Buying Advice John Deere 3720

[JDneophyte]

Howdy

I just recently bought a home on 35 acres , with 5 acres of lawn (looks like mowed hay) and a 3/4 mile two track to the house (about 60 feet wide, gravel in the two track).

I have a Blazer with plow, Bobcat 753C, but not sure if this will do the trick with blowing snow.

I could sure use some advice on the John Deere 3720 with an Iron MMM and 59" John Deere blower. As I believe all guys need land and justification to own diesel powered implements, this set up looked solid, though I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to tractors.

 

[radman1]

If you have steep slopes/hills the 3x20 series feel narrow and unstable on hills unless you do some mods. Get a 66" or 72" blower. Will cover past the wheel and the 3720 has plenty of hp for those widths.
Do you need a blower? How much snow? Drifts?

 

[JDneophyte]

Really not sure yet, but the land is open and home sits on a hill (2-4 slope). I noticed snow fence in the pole barn (prior owners didn't mention where they used it).

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Depends on what your plans are for the remaining 35 acres.

Sounds like you are ripe for multiple diesel engines.

 

[JDneophyte]

We're likely to rent or set up a split arrangement with one of our neighbors (farmers). I would love to farm it myself....but I wouldn't know where to start. It's one of those romantic dreams that pencil pushers like me have.

Though, I figured I would start right with a good piece of equipment....then see where time takes us. Mowing and plowing ....then see what we could do with the land. Lots of ideas......now to find the time.

 

[sunnyside360]

Howdy
I could sure use some advice on the John Deere 3720 with an Iron MMM and 59" John Deere blower.

I have a 3720 cab tractor with 72" 7-Iron MMM and 59" front mounted snow blower. It has the smaller R4 tires with RimGuard ballast and 2" wheel spacers on the left and right wheels. The ballast and spacers were added mainly to improve stability as I have a couple of steep hills to mow.
Have had other tractors and equipment to clear snow and mow grass but none come close to this 3720 setup. If I were to replace this rig it would be with the exact same equipment.
Good luck.

 

[jenkinsph]

Howdy

I just recently bought a home on 35 acres , with 5 acres of lawn (looks like mowed hay) and a 3/4 mile two track to the house (about 60 feet wide, gravel in the two track).

I have a Blazer with plow, Bobcat 753C, but not sure if this will do the trick with blowing snow.

I could sure use some advice on the John Deere 3720 with an Iron MMM and 59" John Deere blower. As I believe all guys need land and justification to own diesel powered implements, this set up looked solid, though I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to tractors.

I think you would be better off with a 4320-4720 sized tractor and either a zero turn or large riding mower. Get a cab and save the upgrade costs down the line, very common to buy a tractor that is too small the first time only to trade up within a few years. This winds up costing alot more than buying the larger tractor first.

 

[PioneerMan]

IMO, for 'farming', whatever that may be, and hay production, you need at least a 4000 series. That is what I have heard, and if you can afford it and the place is open enough might even consider an ag tractor. These tasks require weight and torque, not really what compacts are built for...

Oh and cab is highly recommended.

 

[RoyJackson]

For the 5 acres mowing and snowplowing your access road, that 3720 should do the job quite nicely.
Since the previous owners left snow fencing, that suggests you're in an open area (no trees to act as wind and snow blocks)...and a cab tractor might be the better choice.

As far as the rest of your acreage, I think your thoughts about renting/leasing are wise, especially since you admit you know nothing about farming. I'm sure the farmer you rent to will be very happy if you volunteer some labor so you can get a feel for that kind of work. If you find that appeals to you, you can go for that bigger tractor in a few years.
BTW, you might want to consider a generator of some sort too.

Good luck!

 

[JDneophyte]

Thank you for the advice. The 4000 series is a little more than I have to spend, but if we do start to farm the land, that will be a no-brainer.

 

[JDneophyte]

That's what we're likely to do. I bought this home/land for my Dad .......and he's likely to want to get involved with the farming (keep him busy and healthy).....though cutting grass and plowing will be a good start. My chief concern is he's getting older and I won't be available to do farming until I have more time (many years from now). It's always been a dream for me (now my Dad) to do this....and we're taking baby steps.

In the back of my mind, I remind myself that farming is extremely hard work with variable economic benefits (ebb and flow......farm aid sticks in my mind like yesterday)......and these guys bust their asses to make a living.

 

[charleyfarmall]

Farming: One of the most fun, rewarding, hard, difficult and poorly paid things you can do.

 

[JDneophyte]

Here she is......like a new daddy.

And my first "child" ....the Bobcat (feeling jealous now sharing the barn with the Deere)

 

[JDneophyte]

Thank you.....took your advice and went all in.

 

[Martian]

Look like a pair of really nice pieces of machinery!

Sure you'll have loads of fun:thumbsup:

 

[sunnyside360]

Congratulations. Like I always say, work will seem more like play with "top shelf" equipment like that. Good luck. :thumbsup:

 

[JDneophyte]

I couldn't agree more.....you get what you pay for (in most cases). I was really impressed with how easy the 72" MMM came off and the blower went on. Now to remember where I put the two pins.

When the dealer dropped it off, he fired up the mower to show how well it worked, and of course....we found an area with the biggest hidden rock to mow over (and ****, did that mower take a beating).....but it kept on cutting.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Rockgod]

Nice looking tractor. I really like the blower too, you'll have to keep us updated on how well it works :thumbsup:

 

[JDneophyte]

Did my first run of the "Deer" today, and **** it did a great job. I graded most of the gravel driveway (3/4 mile long, had not been graded in years) on our new property, and the box blade cut right through!!! After a couple runs in each direction, surface smoothed out beautifully.

I also raised the blower shoes to stay above the gravel (once we have a snow base down)......only concern is, are the shoes big enough to not sink in? I was thinking of welding on a couple larger plates for a bigger footprint...but is it worth the effort?

 

[Deere Dude]

Did my first run of the "Deer" today, and **** it did a great job. I graded most of the gravel driveway (3/4 mile long, had not been graded in years) on our new property, and the box blade cut right through!!! After a couple runs in each direction, surface smoothed out beautifully.

I also raised the blower shoes to stay above the gravel (once we have a snow base down)......only concern is, are the shoes big enough to not sink in? I was thinking of welding on a couple larger plates for a bigger footprint...but is it worth the effort?

I have a 47" blower and looks just like yours, only narrower. On your driveway I wouldn't start blowing until you have driven on snow for awhile to get a nice layer of ice first and the rocks maybe graded off to the side.

Concerning your shoes on the blower. I set mine an inch or two up and that works very well. But the problem I have with one side is the bottom of the blower bends near the top of the shoe because it is only sheet metal holding the shoe on. I must have hit an edge of concrete or something and put a sideways force on the bottom of the shoe. I straightened it out once, but withing a few blows, it was bent in maybe 20 degrees at the bottom.
To fix it for this year I got some 4 or 5" x 3/16" steel and ran it on the side of the bent blower at the bottom and then another piece welded to that vertically up the side near the rear of the blower. Basically it is a 4" wide L. This served as a heavy duty backing plate for the shoe. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. But from being bent it was a weak spot.
Maybe you won't have to do anything, but keep an eye on it. I was using a X740 and it won't put as in much stress as your 3720.