Help with JD 4520 purchase

grewupgreen · Dec 16, 2005

I've decided to buy a JD 4520 and I'd appreciate any help or guidance on selecting options & accessories. While I spent most of my youth driving JDs on our family farm, it has been years since I used anything larger than a garden tractor. Having recenlty purchased some acreage in need of clean up and maintanence, I now have an excuse to relive my youth and get back on a JD. Fortunately, I also have the bucks to do it. In addition to the 4520, I plan to get a loader, BH, box scraper, and flailing mower. Some questions...

1) Why would I want eHydro vs the standard tran? Seems like most people are getting it but my dealer is willing to deal on a 4520 w/o it. Is it worth the extra $1000+?

2) It looks like the 400CX is clearly superior to the 400x. Any advice on the loader selection of options?

3) I plan to go with R4 tires as I am concerned that a more aggressive tread might be too abusive and unnecessary. Comments?

4) If I get the 448 BH and leave it attached when using the FEL, do I need to get more weight for the rear? By the way, what exactly do people mean when they say they got the tires "loaded"?

5) Any comments or advice on other "must have" options that I am missing?

Thanks in advance.

Cliff_Johns · Dec 16, 2005

Without some information on what you plan to do with your new tractor, it's a bit hard to give advice.

However I will say that a BH is terrific ballast (though it can get in the way in close quarters.)

Loading tires means putting fluid in the rear tires to give the back end more weight for traction and to lower the center of gravity to reduce the likelyhood of tipping over.

Cliff

Kyle_in_Tex · Dec 17, 2005

( it has been years since I used anything larger than a garden tractor.
1) Why would I want eHydro vs the standard tran? Seems like most people are getting it but my dealer is willing to deal on a 4520 w/o it. Is it worth the extra $1000+?)

It looks like you answered your own question. Easy to learn, easy to use. Trust me, you'll be glad when doing dirtwork that you got the hydro. Have your dealer show and explain the Load Match features. Some here naysay the hydro due to complexity. Believe me, if there were inherent problems with them, people would be jumping up and down crying about it.

( 2) It looks like the 400CX is clearly superior to the 400x. Any advice on the loader selection of options? )

Yes, I recommend the heavier duty 400CX.

( 3) I plan to go with R4 tires as I am concerned that a more aggressive tread might be too abusive and unnecessary. Comments?)
R4's are kind of a happy medium. They won't tear up grass too much if the ground is dry. Yet they don't do very well at all in deep mud conditions. They do last a long time.

( 4) If I get the 448 BH and leave it attached when using the FEL, do I need to get more weight for the rear? By the way, what exactly do people mean when they say they got the tires "loaded"?)

The BH is plenty of rear weight, however, you'll want it off most of the time while not using it. Having a bunch of extra weight and stuff hanging on a tractor going across a bumpy field gets old. Goodnews, the BH and FEL are both easy to remove.

( 5) Any comments or advice on other "must have" options that I am missing?)
The package you are considering is a good base package. Flail mowers are good for grass and safety but they are expensive. If you need to knock down anything heavier than twigs, get a shredder. You need to further define your needs and goals to let us help you spend your money wisely! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kyle_in_Tex · Dec 17, 2005

PS. The dealer is going to be more willing to deal on the non-hydro units as they are not sold as easily as the hydro units.

grewupgreen · Dec 17, 2005

Thanks for the advice and information.

Most of the initial use for the tractor will be to clean up the property (load debris & trash into trailers) and to improve the grounds (moving dirt & knocking down brush). There will be some small structure demolition as well. I'd also like to dig up some stumps and dig footings for retaining walls & the new home. During construction, it will be used to move materials around, to clean up waste, and to backfill. I'd like to use it to move some large boulders around as well but I will probably have to rent something bigger for that.

wolc123 · Dec 17, 2005

It looks like you are on the right track. The 400X comes standard with a fairly light duty, easily bent bucket. for moving boulders, stumps you would definitely want to upgrade to the heavier bucket (it is cheaper to do this with the original purchase than after you bend the light bucket). A hydro tran. would be a lot better for all the uses and equipment you mentioned, but the power reverser 12 speed is not bad on a loader and should be your choice if you ever intend to pull a plow or other ground engaging equipmet. Since these tractors lack hyd draft control they are not the best for these uses anyway, especially on uneven ground. As for tires, if you intend to operate much on lawns then unloaded R4s would be best. If not, and mud or snow may be a factor then loaded R1s would be best. These tractors come with R4's on 24 inch rear rims and R1's on 28 inch. This and the deeper tread means you get a lot more ground clearance with the R1's. I would leave off the BH as it is time-consuming to change with your other rear mounted implements and it is quite expensive. You could rent a much more effective industrial hoe many times before you would pay for that sucker.