LAXPatrick
Bronze Member
...I'll keep you in suspense until the end.
Just got it delivered last night - unfortunately we had company (terribly inconvenient) so I had to curtail my adventures in the dirt.
We've got a 5+ acre horse property with mostly pasture and lawn around the house. I've got some berms from a previous owner's dirt bike track to level. Otherwise the tractor will see mostly mowing, snow removal, moving dirt and gravel, and horse-related duties (arena maintenance, moving poo, etc).
I'd started my quest with the sub-CUTs - in particular the JD2210 and Kubota BX2230. Seemed pretty nice. Then I started obsessing about the specifications and what you get for more money. I hate the post-purchase feeling that I've gotten when I wish I'd gotten a bigger, better something.
Next I moved up to the next larger frame models like the JD40 TEN series, the Kubota 7610 and 7800 and New Holland TC24DA. I figured that 24 horsepower was about where I wanted to be as a minimum to avoid the regret factor. I'd pretty much ruled out JD unless the dealer was willing to really make a deal. Those list prices are intimidating. The 4010 was at a good price point, but I thought that I needed more horsepower. The price bump to get more HP then put me in the realm of the 4210 so that's where I thought I needed to be for the green tractors.
Then I started to get more serious - test drives.
The Kubotas had good ergonomics for my rather tall frame (6'8", 235). I liked the sensitivity of the loader controls and overall quality was good. Kubotas seemed to be spec'd a little bit more conservatively than the competitors, but I figured that they would do the job. Financing wasn't great - beyond 24 months the rates get painful.
I tried out the New Holland next. I hopped up, banged my knees on the mount and dismount. Ouch. It seemed cramped to me even with the seat adjusted. I liked the financing (0% is crazy good), the specs, and the curved arms of the loader, but the ergonomics were a show stopper for my height.
I gave my JD dealer the update - I really do like green tractors. He started his search for the 4210. In his efforts, he uncovered a 4310 that was used in a promo with a little over 40 hours on it. I could get the new tractor financing and the price was within budget. I test drove a 4410 while I was waiting for the 4310 to come in - VERY nice fit for the big guy. I like the loader controls, capacity was everything I thought I wanted and more, and I figured that this would carry me through to the next sized horse ranch with no worries.
So, I got the JD 4310, 430 loader, frontier finish mower, frontier rear blade (6' on both). Still noodling on getting IMatch (or the Farm & Fleet equivalent) and will likely do a much bucket ballast system like David in NH did.
For now, I've got plenty of playing - I mean WORK to do with moving dirt around. The grass is finally growing here in Dairyville, USA, so it won't be long before I'm cutting grass where the horses aren't able to much it down.
Best sources of information - this site is GREAT, ****, tractorpoint, alderman's kubota pricing site, JD's site. I went to each dealer armed with arguably more information than most of their literature provided. I definitely kept them on their toes and I think I was rewarded with a capably machine that will serve our needs for years to come.
LAXPatrick
Just got it delivered last night - unfortunately we had company (terribly inconvenient) so I had to curtail my adventures in the dirt.
We've got a 5+ acre horse property with mostly pasture and lawn around the house. I've got some berms from a previous owner's dirt bike track to level. Otherwise the tractor will see mostly mowing, snow removal, moving dirt and gravel, and horse-related duties (arena maintenance, moving poo, etc).
I'd started my quest with the sub-CUTs - in particular the JD2210 and Kubota BX2230. Seemed pretty nice. Then I started obsessing about the specifications and what you get for more money. I hate the post-purchase feeling that I've gotten when I wish I'd gotten a bigger, better something.
Next I moved up to the next larger frame models like the JD40 TEN series, the Kubota 7610 and 7800 and New Holland TC24DA. I figured that 24 horsepower was about where I wanted to be as a minimum to avoid the regret factor. I'd pretty much ruled out JD unless the dealer was willing to really make a deal. Those list prices are intimidating. The 4010 was at a good price point, but I thought that I needed more horsepower. The price bump to get more HP then put me in the realm of the 4210 so that's where I thought I needed to be for the green tractors.
Then I started to get more serious - test drives.
The Kubotas had good ergonomics for my rather tall frame (6'8", 235). I liked the sensitivity of the loader controls and overall quality was good. Kubotas seemed to be spec'd a little bit more conservatively than the competitors, but I figured that they would do the job. Financing wasn't great - beyond 24 months the rates get painful.
I tried out the New Holland next. I hopped up, banged my knees on the mount and dismount. Ouch. It seemed cramped to me even with the seat adjusted. I liked the financing (0% is crazy good), the specs, and the curved arms of the loader, but the ergonomics were a show stopper for my height.
I gave my JD dealer the update - I really do like green tractors. He started his search for the 4210. In his efforts, he uncovered a 4310 that was used in a promo with a little over 40 hours on it. I could get the new tractor financing and the price was within budget. I test drove a 4410 while I was waiting for the 4310 to come in - VERY nice fit for the big guy. I like the loader controls, capacity was everything I thought I wanted and more, and I figured that this would carry me through to the next sized horse ranch with no worries.
So, I got the JD 4310, 430 loader, frontier finish mower, frontier rear blade (6' on both). Still noodling on getting IMatch (or the Farm & Fleet equivalent) and will likely do a much bucket ballast system like David in NH did.
For now, I've got plenty of playing - I mean WORK to do with moving dirt around. The grass is finally growing here in Dairyville, USA, so it won't be long before I'm cutting grass where the horses aren't able to much it down.
Best sources of information - this site is GREAT, ****, tractorpoint, alderman's kubota pricing site, JD's site. I went to each dealer armed with arguably more information than most of their literature provided. I definitely kept them on their toes and I think I was rewarded with a capably machine that will serve our needs for years to come.
LAXPatrick
