Deere 3000 series vs 4000 series backhoe?? 485 vs 485a (3520, 4120, 4044r and others)

[Shawk]

4120 vs 3120 hydraulic flow is 12 BS 8.5 GPM, so almost 50% more. My 4400 is 8.3 and it digs fairly well with a 48 hoe, so I wouldn't put a huge emphasis on flow. The selling point for me would be a heavier tractor better able to take the abuse of brush hogging and less likely to break in half with heavy backhoe work (digging stumps, rocks). Could also run less RPMs while digging to achieve same speed.

Do you already have a trailer and if so what is capacity? 7.5-8k lbs is about max machine weight you can get onto a 10k trailer to avoid combination plates (depending on state). That usually means you're safe up to 50 HP or so with backhoe and loader. Shouldn't be your limiting factor, but a consideration.

Good stuff! Thank you!

Our trailer is 14k twenty footer... My truck will be more limited than the trailer with a tow rating of 12k... Appreciate the heads up a ton though.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Am I missing something? Take a peak at page 6... loaders for 3r vs 4r... Looks to be 1,000 lb jump across the board... thanks BFJ! Here's the direct link to JD loaders John Deere

TractorData.com John Deere 412 tractor attachments information

TractorData.com John Deere 312 tractor attachments information

John Deere vs John Deere 2 vs 2 312 vs 412

Looks like there's more between them than I originally thought.

 

[Shawk]

TractorData.com John Deere 412 tractor attachments information

TractorData.com John Deere 312 tractor attachments information

John Deere vs John Deere 21 vs 21 312 vs 412

Looks like there's more between them than I originally thought.

Thank you! Yeah, it was a little more than I was thinking too...

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

How many acres are you mowing? How often will you be mowing that land? Mostly flat or hilly?

 

[Shawk]

How many acres are you mowing? How often will you be mowing that land? Mostly flat or hilly?

Pretty flat ground but of course around the waterways and the ponds there is a good amount of slope and uneven ground... I'll likely get out there for first time to mow early next week (mowing once or twice a month is all). I'm guessing for now I'll mow around 5-6 acres tops. But once we get things cleaned up and into crp or food plots, that number will likely be half at most and won't need mowed very often. Up front there will be a lot clean up on about 12-15 acres.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Pretty flat ground but of course around the waterways and the ponds there is a good amount of slope and uneven ground... I'll likely get out there for first time to mow early next week (mowing once or twice a month is all). I'm guessing for now I'll mow around 5-6 acres tops. But once we get things cleaned up and into crp or food plots, that number will likely be half at most and won't need mowed very often. Up front there will be a lot clean up on about 12-15 acres.

Then I wouldn't spend much money on a cutter for the tractor, if your mowing every two weeks a garden tractor would be just as fast in my opinion, a zero turn would be much much faster.

Cub Cadet: Riding Lawn Mowers, Lawn Tractors & Snowblowers

I'm cutting at almost 2 acres per hour on my Husqvarna garden tractor, my property isn't close to flat and lots of obstacles to mow around.

 

[texasranger556]

Cutting once a month is brush hog territory in my opinion. Unless you own stock in dayco or gates.

 

[jenkinsph]

A 110tlb would be a better choice for a number of reasons. A belly pan really saves the underside of the tractor for clean up work. If you find one with full hydraulics it will have 3 front and 3 rear sets of hydraulic outlets. While you can't drop the fel you can drop the bucket and it is ssqa to start with. The lift capacity is about 2600 lbs. so more than the 400cx fel. The hoe can be dropped easily and 3ph arms added just as easy as with other 4xxx series machines and is a 10' hoe. With three rear outlets you can add top and tilt easily.

From the rear seat you can still reach the steering wheel and fel joystick and use the position control to drive the tractor around your work site. Makes very easy work of repositioning even when on the most serious slopes and ditches. That is a tremendous advantage over the 4xxx series including the new ones with position control.

My 4520 has more power for pulling heavy tools and has worked out well and both of these machines can share the three point implements. Both my 4520 and 110 have cabs and are easily hauled with the trailer you have.

 

[brown40]

I have a 3520 with a Woods 7' subframe unit. Installed water lines, prepared site for a pole barn, etc... they can definitely do some work.
I think its a pretty small step between the series in getting work done. PTO power and increased hydraulic flow are pluses, extra 10-15 db operating & 20-40% more fuel consumption are negatives. Powertech and Yanmar both very reliable engines. Yanmar is probably most used backup power for sailboats--the have to run when needed...
So you'd have extra flow and speed, but if you have the power to put the s flow same hoe into relief with either frame, you ultimately have the same potential at a different speed.
Your 3120 shares the Yanmar block with the 3520 & 3720 (no turbo on yours) and has the same hydraulic pumps and flow, so a 3520 with a backhoe will not gain you anything for the backhoe, but will gain you PTO competence.
I don't think either frame is heavy enough to do any amazing amount of excavation--moderate resistance will dance the tractor(s) around. If its occasional work, and not heavy or large scale, I'd save the money and set up the 3120. You do own the lesser loader of the series--did they drop it with the 3120 later in the line(?)--sales lagged I recall... I have the 300CX on a 3520 with a 6' HD bucket, and it does great. That would be a upgrade, but as you mentioned the 400's area step above them so...

 

[Shawk]

Thanks guys!