o a learning curve at first.

Oh one last thing, the turn buckles, I don't care for them either, I plan to order a set from hodge in the future, from what he set me they look like the perfect fix for that minor problem.

These are all little things that I can live without, is been a heck of a little machine so far.

Cheers

Ben

 

[Parshal]

Thanks everyone. I haven't heard back from the seller so it might be gone.

 

[Parshal]

Of course, that one was sold. I've seen a 2005 B3030HST with about 300 hours for $12,500 that's about six hours away. It includes the FEL and an Atlas scraper. It's in good shape.