Tractor Sizing Which John Deere SCUT/CUT

[MikeSSV]

Hi all,

Looking to move onto acreage on the outskirts of Sydney.
Biggest complaint from most in the area is that there is a lot of maintenance on an acreage property - these people typically have a baby lawn tractor to mow 5-10 acres!

What I need to do:
Light landscaping - garden bed construction etc. (No heavy earth works).
Post and rail fencing construction
Gravel driveway maintenance
Mowing about 1 acre, the rest will be grazed (alpaccas, sheep).

Attachments I think I would use:
Front End Loader
Front Blade
Box Blade
Mower
Tiller
Post Hole Digger

From what I can tell (from the brochure at least), a JD 1025R would easily suit all of my needs.
Reading these forums, a lot of people have a 2, 3 or 4 series for a simialr amount of land.

Is there really much benefit to going bigger? I.e. is a 2032R or 3033R worth considering?
Also, any technical reason why a 2 series isn't compatible with the auto-connect mower decks? (Trying to keep things wife friendly).

Thanks,

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Cobber and welcome to TBN from Tassie.

One of the reasons to go for a 3 or 4 series is that the 3 point hitch (3PH) are Cat 1, a 2 series (if I remember) is just over the line for Cat 1. For the implements that you want to run off of the back end you're better off with a 3 or 4 series. The brochures say that the 1025R is Cat 0 and can just handle some Cat 1 implements but only with a heck of a lot of fiddling

If you don't mind giving up 'pretty things' like cruise control, an anti-vibration deck, a cab, etc... you might consider what I have, the 4105. It's less expensive than the top 3 series rig, which leaves more $s for implements.

Also, if you've only going to mow 1 acre, I'd opt for a separate dedicated Lawn Tractor... something like a D105 or D110. Bundle the lawn tractor together together with the bigger tractor & implements.

TractorData.com John Deere 4105 tractor information

The above site, Tractor Data, is an excellent one for comparing all makes/models of tractors.

Good luck, Mate.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would recommend the 2032R for your tasks and would consider a 3 pt finish mower if the mowing is mostly open. While you only plan to mow one acre you may need to mow the rest occasionally to keep it in shape. This could be done with a small 3ph brush mower or the finish mower if the grasses are light enough. While animals will eat down the desirable grasses they will pass over some stuff and this needs to be mowed down to keep in check.

My thought is that a front blade might be useful for snow removal but is not worth much for any dirt work on these small machines. I would skip this item and get a small landplane grader scraper or other "want" item.

The 2032R has enough pto hp to run a small tiller and mower well, the 1026R is a little light for the tilling but okay for mowing. I would not expect a 1026R to handle a box blade very well either, just too light a tractor to do much of anything with. I am sure I will be admonished for this but that is why they make larger tractors, there is a difference in what you can expect to do with the various sizes. Upsizing later costs more money so I recommend you skip over the 1 series and get a higher powered 2 series from the start.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I guess we tend to recommend what we ourselves have chosen, especially if we think we made the correct decision. Initially I considered the 1 - 2 - 3 series type tractor. One of my "must be able to" requirements was to lift a M3 bag of dirt, which pretty much left out Series 1 - 2. I didn't need a lot of PTO power or ground engaging power, so the 3320 seemed perfect. Since 2008 I've been mostly happy with that decision, although there have been a few times the FEL of a 4x20 would have been appreciated. Started with an O/S and then later upgraded to CAB. Never once thought I should have bought smaller. In your case if FEL capacity is not an issue the Series 2 might be a good fit. In addition to FEL lift capacity also consider lift height.

 

[MikeSSV]

G'day Cobber and welcome to TBN from Tassie.

One of the reasons to go for a 3 or 4 series is that the 3 point hitch (3PH) are Cat 1, a 2 series (if I remember) is just over the line for Cat 1. For the implements that you want to run off of the back end you're better off with a 3 or 4 series. The brochures say that the 1025R is Cat 0 and can just handle some Cat 1 implements but only with a heck of a lot of fiddling

If you don't mind giving up 'pretty things' like cruise control, an anti-vibration deck, a cab, etc... you might consider what I have, the 4105. It's less expensive than the top 3 series rig, which leaves more $s for implements.

Also, if you've only going to mow 1 acre, I'd opt for a separate dedicated Lawn Tractor... something like a D105 or D110. Bundle the lawn tractor together together with the bigger tractor & implements.

TractorData.com John Deere 4105 tractor information

The above site, Tractor Data, is an excellent one for comparing all makes/models of tractors.

Good luck, Mate.

Thanks Wagtail, jenkinsph and CinderSchnauzer. Appreciate your advice and insight.

The thing is, the 1 series seems to be perfect once everything is completely finished and only general maintenance is left to do.

A 2 series might be a better compromise if I'm trying to stick to just one machine.
A 3 series (or 4 series) and a ride on mower might be the way to go.

 

[Wagtail]

I know it's a tough decision as there're so many options... and the brochures look so darn pretty!

The mantra here on TBN is: figure out what size, hp, tractor you need and then go (at least) one size bigger. You will be amazed what you will get up to once you have one.

You need to go to your JD dealership (if that's the 'colour' you've decided on) and talk to them about your requirements. The reason that I mentioned my 4105 is that it isn't in the pretty brochures... my dealership salesman suggested it as we were talking [and, no, there didn't happen to be one on the lot for sale ]. Take your time.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Thanks Wagtail, jenkinsph and CinderSchnauzer. Appreciate your advice and insight.

The thing is, the 1 series seems to be perfect once everything is completely finished and only general maintenance is left to do.

In theory at least, a series 1 SCUT will do everything that can be done with a Series 3 or 4. It will just take a lot longer because most of the attachments will be smaller or not as wide etc. The one thing it will not do is lift something either in the bucket or with forks at the same time. For example, a few days ago I had to remove three evergreen trees that were winter killed. The BH was not on the tractor to dig them out. I was able to put a chain around the base and pull them out with the FEL. Almost didn't work, but, I know for sure a Series 1 could not have done the job.

I regularly need to lift things to and from a storage platform that is about 8'. With forks, my FEL will lift that high, but a Series 1 will not. Depending on your age and physical abilities you tractor becomes an extra pair of hands or workmate. I have often said to DW, if not for the JD tractor, I wouldn't have been able to do that job.

It may well be a Series 1 would be the perfect answer for you, but try to visualize if any particular feature might be a significant handicap in the future. It becomes a much more expensive undertaking to trade up, than to buy larger in the first place.

 

[MikeSSV]

In theory at least, a series 1 SCUT will do everything that can be done with a Series 3 or 4. It will just take a lot longer because most of the attachments will be smaller or not as wide etc. The one thing it will not do is lift something either in the bucket or with forks at the same time. For example, a few days ago I had to remove three evergreen trees that were winter killed. The BH was not on the tractor to dig them out. I was able to put a chain around the base and pull them out with the FEL. Almost didn't work, but, I know for sure a Series 1 could not have done the job.

I regularly need to lift things to and from a storage platform that is about 8'. With forks, my FEL will lift that high, but a Series 1 will not. Depending on your age and physical abilities you tractor becomes an extra pair of hands or workmate. I have often said to DW, if not for the JD tractor, I wouldn't have been able to do that job.

It may well be a Series 1 would be the perfect answer for you, but try to visualize if any particular feature might be a significant handicap in the future. It becomes a much more expensive undertaking to trade up, than to buy larger in the first place.

Part of me thinks just buy an X758 for mowing and light work and 4066R but then money doesn't grow on trees!

I have tried to visualise it and still seem to think the 1 series could do it, but like you said a little slower.
The 1 series is particularly friendly for my wife to use, although having said that my wife enjoyed sitting on the 3 series!

I know it's a tough decision as there're so many options... and the brochures look so darn pretty!

The mantra here on TBN is: figure out what size, hp, tractor you need and then go (at least) one size bigger. You will be amazed what you will get up to once you have one.

You need to go to your JD dealership (if that's the 'colour' you've decided on) and talk to them about your requirements. The reason that I mentioned my 4105 is that it isn't in the pretty brochures... my dealership salesman suggested it as we were talking [and, no, there didn't happen to be one on the lot for sale ]. Take your time.

Yes the 2 series seems to fit the bill then. It doesn't have the autoconnect mower deck so then the 3 series might be the default.
Presumably a new 2 series will be out sometime soonish?

Only 1 JD dealer in Sydney. I don't think they cater to my market, only the lower end ride ons and 5 series and above. Not much in between.

Wagtail plenty of time for me to look I suspect. Trying to buy in Sydney is very difficult right now as buyers have gone totally irrational.
I'm half tempted to sell up and leave for greener pastures, but my work is unfortunately too specialised.

 

[buickanddeere]

One size does not fit all.
A 5055E 4WD with loader and a Z400 series zero turn mower. Less $$$ combined and more capable than a 4 series hydrostatic tractor alone.
Fortunately the operator sits in the middle of those machines instead of being over on the right side where the passenger belongs.

 

[Wagtail]

Only 1 JD dealer in Sydney. I don't think they cater to my market, only the lower end ride ons and 5 series and above. Not much in between.

Wagtail plenty of time for me to look I suspect. Trying to buy in Sydney is very difficult right now as buyers have gone totally irrational.
I'm half tempted to sell up and leave for greener pastures, but my work is unfortunately too specialised.

I suspect that the buyer frenzy is due to the $20,000 asset write-off announced in the federal budget. Personally I find it strange that a dealership wouldn't cater to you (I'm spoilt here in Tassie) but there are plenty of stories/threads here on TBN about less than hospitable dealerships. :confused3:

You might need to take the wife away for a romantic weekend to Bowral or Quirindi?

NSW JD Dealerships: list of John Deere Dealers - NSW - Allyards Internet Group Pty Ltd