4100 manual Vs 455

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello I have the option between buying a 4100 manual shift or a GT 455. My tasks are as follows:

Grass Mowing 1/4 acre, slight hills, few turns - I want to mow it fast
Snow Plowing/removal - 120 foot driveway, RI area
20 yards of Mulch to move and distribute.
boulder movement - up to 500 or so pounds

I hear there are concerns about using the loader and the mower deck with the manual tranny on the 4100. Are there any concerns I should have about either unit in doing the work that I am looking at?

Similar in price.

nuru

 

[TerryinMD]

Nuru,

I cannot comment on the manual shift. My 4100 is an HST. For loader work, you cannot beat the HST.

The 455 may not be able to work effectively with the large boulders. It just does not have the weight.

Don't know if you have any other tasks that might take advantage of the 4100.

This is a tough call.

Terry

 

[gsxr1100]

Well here is a positive outlook.
I had a 455 with loader and worked fine for my application. I used it for snow removal in Massachusetts and mowing was fine and fast. Loader moved mulch, sand, dirt, and some rocks. I would not try to pick up some 500+ lb of rock with loader.

I sold it but my father just baught a loader for his 425. I don't like the 425 because it eats the gas and does not have to torque of the 455. If you get a good deal on a 455 I would get one. Hell, I might buy another one. The 4100 would not have a loader problem but that is two different animals to compare.



Thanks
Mike

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The 4100 would be way way overkill for everything except the boulders. If there are not too many of them, I think I'd buy the 455 and find a creative way to deal with the rocks. You can buy a very cheap small trailer, put a hitch ball on the 455, and find a way to roll the larger rocks onto the trailer. I tow such a trailer behind my garden tractor all the time for lots of light hauling duty. A 500 pound rock is not that hard to roll if you think like an Egyptian.
Also consider a Kubota BX.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks for the Responses Everyone. The 4100 and the 455 are so close in price at the dealer, I am working on, that is why I making the comparison. Also when you start adding the flexibility of CAT 1 implements (renting or used available), then the long term costs start becoming a factor. I am now leaning towards the HST version of the 4100 as I am hearing stories of how cumbersome operation can be, however, I drove manual transmissions for years and I also drove a manual trannny tractor for 5 years, so I dunno, that extra $1700 dollars has to come from somewhere.

 

[JBell]

While I am a happy owner of a 4100 HST (loader, rear blade), for your uses I agree that you might be a good candidate for the Kubota BX 2200. Might save a few bucks at the same time.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well the BX is still in consideration but the 4100 HST is the front runner, followed by the 4100 manual. Now it is a manner of how I can get that $1700 bucks!

Nuru

 

[GaryK]

I have a 4100 hst with the FEL, mid mount mower with power bagger, box blade, bush hog and tiller. I had a good deal on a left over 455 but the loader was harder to take on and off, the hitch was not rated the same at the 4100 and the price was not all that much different. I mow a lot more than you but on the lawn around the house I find the 4100 gets around darn good, turns on a dime( I have r4 tires) and the FEL is a life saver. I even move my camper trailer with the 4100. The BX is a nice machine but if my memory serves me you have to pay a little more for the hydraulics to operate a FEL etc than on a JD

 

[Anonymous Poster]

GaryK, do you have a 4100 manual or an HST? I am still trying to make up my mind.

Thanks

Greg S

 

[Anonymous Poster]

got it, just saw you info, HST.