Help - 4120 or 3520?

Dicky · Jun 4, 2007

Hi everyone. Right now I have an 01 4300 and am thinking of upgrading. I have 6 acres, some of which is woods that need to be cleared out and leveled and a few pastures which I generally do not mow. The lawn is handled by my LX277 AWS.

My delema is this. Is tha 4120 going to be too big? I test drove one the other day and it did not feel all that much bigger than my current 4300. Is it going to tear up the lawn more than the 4300? When I test drove it, I made a series of sharp turns at the dealership - it actually seemed to create less damage on the lawn. Is this because of the larger (wider) R3's or is this simply me trying to justify a tractor larger than I need. The thing that intrigues me about the larger frame tractor is obviously more FEL power, higher reach, ect.

The other consideration is any Tractor upgrade is going to require the folding ROP to be folded any time I go into the barn. My 4300 is fixed and clears by 3". Has anyone had their ROP cut down and rewelded so it is the same height as the fixed ROP?

Lastly, are there any performance chips available for the 4120 for more power?

Thanks!

AKfish · Jun 5, 2007

I think that you answered a couple of your own questions...

"or is this simply me trying to justify a tractor larger than I need --"
"performance chips available for the 4120 for more power?"

Nothing wrong with more HP. If you've got the checking account; there's a bigger tractor out there just waiting!

Once you clear up on the rest of your land, maybe you could do a little "custom" work on the side?

AKfish

Cidertom · Jun 5, 2007

I too had a 4300. I now have a 4520. Larger, it may not seem too much larger, but it is. You are sitting much higher and it is wider. As an example the 4300 I had had the folding ROPS. I could fold it down and get into the pig barn to clean it out. With the 4520 even with the rops folded, I can't get in there ( I'm the limiting factor at that point) . I don't know the measurements, but I suspect that if you were to find someone to modify the rops for you, that leaving it tall enough to protect you will still be too tall to just pull in. Comparing the two tractors you propose, look at the torque, not just the hp.

No, there is no chip to get the 4120 to be a 4720. That is a fairly frequent lament here at TBN.

jdbower · Jun 5, 2007

When I was shopping I was trying to decide between a 2000, 3000 or 4000 TWENTY series. On paper they didn't look that much different, but then I saw them on the lot... I'm glad I went with the 2520 for my property because I wouldn't be able to maneuver with the larger models. In fact, the only thing I may have done differently is to try to convince the wife that a smaller 2305 plus a larger 3000 or 4000 series would be a better choice - but I don't know if I can justify two machines

Moral of the story: Figure out the tightest spaces you need to get into on your property and if things are tight go with the 3000 series, if things are pretty open the 4000 series may be a better choice in case you need the extra mass.

NoMo · Jun 6, 2007

Dicky said:
Hi everyone. Right now I have an 01 4300 and am thinking of upgrading. I have 6 acres, some of which is woods that need to be cleared out and leveled and a few pastures which I generally do not mow. The lawn is handled by my LX277 AWS.

Is that a typo or do you really just have 6 acres?

Dicky · Jun 6, 2007

No typo, 6 Acres, however, I build houses for a living as well as own another buisiness for which the tractor could be used.

tuolumne · Jun 6, 2007

Dicky said:
No typo, 6 Acres, however, I build houses for a living as well as own another buisiness for which the tractor could be used.

By everything you've said, a 3520 would seem to be the better choice. Consider maneuverability in the woods, trailering your machine to jobsites, more weight on the lawn etc. I recently went through this same debate and I am very thankful that I chose the 3520. I have not found it lacking in power, lift height, etc. and I am thankful for a smaller machine in the woods and working on slopes.

NoMo · Jun 6, 2007

Dicky said:
No typo, 6 Acres, however, I build houses for a living as well as own another buisiness for which the tractor could be used.

I'd consider two tractors- one for your business(es) and another for your home.

The one used for business purposes will likely have different tax, finance and insurance requirements than one used for both home & business. Plus, you could get the right-sized tool for each area... and two tractors!

Dicky · Jun 6, 2007

Its hard enough convincing my wife to let me buy one let alone two tractors.

Maybe the thing to do is to ask the dealer if he will let me demo it at my home to get a feel for how large it is. At the dealership, it honestly did not seem that much bigger.