Buying green, but which one - 5420/4710?

[Boiler74]

Hi all. First let me say that this is a great site. I've been browsing and searching for the last couple of hours, and really enjoyed it. It's nice to know that there are others out there that have gone through and are going through the same thing I am.

So here's my dilemma. In the spring, I will be starting on a 15 acre clean-up of our families overgrown christmas tree farm. Stopped selling them over 15 years ago, and the trees are too big and falling down, brush is chest high, and the multiflore rose is out of control. And for some reason, I want to build my house there. So, a tractor I need.

My dilemma is this. I know I need a pretty big tractor for the clean-up. And I have found a GREAT deal on a 80 hour 5420 demo unit, SyncShuttle Tranny, 541 Loader, MFWD, etc. I know this will be a great tractor for the major work ahead. But after that, it's going to be WAY too much tractor for the simple mowing, snow pushing, and other chores.

I would really like a 4710 in the long run - good sized loader, can pull an 8' semi-mount, and has plenty of attachment options. But can it do the heavy duty clearing work that I need to do first? I need to drop of hundred or so 10" diameter, 20-30' tall trees, drag them to a burn pile (preferably sunken/dug in), and push them in. And then cut the chest-high brush down. Oh, and push a bunch of gravel around when I'm putting in the road. Could the 4710 handle it, or would it be undersized?

I know I could buy the 5420 then downsize, but I know that it will cost me some depreciation. I just want to do this once and be happy. I don't want to regret not having enough, or having too much, power. The price difference as it stands is about 5K for tractor. loader, and appropriate rotary cutter.

Oh, and one more question. The loader specs for the 541 loader talk about a "digging depth" of 6". Does this mean I can actually dig, or scrape, 6" of earth off the ground?

Any help you could give would be much appreciated.

Josh

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I can't speak to all of your concerns but this past fall I was dragging 10" diameter trees (20'-30' long) with my 4110. Also moved gravel etc. to put in a 100' driveway with it. I would think the the 4710 would make short work out of those tasks.

 

[yellowsocks93]

The 5420 is a lot more tractor than the compact utility 4710. If your not going to do any finish mowing then I would get the 5420. The loader on the 5420 is a lot more heavy duty than the one on the 4710. Don't get me wrong the 4710 is a fine machine but the 5420 will do way more for you. We have a 5320 with cab and its really a nice machine. It's really not that big in size. Once you get used to it it won't seem any bigger than a compact. I have a 990 and when pulling the 5320 will pull way more way easier because of its increased weight. And the 4710 is only 8 horsepower more than my 990. Just my opinion.

 

[cowboydoc]

I think you would do fine with the 4710. I have the 4600 and can do about anything I've tryed with it. On the other hand if I had to choose one tractor I would definitely go for the 5420, especially for the $5k difference. That 5420 is a very nice tractor. It is a little bigger but man what a difference in hp, loader, capacity, hydraulics, etc. What are you going to be doing that the 5420 would be too big of a tractor?

 

[Boiler74]

Thanks for the advice.

Cowboy,

My concern is that after all is said and done, the land is cleaned up, road in, and house built, that I will be pulling a 8 or 10 rotary cutter around with a lot of horsepower I paid for but don't need. So I go to trade, and cry from the depriciation hit I take to downsize. The 4710 is really attractive in many respects, but I have my qualms about it doing the work I need in the next couple of years. I know it would do fine after that.

Doesn't help that my brother, a 1600 acre corn and bean farmer, keeps pushing me bigger. If he had his way, I'd be in a 6000 series.

 

[del]

I realize this wasn't one of your choices but you could
rent or hire a 450 size Dozer with a clearing rake that
would drive back and forth without slowingdown and do
the whole job in hours.

You might even find someone to come in and pull the trees
out for firewood or chipwood leaving you with just the
stumps and branches to burn and slip you a little $$$ maybe.

Then you could be sure you'd be OK with the 4710. It's always
a problem looking at these sizes. I've been there too.

I have mid size tractors, if the jobs too big I rent, if too
small I pick up the shovel.

Although an track hoe is the nicest for stacking and burning
I've seen big dozers push out huge stumps like they were pushing
piles of loose brush.

del

 

[cowboydoc]

Well if you have a 10' rotary cutter I believe you are going to need that 5420. The 4710 is a little small to pull a 10' rotary cutter. I bought a new one last year and my 5420 was the smallest size they recommended with it. And I'd go with a 10' over an 8'. It's amazing how much time I cut off of my mowing with the 10' over the 8'. I'd really have to agree with your brother to go bigger. You'll do the job at hand and unless there is some reason for the smaller tractor you will never regret having the extra tractor of the 5420. You will be amazed at the loader alone how much more you can do with a 5420 over a 4710 loader.

 

[Boiler74]

CowboyDoc,

The minimum hp requirement for an MX10 pull-type or semi-mount is 40 hp. The lift-type requires 60. I would buy a 6' with the 4710 at first, and a 7' with the 5420 to begin with. It's going to take several years of work before the land is ready for something bigger. Just looking to the future. Maybe that's my problem.

Going to look at a 4710 today. They're pretty hard to find around here - at least right now. I need to make my decision. It's eating up my mind!!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Mine's a lift type. The pull and semi-mount ones you can't pick up.

 

[Golfgar4]

Hey Boiler! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Welcome to the forums. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've never been in your situation of having to decide between 2 tractors. Heck, I don't even have my first tractor yet! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

But I was just wondering about your comment about losing on the depreciation when you trade in if you go with the larger tractor. Have you considered just selling the larger tractor outright when you're ready to downsize? If you read through a lot of the other threads about this very topic, you might find that selling privately will provide a larger return on your dollar. And from what I've seen, a well maintained "used" machine that is priced right doesn't sit around for very long.

It might be an option that would allow you to have the best of both worlds! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif