JD 3000 or 4000 series

[JDTank]

Good day all!

I am new here and I am in the market for my first tractor. I have been lurking in the forums for the last few weeks trying to learn as much as possible, and so far I have gained a great bit of knowledge thanks to you folks here.

Well, first off I guess I should start by listing my needs.

- Once a year spreading about 3 or 4 truck loads of pole shavings in the 4 horse paddocks we have on our property.
- rough cut 5 acres of high grass, roughly 2 feet in length. Not especially hard grass, just picture normal lawn grass 2 feet high.
- Pull an attachment to turn the surface of a 1 acre grass field for horses.
- Level the turned surface, re-seed grass.
- Level a riding arena, 300 ft by 100 ft.
- Dig out tree stumps, flatten ground covered in weed trees, push over trees.
- Finish mow between 2 - 3 acres of grass on the home property, this cannot be torn up like the ditch grass can.

I was HOPING to find one tractor to do EVERYTHING with, instead of buying a riding mower, AND a loader tractor. However, the more research I do this seems it may have to be the case. I would love to have a backhoe, but they are SERIOUS extra dollars around here, add on a backhoe is adding $11,000 to the price tag.

Are mid mount mowers, say the 7 Iron series, capable of cutting 2 ft high ditch grass? I was hoping to avoid having to purchase a rear PTO driven cutter, as it is overkill for the situation I am in.

The current tractors I am looking at are:

-John Deere 3320, 300CX loader, mid PTO, 3rd valve, for $23,500, including tire ballasting.
-John Deere 4105, 300CX loader, 73'' bucket, basic model of the 4000 series, price of $24,500, tires ballasting included.
-John Deere 4520, 400CX loader, all the bells and whistles, for $38,500.

These prices ARE in Canadian dollars as I am from British Columbia.

Now, I have looked through Kubotas website, and it would seem to me you can get a substantially larger tractor from them, for the same money you would pay for a much smaller John Deere. I have not gone to look at any of them, or drive them, let alone research them much. I have always been a diehard green fan!

I used a older 30HP 790 for the last 4 days to move pole shavings and I have to say I was unimpressed. The only tractors I have driven were of the 100HP and up range, so I am very used to powering through any hill of any material and taking half of it in one bucket scoop. This thing took forever to move any large amounts of material. It was also a standard gearbox, so all the loader work the last 4 days has been drive in, shift, back out, shift, drive to dump area, dump, shift, back up, shift. I can't take that anymore!

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance folks!

 

[LD1]

sounds like you definatally want a HST, that is a given.

The 790 is smaller and lower lift capacities than any of the tractors you have mentioned.

But if you want something small enough not to tear up the yard, it is going to take you longer to do the larger tasks.

I have a Kubota l3400 (which is basically the same as the new l3700su). I am very pleased with it. It is very comparable to the 3320 JD, but cost less and has a few less features. I have AG tires and have no trouble at all driving into a pile of anything and comming out with a full bucket, wether it be loose like sand/mulch, or dense like dirt/clay.

The kubota is actually a few hundred lbs lighter than the 3320JD, and I mow my grass with a 61" RFM, and I can say that I dont think I would want any bigger of a tractor to mow only a few acres with.

So my suggestion to you would be to see if a dealer will let you "test drive" a tractor out at your place. If not, even in their lot if they have piles of dirt.
Test the kubota l3700 and the JD 3320. If a tractor that size will suit your needs for the larger tasks, then I'd say you can get by with only one machine. Get the tractor and a RFM and a bush hog. If those tractors are just too small for what you need, check out some of the bigger ones until you find the size you want, but expect to also be buying a seperate mower.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Of the tractors you have listed....I be looking at the 4105.

I would also be looking at the Kubota L series.

 

[Rockgod]

Of the tractors you have listed....I be looking at the 4105.

I'd have to agree. The 4105 will take care of all those needs and more. The only down side is no cab option. Other than that it's the best bang for your buck IMO. :thumbsup:

 

[JDTank]

The only thing I did not like about the 4105 is that it is a basic tractor. There is no cruise control, no options, no 3rd valve, just a big tractor with a loader.

I would really like to stick with the twenty series as they offer much more in terms of options.

What is the difference between a power reverser tranny and a eHydro tranny? I have heard the downside to the eHydros is the RPM never really goes up like stepping on a gas pedal, so for chewing into the side of a hill it does not work so well. I want something with no clutching, just flick the lever on the column for forward or reverse just like a forklift. I would say %65 of my work is loader work, so fast movement and direction changes is vital.

I am very seriously considering now a 3520 with a mid mount mower and getting a X540 for the finish grass on the home front.

Is it worth it to step up to a 4000 series tractor? The first twenty series 4000 here starts at $30,000, and for every model increase it goes up about $2,000.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

The only thing I did not like about the 4105 is that it is a basic tractor. There is no cruise control, no options, no 3rd valve, just a big tractor with a loader.

I would really like to stick with the twenty series as they offer much more in terms of options.

What is the difference between a power reverser tranny and a eHydro tranny? I have heard the downside to the eHydros is the RPM never really goes up like stepping on a gas pedal, so for chewing into the side of a hill it does not work so well. I want something with no clutching, just flick the lever on the column for forward or reverse just like a forklift. I would say %65 of my work is loader work, so fast movement and direction changes is vital.

I am very seriously considering now a 3520 with a mid mount mower and getting a X540 for the finish grass on the home front.

Is it worth it to step up to a 4000 series tractor? The first twenty series 4000 here starts at $30,000, and for every model increase it goes up about $2,000.

I sat on a 3320 this past weekend. Cadillac.:thumbsup:

 

[Pushing_Tin]

I sat on a 3320 this past weekend. Cadillac.:thumbsup:

LOVE my 3320! I just had one of those metal carports built today to put her in this winter.

 

[jenkinsph]

The only thing I did not like about the 4105 is that it is a basic tractor. There is no cruise control, no options, no 3rd valve, just a big tractor with a loader.

I would really like to stick with the twenty series as they offer much more in terms of options.

What is the difference between a power reverser tranny and a eHydro tranny? I have heard the downside to the eHydros is the RPM never really goes up like stepping on a gas pedal, so for chewing into the side of a hill it does not work so well. I want something with no clutching, just flick the lever on the column for forward or reverse just like a forklift. I would say %65 of my work is loader work, so fast movement and direction changes is vital.

I am very seriously considering now a 3520 with a mid mount mower and getting a X540 for the finish grass on the home front.

Is it worth it to step up to a 4000 series tractor? The first twenty series 4000 here starts at $30,000, and for every model increase it goes up about $2,000.

To answer one of your questions the ehydro with the upgraded cruise can operate the engine throttle with the forward and reverse pedals much like a car. I would try one out to see for yourself.

I use a 4520 cab currently and was at the dealer today checking on an X749 for finish mowing. I am hoping this is a good combination, while you may not need the extra size and power it is definately nice to have. I do recomend having a separate mower and larger tractor, it works much better to me.

 

[JDTank]

Are the mid mount mowers strong enough to cut 2 ft high grass? Basically right now that is the clincher.

I don't want to buy a rear PTO driven mower. Since the 4000 series tractor is to big for a mid mount mower, it kind of goes against what I want, yet it doesn't. The 3000 series can do a mid mount mower, but it is a smaller tractor then I would like. If a mid mount is capable of cutting high grass, I will go with a 3520, if either way I need the strength of a rear PTO driven cutter, I will step up to the 4520 open station.

What do you guys think?

 

[jenkinsph]

A 4520 with 400CX fel, MX6 rear mower and a good riding mower should do the trick. I am not familiar with the Canadian exchange rate but you should be able to buy a nice cabbed Deere 4520 with full wheel and front weights and other options for $33,000 to $34,000 less the fel.