Trying to find the best tractor for the job

[LouNY]

I don't know where everyone is going with a 4020 being to big for a 6 acre field, it does allow for larger equipment which will get the job done quicker. A lot of our fields here in the northeast are 4 to 12 acres. When we go in to mow hay I'm running a 4wd 7110 Magnum with a 12 haybine, when we start chopping it's with a 7230 Magnum a pull type New Holland chopper pulling a self unloading wagon. Yesterday I was pulling a little 4 rotor tedder with a Ford 8000, did I need that much tractor, **** no, did it do the job nicely and comfortably, yep. Do I need an Branson 8050 to maintain my driveway? No, but it does it nicely and easily no fuss no muss.

 

[LD1]

You could do it with 300HP if you want.

Its about being practical and efficient. And a 10000 pound 4020 gasser that is 50ish years old wouldnt be my pick. And it wouldnt be my pic for a loader tractor in the woods either.

To each his own

 

[motownbrowne]

A 4020 is a big tractor, but it's not huge. Designed for ag purposes, yes, but it was designed for ag purposes 60 years ago, which were a lot different than today's tasks. Frankly a 4020 was probably designed to be quite versatile, being a good choice for plowing, planting, cultivating, cutting hay, baling, filling silos, you name it. But they were also small enough to do chores with, feeding animals, mowing fields and ditches, plowing snow, grading the driveway, stuff like that. Also, they were designed to put several thousands of hours on them without trouble. My friend grew up on a used 2520 with a gas motor that they still have on the farm. It's got over 8000 hours.

A couple things I'd think about: from what I know, the price of a 4020 changes dramatically if it's gas or diesel. The diesel would be much more desirable, and use a lot less fuel (probably 4-5 gph instead of 7-9). Also, whether it is the newer "side-console" design will impact the price. I haven't spent much time on these machines, but my friend who's in the know says that the side console is where it's at. The earlier models had the three point controls on the dashboard, which makes looking behind you while making adjustments (something I do every day) much more difficult. From what I've seen, the gas models usually go for $5-8k, diesels from $7-15k.

Beyond that, I think a big JD like that might be an okay choice. Personally, I'd probably skip the loader, unless you could quickly and easily remove it. A 4020 is big enough as is, adding a big implement to the front will make it pretty awkward. Plan on working on it, certainly, but parts are available, and the 4020 in particular is one of the most popular tractors ever made, so I'd imagine there's lots of know-how to be tapped both online and in rural America.

One last thought, my MX 4700 is a great tractor. For loader work and all the stuff I encounter day to day, I'll pick it over a piece of old iron hands down. But for pulling a big mower on a big field, a big, long, wide tractor like that 4020 would be a much more comfortable ride. Someday I'd love to have one around for pulling heavy wagons, big logs, and maybe mowing, if I could afford an appropriate mower.

Good luck with your decision, and let us know what you end up with.

 

[jeff9366]

LINK: TractorData.com John Deere 4020 tractor information

90" wide with R1/ag tires. Probably eight feet wide with R4/industrial tires.
Specs do NOT show power steering.

DEMONLLAMA: I suggest you buy a 10' stick of 1-1/4" PVC pipe. Cut the pipe to 96", also mark pipe at 90".
Walk tractor-width pipe around your property to see how a Deere 4020 fits.

Be aware this tractor (unsurprisingly) has a Category II Three Point Hitch, so implements will not be as ubiquitous as for Tractor equipped with Category I Three Point Hitch, the majority discussed here.

6.4 gallons per hour of gasoline consumption with PTO @ 540 RPM. You would want a 10' or 12' wide Rotary Cutter to mow as economically as possible.



MOTOWNBROWNE: Good info presented in easy to read, easy to comprehend, paragraphs.

 

[Tractorable]

I'll admit, I love the 4020....I'd love to restore one one day just for my love of old iron and the history they represent for our culture. However, as a day-to-day working machine I'd prefer a newer more versatile machine.

 

[LD1]

LINK: TractorData.com John Deere 4020 tractor information

90" wide with R1/ag tires. Probably eight feet wide with R4/industrial tires.
Specs do NOT show power steering.

DEMONLLAMA: I suggest you buy a 10' stick of 1-1/4" PVC pipe. Cut the pipe to 96", also mark pipe at 90".
Walk tractor-width pipe around your property to see how a Deere 4020 fits.

Be aware this tractor (unsurprisingly) has a Category II Three Point Hitch, so implements will not be as ubiquitous as for Tractor equipped with Category I Three Point Hitch, the majority discussed here.

6.4 gallons per hour of gasoline consumption with PTO @ 540 RPM. You would want a 10' or 12' wide Rotary Cutter to mow as economically as possible.



MOTOWNBROWNE: Good info presented in easy to read, easy to comprehend, paragraphs.

Where did you get 6.4 gph at?

Nebraska tests that I saw, depending on usage (PTO, max drawbar, etc) and depending on which gas motor and which trans.....I saw numbers ranging just under 7 to just over 9.

Good idea on the pipe checking width. But I'd also check height. Tractor data lists the height to the top of the exhaust at 88 inches.....but I question that number.

 

[bazman82]

Just my quick 2 cents on this since even I am new here. It took me 3 years to find the right tractor at the right price. There are plenty of options out there for under 10k, you just need to look hard and check local auctions. The advice I was given from a much older gentlemen was to get the biggest you will need that will run all your equipment and then scale down from there as time and money free up. If you live in an area with any mud, 4wd is huge. Specially with working in woods, and then you would be set for snowy weather as well.

I bought my SAME Mercury 75 for $7500 at a farm auction last spring and for a tractor that is about 36 years old, it runs great and sips fuel. Fuel was another thing to keep an eye on for the budget spender. I was always told to stay away from gas and diesels bigger than 4 cylinder, but I didn't need anything bigger than 75hp. If you are able to do any of the mechanical work on your own and have the time and equip to do that, I would buy an old used 4wd tractor with loader.

This is my $7500 auction special, ready to work with no repairs right from the start.

 

[rScotty]

Ive done a little bit of looking since I posted this and found a JD 4020 with a front end loader. Gas and 4wd. If im not mistaken, this should be able to do what I am looking for. The one im looking at is used with 2990 hours on it.

An excellent tractor. I think it is a little large....and might wish it were the 3020 instead....but with a loader and 2990 hours and that wonderful old gas industrial engine you have found a winner. Particularly good with the property that you are describing. That's a big comfortable machine, too. With room for big feet.
We used a full size 2wd Ag tractor/loader combo for 25 years and it was just fine. Was it perfect? No....but there were very few jobs it wouldn't do, and it would do them without straining. Big Ags have the the power & strength to use a whole world of implements that are just \not available to smaller machines.
Go for it.
rScotty