JD 4520 vs JD5203

[metroski]

Whats the difference between these two models. Why is the msrp on the 5203 almost 11,000 less than the 4520.

seems like 4wd and hydro trans aren't that much. What am I missing?

 

[gamble77]

Nothing except the fact that hydro, open platform, and 4wd ARE THAT MUCH...these are two totally different machines. What kind of work are you going to be doing? Are you ok with the standard dry clutch on the 5203? Lots of loader work?

 

[metroski]

brush hogging
post digging
discing/tilling
planting
moving manure and square bales with loader

 

[Z-Michigan]

As Gamble said, totally different machines. The 5203 is a low-end utility tractor, basically an economical basic farm tractor without many bells and whistles. The 4520 is a totally loaded large CUT, with tons of neato features - but not made quite as heavy duty as a 5 series. Your tasks can all be done with a 5203, as long as you are basically knowledgable about proper tractor operation and how to not wear out a dry clutch.

I would not say MFWD and a hydrostat are nothing. MFWD is very handy to keep moving through mud, or to do serious tillage work. The HST is far easier to use for loader work or other frequent direction changing. If a lot of loader work is in your plans, you might quickly get tired of the gear setup on a 5203.

How many acres are we talking? For more than 20 or so, I'd probably get the bigger 5203 - though I think there are people on here using 4 series on much larger areas. For less than 10 I'd be thinking 4520 (or smaller still) In between either should work. Since you apparently have 17, flip a coin?

 

[metroski]

I have 17 acres, but only 11 of it is open. There's 5 acres of woods and then an acre of lawn around the house.
I know I could get away with a 3520 or a 3720 no problem and actually save myself some money. I just like the idea of a heavier duty unit with the added ponies under the hood.
I'm new to the whole tractor thing but its always been my experience with machinery that its easier to have more capability than you actually need than to go the other way.
Should I be going with the 3720? I'm worried about tilling my horse pastures with that hydro trans. I figured the bigger machine would hold up better.

Mike

 

[Z-Michigan]

When you say tilling, are we talking about a rototiller powered by the PTO, or a combination of disking and plowing? For a rototiller you would be much better off with HST because you'll need really slow speeds with control of speed. If plowing and disking, either one should work fine for the number of acres you are working, though the 5203 would be slightly better.

While you always want as much tool as you need, it is easy to underestimate the capabilities of smaller tractors. I don't think the 4520 or 5203 are excessive if you want one, but a 3520 or 3720 would probably do all you need to do. Be sure to spend plenty of time driving both HST and gear models as it is a major difference. I will speculate you'd be happier with HST, but I don't know what you're going to be doing nearly as well as you do.

If price is not too big an issue (and the 4520 is $$$ to start with!) have you considered a cab model? I didn't look at them while I was shopping and I really wish I had. It would be sooooo nice for mowing and any hot weather activity. They do add maybe $5k to the purchase price, but in hindsight it probably would have been money well spent.

 

[metroski]

Mostly disking rather than rototilling.

I also want to pull a 72" commercial grade rotary brush hog. I was thinking the 4520 would do a better job at than than the 3720.

I did originally look at cabs. I was narrowed to the Kioti DK45 and JD 3720 cab models. But for the same money i'd rather sacrifice my personal comfort for the power.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Yes, a 4520 will likely be a better bet for a 6' medium or heavy duty brush cutter. A 3720 should be fine for a light duty 6'.

Either one should work, I would test-drive both a lot, see if you can get one to try out on your own property. The 4520 should do everything you've listed and HST will be nice to have. But the 5203 will do it also, if you either want to save the $$ or you just really want a bigger tractor.

 

[Greyfields]

I was recently comparing this exact thing with a neighbor. He's debating the 4520 versus the 5105. The difference which matter we determined to be:

The 5105 weighs about 2,000 lbs more. This can be an issue if you're on wet soils or ever need to drive across a lawn.

The 5105 will be built sturdier. This does not mean the 4520 is weak though.

The 5105 will lift 2,000 pounds more 24" behind the link ends. The 4520 lifts around 2,500 pounds 24" behind the link ends, which is probably enough for most everything.

The 4520 will burn 2.99 gal/hour wherease the 4105 burns 2.76 gal/hour.

The 4520 has HST.

In the end, the neighbor is going with the 4520 simply because he hasn't had a lot of tractor experience and wants the HST so he's not learning 3 things at once.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Greyfields - I assume to insert "5105" wherever you say "4105". Two comments, as the owner of a 5105 who shopped the 4x20 series also:

-the weight difference is probably more like 1000lbs. I think JD rates the 4120-4520 at 3750lbs. JD doesn't publish a weight for the MFWD version of the 5105, but it appears to be around 4700lbs. The 522 FEL on the 5105 will weigh a bit more than the 400x loader on a 4520. I figure the weight of my 5105 with FEL and filled rear tires to be about 7000lbs. This limits the ability to trailer it - without a 3/4 ton or larger pickup, trailering is almost out of the question.

-JD used to publish a questionable lift rating of 4800lbs for the 5105. The NE tractor test report shows something more like 3000lbs. I think 3000lbs, or the 2500lbs on a 4520, is more than enough for any implement you would appropriately use with either tractor. Of course my 5105 never strains to lift any implements I have, the heaviest of which is a 6.5' disk weighing about 900lbs.

Fuel consumption will be lower on the 5105. I am burning less than 1.0 gal/hour in the 92 hours of use I have, and I am using it fairly hard for tillage and mowing.

I would add that while they have the same tire options, realistically most 4x20 models will come with R4's and most 5105 models will come with R1's, in either case suited to the intended use by most owners.

None of this automatically extends to a 5203, since it is a somewhat different model. In particular, the 03 series has turbo engines and are made in India. For reasons unknown, the 5105 makes more power than a 5103, even though the 03 has a turbo and the 05 doesn't.

My wife and I both learned to drive manual-shift so that wasn't a big issue for us. If you don't have that experience, it might be a bigger issue.