L3400 or L4400 or L39 - Machine Underground -Tractor & Commercial Equipment Discussion Forum

Bill41 · 02-19-2008, 10:15 PM

Task: Clear land, build driveway, excavate (cut & fill), etc. for building on 10 acres Upstate NY.

Land to be cleared is between 1 and 2 acres, which includes 450' x 20' driveway. I have cut ~ 40 trees so far which range from 6" to 24" hardwood (ash, maple, shagbark hickory.) most of which are 40' to 80' tall. Still have another 40 to go. Of course I had many saplings to start with so have brush and slash galore.
The land is semi flat with ridges that go up to other flat areas. ridges are ~ 1:2 slope up to 12' above/below each level. There is ~ 1.5' of top soil, followed by 2..3 ft clay and then shale. Most trees >10" have been bucked into 11' lengths with a couple left at 22' in case I need some good size beams. I am thinking of having someone with a band-mill to come in and cut the logs into lumber so will most likely need to get all these logs into a pile and possibly assist in moving them to the band-mill.

To
take care of the brush piles / slash I plan on using a PTO driven Wallenstein BX62 chipper which requires around 30 PTO hp.

I started by looking at the Kubota L3400 with FEL and BH75 backhoe, then looked at L4400 with a little more hp. After calculating the weight of some of the sawlogs I felt that the FEL for either the 3400 or 4400 with a lift of ~1100# might be a little light and with all those stumps the backhoe may not handle the 18..24" stumps and choke on the shale during excavation. Recently I came accross the L39 and the specs are impressive. The price delta between the 4400 and L39 in this area is around $6k, but it may be able to do-all instead of marginally do-all. The BH75 backhoe I found to be a bit tight for my 6' 210#. and when I sat in the B26 loader/backhoe (the dealer didn't have a L39 on site) I realized that I could breath again. I imagine the L39 is that much better and it's PTO hp can handle the chipper where the B26 is a little underpowered in that area. I realize I could have someone with a big excavator come in and do a lot of this clearing for an exorbatant(sp) price, however my experance so far with these contractors indicate that they need an additional 50' beyond whats necessary as they distroy about as much as they do any good and of course I am working on there sched, not mine.

So.... those of you who may have been through all of this before me, do you think the L39 is a better choice or will the 34/4400 do the job. Which ever one I choose to do this job, I think that with the remaining acreage I will have lots of other chores for machine X to do after the land is cleared, driveway and excavation is done. Of course any other comments are welcome at this point.

Thanks for staying with this lengthy post.

**Ducati996** · 02-19-2008, 10:49 PM

Let me welcome you Bill41 to the M.U ! you have found a great place to get some feedback, and folks such as myself (Chris2520) who are very interested in the L39 for themselves. You did mention that you are located upstate NY (but NY is a big state). Our sponsor Kevin @ Emerich sales might have a few L39's waiting for you to check out personally - kevin might be delayed responding here because he is on vacation this week,
but Im sure the shop is open.

Overall you provided a lot of details, and you have a ton of work to do. The L39 is the least size machine for what you mention, maybe even the new M59

, and consider renting a full size TLB to get things started - a grapple bucket is going to come handy as well, as well as a hydraulic thumb for your backhoe. It does sound like fun either way, and looking for a tractor is the best

NHSSoc08 · 02-19-2008, 11:17 PM

welcome to M.U. great site...great bunch of guys...lets of helpful info...again welcome and let us know what you decide...and does sound like a lot of fun

Bill41 · 02-20-2008, 12:18 AM

I just checked on the M59. Its a monster and would put me over budget. The L39 puts me on the edge and with the other add-on goodies that I haven't even thought of (hmm...a bucket grapple) may knock be back to the L3400,FEL and BH75 to do follow on stuff if I end up contracting the big stuff out. This is kind of a sanity check and hope that I'll get some comments on just what one person should be able to do. I have read forums on land clearing and it appears that some excavators can pop out 40 or 50 stumps in a couple of hrs. for $750. If true, I may be better off to contract parts out and specify that they include clean up of the mess they usually make and leave the fun part for me. I am trying to determine that crossover point.

Bill41 · 02-20-2008, 12:23 AM

Oops, forgot, I am in the Binghamton area. Emerich is ~3hrs away.

**Chris2520** · 02-20-2008, 02:40 AM

Bill , i have been researching the L39 for quite some time. of the machines
you have listed. The L39 would be a no brainer. it is over twice the machine of these others. The BT1000 backhoe will scoup those other tractors up and flip them over. I test drove one a while back , and got to play in dirt a little. the tractor is amazing , specialy for its size. i ran a JD110 a month a go. and i still think the L39 will out work it. as for the other tractors , there all fine machines. but the L39 is a true commercial
machine. and the others are more so farm tractors. a Contruction machine like the L39 will last twice as long. and is built way more heavy duty.
just crawl under it and look at the frame compaired to the others. thay dont even compair. its like compairing a 1/2 ton pickup to a peterbuilt.
no joke. Yes the M59 is a beast. but a little large , and way over priced.
atleast right now. the L39 is the best bang for the buck. just look at the pictures i posted in the thread Duc started called L39 questions. and you will see what it can do. with a grapple it will lift logs and rocks over twice as big as those other tractors. in one picture, it is carrying a whole tree. and it has the butt to back it up. it weighs
in at 7000, and with tires loaded. almost 8000. and the hoe is still strong enough, to through it around like a tonka toy...
I know cause i did it....

Go take a test drive.
Go see kevin.

as soon as my john deere is sold. i will own one.

Chris......

Bill41 · 02-20-2008, 09:23 AM

Chris,
From the limited research I did, I agree 100%. Thanks for the conformation.
Here's another thought.
The L39 has industrial tires. I was leaning towards something with ag tires because during this time of the year I need to be able to get through snow, mud and slush. Will R4s handle the winter conditions or just spin out when I use it for other duties such a pulling a box blade, plowing a driveway, getting accross a bog, etc. My son is in the Atlanta area and they don't get much snow so you may not be able to answer this. Also if I put on ag tires will they handle the weight of the L39?

**Ducati996** · 02-20-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill41

Chris,
From the limited research I did, I agree 100%. Thanks for the conformation.
Here's another thought.
The L39 has industrial tires. I was leaning towards something with ag tires because during this time of the year I need to be able to get through snow, mud and slush. Will R4s handle the winter conditions or just spin out when I use it for other duties such a pulling a box blade, plowing a driveway, getting accross a bog, etc. My son is in the Atlanta area and they don't get much snow so you may not be able to answer this. Also if I put on ag tires will they handle the weight of the L39?

I wonder if AGs will handle the load or can be found for the L39 - Otherwise chains would be the only alternative

**Chris2520** · 02-20-2008, 02:45 PM

Chains would do the trick......

your right we dont get much snow.
but i seen quite a few up north useing chains.
and there pleased with it. and it has the weight to get a bite.

Chris...

Bill41 · 02-20-2008, 07:02 PM

I checked with the dealer this afternoon on the Ag tires. No Ags avail for the L39, so I guess it would be chains if I found that snow was a problem. Actually if you look at the spec for the L3400 it uses the same R4 as the L39. I guess it must be that the Ag tires don't fit in the space available for the rear tires on the L39. I don't know what the difference in load rating is. I think when it comes to mud however, the R4s are probably better than the Ags as they would have more flotation. The dealer is setting me up to go see a L39 that one of his customers has the beginning of next week. That should save me a drive up to Emerich.