Questions on the JD 5103

[Zebra203]

I posted in the General Forum recently that I, "Dunno what to do". I am a new land owner and have never researched tractors before. I was looking at the JD 3203 and 3520 e-hydro's. I had also considered the 990, all of which were 4wd. I just didnt have the "warm fuzzies" about them though, especially when it came to the HP. I felt like I was on the extreme low end of the spectrum of HP, and didnt weant to strain or overwork a tractor by using a 5' or even a 6' mower. I have 14 acres to cut, 3 wet weather creeks and a pond to mow around. I have a 500' gravel driveway and a ton of other chores I'm going to find after I get a tractor. Im in east Texas with red clay earth. I went to another Dealer, who steered me toward the 2WD 5103. He says that it will do everything the 3203 or the 3520 will do, even though they are 4 WD and this one isn't. he says with all the added HP, and the AG tires, it will outwork the other two hands down. Whats the opinion of this tractor? I had never driven a tractor this 5103 today, and I must say, even the standard tranny was pretty easy and it steers like a dream. Am I gonna have any regrets? I appreciate all the veteran help I get on here. Thanks for your help.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I think you need to focus a bit more on your planned uses. The 5103 is a solid utility tractor, but 2wd only and fairly basic. It does have good hp - about 44 PTO hp if I remember correctly - and it will run a 6' cutter in most conditions very easily (in fact it should run an 8' in most conditions). The 2wd makes it less than ideal for loader work, though it certainly can be used for loader work if you want. And prices on the 5103 are typically quite good - maybe $13,000 or so for the tractor itself, and add $4-5000 for the loader (the loader price is not anything special).

One question to ask is if you will be operating in mud at all. While experienced users can drive 2wd tractors in mud and only get stuck occasionally, new users are likely to get stuck often, while 4wd gives you so much traction that often times (in my personal experience) you can do stupid things in mud and not get stuck. HOWEVER, there are rather few useful tasks that can be done in mud or when the ground is totally saturated, so if you focus on only doing useful tasks (and not playing around like some of us ) the 4wd may be less important, especially since snow is probably not an issue for you in Texas.

 

[wolc123]

The 5103 may or may not be the right tractor for you depending on your operating experience. For the tasks you mention, a novice would be far better served with a hydro trans than a gear and the 5103 is only made in gear. If your tractor operating experience greatly exceeds your tractor research experience then you will be able to get by with no problem with the gear trans 5103 for all of your tasks. You did not mention a loader, but if you are a novice and need a loader then the 5103 would be a poor choice. In that case you should go with the 3000 or 4000-20 series with hydro trans and 4wd. Do remember however that a hydro is less efficient at delivering hp so you should move up one model in size to get the same performance on a rotary cutter. (ie: 3520 gear will operate a cutter in the same conditions at approximately the same speed as a 3720 hydro). If you are a novice, be sure to test drive a hydro and try to run a cutter with each type before you let a salesman talk you into a gear.

 

[CWP37]

Here's my two cents for what it's worh:

I have 13 acres in the TX hill country. I have a 5103/512 loader/mx6/green box blade/green rear blade/green rake/and imatch.

I bought a 5103 b/c it allowed me to buy a better shredder (mx6) and more implements.

I wouldn't trade my 5103 for a "fancier" tractor. It does everything I've asked of it in my first 50 hours.

I dug in too deep with my box blade and got stuck twice the first day I had it. Had to pull it out with my truck. Now I've learned to use the tractor correctly and I don't get stuck. No 4WD is no big deal.

The mx6 does a great job.

Get imatch. Saves a lot more time than HST.

The gear drive has never been an issue.

I have a loader and use it. If you need to do a lot of loader work, you're better off renting a skid steer than any tractor.

Hope this helps.

 

[Zebra203]

I appreciate all the info. I still dont know what I'll do, but with each post and all the great info I get from TBN, I get closer and closer to figuring it out. Thanks.

 

[RollingsFarms]

how long do you plan on keeping the tractor? if its over 10 years i would say go with the ag utility(5103) as it will hold its resale value better then say a cut. it should also hold up to heavy work longer because the frames are stronger. ive never belived a novice should learn on any one type of tranny driven tractor. i once was a novice and i learned on a gear driven tractor, and have loved them ever since. each one has their own purpose. in your case, since you say youre going to do alot of mowing, id go for the gear tractor(5103)....just set it and go. you should test drive the other tractors youre considering and compare. see if the dealer will make you a better overall deal on the 5103 compared to the others. i can honestly say ive been around farming for almost 15+ years and have never wished i had 4wd. not to say its not needed, but ive stayed in business for that length of time without it.

 

[GaryCrowell]

I just wanted to comment on the posters who are recommending certain types of tractors because of your "novice" status. I mean no disrespect to those posters when I say this, so please don't get offended.

I've often heard folks recommend things that are smaller and supposedly easier to use for people just starting out in certain hobbies. Times that cross my mind are recommendations of small caliber rifles like a .243 for a first time deer hunter, and motorcycle riders recommending small motorcycles for a guy who's never ridden one but wants to buy one to commute to work. The recommendation of a smaller tractor with HST fits this category, I know the thinking is that the tractor will be easier to use than a gear driven AG tractor. I disagree with this approach. After a few weeks out there working on this "novice" tractor you will no longer be a novice. Face it, it's driving a tractor, not neurosurgery. Stick any reasonably intelligent being on a tractor and they will pretty much have it figured out in a couple of hours, it's just not that hard to operate a tractor, any tractor, including a 5103. Buy what you NEED, not a starter tractor that you'll outgrow after a couple of hours work. I don't care if you determine that you need a 90 HP 4wd, offload it in the pasture and drive it around in circles for a couple of hours while you figure out what works what, then once you've got the basics mastered go to work with it. If you buy a starter tractor just to learn on then you'll be stuck with a $20K toy that doesn't do what you want it to, and you'll be wishing you had just bought what you needed in the first place.

Just like a guy who buys a little Honda 250 to learn on instead of the Gold Wing he really needed, you'll regret buying a tractor just to learn on. Buy what you need and learn how to operate it.

 

[Taylork]

Here's my two cents for what it's worh:

I have 13 acres in the TX hill country. I have a 5103/512 loader/mx6/green box blade/green rear blade/green rake/and imatch.

I bought a 5103 b/c it allowed me to buy a better shredder (mx6) and more implements.

I wouldn't trade my 5103 for a "fancier" tractor. It does everything I've asked of it in my first 50 hours.

I dug in too deep with my box blade and got stuck twice the first day I had it. Had to pull it out with my truck. Now I've learned to use the tractor correctly and I don't get stuck. No 4WD is no big deal.

The mx6 does a great job.

Get imatch. Saves a lot more time than HST.

The gear drive has never been an issue.

I have a loader and use it. If you need to do a lot of loader work, you're better off renting a skid steer than any tractor.

Hope this helps.

My first post!

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Chip. I just (as of Saturday) became the proud owner of a 5103/loader/MX6/I-match myself, in part possibly due to the careful and thoughtful posts of Chip and others here in tractorbynet. It cerainly answered many a question and opened many more, typical, I suppose.

I had thought about a JD 990 very hard, as well as a Kubota, but when you do the math for what I was going to do (30 acres near Madisonville, Texas) and eventually need (hay moving capability, etc), the current pricing and interest, there was not really much of a decision, particularly when my wife finally agreed we needed a tractor and didn't want a "baby" tractor! (I *ran* to the JD dealer that day!).

While I certainly don't have that many hours (only 6) yet, I am most impressed. One thing not mentioned previously that would be nice would be a canopy (at least here in Texas), that is coming when I have a few more bucks.

Chip is absolutely right about the Imatch, it is wonderful. I have to admit that I don't like fooling with the PTO that much - but he said it best, you will save more time with it even counting the PTO (seems like I was a tad off lining it up and being a newbie found it rather frustrating.)

There are MANY good tractors out there, but IMHO the 5103 is the best bang for the bucks. Yeah, it doesn't have 4WD, but again, for what I do, I will just do it a tad slower but have the capability of doing much larger tasks later with the 5103. Of course, a version similar to the 5103 is available in 4WD but I couldn't justify it. Again, Chip said it best.

Good luck, and go green!
Taylor

 

[Palehorse]

3203: Scary fast hydraulic response with the 300 loader. Look at JD's own loader tables, it is the fastest of any of the compact utilities. Not a novice tractor at all. The hydraulic's pedal responses are more RPM sensitive than the 2x20 and 3x20 models.

3520: Sweet machine, especially with the shuttle for loader work (on the 12x12) or of course HST. Maybe too many control interfaces/options (bio' overload)

5103: Solid, basic and dependable. As others have said, not an ideal anything, but can be made to do about anything, accept a belly mower. Check the sight lines over those rear fenders. Shorter operators beware.

 

[unreconstructed]

I disagree on the motorcyles. Get a dirt bike--learn to ride it, then go road bike if you gotta.

On tractors though--Pop put me on a UB Moline when I was 9 in 1959 and I guarantee by the time I made 3 rounds I was getting it figured out.

So I agree with the fella who said get what you need. Don't bother with a "starter". No disrespect intended to the other opinions.

I have a 5203 and love the thing. With respect to mud--I grew up on a farm and when its too muddy to work, you don't. Just tears up the land and makes a mess. So for me, no disrespect to the mudders out there, I don't work when its too wet. I have land in the Texas Hill Country and also in West Texas. Use an MX 6 with plenty power to spare. Use the FEL a lot. Yes, its slower than HST or whatever, but it works OK for me. Its all what you want I reckon.

I think 4 WD would come in handy at times in the deep sand in West Texas, but I work around it OK.

I have a 2320 and to be honest, I just plain rather have a gear tranny, But that's my upbringing I guess.

I like the European fenders on the 5203 also.
This is one tough little tractor with plenty of power for a small utility tractor.

My 2 bits.

Best of luck.