Which 4x20 to buy?

[wolc123]

It sounds like you are looking at the right series of tractors. The 3000-20's are too small for round bales and the 5103's are a little clumsy for mowing. Also the 4000-20's have more US content vs 3000-20 (Japan) and 5103 (India). My 4120 easily handles a 6 ft rotary cutter (rhino SE6). Do not forget to get your rear tires loaded to help with those round bales on the front loader. The prices you show look good if they include a 400X loader.

 

[jcmseven]

I am not disagreeing with this at all, but just as an aside both the 3000 and 4000 series are made in USA. The only real difference in the percent domestic is that the 3000 series has a Yanmar engine, which is Japanese. When I had my previous 3720 I helped my neighbor move round bales all day with a 3 point bracket mounted bale spear. I never used the 4520 for this purpose, but it would do well also. I would seriously review how much PTO work you will be doing. If it is less than 30% or so the intended tractor use, the extra HP of the 4520 or 4720 will be of no use to you. Chip, please let me save you some money by recommending the 4120 or 4320 if you go large frame. I will feel better about it.

John M

 

[slaveToHorses]

The one thing that really uses power is a chipper.
You mentioned that you wanted to run a 6" chipper. I don't recall if you already have it or not.
I have an 8" chipper and I run it with a 55 PTO tractor. I can definitely lug the motor feeding it a 30' long full sized tree.
It has hydraulic feed so if the speed controller isn't on it will just keep feeding the tree until either the motor stalls or I stop the feed.

If you think you might upscale the chipper then get the most hp you can. However any of the 4x20's would be fine for the 6".
Some chipper manufacturers have an upper limit to power. I called up BearCat to make sure they would honor my warrantee
if I ran it with a much larger tractor. They assured me it was fine.