On the fence over more power

[beemehero]

Hello all, I'm new here but have lurked for some time.

I've had my B2410hsd since Dec. 1999. Got her new and just turned 550hrs. on it this past week.

Some of my tasks are mounting up and I'm starting to think of an L3800 being a better match for my needs.
75% of the time , the B2410 can handle the job, but when I need more power blowing snow, mowing, digging and other dirt work, I'm wishing I had another 10 useable ponies under the hood plus the weight.

We have 12 acres with 3 of them in forest that I manage. We will be using half of the other land for growing food in a variety of ways. The other part of the land we will be managing alfalfa which will require and occasional plowing.

While I love the nimbleness and fuel stingyness of the B series, I've been eyeballing a new sweetie, her name is Lady3800. A backhoe will be very handy also and the L3800 seems to have the grunt to run one effectively.

Any one else on the fence over needing more power?

0% financing has something to do with it

 

[Bluegill]

Welcome!

I've had a L3800DT for almost two years and love it! I will get a larger rig at some point, but plan to keep the 3800 indefinitely...

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I ran into the exact dilemma that you stated, an L just has so much more oomph! My place being very steep at some points made me want more width and bottom end. I wanted to pull, drag, lift and push more than the little B could do.
I wasn't in a position to get a new model but an older L3450 which is in the same HP range as the L3800, which will do much better at all the needed tasks then the B.

 

[gkk2001]

You will love the 3800. I would go for it, most definitely.

I upgraded from a Deere 4100 (16 PTO HP) to the 3800, talk about a HP upgrade. And it was an easy decision compared to any green machine as I am not a fan of the quality Deere is producing today.

 

[Fredhargis]

I am. 4 Years ago I bought a B2920 for our property, mostly because I though it was physically the largest tractor I would ever need. But now I'm thinking I could use a larger tractor, not necessarily more HP but more weight and ability to handle heavier 3 PH loads. So I keep looking at the L3200. My B has all the goodies, and I would probably give up the BH if I moved up. So far all I've done is think about it.

 

[chim]

When I first got my B7500 it seemed like it was a lot more tractor than the old Ford 1210 that served well for the previous 10 years. With 21 horses and extra weight it appeared to be everything I'd ever want. That was in 2002. In the time since then, there were quite a few times when I wished for a few more horses, a little more FEL capacity and better 3 point hitch capability.

Last year I sold the B7500 and bought an L3200. This one is a keeper. Most of the time I use my tractors for mowing. The L3200 handles a 6 foot RFM better than the B7500 did a 5 footer. The ride is much more comfortable and it has the power and weight I wanted. In recent weeks it did very well reshaping a little over an acre that adjoins our original lot. Although it's a beefy tractor it is still nimble.

If you have heavier work in mind or you're on the fence I'd make the jump to the L3800 to pack even more horses in the same size tractor. For me, it wasn't worth the extra money. The L3200 gave me about 150% increase in horsepower over a tractor that did a fairly decent job for 10 years.

 

[skeets]

An old guy I worked with gave me a simple way of figuring out what you need HP wise, Pap said to figure out what you want to do and then figure out the size of the tractor, and then go to the next size up. Cause no matter what you get you will always think geeee if I just had a little more,,, But then I guess that goes for a lot of things ,,don't it

 

[Gundoctor]

I have never seen one to big yet. I have had over 50 tractor in my life and never had one to BIG.

David Pidgeon

 

[2010drive]

Whatever you do don't buy from CDA tractor...unless you like paying retail.

 

[beemehero]

Thanks for the replies folks and pushing me in that direction. A few days ago I cut a tentative deal for a L3800 hst. with r4 tires ballasted. It's got the quick connect bucket so putting on a front blade in the winter will be a snap, blower in the rear, now watch...,,,.no snow this year.

The last one has kept me very happy and walking upright since 2000, this one should be good for the long haul.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

"No snow this year" Ummm... are you sure you live in North ID????

We'll be lucky if we don't get completely buried this year, I don't have my tractor repaired yet!

 

[gkk2001]

Bemehero,

I love that, "very happy and walking upright since 2000". When I was in my twenties and even thirties and thought my body was invincible, I did it all by lots of manual labor. But my back still took a big toll despite the youth factor. The loader was one of the best things I ever purchased and will not be without the rest of my years.

 

[beemehero]

Bemehero,

I love that, "very happy and walking upright since 2000". When I was in my twenties and even thirties and thought my body was invincible, I did it all by lots of manual labor. But my back still took a big toll despite the youth factor. The loader was one of the best things I ever purchased and will not be without the rest of my years.

Yes indeed, upright is good!
Drilled 44 holes yesterday with it, going to do 110 holes today.
Can you imaging how bad off you would be if you used a hand post hole digger. I'm 46 years old, my wrists, elbows and shoulders would fall off if I attempted that by hand.

Even if it takes me a little longer doing something with the tractor, I'll get it and save my back for later.

That's why the "B" is "me hero", although getting a "L" kind of throws a wrench in my handle.


The cost of owning a tractor far outweighs the cost of repairing your body to it's original state which is impossible anyways. It's a form of prepaid insurance to me.

 

[BadDog]

Seems to be a lot of that going around, same reason I bought the B7100 TL, and then the B2150 TLB.

When I was young, I never thought I was invincible. I ran with a very rough crowd, broke both hands and a jaw in fights before I was even out of Junior High. Even though by most counts I "won" those fights, that dispelled any notions of invincibility. I just never had enough sense to back off. Also broke bones playing JV football, baseball, AND basketball. I won't even try to catalog the results of 2 years of 125 cc motocross and subsequent illegal street bike/car racing. The worst was ripping my left leg off at the knee in a 135 mph crash, which was just the worst of the injuries sustained. I was always "all in", it's all I knew.

Now, in my late 40s, my x-rays look like an erector set, I can barely walk, right arm often won't raise above my head, most days can't function without pain killers, and looking at another knee replacement likely within the next year. A smart man probably wouldn't have bought a 1.3 acre run down horse property out of foreclosure. But the tractor(s) has already started paying it's own way just in hauling and moving stuff that I used to do with a big tired dolly, hand trailer (green 2'x4' from HF) and wheel barrow. Sure does make things better. I've got to finish the auger so I can put in a new fence row to section off an area for a garden. And when I finish my current project of repairing trim and painting the main house, I'll be using it to re-landscape and sculpt (for looks and water control) my back lot that I'm converting to something of a fruit orchard. I can't wait to finish rebuilding the back hoe, then things should really pick up.

 

[BotaDriver]

It's got the quick connect bucket so putting on a front blade in the winter will be a snap, blower in the rear, now watch...,,,.no snow this year.

Not sure anyone has ever complained about being prepared for something that didn't happen

Though, if it does happen, it will just reassure you on the purchase of the blade. Don't let a lack of snow make you think twice about it though. You could always pull your machine further north to go play in the snow.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

BotaDriver,
Being in the exact same area as Beemehero, if we have to go any farther north to get to play in the snow we are going to have to start speaking Canuck, Aye!

 

[searay]

BotaDriver,
Being in the exact same area as Beemehero, if we have to go any farther north to get to play in the snow we are going to have to start speaking Canuck, Aye!

Don't take any offence the correct spelling is eh. As is they got some snow today up north of Toronto, eh.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

No offence taken at all, got to get these things right!
Your right I'm mixing up my phrases... Aye is Oz speak!

Oh and just for the record, I'm not prejudice to Canucks or Ozzies .. or should I say Canadians and Australians, Have great friends in both places!

 

[beemehero]

Not sure anyone has ever complained about being prepared for something that didn't happen

Though, if it does happen, it will just reassure you on the purchase of the blade. Don't let a lack of snow make you think twice about it though. You could always pull your machine further north to go play in the snow.

Ahhhhh, ,,didn't know I was complaining, being well versed in snow removal after living in snow mecca Alaska for 14 yrs., I always prepare for the worst and hope for the best.