Go BottomTractor size recommendation
 | tinman12
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 11 mississippi 
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2003-08-24 62604
I have 10 ac. of land, half is open and the other half is very small trees and overgrowth. I need a tractor, FEL and bushhog to clear and maintain this. I'm also planning to do residential lot clearing for new home sites. The tractor that I want is the L3830 HST. I will towing it with a 2003 Ford F150 4x4. My question is, the L 3830 seems to be a mighty large tractor for this task and will the Ford tow it safely?
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 | Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee 
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2003-08-24 62605
The L3830 HST 4 x 4 weighs 3340 lbs. and figure at least 1,500 to 2,000 lbs. (these are probably very light weight estimates for a trailer, probably more like 3,000 lbs.) for a trailer; that puts you at 4,840 lbs. Add the FEL and rotary cutter, add about 1700 lbs. Now you are up to 6,540 lbs. Fluid fill the rear tires and add maybe another 1,000 lbs.; this puts you at 7,540. Throw in tools and misc. stuff and you are pushing 8,000 lbs. Can you tow all of this with the F-150..... probably. Are you exceeding the tow rating for this truck....... definitely. I would say you need an F-250 or 3/4 ton of some type and a diesel, but you could get by with a gas engine. That or get a smaller, lighter tractor. My figures may not be that accurate but this was more or less to give you a ballpark idea of what you are looking at. That L3830 is a nice tractor! I would definitely think L3830 is about right for the tasks you specify but you could bet by with the smaller model 30 series tractors but they are all close in weight. A John Deere 4410 or 4610 would be the green choice and their weights are a good bit less, but I think you are going to have to look at a heavier duty truck and hefty trailer for any of these models. Good luck on your decision. ....
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 | Neophyte
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 13 ME
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2003-08-24 62614
I have towed a 7000lb+ boat & trailer with my F-150 (4.6L small V8) for about a 3 hour drive. It did not like it very much but it did the job. If you have the larger V8, then I don't think you will have a problem assuming they are short distances.
As for the tractor, I think even the L3130/L3430 would get you by. Other tractors in this range would be the JD 4310/4410 and the NH TC33D/TC35D/TC40D. For the money, the NH TC35D or TC40D are nice machines. ....
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| tinman12
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 11 mississippi
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2003-08-24 62615
Thanks for your input, I notice the pictures that you have of your Deere, that's a great little tractor. I have consider the green machine but the Kubota does cost a little less around my parts. Your point on the weight difference is something that I will now have to consider when looking at the bigger picture.
Most of my towing will be less than 60 miles round trip and my Ford F150 has the 5.4 liter engine. The trailer is a Texas Bragg 16' without brakes. Would I need to add the trailer brakes?
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| Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2003-08-24 62616
Most states require trailer brakes if over 3,000 lbs. gross weight. At least they do here in TN. If you keep it to very occasional towing, you can probably get by but that much weight is very hard on your truck, especially the transmission and rear axle. ....
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 | plots1
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 563 mo 
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2003-08-24 62617
Brakes will be something your probley going to want. As chief stated three quarter ton deisel would be the ticket. I was pullin my 790 with a half ton 350 chevy and It didn't care for it much but did it. really used up the springs and a lot of gas. That won't be a problem no more beings I brought home a new 2500HD duramax this weekend. A touch smaller tractor would probaly work out fine for you, Once the first clean up is done maintaining will be a breeze. ....
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 | DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2003-08-24 62620
I have hired land clearing work done and the ones I have worked with either had vastly bigger equipment and or old really beat up stuff, at least a full size backhoe, not a compact.
Also for land clearing a backhoe is Ok but not the preferred tool. I usually see articulated machines that can grab the logs and push and stack em.
Land clearing versus logging is very low paying for the work involved unless you have really big equipment then you have high capital costs
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2003-08-24 62628
Respectfully....... don't even consider towing that package without trailer brakes........ please.
Last year I bought a 16 foot, 5000 pound GVW flat bed trailer thinking that it would be all I would ever need.
I figured out after several trips to the dump that the trailer, with the ramps stowed, weighs about 1800 pounds empty. That leaves me a 3200 pound payload. No problemo. Plenty for a compact utility tractor.
Sure.
This year I bought a new JD 4115. It weighs 1770 pounds. It has a 46 backhoe: 900 pounds, and a 410 loader: 600 pounds.
Whoops. We just went 70 pounds overweight. Did I mention the 300 pounds of wheel weights?
$#!+.
Or the Rankin Forks that weigh 150 pounds more than the loader bucket?
Do the math first! And please, make sure there are brakes on ALL the trailer wheels. ....
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| lamarbur
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 93 Ma/Ct state area
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2003-08-25 62633
you get into these New England states and all trailer axles require brakes. I pull a Bri-Mar 12,000 GVW at 18 ft, with my Dodge HO diesel. I would have bought a 20 ft if Bri-Mar made them, which they don't. Still, this is as large as I would want to pull with a 3/4 diesel. ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-08-25 62636
I think there are max combined vehicle/trailer ratings for most light trucks. This idea might exceed a max combined weight rating for the truck, and you could let yourself in for all sorts of serious problems if found on a public road. It'd be good to inform yourself of applicable transport regs in your area. As Mark pointed out, most owners tend to forget about all sorts of things when estimating trailer weights. ....
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