TC40D replacment Boomer 55 or JD 4066R or?

[Slippy]

You mentioned you wanted the higher HP because your TC40 struggled with some of its tasks... Can you explain where it fell short?

I would not really say it fell short, just could tell it was at the limits of its power. Bush hogging high grass, running a chipper are two that come to mind immediately. 6ft brush cutter, yes, blades were sharp, in fact new on the chipper. I have a chipper that pulls the limbs in, and when get into some of the larger stuff it will bog down. Don't get me wrong, I have been very happy with the tc40d and would highly recommend it, especially with the super steer if one wants to take the time to learn how to use it. It has dug drainage, moved tons of dirt, built motor cycle dirt tracks, back hoe work, post hole digger, it is a great little tractor. With a little larger hp and pto, I can use it for more tasks with less strain. Pulling hay rake, tedding, moving round bales, etc.

 

[Slippy]

I have done more checking on the 4044R and spoke with the dealer in more detail about their reliability. I have found a few that have issues on the internet, but again, seem to be isolated issues. In researching their sales records, dealer is not aware of any that have come back with any significant problems. A bad connector or some other minor issue, but nothing significant.
I am wondering once I am in the seat of the JD, how it will compare to the TC. I have a lot of seat time on the TC and know how to operate it pretty well. Driving it around on the lot of the dealer is much different than getting it out in the field and really putting it to the test.
Any of you out there that have made a similar switch, would love to hear from you.

 

[Piston]

Have you considered the Kubota L6060? It's very comparable to the Deere.
I sat in both cabs and preferred the ergonomics of the Kubota but that is all personal preference.
There are so many great choices out there that you really have to split hairs to find the "better" option.

 

[rScotty]

Have you considered the Kubota L6060? It's very comparable to the Deere.
I sat in both cabs and preferred the ergonomics of the Kubota but that is all personal preference.
There are so many great choices out there that you really have to split hairs to find the "better" option.

Scotty here. Yes, we are lucky to have so many great choices. I have my somwhat out of date old-timer's preference for companies like Kubota and Yanmar who try to do everything they can "in-house". Not just engine/transmission, but also machining, and even castings. Yanmar used to print their own manuals and even smelt their own basic alloys! But my feeling is just a personal preference; I have no idea whether it is a better way to make a machine.
I was looking at 60+hp JDs when I discovered the Kubota M59. Up until the M59, my machines had been put together by starting with a Cat II 3pt farm tractor with 50hp PTO and then adding a loader & BH to make it into what worked for me. The M59 starts the other way around. t starts out as a loader+BH and adds the cat II 30t and PTO as accessories. The difference is in the way the machine is balanced. I sit up higher on the M59 and have more visibility in all directions. Plus many more gears and power outs. Has a nice canopy, but no cab.
rScotty

 

[Tractorable]

Scotty here. Yes, we are lucky to have so many great choices. I have my somwhat out of date old-timer's preference for companies like Kubota and Yanmar who try to do everything they can "in-house". Not just engine/transmission, but also machining, and even castings. Yanmar used to print their own manuals and even smelt their own basic alloys! But my feeling is just a personal preference; I have no idea whether it is a better way to make a machine.
I was looking at 60+hp JDs when I discovered the Kubota M59. Up until the M59, my machines had been put together by starting with a Cat II 3pt farm tractor with 50hp PTO and then adding a loader & BH to make it into what worked for me. The M59 starts the other way around. t starts out as a loader+BH and adds the cat II 30t and PTO as accessories. The difference is in the way the machine is balanced. I sit up higher on the M59 and have more visibility in all directions. Plus many more gears and power outs. Has a nice canopy, but no cab.
rScotty

Good post. I also prefer manufacturers that make the entire tractor "in-house". So therefore I'll be going with Kubota or Yanmar for my next tractor.

I'd have to do some more reading, but I think Kioti (Daedong) makes everything on their tractors in-house. They make their own engines and tractors, not sure about their transmissions. A lot of the Korean know-how and technology was derived from the Japanese.

 

[Slippy]

I have not looked at the Kubota. Good suggestion. Dealer locations not as close. Did watch comparison on YouTube.

 

[Piston]

I have not looked at the Kubota. Good suggestion. Dealer locations not as close. Did watch comparison on YouTube.

Try not to consider dealer proximity as too much of a reason to sway your decision one way or another.
I know I'm just another "voice on the internet" so it's hard to know who to believe, but you will read on here many many times people stress the dealer as almost the the most important consideration.

After the purchase, if your bringing your tractor back to the dealer once each year then something is wrong. If you need to go to your dealer very often then something is wrong.

I'm the grand scheme of things you will spend a fraction of a percentage of time actually going to and from your dealer.

There are always exceptions and people end up with warranty work, but it's a very small percentage overall.