Tractor Sizing Recommended size for firewood/logging

[bigblock]

I agree with those saying you need something bigger than a 4xxx series. That won't handle something the size of what you have pictured. You need some weight under you to handle a log that size.

 

[RG1]

Do not buy a 4400. We had one and it was the worst tractor we've ever owned. If you search under my username you find several posts about it and the various problems. Off the top of my head in the 1800hrs we owned it since new:

1. Numerous front axle seals
2. Rear axle seals and bearing
3. 2 rear axle housings (lower 3pt mounts broke off)
4. PTO clutch blew up
5. Oil cooler ruptured
6. Electrical system problems
7. Broken mid-PTO lever
8. Seized up brakes
9. Seals went out on the loader curl cylinder

This tractor was maintained 100% by the book and only used by experienced operators on our farm. We were finally rid of it by trading for a 5000 series Deere.

The problem with those 4X00 series tractors was they were Deere's first attempt at building their own compact tractors after having sold Yanmars for so long. Obviously they did very poor R&D and rushed them into production to have so many problems. Even some of the Deere dealers I talked to said they were amongst the worst tractor Deere has put out (along the lines of the 2010, 2840, etc). That said, by the 4X10 series the were getting better and I think the 4x20 series is pretty good. Also, the 4400 is not the same size as the current 4x20 series, it would compare to the 3x20 series in frame size and power.

If you want a compact Deere I'd look at the older Yanmar models and the 3x20 series and the 4x20 series. Also, I don't know if they'd be too big, but the 5000 series tractors are a lot of tractor for the money, and will have much higher loader capacities over the compacts.

Sorry that you had so much trouble with your 4400. I never had a lick of trouble with my 4500, and I wish I had never sold it.


OP- I could handle logs up to about the same exact size that is in your pic with my 4500, and did so. I don't have the pic available to load and post, but I do have some pics. You need weight (especially on the rear), and good hydraulics to lift and move wood regularly. It mainly depends on how you handle them, and where you need to move them to etc., to determine what size tractor you need.

 

[OHVarmntr]

Thanks folks. The good thing about a chainsaw mill is the ability to take the mill to the log instead of the other way around. The log in my pic was bucked up into 24" long rounds then loaded onto my flatbed with a sub-30HP Massey Ferguson HST tractor for firewood. One of those rounds in the loader made that little tractor quite unstable. I usually handle logs 12-24" in diameter and if bigger I'll buck them shorter but I'd just hate to buy a tractor that ends up being too small for me. It's hard enough to convince my wife to let me buy one, let alone to sell it and buy a bigger one!

Here's what I usually handle.

 

[phj]

I had a 4520 with 400cx loader and 485 backhoe and I'm doing exactly what you are doing and it was not big enough. I traded up to a 5085M and it does the job very well. The 4000 series just did not have the hydraulics to do the lifting/weight you want to do.

 

[OHVarmntr]

Just a little update here. I ended up purchasing a 43hp JD4600 hydro for $13,800 and it came with the 460FEL with bucket and forks, 1 rear scv, 3040hrs, MFWD, 300lbs of cast weights per rear tire AND loaded tires. It has PLENTY of ballast, I have maxed the loader out and the rear end wasn't the least bit light.

I have purchased a 6' tiller, 6' 3pt finish mower and a 6' landscape rake and am extremely pleased with how it mows. I keep it in 4wd when mowing with very slight marking of the yard.

I've yet to skid any firewood but have little doubt it will hook up and go.

Best part of it all is that my wife has gotten proficient with operating it, and is happy that we purchased it.