Calling all JD 3720 owners:

[FRIZ]

Calling all JD 3720 owners:

I bought 78 acres of land. The land is in the NW Indiana, mostly flat a few slight elevations.

Most of it is wooded, approximately 10 acres are meadow.
Three ponds: 1.5 acre, 1+ acre and 0.5 acre, all with trees and grass around them. The house has also trees and grass around it.
Approximately 800 yards of gravel road.
Approximately 1 mile of hiking trail which will be expanded.

Most of you guys spent a lot of time to convince me that I need two machines. A big one and a small one. O.K., so for the big one I like the JD 3720 with cab. (But some of you guys are recommending 4X20. I am reluctant because of cost and the fact that John Deere does not make a front snow blower for the 4X20.)

Is the 3720 worth the fortune John Deere is asking for? Would you be so kind to share your experiences? Good and bad.

Thank you for the education.
Regards,
FRIZ

 

[radman1]

What do you want to accomplish? I wouldn't get 2 tractors unless I really needed 2 for all the tasks. I have a 3720 cab. The only time I would desire bigger is for the FEL lifting capacity. If you have any significant slopes, get the rear tires loaded. The narrow stance and cab makes them seem tippy.

 

[orlo]

Friz:

I have a 3720cab and a 2305. Both with maybe 150hrs on it but the 3720 meter lies. as the 2305 is 2.5 years older. (The hour meter on the 3x20 and 4x20 series goes faster
than 'clock' time.)

I have the front mount Snowblower for both and next time I'll get a rear. The fronts are great for maneuverability but for the 3720 it's almost a 5K setup once you add the mounts, etc. which is insane. If I had a 4720 (or even if I did it again with the 3720) I'd either put a Rear mount blower on it, or I might put an 84 or 96" Skid steer blower with a high output PTO pump on the rear to power it. The point being to still have the loader available (or available quick). The snowblower doesn't come on/off easy enough that you'll want to swap it often.

I have 6" (each side) wheel extenders on my 3720 and they help a lot, make it a foot wider in the narrow position. (I'm 66" wide in the Narrow position with my R3's). It feels
MUCH more stable than before I had them on it.

I too would question the need for two tractors. (I use mine on different lots). Unless transport or maneuverability is an issue just get the big one. The other issue may be weight - If you have sensitive areas you'll have a lot of weight with a 3720 or a 4720 and
maybe you want to go lighter.

I run a little under 6000# when I mow on the 3720 - I drop the bucket but leave the loader on. Tractor is about 3700lbs, about 800lbs of loading in the tires, 1100 for the loader frame, etc.

I also have the 7 Iron 72" MMM deck (not the new auto-mount) AND an 84" rear pull behind for the 3720. Unless you are doing JUST mowing (or get the auto-mount deck),
taking off and putting on the 72" MMM on the 3720 is a pain in the a## and unless your doing 'girly man' tractor stuff like scooping up Bark mulch you'll bang the crap out of it doing anything. I only use it for leaf collection now. FYI on the other hand the 62D deck on the 2305 comes on and off very easily and lifts higher (Figure that one out).

They do sell front mount snowblowers that'll fit the 4720 that attach to the rear PTO but I would never get one due to them taking up more room than the tractor when I store it.
(It's a frame you drive over and hook up - longer than the tractor).

Anyway, I'd go for the 66hp 4720 in the 4x20 series if you can afford it just because...
As a sweetener the 4720 has the EPTO so you can justify the purchase by telling yourself you are saving $$$ using the PTO by running the engine at a lower RPM. Also with all
the land you have I think you could justify the 4720.

FYI: I love my 3720 and it is absolutely unbelievable in performance and comfort. I have power to the rear, rear diverter valves, lines for a grapple hook up front, etc. - The deluxe cab is nicer than my truck. If it was highway legal and would go just a tad faster I'd be driving it to work.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I'm gonna go along with most everything Orlo has said...But I'd add this...(no offense to you 3720 owners)...BUT...I personally fail to see how a 3720 fits into the JD lineup...In my useage for over a year now, I've run out of traction WAYYY before running out of engine hp...and thats even when running my 74" Rear Snowblower and really giving it a workout. Same when running my 72" tiller....I think R1's on a 3520 would be a better investement then a 3720.

Front Blower....The 59" front blower is a joke IMO, in both size and quality (the Kubota guys got a front mount blower to be proud of)....you can get a VERY well built rear blower for WAYYYY less. The frontier branded 3pt blower is a Blizzard painted JD Green...GREAT Blower for 1/2 the cost.

2 Tractors...Agreed. I run a F935 to cut grass and my 3520 to do everything else. If my F935 died tomorrow, I'd go buy a $2k Deere Riding mower before buying the MMM. The 3x is too big & heavy to cut grass nicely. Although cutting grass in the air conditioned comfort of my cab would be VERY nice.

I'd go with a 4x20 if I were you.....Like Orlo, I LOVE my 3520 and you'd have to pry it from my cold dead hands....

 

[nmu98]

I have a JD 673 tiller (72") and I can run out of power eAsy with my 3720 if I try to go fast. Never had a traction issue with the tiller on. The engine will drop to 2K and keep going down and tires will not spin.

I bought the 3720 for the intercooler, not the extra HP, and the factt hat my dealer priced the 3520 and 3720 so close.

I would go with ag tires if i had it over to do again! I have the HP to pull drags and other items, but the r-4's will not bite.

Keep the rear tire pressure correct 10-12 psi and the tippy (bounce back and forth) feeling will not be there as bad. Its still narrow on slopes.

The 4x20 series are very nice... but it was too large for me as I already have tractors that size......

 

[jimgerken]

Spudland Dave: Do you have any weight on the back wheels? Like weights in the rims, or loaded tires?

Nmu98: I understand what you are saying when you would choose R1 tires for better ground engagement, but one thing: I can pull a drag with my four wheel drive pickup, so if that's the implement you want, go get one, your tractor will pull it. Now, if its wet, that will hurt you of course, but there's no sense doing any dirt work when its wet anyway.

Thanks guys!

 

[nmu98]

Spudland Dave: Do you have any weight on the back wheels? Like weights in the rims, or loaded tires?

Nmu98: I understand what you are saying when you would choose R1 tires for better ground engagement, but one thing: I can pull a drag with my four wheel drive pickup, so if that's the implement you want, go get one, your tractor will pull it. Now, if its wet, that will hurt you of course, but there's no sense doing any dirt work when its wet anyway.

Thanks guys!

I have a 6 foor wide konskilde that has about 15-20 teeth. My 3720 will in no way pull it. My 5203 (2wd) will pull it with ease in any gear. The 3720 will spin in 4wd, no matter what. My middlebuster is another implement that does not work well in heavy soil behind the 3720. My truck will pull way more than my tractor could think of.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Spudland Dave: Do you have any weight on the back wheels? Like weights in the rims, or loaded tires?

Yes, I have 110lbs of cast weights in each rim... Ever since I saw a field demonstration of 2 identical tractors (CIH Magnums) with one ballasted with Just Iron (weel Weights & Suitcases) and the other with Fluid, I could never look someone in the eye and say fluid in the wheels is smart...Cheap, yes...
I cant remember the actual figure but fluid in the wheels essentially makes your tractor act like it has something along the lines of 15-20% less horsepower...Add to that the headache of what happens if you have a flat or need to remove wheels for servicing...

I bought the 3720 for the intercooler, not the extra HP, and the factt hat my dealer priced the 3520 and 3720 so close.

Why is that nmu98? In talking with my BIL who works field service for the Cat shop he said an intercooler "brings nothing to the party other then allowing for more horsepower". That being said, if my dealer would have offered me a 3720 for the same price as my 35, I probably would have taken it as well.

 

[nmu98]

Why is that nmu98? In talking with my BIL who works field service for the Cat shop he said an intercooler "brings nothing to the party other then allowing for more horsepower". That being said, if my dealer would have offered me a 3720 for the same price as my 35, I probably would have taken it as well.

An intercooler is a simply a heat exchanger mounted between the turbo-charger the inlet side of the engine. Cold air is blown through it to cool down the hot, compressed air inside. This makes it denser and gives maybe another 10% more power.

It also helps to keep the EGT's down, lless EGT's mean a cooler turbo and a cooler the motor........ The less heat these parts see the longer they will last.

The difference between the 3520 and 3720 was a few pennies more than 500 dollars. With the Air Conditioning and everything the cab offers, I thought it was well worth it for the intercooler and the extra ponies....

 

[Spudland_Dave]

An intercooler is a simply a heat exchanger mounted between the turbo-charger the inlet side of the engine. Cold air is blown through it to cool down the hot, compressed air inside. This makes it denser and gives maybe another 10% more power.

It also helps to keep the EGT's down, lless EGT's mean a cooler turbo and a cooler the motor........ The less heat these parts see the longer they will last.

The difference between the 3520 and 3720 was a few pennies more than 500 dollars. With the Air Conditioning and everything the cab offers, I thought it was well worth it for the intercooler and the extra ponies....

I well aware of what & how an intercooler works... The only part I'd disagree with you on it "keeping the motor cooler"...I think thats a half true statement... An intercooler doesnt make for "cooler" operating temps. Operating temps are usually the same, but given the additional fuel & heat the motor makes burning said fuel & additional air, it allows the motor to run at the same temp as a straight turbo only motor. If Deere pumped the same amount of fuel into the 3520 motor to make the power she'd make too much heat...2 options, bigger radiator or Intercool it.

I will say that after doing some engine intensive work, an intercooler would bring down EGT's quicker then a non intercooled.