Opinions on JD 4105

[have_blue]

Looks like I'm selling my NH TC35a. Someone fell in love with it and made me an offer I couldn't possibly refuse. It was a pretty good tractor for 5 years, but alas, my NH dealer closed down.

My choices now are green and orange, and I'm looking for a machine in the 40-45hp range.

Orange tractrors in that HP range look awfully small, and I suspect their engines are over rated. The L4400 looks to be pretty short on features for the same money.

I like the specs, features, and price on the JD 4105. Does anyone own one, or checked one out thoroughly? Just looking at the specs, 2 things are minor turnoffs. 1 is the pump output. It appears the power steering runs from the main pump. The other is the ridiculously short wheelbase. This could make it sensitive to balance/ballast, and make it ride rough.

What are opinions on the 4105, and is there another JD in the 20K (with loader)price range?

Will be caring for 10a, moderate loader use, mowing 7a with a 6' finishing mower.

Many thanks,,,

 

[gamble77]

You are right on the short wheebase and it runs the 300CX loader...I would try to look around for a used, low hour, 4120 w/loader on it.

 

[have_blue]

You are right on the short wheebase and it runs the 300CX loader...I would try to look around for a used, low hour, 4120 w/loader on it.

Thanks for the reply.

Used isn't a very good option. There just aren't many used tractors in my small town.

Is there something I should know about the 300CX?

I'm really looking hard at the Kubota L4400, but it's a very "rough", looking tractor.

 

[Nuru]

Did you try tractorhouse and machinefinder yet?

 

[N80]

What are opinions on the 4105, and is there another JD in the 20K (with loader)price range?

The JD 990 is similar to the L4400. But if you think the L4400 looks 'rough', the 990 won't appeal to you either. Like the L4400 there are no frills, just a basic tractor at a good price. The 990 has slightly lower specs than the L4400 and it also has a Yanmar engine like the 4105, but the engine in the 990 is a 4 cylinder.

There is nothing wrong with the 300CX loader but it has significantly lower specs than the LA703 which comes on the L4400. I think there is another loader option on the 990, but I'm not sure. Not a major jump up in any case.

The bottom line is that if you are looking for a 4wd 45hp CUT that comes close in weight and dimensions to an actual utility tractor for less than $20k you are pretty limited when it comes to green and orange. You might want to look at Mahindra or Kioti, but you will probably not find anything there either.

If you need slick stuff like HST, fancy dashboards and plush seats for under $20k you're going to sacrifice things like hp, weight, build and wheelbase....the 4105 being the prime example. As they say, you can't have your cake and eat it too.....at least not on $20k.

If you can adjust your budget up by about $4k you can enter a whole new world of utility tractors and get inot the much beefier and higher spec'd models like the Kubota M5040 or the JD 5105 (which I've heard is made by Mahindra).

If I had a $25k budget I'd get an M5040 in a heartbeat.

 

[have_blue]

The JD 990 is similar to the L4400. But if you think the L4400 looks 'rough', the 990 won't appeal to you either. Like the L4400 there are no frills, just a basic tractor at a good price. The 990 has slightly lower specs than the L4400 and it also has a Yanmar engine like the 4105, but the engine in the 990 is a 4 cylinder.

There is nothing wrong with the 300CX loader but it has significantly lower specs than the LA703 which comes on the L4400. I think there is another loader option on the 990, but I'm not sure. Not a major jump up in any case.

The bottom line is that if you are looking for a 4wd 45hp CUT that comes close in weight and dimensions to an actual utility tractor for less than $20k you are pretty limited when it comes to green and orange. You might want to look at Mahindra or Kioti, but you will probably not find anything there either.

If you need slick stuff like HST, fancy dashboards and plush seats for under $20k you're going to sacrifice things like hp, weight, build and wheelbase....the 4105 being the prime example. As they say, you can't have your cake and eat it too.....at least not on $20k.

If you can adjust your budget up by about $4k you can enter a whole new world of utility tractors and get inot the much beefier and higher spec'd models like the Kubota M5040 or the JD 5105 (which I've heard is made by Mahindra).

If I had a $25k budget I'd get an M5040 in a heartbeat.

Nice informative post George. I found out the hard way that everything you said is true. Wish I had read your post before I drove a hundred miles and wore out my patience.

I'm leaning toward the plain jane L4400. It's a bit bigger and I think it's more rugged than the 4105. I did want HST, but perfer the dual pedals in the Deere. I rather have a gear tractor than pay too much for the rocking pedal. The L4400 HST upgrade is way more expensive than typical JD upgrade. The Deere dealer here has an excellent service dept., the Kubota dealer doesn't. Ah well...

 

[RWolf]

You might look at the 51XX series. I got the 5103 (40PTO HP) 512 loader, 6ft. MD Rotary cutter, 6ft. HD box blade and later a 500lb seed/ferilizer spreader and I've still kept everything under $20K. Now if your looking for MFWD then the price goes up and I'm not sure how much.

As of this last weekend we used it to dig (using the box blade and loader) a hole deep enought to bury a horse . And the only thing I need to do is load the tires for a bit more traction.

Good luck on your search.

 

[Z-Michigan]

If you can adjust your budget up by about $4k you can enter a whole new world of utility tractors and get inot the much beefier and higher spec'd models like the Kubota M5040 or the JD 5105 (which I've heard is made by Mahindra).

Uh, no. The JD 5105, which is discontinued, was all JD and was assembled in the US. Parts probably came from all over, but it was definitely not a Mahindra.

The 5x03 series, both first and second (current) generation, are made in India tractors, but I've never heard that they had anything to do with Mahindra. I know their engine is a JD type engine and it does not appear to coincide with any Mahindra type engines.

Back to the OP...

I would agree with the overall statement that a few extra $k, if you can find them, puts you in a whole new class that is quite nice, whether you pick the JD 5xxx, Kubota M series, or what have you.

Also, I looked at the L4400 and thought it was good for the money. What I didn't like:
-no synchro shuttle of any kind
-no extendable draw links on the 3pt
-offset gear final drive (standard on CUTs of all brands, with only a few exceptions) instead of planetary (found on M5040, JD 5105, and most utility and larger tractors)
-no factory option for bucket quick detach on FEL (aftermarket options do exist)

The final drive is not a big deal for that size/hp class. The other items may or may not be issues depending on your usage.

 

[N80]

-no factory option for bucket quick detach on FEL (aftermarket options do exist)

Uh, no. The LA703A comes from the factory with skid steer type quick detach.

 

[have_blue]

You might look at the 51XX series. I got the 5103 (40PTO HP) 512 loader, 6ft. MD Rotary cutter, 6ft. HD box blade and later a 500lb seed/ferilizer spreader and I've still kept everything under $20K. Now if your looking for MFWD then the price goes up and I'm not sure how much.

As of this last weekend we used it to dig (using the box blade and loader) a hole deep enought to bury a horse . And the only thing I need to do is load the tires for a bit more traction.

Good luck on your search.

Thanks!

My JD dealer told me the same thing. I guess that's about the best bang for buck on the market. The only thing stopping me is the 4WD. My land is low and a bit wet about 6 months out of the year. Sometimes I can't wait until it's dried up enough, and 4WD is a life saver mowing and doing loader work. Ag tires are out of the question too, as I have manicured grass lanes. So the 51XX is still very attractive to me, even in 2WD.