Which one 5740 or 4540?

[Stampeder]

As I noted in another thread, I am looking at a 5740 with the new curved FEL arms and a 4540 with the older straight FEL arms.
They will both price out about the same and similar warranties.

Here's my use:

15.5 acres of flat pasture. Will be haying most of it. Mowing, baling, stacking of square bales. Possilby some discing.
Barn with two horses growing to four.
No snow to push around.
Will be doing subsoil plowing in of waterlines and telecom/electrical cables.
Will be using a brush hog and auger.
Will also be using pallet forks.
Like the quick change front ends on new FEL's.

What is the opinions of those who have or owned one or both of these given the conditions I describe.

Thanks.

 

[Doc_Bob]

5740

You can never go wrong with more power. I own a NH TN70A, so this opinion is simply based upon more power.
Bob

 

[Maka]

Hi Stampeder. I am sorry I have not gotten right back to you as it has been a bit crazy. Here is the way I see it. The 4540 is a great tractor and my personal favorite of the compacts. Lots of power for size and will do lots of work.

What size bales? Stacking how high? What type of soil are you working in?

First off, the old style loader on the 4540 is OK but may not have the lift height for stacking or the even the lift capacity. I like them well enough but they are nothing compared to the curved boom loaders. By the way, it has a quick connect and bale spears and forks are available but it is not skid steer compatible.

If you are only doing small square bales stacking only a few high using a small disc etc. the 4540 is enough.

The 5740 would be a great machine but might be more than you need. Anyone else?

Maka

 

[Dargo]

it has a quick connect and bale spears and forks are available but it is not skid steer compatible

No kidding?? Why would that be?

 

[dgl24087]

No kidding?? Why would that be?

It may have the new ISO "world" mounting system. I couldn't tell from the pics on the Montana web site. The curved arm loader looked alot like the Rhino loaders supplied to NH to me.

 

[xxxsandman]

I own a 4540 with older style FEL and do all the items you mentioned, on 40 acres.

I wrote a detailed review of it in this forum over a year ago. You can search and find it, I'm sure.

How big and tall are you? If you are 6' or taller and/or over 200lbs do NOT get the 4540. The operator station is way to cramped. That's my biggest grip with it.

The 4540 is a powerful machine for it's size. Power isn't a issue with it. The ONLY advantage I can imagine a 4540 has over a 5740 is being able to operate easier in tighter spaces, such as cleaning a barn out and tight mowing. It's excellent at cleaning my barn out. It also makes a very fine mowing machine, as it's got all the PTO horsepower you need, turns tight, and doesn't leave a big foot print due to weight.

For ME, I would take the 5740 in a heart beat. I could use the extra lifting capacity and weight of the machine. But for you, you should consider the couple of things the 4540 is better at and see how they apply to what you will be using it for.

 

[montanaman]

Like has been mentioned, you are really going to have to think about how you will use the tractor and go from there. If they do price out close to the same, it sounds like the 57 is a better deal but a good deal doesn't matter if you aren't happy with it once you own it!

It seemed to me that there was some confusion in this thread about the bucket mounts. The curved boom loader IS a skid steer style loader while the old style loader is not. The old style loader does have forks and bale spears available,but they aren't universal.

I really like both tractors and I guess for me, it would likely come down to how much room I had to use it, and what I needed the loader to lift.

Just think it out and I think you'll be happy!

Ken

 

[Stampeder]

Thanks for all your replies and thought provoking questions.
Maka: I fully understand at this time of year I was not surprised. No problem
A number of you asked questions about the use I will make of my Montana.
First, I am 5' 10" and weigh over 200 lbs.
I will be dealing with small square bales and this will be amost totally by myself. All our kids are grown and on their own.
Hence, I am also really interested in everyone's experiences with bale grabbers. These would greatly reduce the physical labour with the small bales.
Also, I plan on running this tractor on biodiesel. Any experiences with this.
My barn is only about 1 to 2 years old. It was built with two 10' wide 10' high doors, one on either end so I can drive straight through to clean it out. Got to thank the guy that designed it for that.
The other question I had about these two tractors is how would they be for mowing the grass around the house with a finishing mower? Or should I just get a riding mower? We have a couple of large trees in the back of the house.
Back to the bales. I don't think I want to stack more than 8 or 10 bales high. I've got room and it can get a little aukward otherwise.
As to the soil type it's pretty sandy with clay down below 2 ft.
I have a question on tire types. Should I equip this with turf tires or go with the Ag tires that are on it? I'm in North Texas where it is pretty dry (in the midst of a 3 year drought) so mud isn't a big problem as you can imagine.
Thanks again for all the great responses. I find I gain a lot of information from this forum.

 

[Chipperman]

Thanks for all your replies and thought provoking questions.
Maka: I fully understand at this time of year I was not surprised. No problem
A number of you asked questions about the use I will make of my Montana.
First, I am 5' 10" and weigh over 200 lbs.
I will be dealing with small square bales and this will be amost totally by myself. All our kids are grown and on their own.
Hence, I am also really interested in everyone's experiences with bale grabbers. These would greatly reduce the physical labour with the small bales.
Also, I plan on running this tractor on biodiesel. Any experiences with this.
My barn is only about 1 to 2 years old. It was built with two 10' wide 10' high doors, one on either end so I can drive straight through to clean it out. Got to thank the guy that designed it for that.
The other question I had about these two tractors is how would they be for mowing the grass around the house with a finishing mower? Or should I just get a riding mower? We have a couple of large trees in the back of the house.
Back to the bales. I don't think I want to stack more than 8 or 10 bales high. I've got room and it can get a little aukward otherwise.
As to the soil type it's pretty sandy with clay down below 2 ft.
I have a question on tire types. Should I equip this with turf tires or go with the Ag tires that are on it? I'm in North Texas where it is pretty dry (in the midst of a 3 year drought) so mud isn't a big problem as you can imagine.
Thanks again for all the great responses. I find I gain a lot of information from this forum.

Stampeder
He is my 2 cents. For your purposes do not buy any tractor if it does not have the skid steer mount. You say you will be working mostly alone and you are considering a bale grabber. They do make grabbers you can use with out a skidsteer mount but it is far, and I mean far easier to use the quick connect instead on pounding out and back pins. In addition to the skidsteer mount you would be wise to purchase the tractor with a 3rd function mounted to the loader boom. Again you can plumb a grabber into the aux remotes but the 3rd function is much quicker and easier to use. Last thing I will add is for mowing around the house buy yourself a riding mower and if you can afford it a ZTR. What ever you chose I hope you enjoy it.
Happy Holidays
Chipperman

 

[Doc_Bob]

As to the soil type it's pretty sandy with clay down below

If you never will run on lawn, go with Ag.
Bob