Choosing between DK4510 and NX4510 HST

trctorfan17 · Jul 9, 2017

Hi,

I am trying to choose between DK4510 (gear or hydraulic shuttle) and NX4510 HST.

I will be using box blade for grading (ground engagement) and loader to move dirt.

I am very comfortable driving race cars with stick shift as well as sedans with automatic transmission. So, I would have no difficulty driving gear in a tractor...but I never drove a tractor before.

Thank you,

countrybumpkin · Jul 9, 2017

Go to the dealers and start test driving, then you will start understanding what's what and how they work.

Z-Michigan · Jul 9, 2017

trctorfan17 said:
Hi,
I am trying to choose between DK4510 (gear or hydraulic shuttle) and NX4510 HST.
I will be using box blade for grading (ground engagement) and loader to move dirt.
I am very comfortable driving race cars with stick shift as well as sedans with automatic transmission. So, I would have no difficulty driving gear in a tractor...but I never drove a tractor before.

For loader and box blade work the HST is going to be a lot more convenient and user-friendly. Gear is fine a few times, but after 50 reverses in 1 hour you'll be tired of it. HST also makes it relatively easy to stop precisely, which is very helpful for loading a truck or backing up to a fence.

The gear tractor is IMHO better than HST when doing large areas at a steady speed - mowing, disking, conventional tillage, etc. It also works well for doing smaller tasks at a constant speed - like rototilling a 1-acre plot at 1 or 2mph.

If you go with gear, I think the $1k extra for hydro-shuttle is worth it. I still use the clutch a lot on my DK, but for loader work (etc.) I have the option of using just the reverser lever, depending what I'm doing and whether a few inches of stopping distance matters.

hillwood · Jul 10, 2017

I think the NX is a physically a bigger tractor with higher lift capacity and deluxe features.

trctorfan17 · Jul 10, 2017

Z-Michigan said:
For loader and box blade work the HST is going to be a lot more convenient and user-friendly. Gear is fine a few times, but after 50 reverses in 1 hour you'll be tired of it. HST also makes it relatively easy to stop precisely, which is very helpful for loading a truck or backing up to a fence.

The gear tractor is IMHO better than HST when doing large areas at a steady speed - mowing, disking, conventional tillage, etc. It also works well for doing smaller tasks at a constant speed - like rototilling a 1-acre plot at 1 or 2mph.

If you go with gear, I think the $1k extra for hydro-shuttle is worth it. I still use the clutch a lot on my DK, but for loader work (etc.) I have the option of using just the reverser lever, depending what I'm doing and whether a few inches of stopping distance matters.

Thank you very much Z-Michigan, this is very helpful.

trctorfan17 · Jul 10, 2017

hillwood said:
I think the NX is a physically a bigger tractor with higher lift capacity and deluxe features.

Yes, NX is bigger, taller, and heavier too. I think, with the extra deluxe feature, the NX4510HST is probably worth a 1k more than the DK4510 Hydro shuttle.

Z-Michigan · Jul 10, 2017

hillwood said:
I think the NX is a physically a bigger tractor with higher lift capacity and deluxe features.

The NX is physically bigger and more deluxe, but rated capacities are roughly the same as the DKxx10 series.

I think OP's decision is made for him anyway because it seems HST is what he wants.