Comparison 4005 vs 4120

nwalabama · Jan 20, 2012

I'm new to this forum and wanted to seek some advice on John Deere models. I grew up around Massey Fergusons in the utility size and would like to find a smaller but similar version. I like the simple design of the 4005 with gear shifter, metal body, hp, etc. The 4105 and 4120 are also being considered but the two drawbacks are plastic body and hydro tranny.

While I'm not completely opposed to the hydro, it seems more like a lawnmower option than tractor. Also the plastic body will take some abuse in the woods. I plan on using this tractor for chores, planting a small garden, and working my farm that is mostly 90% woods (about 5 acres bushhogging and 2 acres of tilling for now.) Can anyone offer some advice on the 4005, 4105, 4120 and the reliability/comparison of each? Which would last for 20+ years? Thanks for your time.

RoyJackson · Jan 20, 2012

If you want 20 years, I'd go for the simplest machine...the 4005.

As far as the plastic on the others...if they're anything like my Deere 4400, the plastic is tougher then you would think...especially the fenders.

But since you're a gear guy...go for the 4005.

jwinner · Jan 20, 2012

All of those tractors would last 20+ years I'd say. If plastic body and hydro are drawbacks for you, that leaves the 4005

Part of it is what you want, and part of it is how much can you spend. I bought a 4005 because that was the most affordable in the size I wanted. I would pick the 4005 over the 4105 just because I would not want the 2-range hydro, whereas the 4120 would have 3-range. However, I would pick the 4120 over both with a power-reverser transmission, if you could afford it. I really couldn't justify the cost of the 4000 twenty tractors to myself or my wife. Bushhogging and tilling are fine with a gear as well as hydro, the 4005 should have a low enough gear for tilling. It's the loader work, blade work, etc with lots of forward/reverse changes that can be a bear with gear.

Grateful11 · Jan 20, 2012

Well I can tell you this hydro tractors are in no way kin to a lawn mower. Where do think all that other stuff like the 3 pt. hitch, power steering and a loader get their power from, it's hydraulics. My wife's operation has tractors from 30hp to over 100hp and I've seen the Kubota L3940, with a hydro, get down a dig better than the IH 574 with a loader ever thought about doing, probably has a lot to do with the 574 not being 4WD but not dismiss a hydro. They're a dream to operate. Her biggest tractor, the CaseIH 5140 is geared with a power shift and power reverser and why anyone would shove that thing into reverse without nearly slowing to a stop is beyond me, it weighs about 11,000 lbs. As far durability in he woods, unless your going to be slamming into trees and such anything should hold up. Why not see if you can get your dealer to let try both out as far as creature comforts and you might find a hydro would fit you much better than you think. There's nothing quite like having all that control of a hydro when it comes to finesse in and around tricky spots, I'd much rather be able to take my time and ease into something than having let a clutch slip trying ease into something. Bush hog one time on rough or hilly terrain with a hydro and you'll be saying why didn't I get this years ago, the mere control over what your doing and where you're going makes it worth it.

dusty3030 · Jan 20, 2012

I went from a simpler John Deere utility tractor with gear tranny and loader to a smaller, lower horsepower, compact utility John Deere 4120 e hydro with loader.

If I can help it, I will never go back to a gear tractor for the uses I now have for a tractor.

I love my 4120. I cut around 8 acres every two weeks or so with a MX 6, 6' rotary cutter. In the long runs in middle range put it on the floor and set the cruise. When it's time to turn, you can cut sharp on the ends creaping with the hydro pedal, get straightned out and drop it to the floor. Never touching a clutch and never hitting the throttle. Fast and easy on me.

Loader work, no question I'll never want anything else. Mucking out the barn is easy and I'ved moved a bunch of gravel too.

I cleared a small wooded area with it. Taking out the smaller trees and a ton of brush. This was in a bottom so up and down a steep hill and clearing the sides of the hill. The hydro was great in moving in between the trees and stumps with out wearing me out on a clutch and brakes.

Plastic, that stuff is thick. What it would take to break it would dent the **** out of some sheet metal. You'd have a repair one way or another.

Rockgod · Jan 20, 2012

nwalabama said:
While I'm not completely opposed to the hydro, it seems more like a lawnmower option than tractor. Also the plastic body will take some abuse in the woods. I plan on using this tractor for chores, planting a small garden, and working my farm that is mostly 90% woods (about 5 acres bushhogging and 2 acres of tilling for now.) Can anyone offer some advice on the 4005, 4105, 4120 and the reliability/comparison of each? Which would last for 20+ years? Thanks for your time.

The 4005,4105 are base tractors the 4120 is not. How much you wanna spend?

4005-$19,808.00 (4x4)
4105-$21,155.00
4120- $26,748.00

Martian · Jan 20, 2012

Don't get me wrong, the 4005 is an excellent machine, but I think it would be well more than worth while for you to take a good look at a HST tranny. They are no "lawn mower" tractor, they can do really serious work compared to what you may think, only really lose 1-2HP but gain a lot in versatility, especially going through the woods. I really would be concerned about the plastic breaking either. It is really reinforced very well. It would be harder to break that plastic then to bend the steel of the 4005. And if you really have your heart set on a gear tranny the 4120 offers a PowrReverser tranny as well, so you can have the gear and have the "luxury" machine.

AKfish · Jan 20, 2012

I've had gear tractors with metal fenders. Great working, snychromesh transmissions. Still have 'em - different models now.

Own a tractor with eHydro, too. And plastic fenders.

I no longer have any doubts about what my next, mid-size utilty tractor would have...

eHydro and plastic fenders!! :thumbsup:

As other's have offered - for ease of work and best control - eHydro.

Four years in the woods from summer to minus 35F - those plastic fenders and hood look nearly as good as did - brandnew.

Can't say that about my sheet metal tractor's.

AKfish

RoyJackson · Jan 20, 2012

Martian said:
Don't get me wrong, the 4005 is an excellent machine, but I think it would be well more than worth while for you to take a good look at a HST tranny...

The reason I suggested the 4005 (earlier post) is due to it's simplicity. No doubt, the 4x20 series machines are great, but they're also more complex. Hence, more to go wrong.
As far as loader work, even gear is pretty easy and efficient. With the standard 4005, there are 3 ranges. Once the range is selected, the reverse and foward gears are pretty much inline. Also, the 4005 has a synchronized transmission, so it's not a matter of having to stop to shift gears.
I expect the 4005 tractor will outlast the 4x20 series machines and be less trouble during it's working life. In fact, if I could have found a good used 990 (same as the 4005), I'd have bought it instead of my 4400.

Martian · Jan 20, 2012

RoyJackson said:
The reason I suggested the 4005 (earlier post) is due to it's simplicity. No doubt, the 4x20 series machines are great, but they're also more complex. Hence, more to go wrong.
As far as loader work, even gear is pretty easy and efficient. With the standard 4005, there are 3 ranges. Once the range is selected, the reverse and foward gears are pretty much inline. Also, the 4005 has a synchronized transmission, so it's not a matter of having to stop to shift gears.
I expect the 4005 tractor will outlast the 4x20 series machines and be less trouble during it's working life. In fact, if I could have found a good used 990 (same as the 4005), I'd have bought it instead of my 4400.

Yes, no doubt they are much simpler, I can fix mechanical, add the electric and I won't touch it. If you don't need the glamour then a 4005 will provide all you need... I'm just saying he shouldn't be scared away from others by the HST and plastic fenders because they will work just as well.