Pulled the Trigger - 4720

[HobbleCreek]

Well, I've place my order!

I decided to go with the 4720, 400X FEL, 2 mid/1 rear SCVs, R1 tires, and 448 BH.

I anticipate adding a couple more SCVs, but my dealer tells me they're a field install whether I go with the Deere electric diverter or an aftermarket system. Same with the top-n-tilt.

Also on the soon to be ordered list are a box blade and a snowblower. My dealer has a 67" Meteor left over from last year for $1,399 that I'm likely to purchase.

When it came down to the L5030 vs. 4720 vs. Utility Tractor decision, I basically decided that I wanted the most horsepower I could get in a small maneuverable tractor. The L5030 was really nice but it gave up substantial HP over the 4720, especially at my altitude. I love the hydro transmission, so that was another big consideration between the CUTs and the larger utility tractors. Decide on the R1 tires because I think there will be a lot of times, especially in the spring and winter, when I'll need that traction on our muddy mountain roads.

I also think there was a sentimental aspect to the decision. I wanted the Green.

-- Grant

 

[PeterT]

Congrats on the tractor purchase, I think you will love it.
Good luck trying to sleep till it arrives. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Good luck
PeterT

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Congrats, you've got yourself one good workhorse on the way. Seems like you've done your homework well here on the board. You've ordered it the same way I would if I was going to buy one. (I'll keep playing the lottery so I can get the cab model).

I hope it proves to be everything you wanted and needed. Be very careful at first, that is a BUNCH of HP for a small tractor. It can and will knock stuff over, especially the backhoe. Practice with folks out of the way. And have fun with your new toy...I mean TOOL!!!

 

[arkhillbilly]

Obviously I think you made the right decision. Congratulations. I hope you like it as much as I do mine.

 

[HobbleCreek]

Thank you, and thanks for the information you provided. It was very helpful.

 

[CWP37]

Grant,

I guess I'm stalking you around these boards to see what you're going to do. My local JD dealer called Fri. and said he was going to make an "aggressive" offer on a 4720 since he has one on the lot. We'll see what the price is this week.

Out of curiosity, did you drive a 5030 and/or a 4720? I'm going to drive both sometime this month to see if there is a difference.

I too am leaning toward green out of sentiment, but I still keep going back to orange because of value and reputation. Anybody got any last second advice to sway my decision?

Also, can you tell us the price?

 

[HobbleCreek]

I drove both the 5030 and the 4720 before the purchase. In terms of driveability, I can't say that one was better than the other. Both were great. I liked the John Deere pedals a little better than the Kubota's, but I think that a person would adjust to whatever he has so that's not really an issue.

As for value, I was strongly persuaded by a post that pointed out that at my elevation, an apples to apples comparison of elevation adjusted horsepower made the price of Green and Orange about the same. My Deere dealer (not the one closest to me) also priced the BH attachment the same as the local Kubota dealer had it, so there was no difference there.

I'll tell you the price, but I really hope not to hear a bunch of people tell me how much I overpaid. I know that I paid quite a bit more than most people, and substantially more than any one I've seen on this board. I found dealers far from home that would have charged right around $28,000 for the 4720 with dual mid/single rear SCVs with the 400x loader. By the time I got them here, however, it would have cost me another couple thousand. I didn't long distance price the BH.

Here's what I'm paying:

For the tractor and loader: $28,800 (I got R1 tires, R4 tires would have been $400 more).

For the backhoe: $6,995 plus freight up to $200. The dealer wasn't sure if JD will charge freight on the backhoe. If the freight is more than $200, we'll decide how to handle that, but I'm not locked into buying the BH if the freight is more than I want to handle.

Overall, I feel good about the deal. It's less than I would have paid to buy the tractor for $28,000 and then go get it, and I think I did OK on the backhoe. I didn't go with my closest dealer, because I didn't feel like he was trying very hard to earn my business. The dealer I went with is 30 miles away, a small town guy who really appreciates my business. I'm all in favor of helping the little guy stay in business. The local dealer is a chain that has the JD franchise up and down I-15 for 200 miles. They'll probably eventually buy out the guy I bought from, but in the mean time, I've done my part to keep that from happening.

As you can see, I tend to ramble. Thanks again for everyone's help and information.

-- Grant

 

[HobbleCreek]

Oh, and Chip, one of the places I got a better price was in Texas, near Kyle in TX. I'll post later the price I was quoted there. You can get yours for about a thousand less than I paid.

-- Grant

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Awesome. Looks like a winner of a tractor.

So DSV and 3rd SCV and Power beyond. If you did go with the JD T&T, would it would be a pain with a BH? removing them all the time? Maybe not.

I am looking at adding the $185 hydrolic toplink next spring maybe and just using it with the 3rd valve.

One option I am also doing myself is adding the lines down the loader for hydrolics at the bucket. May be something to throw in now while you wait and just have your dealer do it. With that capable of a machine anything will be possible.

 

[HobbleCreek]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you did go with the JD T&T, would it would be a pain with a BH? removing them all the time? Maybe not. )</font>

That's a good question. If anybody knows the answer, please chime in. Do I need to remove the TNT to use the BH? Does the same apply if I get the Deere version vs. the CCM version? Any input on this will be really appreciated.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One option I am also doing myself is adding the lines down the loader for hydrolics at the bucket. May be something to throw in now while you wait and just have your dealer do it. With that capable of a machine anything will be possible. )</font>

Definitely worth thinking about. It seems like somebody on TBN mentioned some kind of an adapter he engineered to be able to use skid steer attachments on his loader. There are lots of those types of attachments for rent that could be handy.

Is it an illness when your first conscious thought in the morning is, "How much longer 'til my tractor gets here?"

-- Grant

 

[HobbleCreek]

Chip,

Jaeger's in Giddings, TX quoted me $28,161 total for the 4720 with industrial tires, 3rd SCV, 400X loader. That's very nearly a thousand less than the best quote I could get in Utah.

-- Grant

 

[CWP37]

Grant,

Thanks. I'll give them a call and see what they say. That's within trailering distance for me.

Congrats on the choice and purchase. I'm still torn and probably won't buy 'til the first of the year. Please keep me updated.

Anybody else have any thoughts on 4720 vs. 5030?

 

[froggy]

Congratulations on your purchase. Please post pictures and a review after you have had it for a while.