Need help choosing a new Deere

[MagPede]

Hey yall, I'm new here and lookin for some insight from some owners. I'm strongly considering getting me a new John Deere within a year. The model I'm looking at is the 3320 with a FEL and a MMM. As you can see I have tractors but I intend to at least partially retire them perdy soon, especially the D12's as there were only about 4000 or so made. My main questions are would this new tractor be able to handle the equipment my old ones did. Mostly a 5 ft disc, 5 ft box blade, and a 5 ft bush hog. I also have a 2 bottom plow but feel a little uneasy about using it with a new tractor although our D12 had no trouble with it even tho it's only good for about 33 HP. It actually handled all of the equipment mentioned well. Also if someone could weigh in on the PowrReverser and eHydro transmissions that would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[KB9UDE]

If you are looking at going ground engaging work I would recommend a JD 4120 Power Reverser. I had a 3320 ehydro and quickly upgraded to the 4120.

John

 

[ddivinia]

e-hydro is so hard to beat

MMM - mixed reviews Will it be your only lawn mower? A rear mounted finishing mower might be a better call.

Are you considering a cab?

Front end loader?

I believe all your attachments would work fine.

D.

 

[MagPede]

Hmm...interesting. I know I mentioned the equipment but honestly for the most part I will mostly be using just the loader and mower on this tractor to move things around and clean up. My 8n has one but as with a lot of old loaders it is a hassle to get on and off (basically have to crawl over the loader like a jungle gym to get on) and the new tractor seems to have a higher load capacity than my Dearborn loader not to mention the lack of power steering on my 8N. I forgot to mention the disc is fully adjustable and that we actually used to pull it behind the 8n we used to have years ago and those are only about 25HP but ours prolly wasnt makin that at the time...would it still be too much for this tractor or..? In the future I intend to get a John Deere 4020 to take care of all my plowing duties and use the new tractor to move things around for whatever I might be building/restoring at the time.

 

[MagPede]

e-hydro is so hard to beat

MMM - mixed reviews Will it be your only lawn mower? A rear mounted finishing mower might be a better call.

Are you considering a cab?

Front end loader?

I believe all your attachments would work fine.

D.

No I will still have a smaller riding mower mower.

No cabs for me....just don't seem right. No offense to anybody.

Definately a front end loader.

 

[ddivinia]

No I will still have a smaller riding mower mower.

No cabs for me....just don't seem right. No offense to anybody.

Definately a front end loader.

It must not be very hot, humid or dusty where you will be working...

D.

 

[MagPede]

Just typical South Carolina weather...90's and fairly humid..not so much dust tho.

 

[ddivinia]

Just typical South Carolina weather...90's and fairly humid..not so much dust tho.

Ever used a cab?

D.

 

[MagPede]

Nope...never used one. I like being open..on a tractor at least. Don't want to spoil myself. My truck doesn't even have a/c.

 

[ddivinia]

Nope...never used one. I like being open..on a tractor at least. Don't want to spoil myself. My truck doesn't even have a/c.

Your more man than me.

Atleast the 3x20 is quiet. My 4720 I would never run it without ear muffs.
D.

 

[mjncad]

If your going to be doing mostly loader work, get the ehydro. It's so much easier to be precise in tight spots.

Unless maneuverability is an issue, I would go with the rear mounted mower because a permanently attached MMM is going to seriously cut into your ground clearance and from what I've seen, taking a MMM off and putting it on is a PITA, unless it's one of Deere's new drive on/drive off mowers.

Plus a rear mower will serve as ballast when you are using your loader; but I'd get a ballast box to use with your loader as it doesn't hang out the backside as much as an implement does.

I'm with ddivinia...you're more man than me to prefer open station. I have open station and want a cab; but that's not in the budget.

 

[unreconstructed]

Spent many an hour on a 4020 as a teenager. Nice tractor. Grew up on a farm in West Texas--started in the fields in '59. No cab. Am like you, cab just does not seem right--no offense intended to cab owners. Worked for a guy who had a cab but the a/c did not work. Was young and dumb and drove it anyway 12 hrs a day in the West Texas heat.

I have no experience with those two tractor models. Do have a ballast box for my 2320--sure beats using implement for ballast. Have been using implement for ballast on my 5203--PITA.

Went to power reverser tranny on last tractor--have not got to use it yet. Its gotta be a heap better than the crash box on my 5203. So the hydro is good advice for the loader work, especially if you have the 4020 for your till work.

Good hunting.

 

[Cidertom]

I suggest you consider the 4x20 series. I have a 4520 that does most things I have asked it. Fairly strong loader, good pulling power. Removing the loader is easy. The longest part is disconnecting the 6 hydraulic lines. Unless you are doing a lot of pallet work I would not suggest the 400CX FEL. I have it and trying to carry heaped buckets is a pain.

I disagree with the E-hydro is the easiest for loader work. I have a 12/12 reverser and it does just fine. I like the fact that I can go just as fast backwards as forwards which saves a lot of turning around when moving stuff from place to place. For me turning backwards while trying to keep the foot in position is more difficult than flipping the lever.

I don't have a cab. If I were doing just field work I would consider it, but too many times as it is I wind up folding the ROPS to get the job done.

What ever you wind up with, have fun, be safe.

 

[unreconstructed]

Sure glad to hear you fellas bragging on that power reverser. Am working my @#$ off right now and no time to get to the farm, but I have a lot of blow sand to move. Can't wait to
find our how good the power reverser is.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

After having had my eHydro for 5 months now, you couldnt pry it from my cold dead hands. And I was kinda miffed at the beginning that you couldnt choose the tranny in the Cab models (was really wanting the PowrReverser as I used to be an old fashioned "gears are better" kinda guy), but I got the eHydro cause I'd rather be warm & toasty in my cab listening to the radio weather forecasts this winter...Since 97 I've used my Dad's GST 'bota...I used to think GST was slick....but now you couldnt pay me to go back.
That being said, I'm still not a big fan of the old school "Mechanical Linkage" Hydro...

 

[putt_putt_green]

I use a PowerReverser with my front end loader. I don't see what I'm missing, but I'm sure I am missing something. PowerReverser is quieter and uses less fuel (because you start at lower RPM's and crank it up when you need it). PowerReverser supplys more power to the wheels (provided you have enough traction). PowerReverser is cheaper and you can buy a couple hundred gallons of diesel or a 3rd SCV, canopy, and toothbar.

I find that most of my shifting is between ranges, which I think you need to do with the hydro units too. Dig into a pile, back up, and go 500 feet to dump it. But that's my particular situation. Shifting within a range is easy enough, given you don't have a bum left leg.

Power Reverser also puts the brakes on right hand side, which will most likely be more consistent with your other tractors.

The 3520 is better with 6' implements and puts 30HP on the PTO, if you ever plan to go that path. My 3520 will pull that 2 bottom plow.

 

[RWolf]

From what you've described you might also consider the 5xxx series. I've got the smallest 5xxx series (5103) 40PTO HP and haven't yet found a job it can't do. I paid just a tad over $20K for the tractor, FEL, HD box blade, 6ft. rotary cutter. I'm using it on 25ac. I believe the tractor with FEL was a bit over $14K.

 

[MagPede]

Last time I was at the dealer I looked at some of the 5x03's..mostly the 5403. I think it was about 25K. Which brings me to ask, Why is the 4320 about the same price? Thanks for all the replies.

 

[ddivinia]

Last time I was at the dealer I looked at some of the 5x03's..mostly the 5403. I think it was about 25K. Which brings me to ask, Why is the 4320 about the same price? Thanks for all the replies.

4x20 series are all 4WD for one
More Trans Options also.

So, it really depends on how each of them were optioned.

D.

 

[MagPede]

Ya, the 5403 I looked at was 4wd also. But now that I think about it, if I were to get say the 4320..I prolly wouldn't need to buy another tractor like an old 4020 unless I buy a bigger farm and would come out better in the long run.