Blue or Green

icecold · Nov 22, 2005

Hi folks. Nice place you have here.Im hoping you can help me out.

I manage a community center and put up three outdoor skating rinks in the winter. I use a poor mans Zamboni mounted on a 3 point hitch to make ice. It weighs about 2500LBs when full of water. I also need to clean up around the place after it snows. (rinks/parking lot etc.)

My old JD 901c is on its last legs and my board has approved funds to purchase a new one. wooo hooo!!

What do you guys feel would be the best recomendation I could make between a:

- NewHolland TC45DA...45HP, 4WD, R4 Industrial Tires, Hydrostatic trans, deluxe 3PTH, 16LA Loader, foldable ROPS, Quick release snow bucket..

or a:

-John Deere 4120...43HP, 4WD, Industrial studded tires, 3 range hydrostatic trans, load match, motion match duel mid hydraulics with joystick control,quick change high volume bucket.

The JD is $400.00 more than the NewHolland.

CWP37 · Nov 22, 2005

Welcome to TBN. I'm in the process of making a similar decision, except a little more horsepower and warmer TX weather.

I've driven a NH TC45DA w/ HST and it was nice. Handles and turns very well. My only complaint was that it was a little "bouncy" in the pasture.

I'm in the process of looking at the JD 20 series, but haven't driven one yet. I've been hearing good things about them, though.

I'd also take a look at a Kubota 5030HST simply because it's more horsepower at about the same price. I'm scheduled to drive one around the lot soon.

Hopefully, more people will chime in with better advice than I can give. What I've found is that color is a personal preference and that any of the major brands are going to be reliable.

Good luck.

RedRocker · Nov 22, 2005

The supersteer option on the NH might be an advantage while Zamboniing if you have to make tight turns.

icecold · Nov 22, 2005

Thanks Chip
Tx sounds good to me right now. Whats the market for Zambonie drivers down there?

I took the New Holland out for a spin and thought it was real nice. I hooked up the ice machine and got 4 big boys to hold on and picked it (and them) up easily.
I think the green has the best set up to unhook the loader(I take out too many boards with the bucket on) but as long as the bucket is quick detachable I think leaving the arms on would be good ballast.
I'm gonna try the JD out tommorrow.

icecold · Nov 22, 2005

Hi Red

Ive heard of supersteer but the dealer didn't even try to sell me on it. I just hit the right brake and crab to the left to get into the corners. Its kind of fun too.

What happens with 4WD? Will hitting the right brake still allow me to slide left into the corners like my 2WD does?

The JD dealer actually told me that the loader arms are longer on the New Holland to accomodate the supersteer feature and that they might be in the way when cornering. They do seem to stick out further than the JD but I don't think it would be a problem.

beenthere · Nov 22, 2005

Deere /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Drive and handle them both before deciding, and be happy with the salesman, dealer, and mechanics shop if ever needed.
I've driven both, but don't think my gut feelings are necessarily the same that yours would be, so you decide.
NH owners are proud of their decision, and likewise with the Deere owners. Your question pits one agin the other. Tain't fair, but then what is? Why not be considering the Kubota's too. They also have a good product.

icecold · Nov 22, 2005

( Why not be considering the Kubota's too. They also have a good product. )

Good Q Beenthere
Best answer I can think of is that my dad had bought a smaller Kabota new and wore it out. I guess I figured it should have lasted longer than it did. Probly apples and oranges but it left a bad taste.

Dmace · Nov 22, 2005

Go Orange

Just an idea...

Maybe take a look at a Kioti DK45. My future father-in-law got a used DK45 with FEL and 50 hours on it for only $22,000.
New they are about $24,000 for the same setup.

Either way HST is the way to go. I love the cruise control on my CK20 HST.

Good luck !

Bob_Skurka · Nov 22, 2005

The New Holland comes with one of two different loaders, the 16LA is on the NON-SuperSteer equipped TC45, but if you get a TC45 with SuperSteer the 17LA loader will be the model installed. The SuperSteer option requires a bit of extra clearance, so the 17LA loader will reach farther forward. The 17LA loader is what the John Deere salesman was referring to.

Regarding the question about sliding in the turns in 4wd, I doubt that either tractor would do that, but you could simply lock the tractor if 2wd if you like doing it. However, the NH with SuperSteer also would include Sensi-Trac and that automatically shifts you into 4wd when the tractor senses the need for it, it then returns to 2wd when it is not needed.

Both tractors are top rate machines with lots of features. Which one fits you better? Which dealer do you like better?

John_Mc · Nov 22, 2005

(
What happens with 4WD? Will hitting the right brake still allow me to slide left into the corners like my 2WD does?)

If you don't like the handling in 4WD, you could always shift into 2WD and get the same cornering action.

One thing to check out on the NH models. If you go for supersteer, they have a "full-time FWD" position and a "sensitrack" position which engages and disengages automatically when it senses FWD is needed. I don't know if they have a 2WD position or not (My TC33D is not a supersteer, so doesn't have the "Sensitrack". It's purely a manual selection of 2WD or 4WD). It sounds as though you may want the option of selecting 2WD... might be worth checking what the possible settings are if you go with the Supersteer option.