trook
Gold Member
Please bear with me. I would like to keep my situation brief, but I can't because you need to know the following information to assist with my particular dilema....
I have been using a JD 4320 open station 48/40hp for the last 4 years to maintain 85 acres of personal property. This includes approx 25 acres of brush cutting pasture and trails, driveway maintenance, FEL work, etc. I also have a small business on the side that consists primarily of brush cutting. I also own and use a 14k gooseneck 22+2 trailer pulled behind a Silverado 2500 diesel that hauls my JD4320 with FEL and MX-6 to and from jobs very well.
When I purchased the 4320, I REALLY wanted a cab tractor to fight the deep south heat and dusty conditions, but the budget would not allow it. As I have continued to bush hog, I decided about 2 years ago that my next tractor will have enough HP to efficiently handle a pull behind 10-ft rotary cutter. This is due to the limited time I have to cut my personal property as well as one particular client who just hired me to cut 15 acres on a routine basis. A 6ft cutter on 15 acres every 6 weeks takes a large amount of time and I am dreading extended time in the upcoming Mississippi heat!
Here is my delima: I have the opportunity to trade my tractor for a slightly used JD4720 with a CAB! It has 66/56 hp which much better than what I currently have and is enough to use a 10ft PULL BEHIND cutter in all but very tough conditions (which I normally do not face). However, I fear that I would be somewhat limiting my future use because of the 56 PTO HP. Therefore, I have also been considering an OPEN STATION 5083e, with 69hp at the pto primarily for the efficient use of a 10ft cutter. I would love a 5083 cab, but the budget will not allow it either.
Therefore, I will list the basic pros and cons of each:
4720 pros:
CAB, CAB, CAB
can use my existing trailer and attachments with no issues
much quieter and more comfortable than the 5083 open station
great maneuverability works well with small property maintenance
cons:
light weight frame may not handle a pull behind 10 ft cutter as well as a larger frame tractor
adequate but somewhat limited HP may cause me to drive slower in tough, tall or thick pasture grass
5083 open station pros:
69 pto hp will handle a 10-ft pull behind cutter with no problem
the epto will save much fuel when using a 6ft cutter and will reduce vibration and increase driver comfort
more FEL capacity
more 3ph capacity and much better traction/pulling ability
the look and feel of a "real tractor"
cons:
I will still have to fight the deep south heat
I will still have to fight the extremely dusty conditions
I will still have to fight the wasps and bees
I will probably have to remove the FEL to load the tractor and MX-6 onto my 22+2 14k gooseneck trailer
One option I am considering is to buy the 4720 cab knowing that I can always trade when I can afford a 5083 or 5093 cab and get much of my money back since I will be buying the 4720 cab used. Besides, one could argue that they would rather stay in a cab with a 6ft cutter significantly longer than using a faster 10ft cutter with an open station tractor.
I am not considering a 8ft cutter. There simply is not enough time savings between a 6 and 8ft. So, given my particular situation which I have described above, which would you choose, and why, if you could only choose between the following:
1. used JD 4720 cab, 4wd and FEL with 66/56 hp with 100 hrs
2. JD 5083e open station with 4wd and FEL 83/69 hp new tractor
I believe the price between the used 4720 cab and new 5083 open station will be fairly close. For argument sake, lets just say the price difference is not a consideration.
I have been using a JD 4320 open station 48/40hp for the last 4 years to maintain 85 acres of personal property. This includes approx 25 acres of brush cutting pasture and trails, driveway maintenance, FEL work, etc. I also have a small business on the side that consists primarily of brush cutting. I also own and use a 14k gooseneck 22+2 trailer pulled behind a Silverado 2500 diesel that hauls my JD4320 with FEL and MX-6 to and from jobs very well.
When I purchased the 4320, I REALLY wanted a cab tractor to fight the deep south heat and dusty conditions, but the budget would not allow it. As I have continued to bush hog, I decided about 2 years ago that my next tractor will have enough HP to efficiently handle a pull behind 10-ft rotary cutter. This is due to the limited time I have to cut my personal property as well as one particular client who just hired me to cut 15 acres on a routine basis. A 6ft cutter on 15 acres every 6 weeks takes a large amount of time and I am dreading extended time in the upcoming Mississippi heat!
Here is my delima: I have the opportunity to trade my tractor for a slightly used JD4720 with a CAB! It has 66/56 hp which much better than what I currently have and is enough to use a 10ft PULL BEHIND cutter in all but very tough conditions (which I normally do not face). However, I fear that I would be somewhat limiting my future use because of the 56 PTO HP. Therefore, I have also been considering an OPEN STATION 5083e, with 69hp at the pto primarily for the efficient use of a 10ft cutter. I would love a 5083 cab, but the budget will not allow it either.
Therefore, I will list the basic pros and cons of each:
4720 pros:
CAB, CAB, CAB
can use my existing trailer and attachments with no issues
much quieter and more comfortable than the 5083 open station
great maneuverability works well with small property maintenance
cons:
light weight frame may not handle a pull behind 10 ft cutter as well as a larger frame tractor
adequate but somewhat limited HP may cause me to drive slower in tough, tall or thick pasture grass
5083 open station pros:
69 pto hp will handle a 10-ft pull behind cutter with no problem
the epto will save much fuel when using a 6ft cutter and will reduce vibration and increase driver comfort
more FEL capacity
more 3ph capacity and much better traction/pulling ability
the look and feel of a "real tractor"
cons:
I will still have to fight the deep south heat
I will still have to fight the extremely dusty conditions
I will still have to fight the wasps and bees
I will probably have to remove the FEL to load the tractor and MX-6 onto my 22+2 14k gooseneck trailer
One option I am considering is to buy the 4720 cab knowing that I can always trade when I can afford a 5083 or 5093 cab and get much of my money back since I will be buying the 4720 cab used. Besides, one could argue that they would rather stay in a cab with a 6ft cutter significantly longer than using a faster 10ft cutter with an open station tractor.
I am not considering a 8ft cutter. There simply is not enough time savings between a 6 and 8ft. So, given my particular situation which I have described above, which would you choose, and why, if you could only choose between the following:
1. used JD 4720 cab, 4wd and FEL with 66/56 hp with 100 hrs
2. JD 5083e open station with 4wd and FEL 83/69 hp new tractor
I believe the price between the used 4720 cab and new 5083 open station will be fairly close. For argument sake, lets just say the price difference is not a consideration.