TYM T474 vs John Deere 4044M

[saxon11]

I'm buying a new tractor and it's between the TYM T474 ($35k new) and John Deere 4044 ($52k new). They are similar in specs, but about $17k price difference. Obviously JD has better brand, more dealers, and sounds like when I talk to folks, a better tractor.

I'm trying to warrant spending significantly more considering this is my 1st tractor for my 10 acre piece of property. I'll be using it to do some gardening, landscaping, snow removal, and give rides to kids. When things break, I'd like to figure out easily how to fix (ideally more reliable the better..)

Opinions welcome, thank you

 

[jeff9366]

A very clear post.

You are considering tractors with enough weight for ten acres. Enough weight helps keep neophyte tractor operators SAFE.

John Deere 4044M​

Dimensions
Wheelbase:	73 inches 185 cm
Length:	130.6 inches 331 cm
Height (ROPS):	100.2 inches 254 cm
Height (cab):	97.4 inches 247 cm
Weight:	3770 lbs 1710 kg
Clearance (front axle):	13.8 inches 35 cm
Front tread:	53.6 inches 136 cm
Rear tread:

TYM T474​

Dimensions
Wheelbase:	68.9 inches 175 cm
ROPS Length:	131 inches 332 cm
Cab Length:	133 inches 337 cm
ROPS Width:	54.5 inches 138 cm
Cab Width:	59 inches 149 cm
Height (ROPS):	94.4 inches 239 cm
Height (cab):	92.5 inches 234 cm
ROPS Weight:	3230 lbs 1465 kg
Cab Weight:	3605 lbs 1635 kg
Ground clearance:	12.8 inches 32 cm

This will be my 1st tractor. I have a 10 acre property.

First off, I agree with BOTH posts #4 and #5, following.
Each of us value money differently.

Consider this:

Brand? Models to look at or avoid? Buy new or used?

The design of the Three Point Hitch tractor has been marketed in the USA since 1939 -- 83 years in 2022.

The basic design is generic.

Kubota and Deere have most of the market through 6,000 pound bare weight tractors.

The up and coming tractor brands are Korean: Kioti, LS and Branson. There are other Korean brands. You have to critically assess dealer stability while shopping minor brands.

Korean manufacturing labor is paid 50% of what Deere pays its union work force. Japanese manufacturing labor is paid 70% of what Deere pays its union work force. Labor costs strongly influence tractor prices.

We have the following brands within an hour of us.

• Kubota
• LS
• TYM
• KIOTI
• Massey Ferguson
• John Deere

I know that a lot depends on the dealer and their willingness to help, but should I stay away from any of these brands?

A quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is important for tractor neophytes. Most new tractors are delivered with a glitch or two requiring correction. My Kubota dealer is six miles away. I feel my local dealer continues to add value to my equipment after nine years. Dealer proximity is less important for those experienced with tractors and qualified to perform their own maintenance.

Start with the nearest dealer and work out. Transporting a tractor for service is expensive and inconvenient, whether you trailer it or the dealer trailers it.


CREDIT: 'FELIXEDO'

"It has been touched on a couple of times, but not directly as a buying factor.

Every major make has a machine that will do the job(s) you want. Check out your nearby dealers, and go with one you have confidence in.

A great machine with no support nearby is a hassle to repair and maintain.

And a good machine can't make a lousy dealer into a good dealer."

 

[5030]

Whatever you decide on, expect to wait months for it unless some dealer has one in stock (which is doubtful).

 

[Hozzie]

Have you driven, operated either of them? I personally just went through the process to decide on a new tractor, moving from my MX5800 and ultimately deciding on a new M7060 Cab. Everyone talks about "value" and how the lower cost options give you more for your money via straight specs. And while they are right to a point, it misses for me a big factor and that is fit and finish as well as what I am going to call responsiveness.

I looked at all of the major and many minor brands, including TYM. I ruled out TYM simply due to the placement of the hydraulic controls in the cab, so I can't say I looked at it much closer than that. I was nearly convinced of getting a new Kioti 7320 cab and had the opportunity to buy one that was on the lot. I had looked at them and even drove them multiple times and on my final inspection it was the little things that really made me go back to Kubota. Hydraulic lines were routed outside the loader frame where the Kubota was inside the frame offering more protection. The window trim on the Kioti just looked and felt cheap like it wouldn't hold up, the window knobs felt cheap. I may have been able to live with all of that for the savings, but more critically, I didn't feel I had the loader control I had on my old Kubota or the new one. I couldn't lift and curl at the same time with any control it seemed and the speed of lifting was noticeably slower on the Kioti. I felt like I was sitting there forever waiting for it to rise to full height. It also didn't have protection in places some of the other tractors had. We want to look at the capacities all of the time, but we miss many times the actual "feel" of some of these functions. Capacity is important but if you are going to be maxing out capacity on a regular basis you need to move up a tractor size. Operating feel is much important for me assuming all else is reasonably equal (outside of just price)

I would strongly encourage looking at some of the more detailed aspects. It's these things you don't full appreciate until later. If you have never owned a bigger tractor, you may not know the difference, but in my case, there were some clear reasons the other tractors were cheaper. That's not a bad thing, just make sure you are making a truly informed decision.

The Deere M series are very nice. I haven't had any luck dealing with my local Deere dealer so I have went Kubota, but there are a lot of good tractors out there today, but "value" doesn't tell the whole story a lot of time unless you are solely focused on the cost.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Well as an owner of a Cab T474HST, I'm totally satisfied with my purchase since July 1 2020. I have almost 190h on mine now, and I use it for heavy snow removal. I service it myself, I haven't needed much for OEM parts just yet! Just serviced fluids and filters after the manual, it is up to you what you value JD's resale value/dealer representation or 17k more in your pocket. it all depends on your localities and your own skills mechanically. The thing the T474 has going for it, it is probably IF not the only one in it's chassis size that uses a mechanical injection IDI for a Tier 4 engine? I have yet had a regen done. But I run it at 2k rpm and up to PTO speed at 2400 when working it.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

I bought a new TYM 233 in '06. Good little tractor that was very capable. It was a little rough around the edges and it didn't like cold weather starting, but I don't regret purchasing it. My brother owns it now and he leaves it on our family farm.

 

[saxon11]

Well as an owner of a Cab T474HST, I'm totally satisfied with my purchase since July 1 2020. I have almost 190h on mine now, and I use it for heavy snow removal. I service it myself, I haven't needed much for OEM parts just yet! Just serviced fluids and filters after the manual, it is up to you what you value JD's resale value/dealer representation or 17k more in your pocket. it all depends on your localities and your own skills mechanically. The thing the T474 has going for it, it is probably IF not the only one in it's chassis size that uses a mechanical injection IDI for a Tier 4 engine? I have yet had a regen done. But I run it at 2k rpm and up to PTO speed at 2400 when working it.View attachment 728245

I see you added those chains on for winter. easy to do? Hard to tell, but do you have the Industrial or Ag tires under those chains? Also, do you suggest getting ad-on implements from the dealer or did you find them elsewhere. I'm looking to add mower, planter/cultivator, and snow blower.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I've got grooved R4 tires (hot knife tool) and chains dimensioned after the tires (No need for tighteners so far) from Shop Tire Chains for Cars, Trucks, Tractors, & More!. I've gotten implemements from whomever has them in stock in this Covid world.

 

[coobie]

Whatever you decide on, expect to wait months for it unless some dealer has one in stock (which is doubtful).

You are so Mr.Positive all of the time To then OP good luck on whatever you buy, both are nice tractors.

 

[Williy]

I have 8 acres and this Yanmar YT235C has
all the power I need. Great tractor.
Have you looked at the LS tractors???
another well built machine Yanmar &
LS tractors have nice warranties.
You need to test drive the different tractors
so you can tell exactly what you like as
we can't tell you what to buy as we are not
in your shoes. Have read that Kubota and
John Deere equipment from other equipment
manufactures do not fit there tractors not
sure if this is true but check it out on the web
then you will know for sure

willy

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Am I the only one thinking that's a lot of tractor (size) for 10 acres and what sounds like typical homeowner type tasks?

 

[jeff9366]

Have read that Kubota and
John Deere equipment from other equipment
manufactures do not fit their tractors. Not
sure if this is true but check it out on the web
then you will know for sure

willy

I generally respect your posts, Willy.

Claify this one. Maybe I have missed something.



"check it out on the web then you will know for sure."

This part of your post is pretty strange.

 

[airbiscuit]

... Have read that Kubota and
John Deere equipment from other equipment
manufactures do not fit there tractors not
sure if this is true but check it out on the web
then you will know for sure

willy

If you are talking about attachments that go on the back of the tractor - Category 1 attachments will fit on any tractor with a Category 1 3pt hitch.

If you are talking about how forks, buckets, grapples, etc. attach to a loader - well it's complicated. Most brands have Quick-tach mounts (like a Bobcat skidsteer) which are the most universal. Deere has it's own sort of proprietary quick mount, and Kubota has a lot of pin on mounts. Even then, sometimes Kubota and Deere can be had with Quick-tach mounts.

 

[airbiscuit]

Am I the only one thinking that's a lot of tractor (size) for 10 acres and what sounds like typical homeowner type tasks?

It's kind of right on the bubble. Each time you go up weight, frame, and wheel size, performance improves significantly.

 

[TJL442]

35K for the T474 now? That's up some since I bought mine on July 3, 2020 but not much you can do about that with the current environment we live in. I looked at Deere before I bought my T474. I would agree with a previous post that hydraulic control placement on the Deere is way better than the TYM. As far as fit and finish, I don't see a big difference. No troubles with my T474, it's done all that I've wanted and more without a single problem. Starts well in the winter. Deere are great tractors, but for me the price of the TYM was just too good and I don't feel that I made any sacrifices going it. Good luck to you and your decision.

Tim

 

[Keweenaw County Yooper]

I had a 2010 TYM T330 that had 1300 hrs. on it when I sold it and the only thing I ever

did to it was change the fluids and filters and build a cab for it. I bought a new TYM T574 in March 2021 because of how good the old T330 was and I am even happier with the new T574 which has 115 hrs. on it now. I had no trouble selling the old T330. I can't see how the J.D. or Kubota are any better for so much more money.

 

[dodge man]

I was also thinking that sounds like a large tractor for homeowner use. It all depends on your uses, how much you want to lift. I own a JD so that’s what I like but that’s a big difference. If the TYM dealer seems well established and has been there a while I wouldn’t rule them out.

 

[Torvy]

35K for the T474 now? That's up some since I bought mine on July 3, 2020 but not much you can do about that with the current environment we live in. I looked at Deere before I bought my T474. I would agree with a previous post that hydraulic control placement on the Deere is way better than the TYM. As far as fit and finish, I don't see a big difference. No troubles with my T474, it's done all that I've wanted and more without a single problem. Starts well in the winter. Deere are great tractors, but for me the price of the TYM was just too good and I don't feel that I made any sacrifices going it. Good luck to you and your decision.

Tim

That would be my only concern. I can get a T494 for that...bigger frame and more standard features. The T494 also has the fuel tank near the step, which is better in my case. For that price, I would assume the T474 has a cab and some extras.

There is simply no real justification for spending 50% more for a tractor with similar features. Even if you assume the best about JD and the worst about TYM, $17k can do a lot to ease any concerns. I guess maybe I am too frugal. I could not justify spending that much more money due to placement of a control. If you were talking about similarly priced models, you could maybe make that argument.

As for inventory, it can vary wildly. I have 2 TYM dealers within an hour of my place. One has 1 SCUT in stock. The other has about 8-10 medium to large CUTs. For what it is worth, the guy with 1 said they just sell right away, so he cannot keep them on the lot.

 

[Jchonline]

The TYM will be missing lots of creature comforts and additional features of a premium brand tractor. For most these extras are not needed anyway. I also looked at TYM and think they are a good choice if you have a stable dealer and parts network. Much better than Bobcat, New Holland, Bad Boy, RK, or any other rebranded outfit.

 

[fishheadbob]

Am I the only one thinking that's a lot of tractor (size) for 10 acres and what sounds like typical homeowner type tasks?

No you are not the only one thinking overkill.