4035 or 5035?

quarterhorse · May 31, 2012

So, I've been looking at tractors for awhile and finally headed to my dealer to check out the 4035 shuttle. I liked the layout (drove a 6035 for comparison, which was a beast!), and found myself up and running quickly with a FEL. I have 15 acres, all on a hill, with a very long gravel drive that is always in ruins, horses and lots of clearing to do in the field. I'll eventually want to make hay, but for now I just need to do lots of clearing and landscaping, and will want a backhoe to go with it. I liked the 4035 but I am also considering the 5035 (more power and weight is a good thing), and would prefer the HST over everything else. Money is an object, but I want to get something big enough for the long haul as I expect this to be my last tractor.

Thank you all in advance as any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

VirginiaAgent · May 31, 2012

Where are you in the Blue Ridge? I'm from Western NC myself.

Bigger is often better, but I've put 20 hours on my new 4035 and have to say that it has impressed me with its power. I had a construction unit TLB prior to this, so I was a bit worried that I would be constantly asking it to do things that it could not do. I've moved dirt, gravel, and pulled some huge logs. With a set of forks I've picked up whole trees and carried them to the fire pit. Hope to get a grapple soon so I don't have to do the pallet fork balancing act, but for now they are working fine. Only thing I've asked it to do that it couldn't, was pick up a old oak stump and root ball that I dug up two years ago. It still has allot of dirt on it, and I estimate it's weight at close to three thousand pounds. I remember my backhoe groaning under the weight of that one. If the budget allows for the 5035 I'd say get it, but I would bet you would rarely need those extra 10 ponies.

VA

Blamo · Jun 1, 2012

Thats going to be a tough question to answer as everyone that has the 35 series tractor loves their tractor. I have the 5035 HST but have never driven the 4035 and couldnt tell you what the different horse power feels like. Just going by the numbers, and the fact that you dont want to outgrow the tractor, I'd fork out the dough for the extra ponies.

flatpik6 · Jun 5, 2012

Quarterhorse,

You sound to be in the same situation as I was a couple of months ago. I ended up going with the 5035 HST for my place up in the Murphy area and I too intend it to be a long time tractor. So far, I only have about 15 hours on it but the power is just what I need for the slopes and hard work I ask it to do. I must say that the 48" Brush Raker Grapple I added is indispensible and it became even more so once I filled the rear tires with Rimguard. Even though the 5035 is a beefy tractor, the grapple would easily overpower the weight of the tractor and lose efficiency. Now that the rears are about 700 lbs heavier on each side I feel like we are getting the most out of the tractor. For me, the 5035 HST is the ticket.

slofr8 · Jun 7, 2012

Making hay and earth moving takes weight and power. The 50 might be for you.
I up graded from a std. 30hp. Kubota to a 4035. It was the only 35 series on the lot so it's not like I did a lot of comparison. However, for MY application I hit the nail on the head. I LOVE this tractor. I snow blow about 20 hours a year. Land scape about the same amount of time. Cut firewood with a logging winch and clear brush with a grapple, plow and disc deer food plots, and maintain roads with a box blade.
I probably should load my tires as flatpik6 did but the thing I do the most is mow. I bush hog 15 + acres and I'm always expanding what I like to keep finish mowed and my old JD rider is on it's last legs.. With the wide industrial tires and loader removed, I can run over my good lawn with out damage as long as things are fairly dry so I plan on trying a finish mowwer and I think that I'm on the upper limits, weight wise, for what I can use. It's a compromise. That's why their called "utility" tractors. God I love my tractor!

Good luck. Dan.

JerryK · Jun 7, 2012

I went with the 5035 to get the extra PTO HP for my rear blower. I was running it with a old 51 PTO HP JD2240 [reverser]. It works out real good with the HST and the ability to vary ground speed with PTO load. One of the reasons I went with the Mahindra was that it is a size bigger and much heavier than most other brands 45-50 HP HST tractors. And those big R4 tires with the weight give you LOTS of traction.

quarterhorse · Jun 8, 2012

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'm leaning to the 5035 for the extra power down the road, though I did love that 4035 I test drove. I was thinking about the PST transmission but now I'm leaning to the HST for ease and durability. Anyone have any thoughts on the two transmissions?

JerryK, how do you like that 595 backhoe? I want one as well, lots of uses for it, but justifying the extra 10k to the wife is proving difficult. I keep trying the 'it'll be cheaper to buy it all at the same time' angle, but it's tough all the same. Should my tractor really cost more than my pickup?

JerryK · Jun 8, 2012

quarterhorse said:
Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'm leaning to the 5035 for the extra power down the road, though I did love that 4035 I test drove. I was thinking about the PST transmission but now I'm leaning to the HST for ease and durability. Anyone have any thoughts on the two transmissions?

JerryK, how do you like that 595 backhoe? I want one as well, lots of uses for it, but justifying the extra 10k to the wife is proving difficult. I keep trying the 'it'll be cheaper to buy it all at the same time' angle, but it's tough all the same. Should my tractor really cost more than my pickup?

The 595 hoe is well built, but undersized if you want to do lots of deep digging, reach wise compared to a normal construction hoe or excavator. But I am mainly using it for stumps, digging the occasional hole, and moving stuff. I was not going to get one, but knew that if I did not get it with the original purchase, I probably would never add one due to cost. They give you a little break price wise whilst getting it all at once, and you make sure it is set up exactly for your tractor at that time/covered by Mahindra insurance. I looked at old Construction 16,000 pound plus TLB's for a time, but decided I had enough stuff to take care of. It's durn if you do and durn if you don't... just like everything else in life. Just decided that this was going to be a big long term investment....so might as get one that I liked... As far as the HST, both the PST and HST would be my choice. I went with the HST for ease of use and changing direction at RPM with my rear blower. It really makes the tractor easy to manuver in close spaces, too. Good luck.... Jerry

Richard R. · Jun 9, 2012

Hi quarterhorse, I've used the HST for 5 years and I will not go back to the clutch......
I just bought the 5035 HST 130FEL. and when my wife ask what i was got to get her for our anniversary that is of equal value I said I could get her the back hoe for the 5035.
and then the fight begain. LOL

ranwin33 · Jun 13, 2012

Having owned a 4035 for just over a year now, I would say go with the 5035. While the 4035 is a great tractor, I often find myself in situations where it seems I could just use more power.