Which model to buy?

[jimmyj]

Hi all

I have been posting on the orange tractor pages but a few of the guys there have told me I should be looking at green too. I am hoping to buy a tractor for between $15k and $20k for the following:
-moving manure (have cows, goats, sheep)
-moving 600 - 700 lb round bales (only 2 a week from the barn to the feeder, no stacking required as I only buy 4 at a time from a local guy)
-general loader work around the 10 acres we have
-clearing the driveway, grading too (400 ft long)
-some towing of trailers
-possibly a 3ph snowblower or auger
-some of my terrain is slightly hilly, not much or very steep though

I am now quite educated about the orange guys but the green is new to me. Which JD models do you recommend for these uses and budget? I really would like 4wd as my current (small + old) 2wd tractor is a real pain in the muddy areas, particularly on a slope. I would guess from what I've learned so far that 30 to 45 hp would be the right range but the JD model numbers are confusing to me.

 

[tessiers]

I will get chastized because it is too small but I bought a john deere 790 4x4 3 years ago for my small farm.

I run a small family farm, beef, hogs, poultry, and a little woods work.

I feed dry round bales in the 6 to 7 hundred pound range, stack them 2 high in the barn.

I cut and skid 20 to 30 cords of firewood per year plus a few saw logs every now and again. I also have a 3pt wood splitter.

Maintain 1500' dirt road, gravel in summer and snow in winter (5' rear snow blower)

Mow about 5 acres of pasture +/-

3 pt mounted trailer hitch

I also have a backhoe that always seams to be needed for something.

This has turned out to be a great tractor in a small package. I paid about $16,000.00 with loader and loaded tires brand new.

 

[wolc123]

If you could scrape up another 3-4k and go with a 4120 you will have something at the 43 hp level that outspec's anything in the orange or blue stables. This tractor comes standard with a quick-attach bucket on the 400X or 400CX loader and adding this option to a similar (but underspec'd) orange or blue model will usually push thier costs equal or higher. I have had a 4120 (3) years, used it hard, and not had a single problem with it. If you really have to stay in your budget, you might look at the 790 or 990 or thier 3000 series replacements in the new model year. Consider that these models have imported engines rather than the JD powertech and have far less hydraulic power. That might not be important to you but it was for me because I did not want to be the first in my family to bring "overseas power" to our farm. As far as I know, the JD 4000 series is the only option out there from any manufacturer for American power in your horsepower range.

 

[Millalien]

I'm not sure about the 30-45 HP part. A 2000 series could do what you're asking in the sub-30 HP category, maybe slower and not always. I did all that with a 16 Hp Deere 670 (now discontinued.) As you'll soon discover, the devil is in the details --

What kind of loader work?
How much PTO HP does your PTO implement need?
Backhoe?
What other implements?
What's your real budget?
How much time will you / doe you have to spend in the saddle?
How much will it hurt to upgrade if you made the wrong choice?
How much will it hurt to downgrade if you made the wrong choice?
How much will it hurt to do nothing if you made the wrong choice?

I went through this drill and was settled on a 2X20 but reconsidered time and effort and got a 3320 instead. The 2X20 would have done just about everything the 3320 can but a little slower. What it can't do is drive PTO attachments rated beyond its PTO HP.

If the 20K number is the ceiling without implements but with a loader, then you could get into a 3320, which is 32-33 HP. Or you could get a 2X20 and use the extra dough for implements. Anything bigger than that for that money is ruled out on the Deere side.

There are approximately ten bazzillion words of advice on this very topic in this very forum. Have fun spending hours and hours reading opinions on the differences between 2320s, 2520s, 3205s, 3320s, 3520s etc. etc. etc. I read just about every one and what tipped more one way over the other was standing in the dealer lot facing a side-by-side and visioning all the likely things I'd be doing with the machines. I went bigger, but not over budget, and kind of think the best single euphemism is to buy the biggest you can afford unless there some physical limitation that makes small better.

As far as orange v. green, I think it depends on the HP. I preferred the 3320 over the Kubota competitors in that class. If I'd gone for less HP, I very likely would have gone Kubota and saved a few bucks. But I didn't!!

 

[gulfofmexico]

I would look at a 5103 with 4 wheel drive with a loader.

 

[exiled]

If I was buying a new tractor it would be a 5303. For what you get for the price I just dont see you going wrong w/ a 5203 or a 5303. You can get either tractor under $17,500. Adding the loader depending wich one you can look at about $22,000. They got the power and the right size so you dont feel like your sitting on a giant bigwheel or a Tim the toolman lawn mower. When you go pushing, pulling, and lifting w/ the machine it starts to take a toll. If it does'nt have any meat on its bones its going to ware out pretty fast.

 

[jimmyj]

This is good stuff. Keep 'em coming.

Regarding Millalien's questions:
What kind of loader work? 50% will be moving hay bales from truck to barn then from barn to pasture - about 400 feet, but up and down hill. 30% will be cleaning up wasted hay, bedding and manure piles. Of course the rest will be odds and ends such as some landscaping, snow removal, some firewood work. There are always a million light things to do with a loader.
How much PTO HP does your PTO implement need?This is a good question that I need to research more. Likely the only rear PTO work I'll ever do will be a snowblower.
Backhoe?Would be a nice thing to play with but I can't justify buying one. I have 4 people on my road with different types and sizes of hoes that I can borrow free any time
What other implements?Beside the snowblower I want to use the 3ph to lift and move hay bales, pallets of firewood and possibly some other stuff. Very unlikely I'd ever have to move anything over 1200lbs if even that much. I don't think anything else except maybe a rented 12" post hole auger at some point.
What's your real budget?20k is tops.
How much time will you / doe you have to spend in the saddle?Less than 100hrs a year.
How much will it hurt to upgrade if you made the wrong choice?Not too much but I'm big advantages of JD and Kubota is resale if I do decide I've missed the mark.
How much will it hurt to downgrade if you made the wrong choice? Same as above
How much will it hurt to do nothing if you made the wrong choice?I have lived with my wee 2wd tractor for the last 10 years. It's just really slow and too small to lift much. That said, I have been getting by. Mostly I want the speed and luxury of a nice tractor now that I'm at the point I can finally afford it.

Hey tessiers, the 790 is reputed to be a pretty good unit. But Tractor Data says the 3ph lift is under 900lbs. Do you think that is right?

Like I said, keep 'em coming. I want to have some research done when I do see the dealer.

 

[tessiers]

Hey tessiers, the 790 is reputed to be a pretty good unit. But Tractor Data says the 3ph lift is under 900lbs. Do you think that is right?

I really don't really know, I haven't had any problem lifting anything I put on back. It will lift a 16' pine log 24" in dia to skid out. Also runs a 9" post hole digger in clay soil with no problems.

I had the paperwork all filled out on a 990 instead of the 790 but I started looking at replacing all of my attachments (bush hog, finish mower, box blade, snow blower, rock rake, ect.) because they were to narrow for the 990. I have no regrets about the decision 3 years later so it must have been a good choice.

 

[jimmyj]

Thx again tessiers. Your needs seem to be almost identical to mine.

 

[Millalien]

Based on your reply, I think you'll find that the 2000 series tops out capacity-wise on what you're describing that you need to do. You might consider the Kubota B7800, which has a smaller frame that the Deere 3000s but sports a 30 HP engine and I think the loader lift capacity is someplace between the Deere 2000s and 3000s. Other than that, I'd consider at 3320 gear drive. Plenty of power for what you're describing and if you can live without HST then the $900 you save buys an implement.

The Deere 790, which is now called something else, gets you more PTO, less 3 PT left capacity then the other 2000 series, and can only take a 300 loader (less capacity then the 200CX).

Your uses and capacity requirements kind of put you in the middle of the Deere classes. I'd take a good look at the 3000 series, or if you don't want to spend that much, a Kubota B7800. (I don't understand why you'd consider a 5000 series.)