4720 vs 5225

[bjc4200]

My company currently runs a 4700 and a 4710. 90% of our work is mowing very heavy brush on fairly flat terrain. Breakdowns have been our main headache because of the heavy brush, rocks and tree stumps. The 4710 has all the power we need but we still end up with bent tie rods, broken fan blades, busted lights, flat tires, etc.

With that in mind we will be purchasing a new tractor and we have narrowed choices to the 4720 or 5225. Can anyone give + or - on these two models. Thank You

 

[cowboydoc]

They're both great models. Given your more industrial approach I would go with the 5225. The 5000 series have a beefier frame and components to them that will hold up better to the abuse you are putting them through.

 

[timb]

How are you moving them site to site? Park a 5000 next to a big 4000 series and the difference in beef is obvious - but so is the (trailer) weight if you're hauling them around. The 5000's going to weigh about 30% more.

 

[deeretracker]

The 4720 is a great choice for your application, The hp is great and the machine operates really well. The hydro trans really helps. With your brushogging that would have one big benfit over the 5225, Also ask your dealer about extra armour kit and deluxe brushguard. That well help with the abuse the machine takes, And ask about fome filled tires that will help with the tires going flat

 

[bjc4200]

Thank you all for the information. Today we decided to go with a 10' Woods brush mower. With that size of a deck we will most likely go with the 5225.

 

[funkuncle]

l've been on the verge of spankin down cash on a 4720 from a dealer near Syracuse, NY. Now I'm seriously concerned that the thing'll rattle apart after a few days of brushhoggin my neglected rock and woodchuck hole-ridden pastures. The sole reason I aint on the 5000 series bandwagon is due to the wifey thinks she'd be able to work the 4720 with it's ease of use hydro-ride. She ain't never been good with a pole and clutch. I wanted to keep her potential use of the tractor as part of the equation since she'd probably enjoy doing some field or driveway chores every now and again. To go with a Deere 5225, Kioti 6500 or Mahindra 7520 would be the definite end of her dream. But then again..these bigger rigs seem to dwarf the 4720 in all categories, (except the magic carpet hydro-ride). It seems for roughly the same price...you're getting so much more tractor with the bigger girls. I'm a man what works my equipment hard. If someone could tell me just how much more rugged these bigger girls are than the 4720, I'd greatly appreciate it. Oh yeh...one other concern...the 4000-20 series girls all have the same block-size...but Deere tweaks the doo-dads to wrangle up the horsies. Seems to me that the 4720 may suffer in that the thing is steroided-up to the hilt to suck every last ounce of power the block is capable of giving. Am I crazy for thinking that this could affect the long term durability of the engine...

 

[cowboydoc]

The compacts are extremely tough. I have a 4600 that is 4 years old and has over 2000 hours HARD hours on it. It's been used for everything on our ranch. It's lifted three times what it's rated for every single day, pulled plow, discs, harrows, balers, you name it. Not one thing has rattled apart. Not on thing has broken. Not one $ spent on parts other than maintenance in fuel and filters. I highly doubt you are going to do anything to that tractor to hurt it.

As far as the next size up yes they are a little beefier. But do you need it? If you need the compact size don't be afraid of it at all. That 4720 is an awesome tractor. I had one out here for awhile but I am not a hydrostatic fan and wouldn't buy it. If it had been in the power reverser I would have traded my 4600.

With regard to the motor it will be bulletproof. Deere makes excellent engines. That engine was specifically designed for the 20 series. They aren't going to make something that is pushing the ends of it's limit. They make them from the factory with plenty of reserve left in them.

The 4720 is a solid tractor that you will be hard pressed to tear up.

 

[texastomtom]

I do not believe the 4024t is a new engine,, and not specially just for the 4000 twenties as it is used in generators and probably some things i dont know about. ( i'm not sure exactly how long its been around )

I think I have seen versions of it up to 64 hp.....

The UK version of the 20 series is also intercooled per the web site..... wooo hooo

tom


I think this is a good thing,,, perhaps things are tweaked to perfection on the 4024t

 

[cowboydoc]

You may be right Tom. The dealer said the engine was specifically designed for the 20 series and that is was a new engine. The literature I have also says that it was a new engine. What "new" means may be open for debate. I'm not sure there.

 

[timb]

While the engine designs may have been freshened for the 20 series, the base design must go back a ways - if you go through JDParts on the 20 series engines, then do a 'where used' it will bring up an old line of JD skid steers no longer in production (I forget the model range off the top of my head). Most if not all of the internal parts seem to be the same.

 

[texastomtom]

I think it is "new" to their compact tractors - not "new" as in a totally new engine design.... so their brochure isn't really incorrect.. maybe almost misleading but even at that I wouldn't say it was deliberate..

Until now they used the yanmar in cut...

I'm sure they have tweaked it over the years.....

I like the engine !!!!!

tom

IT ALL GOOD

 

[zipp669]

I just got a new 4720.
I ??? the hydro vs power reverser thing my self.
Also thought I needed a BIGGER tractor.
Tryed the 5205 and for what I do seeding bridges & roadways in Des Moines iowa, www.i235.com.
It was too big. everything I had was a cat 1. The 5205 was cat 2. screwed all pto shafts up & the bigger taller tires threw off 3 pt field cults, discs & straw tuckers. Messed the bush hog up as the 3 pt arms were longer. We use freedom hitches as I sell them & they are like a quick tatch..
really messed the silt fence machine up. stopped it from going in the ground 6". all this from bigger tires. I could have got the smaller ones for $2000 but it had messed to many things up. THe speed of the tractor was too fast.
All this because of a bigger size tractor& bigger tires.
the 5205 was great for the 3pt field cult we made for it. But I cant justify the money just to run around anywhere from .25A to 8a & we do the smaller projects more often.
So I ordered a 4720, love the hydro, just like a car. Love the feeling of comfort & the speedometer. great for spraying.
I also got a tc45da.
I do not thing the 4720 would rattle apart. I thought that about my 4500 I have now & it does shake but nothing is broke. I am having to put new seals in the front end as it has been in alot of mud & stuck a few times.
My 3710 kubota I just traded in for the NH rattled & shook more than the 4500. Over 2300 rpm & the noise was inbearable.
Do not be scared of the 4720, I do not think you will have a problem with it.

 

[dmccarty]

Funkuncle,

I have a 4700 I bought in 2000 that now has over 530 hours. I have had to replace the battery which was my fault. I have had three hydraulic coupler sieze up on me which I think is mainly due to me not using the coupler and having to store the tractor exposed to the weather. The only thing I have broke during operation was one bolt on the boom of the backhoe.

That seems more than reasonable to me. I am a bit ticked up off about the couplers but I don't think that this is JD's fault. I just have had to replace three couplers in the last two months. And this would have happened regardless of the tractor brand or model.

I run my tractor mainly in the woods. I mow a bit of grass but also hog saplings and such building trails and maintaining our land. I have chewed up some pretty big logs and rocks as well as more than one stump. Not on purpose but stuff happens. The MX 6 and 4700 have done just fine. They will turn football size rocks into smaller rocks. BTDT. 8-( Everything is fine so far. I built our 500 foot driveway with the 4700 and it moved something like 350 tons of ABC. I have pulled up many a stump with the JD 48 backhoe with quite a few 36" around at the stump. The tractor has moved lots of wood, timber slash, logs, dirt, and trash. I have used the FEL and the backhoe to their limits.

I have used the tractor I don't think its been abused but it has been used. I don't think the tractor will fall apart. Its very dependent on HOW you operate the machine. I usually run my tractor in A range and fourth gear to go from point A to B. When I'm working its either first or second gear. To run it faster in my envronment will cause an damage to the equipment or the operator. I have a PowerReverser by the way.

If the tractor is mainatined per the manual and used reasonably it should last for years.

The other thing to consider is the 4720 will be easy to use in tight spaces. If you are going to be working in barns, amongst buildings, or in the woods the 4720 might be easier to use than a 5000 series.

Cowboydoc uses his tractor more than most here on TBN. Amongst the weekend warrior types I bet I'm one of the higher hour per year users on TBN and I only have 530 hours on the 4700. Seems like these engines are supposed to last at least 3,000 hours before a rebuild. Running 100 hours per year is a lot of work if the tractor is only used once or twice a week. Its going to be a long time before I should have to rebuild the engine.

Later,
Dan