4320 good enough?

[lfalkenh]

Looking at going green...have only heard good things about JD...been looking around at a 4320, eHydro, R4, imatch, 73in HD wtih cutting blade, box blade, 400cx loader, tires filled...

Is this good?

Situation:
130 acres rolling...must clear a lot of cedar that has already been chopped down (50%) and will need to cut down the rest (looked at the skid steer cutters)...rest of the work will be to grade, dig holes, move round bales, drag chains (aeration?)

Not seeing much use for a brush cutter on the back...hoping the cows eat enough

 

[Zinno87]

I would go with an 84" blade. I've got a 4320 and just purchased the Woods HBL84-2.....very nice and covers the tracks well when angled.

 

[RoyJackson]

Depending on how much you want to clear...how much will be lawn and how much will be pasture...

I'd go considerably bigger...something like this 1997 5500 Deere.

After all, you've got 130 acres to work...this would do great for clearing and brushcutting a lot of acreage. It wouldn't work for finish mowing. Pricewise, you'd be in the same neighborhood of a 4320 with the options you listed.

 

[lfalkenh]

Right now, about 40 acres is pasture...the rest is clean up...

I am scared to buy used because I have only owned a small 20hp garden tractor before and not sure what I would be buying...the 4320 seemed to have the attachments I needed without seeming to feel too big...btw, forgot to mention...this is weekend activity work for the next 4-5 years...

 

[Harold_J]

Right now, about 40 acres is pasture...the rest is clean up...

I am scared to buy used because I have only owned a small 20hp garden tractor before and not sure what I would be buying...the 4320 seemed to have the attachments I needed without seeming to feel too big...btw, forgot to mention...this is weekend activity work for the next 4-5 years...

I used to feel the same way about buying used but I have to say the best buys I have had in tractors and farm equipment have been used stuff purchased at auction. If you are located in an agricultural area there are usually retirement/going out of business auctions, mainly in the spring. I only purchase at auctions where it's a farmer going out of business or retiring, not consignment or inventory reduction or downsizing sales. I figure if the previous owner was recently using the machine it may not be perfect but also shouldn't be a total lemon. This approach is good if you have the time and patience to wait for something to come up and learn about prices and models in the meantime. A tractor with loader at auction is usually much cheaper than anything new.

If you need something right away and don't have time to spend searching then I guess you'll have to stay with new (or almost new).