How well built are the JD 5055e Tractors

[SETexan]

I am thinking of upgrading my tractor and have narrowed the search to few tractors. On the short list is the 5055e. How well built are these tractors? This will be by 3rd tractor, the first was 1953 Ford NAA Golden Jubilee, and the second and current is a 2005 New Holland TC48DA. I want MFWD and a FEL which is why i am thinking about trading. I wish NH still made my TC48!!! i would just get another one with MFWD, FEL and be done but, they don't.

Anybody that has a 5055 or 5045 feel free to jump in and let me know how well it has performed and how you use it.

Pricing i have gotten is local dealer that i have never used but, a few neighbors recommend them highly. I also threw in a couple of CUT's but, they are way out of the price range with the 5055e being on the upper end of what i am willing to pay.

New 2012 JD 5055e with FEL, MFWD $28.9k
New 2012 JD 4320 with FEL, MFWD, $33.2k
New 2012 JD 4720 with FEL, MFWD, $37.9K (ouch)

 

[adirondackmtnman]

I have had the 5045D for about 3 weeks now and it seems like it's more heavily built than other tractors of the newer generation. Built more like the old tractors were, and looks like it will stand up to years of hard use...The front axle seems pretty stout for a 2wd, so I would imagine that the MFWD front axle is even beefier yet. The syncro transmission works back and forth from forward to reverse with ease. They sit tall and proud, and I don't think you can go wrong buying one...Everyone on here seems to be more than happy with their investments in these tractors, and their predecessors. As for the price, I can't say whether the price you're getting is 'good' or not....what kind of discounts off list price are they giving you? Mine listed at just over 25K with a 512 loader, pallet forks, 73" bucked with replaceable cutting edge, hood guard, block heater and 16.9" wide loaded rear tires...They offered it to me for 22K, and gave me 4300 bucks on top of that for my 1966 International 624, so I came away happy, especially with 0% APR....Mine is a 2WD, so yours will be a little higher, also depends on what you get with it. A lot of people on here seem to say 10-15% is a good discount off list price...so I'd start from there...

 

[deere5105]

I have a 5303 MFWD that replaced a 2WD 5105. Uses include mowing fields and roads/trails with a MX6 cutter, discing gardens and food plots with a 8' disc harrow, leveling grading with box blade and bionic blade, planting garden with single row planter, cultivating garden with single row cultivator, pulling downed trees out for firewood, pulling section hare for leveling gardens and fields, property maintenance and all types of unexpected tasks. Very pleased so far. Seem to be well built and simple design. I am one that has concern over long term reliability of "bells and whistles". We have a 50's model MF gas burner with 8000+ hours and a 70's model Ford 4000 with 5000+ hours all still running strong. I hope the 5303 can last as long.

There is some benefit with the smaller units, but I am afraid for my uses I would be wanting the larger frame size.

Good luck.

 

[RickS]

I have had my 5055e for a year and it has been great. It has the largest rear tire available (just lucky, was sitting like that on the dealer lot) and I had them loaded to keep the weight up and the tires on the ground. No regrets yet. I don't "farm" with it, but use it as a do-everything-tractor.

FWIW, my bro-in-law works for John Deere in Waterloo, IA. He spoke with an engineer that has experience with the 5045/55/65/75e tractors and says they are very sturdy, simple rigs. Not flashy, but dependable. He said the only weak spot is the dry clutch and advised me not to slip it on a regular basis. Use an appropriate gear and don't ride the clutch. I find this to be good advise.

 

[bglz42]

I've had my 5045D for over three years, and am still in love with it! It's a great rig, not too big but not a compact. Seems bulletproof. I use in on my up and coming peach orchard and will be baling with it, also. (JD 328 Square Baler)

 

[LD1]

I cant comment first hand, but they certainly look pretty stout of a tractor. And pretty impressive on paper as well. I figured they'd cost more than that. Seems a pretty good deal on that much tractor.

. He said the only weak spot is the dry clutch and advised me not to slip it on a regular basis. Use an appropriate gear and don't ride the clutch. I find this to be good advise.

Thats good advise no matter the clutch type or machine.

 

[carterbeauford]

I have heard nothing but good things about them, after a thorough inspection they appear to be very rugged and well built and I fully intend on buying a 5075E for full time farming in the near future. less fancy stuff to break like the more expensive tractors, they are beautifully simple.

 

[SETexan]

Thanks for all the comments!

Before yesterday the short list was dropped to two. The one tractor that fell of was the New Holland Workmaster 55. The WM is just not in the same class as the other two (JD 5055e and Kubota M5140), IMO. It's a shame cause i wanted to replace a blue tractor with a blue tractor and it had a used 3point backhoe on it. The WM had a horrible whine in the transmission and if not for that i would have probably got it (i tested three at three different dealers all had the whine).

Yesterday, I test drove another Kubota from a different dealer and the JD. I slept on it and think the Deere has pulled in to the lead mostly because it is a basic tractor (nothing fancy to break) and that thing sounded like a beast when you hit the throttle. I'm not sure i'll still like the sound as i age but, yesterday all that noise was magical. The Kubota seemed much more refined and had a couple of features i like better (shuttle shift and tilt steering) but, it is about $1000 more than the JD. If the prices were reversed it would be a lot tougher decide between the two.

I am hoping this will be my last tractor so, i am taking my time deciding.

So, my last question is does the sound/noise these JD make bother you while your on it. Right now, like i said earlier it sounds cool because it is an old school diesel engine.

 

[bglz42]

I don't really notice it. It is a little noisier than my Massey, though. I usually wear ear protection if I am going to run at PTO speed for any period of time.

 

[deere5105]

Haven't really given the noise much consideration. I guess if I spent hours on end on a regular basis it might be an issue, but probably not enough to make me change my selection. I am however considering replacing my vertical exhaust with the horizontal exhaust which might make it a little more quiet. The reason is due to concern over snagging it on something in the woods though, not noise.