Buying Advice John Deere 790 4X4 advice

RoyJackson · Feb 2, 2004

"Is a mid PTO only needed for a mid mount mower or are there other attachments that would need it?"

Well, there's a front mount snowblower, but you being in Texas probably wouldn't have much use for that. There's also pavement brooms...looking at your pics...no need there either. And, you can get those implements for the 3PH anyway.
So, you probably won't miss a mid-PTO.

mitchdb · Feb 2, 2004

I just got off the phone with the dealership. He's going to work up a few quotes for me, just to see what the price differences are.

All include:
6'cutter, 6'box blade, 16'trailer, Posthole Dig. & Front Loader

990 4X4
4410 4X4
5105 4X4

It was kinda funny! I think he was kind of surprised that I actually knew what kind of questions to ask. I was spittin out model numbers like I actually knew what I was talking about!

Thanks!

JDgreen227 · Feb 2, 2004

Should be interesting to learn the price range but as you go up in tractor size I am sure the implements will cost more than the ones sized for the 790. Keep us posted....pun intended. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BillG_in_TX · Feb 2, 2004

" I was spittin out model numbers like I actually knew what I was talking about "

mitchdb,

You are well on your way to being an expert after less than 1 day on TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Good luck with your purchase. My brother uses a 5105 on his 50 acres, and it is a great unit.

DAP · Feb 2, 2004

( I think that's a good deal.

Granted, prices in California seem to be outrageously higher than anywhere else, but... )

Ya think so? You need to come to NY State or N. England. Actually ... south eastern NY.

See if you can get a quote on NH TC30 with FEL for over 23,800.

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Joe1 · Feb 2, 2004

Since I've not priced a NH TC30 with FEL, I will have to bow to your information. We buy our weather here, so why is it so high there? I spent the first 12 years of my misspent youth in Rhode Island, so I know it can't be the good weather.

Joe

smilingreen · Feb 3, 2004

Hey, thats a good price on the 790. But, from the looks of your property and all that you will eventually do to it, I would personally suggest the 990. I have a 790 on 18 acres with land that looks simular to yours. There have been a lot of projects that I wished I had purchased the 990 for. Not that the 790 can't do these tasks, it just takes longer, and sometimes you need more HP and weight than what the 790 has. Mine is a older one, so I have 30 HP on the engine and 25 HP on the PTO. Check into the 990.
We use our 790 in our landscaping business, and it does come in very handy in tight quarters. We work a lot of areas that a 990 could not fit into. From the looks of your land, you should not have a problem with that.

mitchdb · Feb 3, 2004

I'm waiting on a quote for the 990 and 4410. I really like the 790, I'm kind of trying to talk myself out of it just because it seems too good to be true!

I'd really like to know the things that it's NOT capable of right now rather than find this out 2 days after I buy it!

Thanks for the info!

smilingreen · Feb 3, 2004

Well, if you are doing just field work, and not going to run the tractor on turf or finished lawns, I would get the tractor with R1 tires on it. I have R4's on mine, which do great in a dry field, but if you get into some mucky situations, the r1's would come in handy, as the r4's plug up quick with mud. The lifting capability of the FEL is kinda weak, so if you are planning on lifting semi large tree trunks or rocks, you will have to push them instead of lifting them. The 790 will push like no one's business, though. The max you will be ablt to run is a 5' bush hog. Not because the pto can't handle it, it is just because the 3PH can't lift it. Also, if you have any slopes on your property, the wheel base is narrow (60") and it can start feeling funny and give you a terrible pucker factor! I run a 6' grader blade with no problems. Same thing with a landscape rake...6'. I have a 60" tiller, which it handles fine, but sometimes, I wish there was more HP at the PTO for this application. If you have an more questions, let me know.

RobS · Feb 3, 2004

I'd really like to know the things that it's NOT capable of right now rather than find this out 2 days after I buy it!


Good approach Mitch! I've had my 790 for 2 1/2 years now and still love it. So far it's done everything I've asked of it but here is my list of things it's not capable of:

Operators station might be cramped for a larger person. I'm 6'1", 180 and it works fine except in full winter gear I do tend to kick some of the controls (mostly the range selector).

It could be heavier for dirt work. I keep saying I'm going to load my tires which will help but I can't seem to find the time. I have R1s which are great for my needs. I bush hog about 5 acres but will likely never use it for finish mowing. I have pulled a 6 1/2 foot disk with no trouble (heavy disk, sandy soil).

As others have mentioned, both the loader and tph specs are somewhat low. It's never been a problem for me but I'm sure a stronger loader would be handy sometimes. I moved a bunch of topsoil last year and never maxed out the loader. Nothing I put on the tph so far has been a problem. The heaviest implement I may purchase would be a tiller and it is within the specs.

My 790 has the older engine (higher hp). I always run out of traction before power.

I am a big fan of clutches but will admit that a power-reverser might be my next transmission of choice for a tractor. The gear tranny in the 790 is fine and I've done a lot of loader work with it but a power-reverser sounds like a welcome advance.

Low range, first gear on the 790 is still slightly "fast". The 990 has a three range transmission and may have a slower creeper gear. Slow speeds are handy for tillling and cable pulling (things I plan on doing someday). Also, only two reverse gears on the 790 versus three on the 990. Could be an issue with a rear mount snowblower.

That's all I can think of right now. It may look like a lot but in actuality I love my 790 and it does everything I ask of it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif