Buy an existing JD 2020 or wait for newer?

[kwbobwi]

How did anyone get anything done before 4x4 or FWA?
To me people with one or another just get themselves dug deeper into trouble no pun intended.

 

[rScotty]

How did anyone get anything done before 4x4 or FWA?
To me people with one or another just get themselves dug deeper into trouble no pun intended.

My buddy and I have similar JD310 loader backhoes. His is an older model, 2WD, gear shift type with reverser, and worn tires.
Mine is newer, good tires, & 4wd with extendahoe.

When the ground begins to get slippery he puts on chains while I can still get around with 4wd - although his machine with 2wd and chains even with his old tires has a lot more traction than mine does with 4wd and newer tires without chains.

When things get really bad then he can continue to work because of his chains, but even with 4wd I need to chain up as well. That's when the 4wd with chains is really in a league of it's own. Unfortunately the additional torque to front end of the 4wd has enabled my machine to break two front drive axles, while his 2wd and chains really churns up the mud but seems bulletproof.

The only real downside to 2wd seems to be in slightly slippery conditions. Brand new tires and good chains make a big difference in 2wd.
The upside is that 2wd is simple, cheap, and bulletproof. But chains can be a nuisance. It takes a season to get them fitted right, and they have to be maintained.

 

[deserteagle71]

How did anyone get anything done before 4x4 or FWA?

Amen. I grew up on tractors in Pennsylvania in the 50s and early 60s...might still be there if it weren't for Vietnam and Uncle Sam's call. We had several tractors on our farm - and so did all of our neighbors. No one had a 4wd tractor and we did just fine.

 

[LouNY]

deserteagle71,
I would hesitate to say we did fine without 4wd. We got by, with trouble at times.
We also didn't go on certain fields when they were wet or muddy. (still don't)
Some times things didn't get planted or harvested when we wanted.
Also most of the active farm implements were quite a bit smaller and we had smaller fields and farms.
I can recall when our Farmall 400 hit the farm with a 4 bottom fast hitch plow, had all the neighbors
either pulling in to look it over or driving by at 5 mph to check it over.
More then a few saying there was no need for a tractor that big.
Claimed HP 37 on the drawbar and 45 on the pto.
We also got stuck and had loads push us around at times.

 

[FreeWulf]

I only ever managed to get a 2WD backhoe stuck once, and it was when I was trying to rescue my (new to me) '62 F100 that I had just bought. I was running out into a field to check on a drainfield and misjudged the depth of the standing water in the field. I thought it was about 4 inches deep. It turned out to be about a foot and a half deep, and at least 100 yards wide too.

I couldn't pull myself out with the hoe, and I was pretty embarrassed. It took a big 4x4 wheel loader and a lot of chain to get both out.

Given that we're looking on doing some land clearing and building when we move, and I know Alaska gets really muddy in the spring I'll probably focus on a 4WD tractor. But if it weren't for that I probably wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

[K5lwq]

We only had one 4WD center pivot on the farm. 16,000 acres. 5,000 was planted in row crops every year with 2 wheel drive tractors. 8 rows at a time was all we did. They still are very capable machines. You just go at it a little different and know the limitations of the equipment you are working with.

 

[Williy]

This tractor with a cab has all the comforts you will need:

and here is your snow bower: Snow Removal Attachments | YANMAR Tractor

willy

 

[rScotty]

We only had one 4WD center pivot on the farm. 16,000 acres. 5,000 was planted in row crops every year with 2 wheel drive tractors. 8 rows at a time was all we did. They still are very capable machines. You just go at it a little different and know the limitations of the equipment you are working with.

Yes, most of the guys on this forum have 4wd machines, but we didn't always have such. When buying used what matters is finding a good older machine that has been used but not abused. And that's more likely to be the case with a used 2wd tractor - especially when you are looking at the more economical end of the spectrum. And even more so when you throw a FEL into the mix.

The OP sounds like he knows what he is doing. He will know it when he sees it.
If the right machine turns out to be 2wd, just leave enough in the bank for new tires - fronts as well as rears plus chains for the rears - and use it.
I've a feeling that any decent tractor is going to be worth a lot more in Alaska than it is in Texas.
rScotty

 

[mo1]

2wd machines are far from useless, particularly in a utility sized tractor where there is enough weight to get some decent traction and you have ag (R1) tires. That is a much different situation than with the lightweight compacts on industrial or turf tires, those have far less traction.

Most Deere loaders of regular utility tractor size from about 15 years ago on back could fit the 20 series New Generation tractors with the correct brackets, and aftermarket loaders that fit (Westendorf, etc ) are still available. It will cost more to buy an older loader-less tractor plus a separate loader than to buy an older tractor with a loader already on it, but it's still noticeably less than buying a new tractor. The 2020 is similar to a 5055E or 5065E, and a new open station 2wd version of those will be roughly $25-28k with a loader if you can negotiate well.

 

[Zebrafive]

2wd machines are far from useless, particularly in a utility sized tractor where there is enough weight to get some decent traction and you have ag (R1) tires. That is a much different situation than with the lightweight compacts on industrial or turf tires, those have far less traction.

Most Deere loaders of regular utility tractor size from about 15 years ago on back could fit the 20 series New Generation tractors with the correct brackets, and aftermarket loaders that fit (Westendorf, etc ) are still available. It will cost more to buy an older loader-less tractor plus a separate loader than to buy an older tractor with a loader already on it, but it's still noticeably less than buying a new tractor. The 2020 is similar to a 5055E or 5065E, and a new open station 2wd version of those will be roughly $25-28k with a loader if you can negotiate well.

I bought my JD 2030 used without a loader. I looked three years for a loader. Then it was missing mounting brackets, (not the main mounts) hardware and hydraulic fittings to attach. I was lucky it had the valve, joystick and cables. I had to buy the mounting bracket for the joystick too.
I bought all the parts from the JD dealer at about 5x what I had guessed when I bought the loader. It can be done, but it takes time & $$$, and labor to install. You also have to make sure the valve is compatible with your hydraulics, open center verses closed center. JD made both, some even in the same model number, mid year
change.

I second buying with a loader, much easier.