JD 4120 Question

Sadler · Oct 7, 2004

This is my first post to this forum. Been browsing for weeks and this is obviously THE place to be for tractor info. Thanks in advance to everyone for your help.

I am a tractor wanna-be mainly, with little experience other than I fought my 2/3 grass, 1/3 woods 40 acres with a sad and tired Ford 9N for about five years 10 years ago before giving up and letting a cattle farmer hay the land. But the unhayable edges, fence lines, etc. have reached the critical stage and need bush hogging, and I'll be bush hogging the entire piece soon, since my very nice hay guy is about to retire. I'll also be moving dirt and the usual clearing dead and fallen trees, making burn piles, etc., so I'm shooting for a CUT with loader, rotary cutter, and finish mower. Looked seriously at Kubota, but I don't need the weight or size, so Deere seems best choice. Here are my best prices for the two options so far for those interested:

4410 ehydro R4s $16575
420 loader $2681
LX6 cutter $1223
Landpride FDR1672 RFM $1495

4120 ehydro R4s $18955
400X loader $3626
MX5 cutter $1515 (don't have MX6 price yet--will go 6')
Landpride FDR1672 RFM $1495

I was also planning on getting the 61" HD bucket with toothbar, the canopy, a third selective control valve, ballast box, and hood guard. (Are these good choices?)

I was about to buy the 4410 ehydro, but upgrading to the next frame size and the newer 4120 ehydro looks like it might be a wiser investment since the 4410 is likely to be replaced soon. Also, the extra hp and torque of the 4120 won't hurt as the time to bushog will be some less and the loader capacity will be greater. I've searched the archives, but there is almost no mention of anyone having bought one of the new "Twenty" series John Deeres. Lots of good info. about them, but not too many buyers. Here's my question: Are there some problems with the new "twenty" models that are keeping folks away from them, or are they just too new? The plastic hood is a little flimsy after you lift it, but overall the quality looks ok to me. Feature wise, either the 4410 or the 4120 would I think work for my purposes. Any "watch outs" in going with the 4120 vs. 4410 other than price? Thanks.

bczoom · Oct 7, 2004

Sadler,

Welcome to TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Can't help you a lot on the tractor itself but want to throw a couple things out for consideration on the attachments.

Since you're going with the R4 tires, you should be OK but if for some reason you switch to R1's, you may not want the RFM. The R1's dig up the lawn.

This one may be up for debate by fellow TBN'ers but I'd consider a 6' box blade instead of a ballast box. They have a lot of mass to them and if your rear tires are filled should be about the same as the ballast box. You'll find a lot of uses for the box blade. Grading dirt, dragging trees...

Congrats on whichever you pick.
Brian

Kyle_in_Tex · Oct 7, 2004

I too concur about the boxblade instead of ballast box. I have a 4310 and wished I had a new 20 series. We have 26 acres with woods that I try to keep manicured. Luckily, My father in law lets me use his 5420 whenever I need it. I would highly recommend the 4120 because you have 40 acres. It will handle the 6' bush hog much better in deep grass.
Hold off on the RFM unless you have a yard to cut until after you tame the rest of the property. Sharp blades on a 6 foot bush hog will leave a reasonable cut if you go slow. You can always buy it later if you want.

My dealer was one of the 1st to get about 8-10 of the 20 series on his lot. Almost all are gone now except I think 2 4320's. He is low on tractors right now and says he can't just get whatever he needs or wants.

I would think the 4120 would compare closer to a 4510 or 4610. So you need to decide if you need the extra weight and power or the lighter weight 4410. You'll wish you had the bigger machine for the bigger tasks/shredding. Is your place muddy? If so, get the R1's and the bigger tractor. R1's won't rut a pasture if grass is established and you don't drive on it after a rain.

Dave4410 · Oct 7, 2004

Sadler, That's a very good price for the 4410. I purchased mine in August and am very satisfied with its capabilities.

rockyridgefarm · Oct 7, 2004

Looks good, if you can swing the TWENTY get it! I'd get the R1s for what you are doing... Skip the LX cutters and stay with MX or even Landpride, the LX won't hold up in pastures around rocks, trees, fence posts pr whatever...

Sadler · Oct 8, 2004

Thanks to all for your response. I will be doing mowing around the house--we have some wide open areas that should lend themselves to the finish mower, thus the LandPride. And there are no areas that are muddy other than an area right next to a stream which won't get a lot of tractoring. The box blade is a great idea. I already own a blade from my old tractor, so I'll delete the ballast box. The property is pretty tame--we've lived here for 15 years and is mostly pasture grass and woods. The tree clearing will be along the fence lines. And thanks for confirming that the MX is the right cutter. Since there were no red flags from anyone, I'm heading to make an offer on the 4120 tomorrow morning and likely write the deposit check. Gulp.

Kyle_in_Tex · Oct 9, 2004

Keep us posted on your situation. For some reason, not many members have the new machines yet. Like I said, my dealer is nearly sold out of his allotment of them.

Jim_Fisher · Oct 9, 2004

Sadler,

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'll also be moving dirt and the usual clearing dead and fallen trees, making burn piles, etc. )</font>

Might want to consider a 4in1 bucket or a grapple. Do a search on 4in1 or grapple to learn more.

Sadler · Oct 9, 2004

Thanks Jim, the grapple is on my list, but not from the dealer. I've spec'd the 4120 with a third control valve and plan to buy one of the "Thumb" grapples off Ebay. And thanks Kyle, I will keep everyone posted. Wife and daughter headed to the dealer this morning with me when I make my offer. My wife wants to drive it--she wants to do the mowing! Yeehaa. This dealer has two 4120s Kyle, one R4 and one R1 tires. I'm probably going with the R4s since we'll be mowing the open parts of the yard.

Kyle_in_Tex · Oct 9, 2004

Savor this time, its not often enough that we get to bring home a new John Deere. If your place is not to muddy or hilly you might reconsider the R4's. I just know that I wished I had R1's. They'll go thru muck that R4's won't. I usually mow pasture, box blade, and FEL work. So R4's work 95% of the time, but, when mowing around my pond, I now switch to the big tractor with R1's. (Also bought me a 9' sickle bar mower to reach out and cut the pond weeds).
We hope you have a digital camera to post some pic's.
When you start mowing and get a feel for things, you'll appreciate the added torque the turbo provides when lugging.