John Deere 4044R

[UncleMerle]

I am looking at buying a new John Deere 4044R tractor, and there are several reviews on the JD website. Some of these complain that the tractor (43 hp) is under-powered. Has anyone had similar experience with this tractor, or with the 4044? If so, how was it being used? JD customer support would not comment on these complaints. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[dodge man]

John Deere isn’t going to come to and say their tractor is under powered. I have no direct knowledge of that tractor but did look at the specs. To me it looks like if you are doing loader work, plenty of power. On the other hand if it had a cab, you are running AC, going up a hill with a 7 foot brush hog in thick grass, it’s going to feel under powered. I’d say it all depends on how you are going to use it.

 

[EJP1234]

They use the same frame for the 44, 52, and 66hp. I have the 4066R... and Ive never operated the 4044R, but I imagine now after owning and running the 4066R I would think the 44 would be under powered. If I was running a 1023E and then ran a 4044R, Im betting I would be amazed at the massive amount of power the 44 had.

 

[tlj87]

Another consideration is the particular configuration you get. A cabbed version with hydro transmission is going to be more of a dog than an open station PowerReverser.

 

[oosik]

I bought a brand new Ford 1700 4WD in '82. It was a great tractor but I eventually needed more "grunt". After some 27 years, all the smaller projects were completed. So in 2009 I traded the Ford in for a brand new Kubota M6040. What a difference!!! Both tractors were/are open station and geared.

I've found, with use, the weight of the Kubota to be as helpful, if not more so, than the added power.

In my situation I will always have projects where I will wish for a bigger tractor. And then there will be those tasks where a smaller tractor would be much more handy.

I can afford only one tractor - the M6040 seems to have hit the "sweet spot". I don't think there is ever a "one tractor" that will be absolutely perfect for all situations.

 

[Texasmark]

Neighbor bought a new 4052 cab with loader in 2016, being urban professional type folks. Bought the service package for having annual service performed on their farm. It has never been off the farm and other than not reading the operator's manual for function explanations, have had zero problems with it. They don't plow but feed 4x6, dense round bales and do bucket type loader work. Runs a 6' JD shredder. Only thing I don't like about it is the location of the fuel filler....they have to get on a ladder to fill up on diesel as it's on the top of the left rear fender.