JD 4720 or 5325 for my Dad?

[JasonL]

My Dad is semi-retiring from farming. He is selling his large ag equipment and will be putting about 200 acres into a conservation program (hardwood trees)

His main uses for the tractor will be mowing/spraying the 200 acres, planting and maintaining a small food plot, misc. loader work.

His requirements are a cab and loader, and he currently has a pull type 7' bushhog (this is as large of a mower that will fit between the rows of trees.)

He is not sure the 4720 is a big enough tractor for his needs. (Is this just because he is coming from the AG side of things?) Horsepower wise- the 2 tractors appear similar. Weight wise and appearance wise they do not. I am leaning towards steering him towards the 4720 because it would be easier to manuever (hydro, smaller frame)

Anyone with opinions/experience with these tractors?

He will be purchasing a gator xuv and likely a JD zero turn mower at the same time. This will get him the Green Fleet discount. That is 8% on the 4720 but only 4% on the 5325. Roughly the 5325 would be $11000 more.

Thank You- Jason

 

[BarryinMN]

Do you know the tree grid spacing? May consider a 5425N Narrow width tractor - but has the easy access low profile, mass & HP to influence mother nature.

The cut is cute but he may end up spinning his wheels too much.

I have a gator & JD mower as well, but bought a conventional Zetor tractor to clear & prep fields before planting. My second tractor wil be some sort of orchard vineyard configuration, or maybe a CT322 tracked skid steer.

 

[JasonL]

Barry-

The trees are to be planted on a 10'x10' grid. The plan is to spray a strip about 3'-4' wide along the trees, and mow the rest. The mowing will be for the first 5+? years or so. I think either tractor would be able to fit through the rows for that length of time?

 

[BarryinMN]

10x10? Thats pretty wide, any particular reason for that - CRP expense participation, etc?

A tighter pattern will help grow straighter trunks & more valuable board feet lumber. The canopy growth may take longer than 5 years before deferring mowing.

Orchard type narrow tractors have fenders with fender skirts & streamlined smooth sides so branches slide along & over the tractor minimizing being snagged & ripped from the trunk.

I'd still vote with your dad, (my Zetor is a 55pto tractor as well.) A power shuttle is easier than pushing hydro pedal - & what he is used to. If you didn't hang on to a backhoe add one to the purchase order, do all the damage at once & soften up the dealer for better than fleet discounts. You will use a BH to dig up diseased, winter kill, blow downs, plus whatever landscaping the puttering around demands

I never remember to use cruise control on the lawnmower, and then when I do remember - I'm done. Plus cruise control is just plain well, weird, on a tractor

 

[BleedGreen]

JasonL,

My vote is for any of the 5x25 series, hands down. Frame, axles, hydraulics (etc.) and even the cab itself are all superior...

Make sure you get the 12/12 PowrReverser Transmission (the 24/24 is fine also if you need/want it) with the 540/540E Rear PTO and the EH (electro-hydraulic) Three Point Hitch.

Also, the GreenFleet discount is OVER & ABOVE all other discounts, rebates and finance programs - you should be able to get a great deal on this package. Also remember that the GreenFleet discount remains in effect for the following year, so if he (or you) wants or needs something else, the discount will apply, even on only one item...

 

[JasonL]

BleedGreen-

Thanks for your reccomendations. I'm not familiar with th EH 3 point. Can you explain it? Also, I wasn't aware that the GreenFleet discount continued- that is good to know. My dad has been talking to 2 dealers and is working out his best deal. So- you feel the 5x25 series is a better tractor for the money? (considerably more) My dad has high value equipment to sell/trade, so money is not a problem, but he wants to get the right tractor!

Thanks, Jason

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

For that much mowing, I'd want the bigger machine too. Having the larger front wheels (I'm assuming MFWD) will ride much smoother. But, If I had to get on and off to do whatever, I'd want the smaller tractor. The hydro is better for having to get on and off too.

The BH is a good idea however, Most cab tractors won't accept backhoes unless aftermarket.

Has he test driven both?

 

[BarryinMN]

Jason,

Before committing take a road trip to a Bloomington area vineyard - do they still make that world famous Indiana Wine? (In a previous life i was a techie at a little company in Indy called RCA.) Your local deere dealer should be able to make connections to get a vinyard owner invite to drive one of their tractors around. It's a muscular little runt.

Anyway, a narrow width tractor cab is about shoulder width wide, low profile 'low rider'. It will keep the tractor tires & weight away from compacting the trees' root ball area. I know mother Deere makes a 5425N not sure about a 5325N.

Have your dad try one. A conventional utility is tall & wide, tearing off branches is equal to ripping your skin open & exposes the tree to all manner of varmits looking for an easy access feast.

This is fun 'm getting snowed in with about a foot of that white stuff tonite!

 

[Z-Michigan]

I vote 5325. The 4720 is a nice, powerful CUT but is a huge step down from an ag tractor. The 5x25 will be much like the bigger ag tractors and should make easy work of what he's doing. I also think the 7' brushhog might strain the 4720 a bit from a weight perspective, even though it's a pull instead of lift type.

 

[BleedGreen]

JasonL,

I hope this helps! It really is not as confusing as it sounds...

Electrohydraulic Three-Point Hitch

The electrohydraulic (EH) three-point hitch is ideal for operators requiring consistency and repeatability. With easy-to-use fingertip controls, operators can precisely set their height and depth limits, raise and lower the hitch, set rate of drop, and adjust draft sensing. The EH hitch offers all the solutions of the mechanical hitch but with electrohydraulic adjustments and implements can be even more precisely raised and lowered in 1/4-in. (5 mm) increments.

EH hitch controls located on the right-side console are easy to reach and easy to use. (see "eh1" pic below) The raise/lower switch is located on the left side of the controller. This rocker switch will quickly raise and lower the implement to the set height and depth. A depth stop wheel allows the operator to pre-set depth. This will increase consistency pass by pass and decrease the need to make repeated trips over the same ground. The hitch lever control allows convenient, precise control of the hitch. This is especially useful when hooking up implements.

Located under the black cover (see "eh2" pic below) is the height limit control knob, which allows the operator to set the raise height. This function will be especially useful when using a PTO implement so as not to bind the PTO shaft when the implement is raised. The rate of drop control knob is also conveniently located under the black cover on the right-side console and sets how fast the rockshaft lowers to the ground.

The draft sensing knob (see Draft Sensing below) is to the right of the hitch controls on the right-hand console. (look for the small knob with a blue 1/2 circle under it in the "eh1" pic below - it is to the right of the main controller) This adjustment will measure the load sensitivity of the three-point hitch and will allow the hitch to quickly raise or lower to control the load on the engine. A separate draft sensing knob on EH hitch eliminates the common mistake of operators using the draft sensing lever rather than the rockshaft lever to raise and lower the hitch. It also allows draft sensing to be set and left alone during operation.

Remote raise and lower switch (see "eh3" pic below)will come standard on the left-hand fender. This will allow customers to adjust their three-point hitch while standing at the rear of the tractor, a time-saving feature that every customer will appreciate when hooking up implements. A right-hand fender remote raise and lower switch can also be added as a field installed kit on standard tractors.

Draft Sensing

The top link is the first part of the tractor to experience an increase in draft load with the lighter, short-coupled implements that are typically used with tractors of this size. Draft sensing allows the hitch to quickly raise or lower, as needed, to control the load on the engine. It also reduces the need to downshift into a lower gear when operating in a rough spot to eliminate a more complicated operating experience.

Draft sensing helps keep implements operating at a constant depth to avoid washboard effect when box blading or evenly break ground for consistent plant emergence. Draft response is adjustable using the draft control lever to match operating conditions and implement being used. The rockshaft position control lever has a float position for implements with skid shoes or depth gauge wheels that carry implement weight.