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John Deere 3038E

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Reviews


John Deere 3038E Reviews



Overall Rating:
rating
Build Quality
rating
4.5
Features
rating
4.4
Performance
rating
4.7
Value
rating
4.7
Reliability
rating
4.7
(4.6 stars, 43 reviews)
View All John Deere 3038E Reviews


Specifications

Height 51 (129 cm) (Hood)
82.3 in. (209 cm) (ROPS)

Length 111 (281 cm)

Weight (Max Capacity) 4

Weight (Operating) 2

Weight 2

View all John Deere 3038E specifications


Reviews Posted
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 43 items
Total Junk
rating
2.3
Posted 01/07/2020
by Dawson
Model year: 2019 Date Purchased: 2019-06-01 Number of Hours:

"I bought the tractor in July. Within the first week the loader was drifting very bad. The dealer has pushed me off until a month ago. They finally took the tractor. Now, over a month at the dealership and several cylinders later, it is still there not fixed. The back hoe is doing the same thing - drifting - so they said it's probably bad cylinders. This stuff is brand new, not even a hour on it and it was doing this. I have made several payments on it while it sits in a shop waiting for John Deere's recommendation. "

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Easy to use Cons: Poorly built and so are the replacement parts Type of User: Commercial Farmer Location: USA PA I also considered buying:
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

My First Year
rating
2.8
Posted 08/17/2018
by Tony Sadikof
Model year: 2016 Date Purchased: 2017-05-16 Number of Hours: 200

"I've had my 3038E a little over a year. These are my issues: First, the brake sensor broke. Not a big deal. Second, it would over heat every time I mowed the 7-acre field. It only took a few min to spray it clean. Third, the hydraulics would start to get more and more slack. Forth, the seat sensor would shut the tractor down at the worst and most dangerous times ... and the final last straw is when my rock shaft housing broke and John Deere said it was my fault but couldn't tell me how I could have done it. They didn't even come look at it. They had the dealership send them a picture.."

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: It's green Cons: Overpriced Type of User: Homeowner 10-50 Acres Location: USA KY I also considered buying: RK Tractors RK55, Kubota B3350
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

JD 3038E
rating
4.2
Posted 07/16/2017
by Tractor Devil
Model year: 2013 Date Purchased: 2013-07-06 Number of Hours: 350

"I've had my 3038E for 4 years and it has exceeded my expectations. I use it to plow snow, grade the driveway, and general yard work. It starts perfectly all year round. I have removable forks on my loader and I can haul more than a pickup truck's load of brush and a full bucket of class 5 gravel is no problem. This tractor is fabulous! I've had zero problems. I got a tremendous deal with John Deere, too! 5 years with zero interest. It is stil a great tractor after 4 years. "

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Powerful, easy to operate, comfortable Cons: None! Awesome machine! Type of User: Homeowner 100+ Acres Location: USA MN I also considered buying:
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

Great Balance Of Capability And Size
rating
4.2
Posted 12/08/2016
by Jason LeBleu
Model year: 2012 Date Purchased: 2016-11-16 Number of Hours: 200

"This is my first tractor, so this is a first impression review. We are planning to build in about a year on 8 acres of replanted pine forest with about 15-year-old trees. My immediate purpose for buying was to clear out under the pines in all the areas that we plan to plant partial sun-low maintenance things like azaleas, dogwoods, and such. This thing is awesome! It has plenty of power, good balance, and is very nimble in and around the big trees. My favorite weapons so far are the forks and box blade combo with liquid-filled tires. I'm cleaning up the underbrush while smoothing out the washboard rows left from the reforesting efforts. The forks let me grab the deadfall logs and make burn piles easily. It is very low fuel consumption. I'm lucky to get through 5 gallons of diesel on an all-day session. The unevenness of my land does remind me frequently that the 3038E is a narrow frame/short wheelbase machine. You have to be aware of quickly shifting grades, but I've never felt like I was going to roll over. I typically just lose traction with one or more wheels and have to disengage whatever implement is holding me back. "

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Very versatile machine with a strong build Cons: Just use it within its design limits, it's not a 50 horsepower machine in ability or price Type of User: Homeowner 1-10 Acres Location: USA LA I also considered buying: Kubota B3300SU
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

3038E
rating
3.3
Posted 10/17/2016
by RW
Model year: 2015 Date Purchased: 2016-06-01 Number of Hours: 54

"A good tractor but the "E" is definitely for economy. Upgrading from a 790, that was a solid machine, you can see the differences. The fuel level indicator on the hood makes it tough to watch the fuel level. The front hydraulics bleed off when sitting. The exhaust is a killer, hitting the grill guard mount and shoved directly into the drivers face. You would think a John Deere recall is in order..."

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: It's still a John Deere Cons: Exhaust fumes/fuel gauge,rear hydraulic clearance Type of User: Homeowner 10-50 Acres Location: USA OR I also considered buying:
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

I'd Buy It Again. Great Customer Service From The Dealer
rating
4.2
Posted 09/28/2015
by Hans VonMilla
Model year: 2011 Date Purchased: 2011-06-20 Number of Hours: 320

"We have used this tractor for bush hogging, post hole digging, tilling a 3,500 square foot garden and about four acres of pasture, landscape raking and driveway maintenance, as well as a lot of lifting, carrying, pulling, and digging (using the bucket to dig sand and lime-rock). It has done everything we've asked of it, and has never failed us (although I did get it stuck in deep loose sand once--my fault). I've done most of the maintenance (fluid and filter changes, greasing), and with one exasperating exception have found them to be easy. All of the filters and lubricants are easy to drain and replace, even the 5.5 gallons of pricey transmission/ hydraulic fluid. Draining the radiator is easy. However, draining the last bit of coolant from the block requires removing and replacing a drain plug that's hard to find, difficult to remove, and almost impossible to replace. The Yanmar engineers who decided to put this drain plug in a tight little corner of the engine block weren't thinking about accessibility when the designed it. Other than this, the tractor has been a joy to own and operate. We have had great customer service from our John Deere dealer, too."

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Power, simplicity, fairly easy implement changes, mostly simple maintenance Cons: Draining coolant from the block is a pain in the neck Type of User: Homeowner 10-50 Acres Location: USA FL I also considered buying:
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

Good Tractor, But.....
rating
3.0
Posted 06/04/2015
by Chris Martineau
Model year: 2011 Date Purchased: 2011-05-10 Number of Hours: 450

"I purchased this tractor to maintain five acres and it worked perfect around the house. After a few years, I purchased some land and started to use this tractor for clearing, trail mowing, and road maintenance. The tractor works good, but I have run into some annoying build quality issues, All of my issues started showing their face at about 200 hours. The front seals were leaking and the loader would bleed off while the tractor was running. It has poor placement of the suction line for the transmission. My dealer has worked with me to fix the issues underneath a warranty since John Deere has admitted these are problems. I have added R1 AG tires and dual rear SCVs. These options have proven to make the tractor into a workhorse. Overall, I would recommend this tractor for a small around the house tractor < 10 acres. All of my issues I started running into were when I started using it like a big tractor. I will be looking at a 5500 series tractor soon and will keep this one for around the house."

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Simple design, good power, no motor issues Cons: Build quality issues Type of User: Homeowner 50-100 Acres Location: USA TX I also considered buying:
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

Awesome Utility Tractor That Does Pretty Much Everything Needed
rating
4.2
Posted 06/10/2014
by RRRancher
Model year: 2010 Date Purchased: 2010-09-24 Number of Hours: 1023

"We purchased 69 acres in East Texas back in 2010, and needed a utility tractor for several uses. I shopped around at the Kubota and New Holland dealers here first, and got their best prices in the 25 to 40 horsepower range. Then I went to the John Deere dealer and after the salesman asked me what I wanted to do with it, he told me about the 3038E and explained that it was priced well because it didn't have lots of bells and whistles, like hydraulic quick connects. I went outside to look at it and was really impressed that it had more power and a hydro-static drive for less than the equivalents at the other dealers. I was sold and made the purchase the same day. I have done so much with this little workhorse. I have hauled tons and tons of dirt and iron ore and logs around in the loader, mowed the 10 or 12 acres of fields several times, cut down saplings galore with the heavy duty shredder, graded miles and miles of road, plowed and harrowed a garden several times, and cleared several trails on the 50 acre tree farm. It handles everything I need it to do, as long as it is within its limits. And it does have limits. But then it is not a 100 HP farm tractor. The loader will not pick up a full load of wet dirt, or lift much more than a loader full of dry dirt. But then, in my opinion, it shouldn't anyway. The heavy-duty shredder will stall the engine when you try to push it through a full load too fast. None of this bothers me. If I need more power, I will buy a bigger tractor. The only problems I have had with it are that I ran over a dry tree top once and a sharp limb stabbed into the hydraulics return hose, which is underneath the floorboard area and is totally unprotected. It really needs a metal guard over it, in my opinion. I lost most of the fluid quickly and had to leave it where it was until I could replace the hose and refill. Also, the warning flashers are in a terrible place. I have ripped both of them off once and broken both of them again with tree limbs that I passed by while mowing. I plan to build some metal housings and mount new ones inside of the housings and in a different location so they aren't sticking outside of the ROPS where they are so exposed. Other than that, I have no complaints. I'm at 1,023 hours and have done little more than change the oil and hydraulic fluid as required. The battery gave up this winter, but three years on a battery is not unusual. One other thing I would like to say is that the hydro-static drive is so safe compared to a gear drive. When you let up on the pedal, it stops immediately, unless you are going full speed in high gear. Even then, it stops pretty dang fast. Box blade and loader work and mowing stuff like tree lines is so much easier with the hydro-static. You just move your foot to the desired pedal and push down as much as needed to inch it one way or the other. No shifting or taking your hands off the steering wheel or levers. It's all in the right foot. I have used the differential lock several times, but I have probably only used the brakes a hand full of times when I was on a pretty steep incline. It's just not needed for normal operations. When you let up on the drive pedals, it stops. And also, when you come out of the seat while it is in gear, the engine dies quickly. If the PTO is engaged and you come out of the seat, even in neutral gear, the engine dies. Pretty nice safety features. I would highly recommend this little tractor to anyone who needs a general purpose utility model. I don't think you will be unhappy with what you get for the money you spend."

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Hydro-static drive, built in toolbox, nice safety features. Cons: Exposed hydraulics return line hose underneath, warning flashers location makes them easy to get broken. Type of User: Homeowner 50-100 Acres Location: USA TX I also considered buying: Kubota L3200
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

JD 3038E Tractor Review Canadian South Country Equipment
rating
1.7
Posted 05/01/2014
by coreysask
Model year: 2008 Date Purchased: 2010-10-10 Number of Hours: 600

"Little bit of a story. I had a 3032E, found it lacked front end loader power, dealer was unable to repair it to bring adequate lifting power (bucket of gravel shouldn't be too much). A year later I bought a 3038e to replace it. 3038 was ok for the first few years, still a bit under powered, very tippy, but ok. I had fluid put in the tires and I was quite happy with it. Did a lot of tilling, snowblowing, 3 point hitch mower. Typical large farm yard work. Maintenance done at 400 hours (year 3 or 4), changed front diff fluid, changed trans fluid. Here we are today at year 5-6. Transmission range shifter input leaks, both front hubs leak, quite loud now, tach occasionally stops working, front end loader is slower acting and still will just barely lift a full bucket of gravel. Quote to repair from 2 different dealers. $3000 +/- They are known to have front axle leaks. All of them have it after about 2 years of regular service, tach problem is common and some have trouble with the hydrostatic transmission not putting out enough pressure. Both dealers admitted that these are trouble with the 3038e/3032e machines...with the statement of ...it's a cheap tractor, what do you expect? (I expected the well advertised John Deere quality) Corey Dietz"

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Price, simple, hydro-stat drive, Deere dealerships. Cons: Quality, quality, quality, axles, transmission & loader power. Type of User: Homeowner 10-50 Acres Location: CND OT I also considered buying:
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

3038E Review
rating
4.0
Posted 02/18/2014
by Kenneth A. Hawko
Model year: 2010 Date Purchased: 2010-08-15 Number of Hours: 311

"I purchased this tractor back in Aug 2010. I reviewed a few brands including other models of JD. None came close to this price and with the capabilities of this machine. I love the ease of operation, power steering and horsepower of the tractor. I snow blow, road grade, mow over 5 acres of grass and clear over 11 acres of trails in the woods with it. I loved the weight of the machine which helps in the deep snow of Maine! I have had only one issue with the tractor and that is the front axle seals leak. I found out a trick to alleviate the issue, I installed a vented cap for the dip stick, this keeps from over pressurizing the front axle. After 2 sets of failed seals this works great! Great machine!"

REVIEWER'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pros: Ease of operation, horsepower, capabilities, size, price. Cons: Front axle seal issue. Type of User: Homeowner 10-50 Acres Location: USA ME I also considered buying: John Deere 3720, Kubota B7800
REVIEWER'S PHOTOS

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