John,
Your prices look pretty good. Less than mine but my cost included the Power Beyond Valve for the backhoe, the Third SCV, and a 4n1 bucket. Its real hard/frustrating trying to compare prices on this stuff.....
I really wanted the 5n05s BUT the numbers I had on the FELs showed that the 4700 had more lift capacity by a 200-300 pounds. It looks like JD "dumbed down" the the FEL on the 5n05s to move people up to the 5n10s or down to the 4000s. Check the numbers in the FEL brochures to make sure I'm right. The other reason for my move to the 4700 was the cost of the back hoe. The back hoe for the 5000s listed for over 11,000 dollars! OUCH! The 4700 backhoe was about $7,000. My origional plan was to hold off buying the backhoe but I decided the weekend before signing to get the JD48. I'm VERY glad I did. I wish it was physically a bit larger and a little more powerful, ala a JD49, which does not exist.
But most people are not digging up 36 inch stumps. Its doing the job but a slightly bigger unit would do the work faster.
The 5n05 have good HP vs the 4700 but they also have more capacity on the 3PH and they weigh a good bit more which should help with traction. I certainly have enough HP but I don't have enough traction.
I stayed away from HST for four reasons, added complextiy, more money, HP robber, and I'm used to driving a manual tranny vehicle already. The later was the most important reason for safety sake. My left leg is already "trained" to use a clutch. There is to much muscle memory in that leg to change things!
I know I would have a problem driving my truck and the tractor if they operated differently.
With the PowerReverser tranny to go forward you throw the lever on the left side of the tractor up/forward. The lever is place where a turn signal indicator would be in an auto. The PowerReverser lever in the middle position is neutral and back to the operator is reverse. If moving forward and wanted to go in reverse you can to one of two things. Put the lever in neutral or clutch the tractor. Once it stops, put the lever in reverse and off you go. Very simple. But see my early comments about muscle memory. With the PowerReverser you don't need to clutch. I clutch all the time when I want to stop/slow down. Just to many years of habit. And in an emergency situation you are going to go with the training/muscle memory. Been There Done That on the tractor. I hit the cluch and not the PowerReverser lever.
Now, the problem I have with the PowerReverser is that dang lever. Since it is like the turn signal lever I find myself getting ready to back up the truck and reaching PowerReverse and turning on a lane change light!
Hope this helps....
Dan McCarty