Deere 348 Questions

Doing a little window shopping over at tractorhouse and relatively speaking they're many more JD 348 balers for sale than the 338 or 328 models. Some of the 348’s look in great condition, but their prices are really not much higher than the 328 or 338 models and in some cases lower. Wondering why? Is it that larger farm operations are trading in their 348 balers sooner rather than risk a downed baler in the middle of haying season? Are these 348 used balers typically wore out from commercial use when they come on the market?



No more hay than we'd ever make would justify a new 348 - but if one was in the market for a used baler and a 348 could be had for the same price as a 338 or 328, same shape, any reason not to buy the 348? In my case, the max PTO hp I've got to work with is 50 and the minimum is 38. Deere says the min hp for the 348 is 35, but I'd think if you were to feed the 348 to capacity, it could bring a smaller hp tractor to its knees? So if hp is a potential limit to maximizing capacity of the 348, then what is the downside to running them at a lower capacity like a 328? Will the 348 make a consistent bale at lower feed rates?



One of these days I'd like to find a deal on a 338, but if a deal came up on a 348, I'd want to know if - with the limited hp I have to work with, I should buy the 348 and be able to make some decent bales.



Just curious.



Thanks,

Bill



Deere 348 Questions