Blank Slate in Missouri

gocards1177 · Aug 6, 2011

Went to the local JD dealer and the Kubota dealer (which is 45 minutes away) this AM to drive different models of tractors. I've been doing lots of research online since my original post, and I'm shooting for something that's about 40 HP.

Today I drove a 4005 and 4120 at JD and a L3800DT and L4400DT at Kubota. Strangely, my friends JD 4310 from 2001 has a TON more plastic than anything I saw today- which I was pleased to find. My favorite by far was the 4005. I liked the position of the controls and overall feel. I prefer the inconvenience of shifting to the whine of the HST.

The dealer mentioned that the 4005 replaced the 990. I've been looking at 990's on tractor house.com and I'm 99% sure this is the tractor for me with a 300cx loader and 6 foot rotary cutter.
:licking:

I was wondering if any 990 owners out their could give me advice/thoughts? Also is the hood of 990's metal as well? The only plastic on the 4005 was the black "dash" around the instruments. Is there some sort of "nose" on the 990's that is plastic?

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement.
Nathan

Briana03 · Aug 8, 2011

Hello & WELCOME to TBN!

I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons Forum.

gocards1177 · Aug 8, 2011

Thanks! I hadn't received any replies.
NR

FrankieO · Aug 8, 2011

Hey--welcome to the forum from a fellow newbie in SW MO!

I was looking at the L3800 as well. Wound up with a Grand L3540 Glide-shift. something to consider--if you can find a dealer willing to deal, might be worth the upgrade.

Cant comment on the green tractors--doubt you could go wrong with them though.:thumbsup:

jenkinsph · Aug 8, 2011

I suspect if you buy a 4105 now or similar tractor you will be looking to upgrade too soon. The advice the others have given for a 50 pto hp tractor is sound.

I wouldn't concern myself with the plastic it isn't significant enough to worry about. Look beyond the plastic and consider the hydraulics, transmissions, fel (front end loader) and tractor weight.

If you will be doing lots of fel work or manuevering I would go with a hydro transmission. For mainly field work I would go with a gear tranny. Mowing either tranny will work well just depends on how much manuevering you need to do.

gocards1177 · Aug 9, 2011

Thanks for the replies and advice!

I'm really confuse on what to do about a tractor. The land we bought is 83 acres, but only 33 of it is cleared. My wife has said "NO" to livestock, so it's probalby going to be a few acres of "yard" around the future house for the kids, a few acres of orchards/gardens/etc, and the rest is going to be hay fields. I have no interest in haying right now, and maybe never. I'll probably just have someone hay it for me for shares and sell it off. I just really don't know what my requirements are going to be. I've been reading on the tractorbynet forums, and there's people on here with like 10 acres or less and they have bigger tractors than what I'm looking at! I hate to sound cheap, but the bigger the tractor, the more dough and the more diesel. I think I could do a lot of chores and projects with a 40HP compact tractor. Of course, untill we build a house, move out to the property, and start actually doing projects and using whatever tractor I end up with, there's no way of konwing if I chose correctly or bought too big or too small.

I'm probably getting unnecessarily hung up on the plastic. I'm good about taking care of my stuff. Want I don't want is a bunch of parts that break with normal wear and tear. I agree, that the mechanics and features of the machine should take precedence.

A guy from work yesterday invited me out to his house and let me try the power reverser on his 5625. A way bigger tractor than what I'm looking for, but the power reverser is pretty slick. It's like a HST/gear hybrid without the wine of the HST. Another co-worker offered to let me borrow his 4310, so maybe I'll brush hog a few acres and see what I think of the HST in practice.

Fortunately, I don't have to do anything immediately, so I'm going to keep researching and test driving. Thanks again for all of the solicited opinions and advice!

I've got some pictures of the land at home. I'll attach them later tonight when I get home.
Nathan

gocards1177 · Aug 9, 2011

Here are some pics of my new property as promised:

So, just by chance, I came across a used tractor listed locally today online. It's a 2007 JD4520. 300 hours. 400CX loader. 6' Frontier RC. 7'Frontier Blade. 6' Frontier Tiller. Frontier Hayspike. One owner. Looks good in the pics, but haven't gotten to see it in person. He's asking $25K, and for that amount of equipment, I may have to learn to love HST. Is this a deal worth eating my words?
Nathan

jenkinsph · Aug 9, 2011

Sounds like a reasonable deal to me, decent start on implements and the right sized tractor for your place. The 2007 model was rated at 53 hp (engine) and about 45 hp (pto). The 2009 and later are rated 60 hp (engine) and 50 hp (pto) not a big deal but something you should be aware of when shopping.

I have two ehydro tractors one gear tractor and the mowers with standard hydro's, the ehydro tranny is a real winner in my book. Just makes working with the tractor so easy to do.

Looks like a nice property congrats on that too.

gocards1177 · Aug 10, 2011

Bummer. 'Twas already bought before I could get there to see it. Oh well. That will give me more time to research and test drive. Is there an "off season" for buying used or previous year model tractors? Like late fall after the harvest?

xrsrfn · Aug 10, 2011

Welcome to land owner status and TBN!

I am very happy with the LS tractor that I have, one as much for the dealer I purchased from and the quality of the tractor. It and their other models all have several features others charge $$$$.$$ for standard like two remotes installed. I am a big guy and the ease getting off and on as well as cockpit space was best in what I looked at which was all colors of tractors. I am so impressed so far with it cant believe how many times I go look for things to work on with it. Look one over I dont thing you can go wrong buying one. Wish you Good Luck in finding a dealer you can trust as well as a tractor you like.