Buying Advice About to order 4310... any last minute advice?

epsherwood · Jul 6, 2004

Hello!
I am a newbie to this forum but have found lots of useful advice so far!
By way of intro, we have 45 acres in oregon. 27 acres are in doug fir, the remainder is overgrown pasture. We want to get the pasture back for our horse and for a hay field.
We've also just done a huge addition which required digging out six big doug firs close to the house, so we need to smooth and reseed the lawn too.
We have a little JD 216 and are debating whether to trade it in (they offered us a measly 375) or keep it for finished lawn mowing. Or should we give up on the 216 which is always breaking down and get a MMM for the 4310?
Does the 4310 seem like a good bet? We test drove the 4115 but it felt underpowered and small once we got it home. We dont want to end up underpowered but I also want to mind the budget!
We're looking at getting the 430 loader, the 60 inch rotary mower, the box blade and the landscape rake. The package is just under 22k. Does that seem like a good price? We are getting 4wd and the hydro.
Our fields are quite uneven through mole and gopher activity and lack of maintenance. Will the box blade and landscape rake work to bring them back level?
Thanks in advance for any pearls of wisdom! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

SteveH_CT · Jul 6, 2004

I can't offer much advice on leveling pasture - I've never used mine for that - but I can say without doubt that the 4310 is one of the finest machines in it's class - I've been continually more impressed by it's capabilities as I get better at using it. I think you'll find it's a very strong machine for it's size, and it can get some serious work done. Believe me - it's a very attractive tractor - but it will take a serious pounding too. I've moved, dug and generally reshaped the areas around my small lot with it, and it's stood up to everything I"ve thrown at it.

If you do get it I wish you best luck with it.

PS - Wait till you get the "Owners Edition" hat - that's just icing on a great cake.

Take care,

Kyle_in_Tex · Jul 6, 2004

The 4310 is a great machine.
There will be times you wished it was bigger, and times you wished it was smaller. But overall, I think it hits the best price/power/weight ratio's available.

Keep your 216, you won't retire on the $375. You can make up your mind on the MMM later. Easy add on, just pricey with not much difference between buy it now vs. buy it later costs.

You will be able to smooth out land with a box blade and rake with patience but you might even look at a 6 foot finishing disc. If you have a rental place nearby, check out their prices and what they offer. It can save a bunch of money if you can rent without buying if its not too far away.

Good luck,
Kyle

rockyridgefarm · Jul 7, 2004

Yup! To all those two boaps already seid!!

SteveH_CT · Jul 7, 2004

Hey Mike - you watch who you call a "boaps",,, we won't have none of that around here... don't wanna get no fights started. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

KentP · Jul 8, 2004

4310 - Great choice!

I ordered a 4310 ehydro last month and it should be in next week.

I got the 430 loader, boxblade, and I just called my dealer and upgraded from the lx5 to the mx5 rotary cutter.

The only option you might want to consider for the box blade is a top tilt. You will probably find many posts here with info on it.

I talked to my neighbor last week who has a 4310 and the only challenges he faced might have been overcome by a top tilt.

Enjoy your tractor!

Kent

Ledgemere Farm · Jul 8, 2004

See how much a remote outlet is. It's cheaper to get it now, rather than later. Get loaded tires or a pile of weight. A weight box is a real pain in the... Finally, get industrial tires. They are the best of both worlds.

beenthere · Jul 8, 2004

Welcome to the forum.
No hurry for you to get them now, but I really like the IMatch with the ballast box, and the forks. Like the forks so much that I usually store the tractor without bucket or forks, just because there is more room in the shed, and I switch back and forth a lot.

Also, because I am seriously thinking of going to the ehydro, when I ran into the Deere mechanic at my dealership this afternoon, I asked him how they have been holding up from a service standpoint. He said the very first ones needed to be re-programmed, but those have all been done and no problems with the recent ones. He said they made service calls and did everything from a laptop. He also said they rarely see one back in the shop, and no used ones are being traded back in, so with all those that had to be re-programmed, he knew there were a ton of them out there. He did say that because there are electronics, the potential is there for problems with switches and things, but other than that, they seem to be pretty solid. I'm looking forward to maybe trading up. Will soon see if that will happen. If I do, I will get the 3rd SCV so I can go to topntilt.

755inNY · Jul 8, 2004

<font color="blue">I will get the 3rd SCV so I can go to topntilt. </font>

I think the 3rd SCV will get you top-or-tilt but not topntilt. You'll need another SCV to do both functions.

Jeff