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.

 

[FreeWulf]

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.

Sounds like my suspicions were correct. I keep seeing tractors without loaders that I could buy and put a loader on, or having people tell me about a tractor and then say "you can find a loader for it later"

Without too much research, I figured that it would probably:

1. take about 6 months to find a loader, maybe more
2. it would probably cost $3,000 to $5,000
3. I would have to drive a minimum of 12 hours round trip to go get it
4. It would almost certainly not fit right away, and I'd have to buy parts for it as well as fab things up
5. It would take at least a week to get the loader fitted up properly
6. There's no guarantee it would actually work right by the time it was mounted.

I've been really trying to get the loader and tractor together to avoid all the hassle. Even buying a new loader from Westendorf or Woods etc, I'm still going to have to figure out pumps etc.

 

[FreeWulf]

This thing came up yesterday. It's beautiful. But it's got 7,000 hours on it and it looks to me like either it was used to mow the carpet in Bill Gate's living room, or at least some of it has been repainted. The loader looks original though, judging by the rust on the screws on the tag.

"This is a great running 4x4 tractor with loader A/C heat 3 sets of remotes tinted windows good tires ready to work and just serviced. The tractor has to different splines for pto drive led lights front and rear just so many extras to list pm with questions or come see it in person"

"About 7000 hours and it has low high plus eight total so 4 low 4 high and forward reverse on column."

He wants $18,500 for it, which is at least $3,000 more than I'd like to pay. Plus it's about 600 miles away and I'm down a trailer right now.

I'm really tempted on this machine. It's a little bigger and more hours than I'd like, but I'll never use it that hard. Any thoughts?

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[FreeWulf]

 

[stevem5215]

Looks too good to be true ! Caution on scammers is in order here. No sending money to them and getting money back etc..

 

[fried1765]

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I would be renting or borrowing a trailer, and taking a 600 mile drive.
Bring cash!
Negotiate a bit if you can.
You need to buy it......if it is legit!

 

[fried1765]

I would be renting or borrowing a trailer, and taking a 600 mile drive.

Do not hesitate, or it may be quickly gone!

Bring cash!
Negotiate a bit if you can.
He is inviting you to "come see it", so the chances of legit are good.

 

[LouNY]

That is a very nice tractor, definitely repainted but thats good.
I didn't see 3 remotes only two and it looks like the loader is using both of the remotes.
That was a common way of hooking a loader up several years ago.
Sounds like it has the 4 speed transmission with a high/low and the dash mounted shuttle.
It does sound just a bit high priced to me but not unreasonable.
The parking brake is the weak link on those tractors and expensive to repair.

 

[FreeWulf]

Dagnabbit. I was talking to him and asked for a few measurements for fitting it on a trailer, he was going to finish bailing and get back to me. I went to work for a few hours, came back and now it's marked as Sold.

I can't say he sold it out from under me, as I hadn't said I'd take it, but I really was excited about it.

I can't believe how fast tractors are moving right now. I called on one the other day after it was online for 2 hours and it sold right when I called him.

 

[fried1765]

Dagnabbit. I was talking to him and asked for a few measurements for fitting it on a trailer, he was going to finish bailing and get back to me. I went to work for a few hours, came back and now it's marked as Sold.

I can't say he sold it out from under me, as I hadn't said I'd take it, but I really was excited about it.

I can't believe how fast tractors are moving right now. I called on one the other day after it was online for 2 hours and it sold right when I called him.

My comment in post #56..... "Do not hesitate, or it may be quickly gone."
I rest my case!

 

[FreeWulf]

Yeah

Kicking myself over this one. The problem was that it was a little too heavy for the trailer I normally use. I normally use a 10,000lb trailer, which leaves about 7800 net for the load. His tractor was 7585 not counting the loader, which is at least 1500lbs more.

I probably should have just bought it anyway and bought a bigger trailer, like a 14K.

He was going to measure the overall length and height for me when he got done bailing so I could figure out a trailer, but apparently someone committed to it before he got off the tractor.

I was also having a hard time convincing the bank account to cough up another $3500. Oh well.

Snooze you lose