New JD 5055e

[RickS]

I took delivery of my 5055e yesterday. Mmmmm, new paint!

I started out looking at the 3038e, thinking that would be enough tractor for me. I have 33 acres that I'm not sure what to do with yet, other than plant something and raise a few animals. Well, along the lines of "buy a bigger tractor than you think you need," I realized I should be looking a little bigger. The 5045/55/65 caught my eye and after some pricing they are close to the 4000 series. I like the larger frame and components of the 5000 series, so that is where I landed.

Specs are: 2011 5055e, 553 fel, JD pallet forks, 6' Frontier boxblade, canopy and loaded rear tires: $29,159. Got 0% interest for 60 months and a $750 bonus for buying two implements.

I have not really run it yet, just putted around. Can't wait to engage the land.

Pictures, of course....

 

[WilliamBos]

Nice tractor. That a house/shop in the background??

 

[jenkinsph]

Rick,
Nice looking tractor, should work well for you.:thumbsup:

Might I suggest you add a bolt on blade to your bucket before it gets bent.

 

[58JD420]

You're going love it. Got my 5055e a month ago and since added the WRlong third valve, thumb grapple and wear edge. The 7 ft tiller will be here next week.

 

[RickS]

Nice tractor. That a house/shop in the background??

Yes, it is a housebarn for lack of a better term. We are building an apartment in the top of a metal barn.

By the way, I see you are from Canada. We just returned from an airshow where the Snowbirds performed. We were able to meet them and shake hands. Great bunch of guys and awesome pilots. They made Canada proud today in Texas.

 

[WilliamBos]

Yes, it is a housebarn for lack of a better term. We are building an apartment in the top of a metal barn.

By the way, I see you are from Canada. We just returned from an airshow where the Snowbirds performed. We were able to meet them and shake hands. Great bunch of guys and awesome pilots. They made Canada proud today in Texas.

Thanks for the compliments. I missed the air show at the CNE, biggest thing I wanted to see was the Osprey.

That is my dream, Apartment above a shop - All in one Paradise. Beautiful pics.

 

[sbrace]

You should have a lot of fun with it. I went with the 5065E and the dealer will deliver it this Friday ......by by Framtrac.

 

[dntfxr]

Good lookin tractor! I love all the 5000e's:thumbsup:

 

[RickS]

Might I suggest you add a bolt on blade to your bucket before it gets bent.

Do you have a picture or link for such an item? The cutting edge is pretty thick and the sides are reinforced. I would like to have some iron welded across the top to add hooks to and to beef up the thin metal there.

 

[RickS]

That is my dream, Apartment above a shop - All in one Paradise. Beautiful pics.

My wife and I have a blog that we try to keep updated with pictures of the barn. Check it out if you want to see the progress to date: sustainablerick.blogspot.com

 

[RickS]

You should have a lot of fun with it. I went with the 5065E and the dealer will deliver it this Friday ......by by Framtrac.

Heh, funny thing is I was looking at the 5045 first, then decided I, ahem, needed ten more hp (plus the 5055 has slightly larger rear tires that hold more fluid for more ballast). Which almost led me to the 5065 since ten more hp is even better. But I had to stop somewhere or I would end up in the 9000 series. The wife would not have supported a six figure tractor.

 

[mwmst]

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a JD 5065E. Some guys have told I have to have 4WD. I have been getting by w/ an old Ford 4000, and do not thing I need the 4WD. Any opinions?

Michael

 

[jenkinsph]

Do you have a picture or link for such an item? The cutting edge is pretty thick and the sides are reinforced. I would like to have some iron welded across the top to add hooks to and to beef up the thin metal there.

I would inquire at your dealer. I always buy the heavy duty buckets as all of the standard duty buckets I have seen were bent or damaged.

Do you have holes to mount an additional blade to the lip?

 

[RickS]

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a JD 5065E. Some guys have told I have to have 4WD. I have been getting by w/ an old Ford 4000, and do not thing I need the 4WD. Any opinions?

Michael

2WD will save you some money. Quite a bit in fact. I wanted the MFWD for the extra weight, pulling ability, and most importantly, it is what I wanted. This is probably twice the tractor that I need right now, but I don't want to be upgrading in a year or two.

 

[RickS]

Do you have holes to mount an additional blade to the lip?

Yes, the bucket has holes along its front edge. I guess they are for adding teeth??? Could be for a HD cutting edge.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Tractor looks good, are those the 16.9-28 rear tires?

We got a 5045e last fall and it has been a great tractor so far. Getting close to 200hrs on it already, so it see's quite a bit of use. I think you made the right choice with the 55hp version. The 5045e is a bit sluggish especially off idle, but for 80% of what we use it for it has more than enough power (loader work, feeding hay, raking and tedding). I really enjoy the sync-shuttle transmission. It is one of the smoothest manual transmissions I've used on a tractor.

Putting it to work, only a couple days old:

 

[RickS]

Tractor looks good, are those the 16.9-28 rear tires?

14.9-28 if I remember correctly. I'd have to look it up to answer for sure.

Good to hear of your positive experience. Thanks for sharing.

What kind of chipper is that? I would love to have one, but don't know if I can spend the money at this point.

 

[jenkinsph]

Yes, the bucket has holes along its front edge. I guess they are for adding teeth??? Could be for a HD cutting edge.

You won't regret doubling up that cutting edge, BTDT.

 

[Verticaltrx]

14.9-28 if I remember correctly. I'd have to look it up to answer for sure.

Good to hear of your positive experience. Thanks for sharing.

What kind of chipper is that? I would love to have one, but don't know if I can spend the money at this point.

It's an Echo Bearcat 9540H, 9" hydraulic feed. It was a bit spendy but we have quite a few acres of pine trees that need thinning, trails and fence lines that need cut back, etc so it gets a fair bit of use. First week I made probably close to 100cu yards of chips. We also use the chips for bedding in the barns. The 5045e powers it pretty well, but I like it on our old 2550 JD better. At 65 PTO hp it really makes the chips fly.

Another pic of it in action:

 

[58JD420]

I ordered the wear edge from the dealer for $175 OTD. I'll post a pic when I figure out how from my iPhone.
As far as whether or not to go MFWD. I've had both and it's a night and day difference in the sandy south Alabama soil.