jeffinsgf
Veteran Member
Too impulsive? I don\'t think so but I\'ll listen...
Just caught wind of JD's no interest financing and decided to go take a look for something to help me with my new 10 acres of Ozarks rocks. I have an old Bobcat that is great for moving piles of stuff, but I want a PTO shaft, something bigger to mow with than a little rider, and I don't want to do all my dirt work inside a cage. I've got several projects that are screaming for a backhoe, but the attachment for the Bobcat is dreadfully expensive. So, off to the local (pretty good sized) Deere shop.
They were out of 990's, had a couple of 4310's, several different models of the new 3000-20 series, including a 3520, and a 4410 with a 430 FEL installed. I talked to the first salesman for a while and gravitated toward the 4410, which had been on the floor of a trade show of some kind and still had the "show special" price tag of $18,700 including FEL and a screen on the ROPS. Doesn't even have an hour on the meter yet.
I wanted to see the loader taken off and put on so we visited the service bay, where a very helpful kid walked me through it. I was impressed and we started getting a bit more serious. Then the subject drifted to Hydro drive vs. traditional gear box. After a little talk on the virtues of hydro, I drove the 3520 around their test field. Maybe I'm too old a dog to go hydro...I liked it but could not justify paying more for it (to myself), particularly after test driving the 4410 with the Power Reverser.
Then I left to have lunch with my wife and break the news to her -- actually, it was her idea in the first place, I was just telling her that I really was going to go ahead.
I went back and a different salesman worked with me, this one more in favor of the traditional gearbox (fewer moving parts, more power to the wheels, etc.). We sat down and worked through the implements that I wanted. We went with the 4410 with 430 loader, 447 backhoe, a Frontier 60" finish mower, and a Frontier 60" box blade. The whole enchilada for $28,500.
He placed everything on order and gave me a credit app to fill out tonight. In my euphoria of finally going green, I started looking more closely at the Deere site and have been cruising through lots of posts here at TBN. Which has raised a couple of concerns that maybe some of you guys can help me with, so I don't make a mistake. I wouldn't mind spending a little more to avoid problems.
First thing I noticed is that the 430 seems to be discontinued and the Deere consumer site shows no FEL for the 4410. Is that anything to worry about? Just "last year's model"? I have read some good things about the 300CX loader, but apparently it won't fit the 4410. Does the 430 accept the same range of buckets, blades and the skid loader plate like the 300CX?
Next question is, did I dismiss hydro drive too quickly? It seems to be favored by lots of folks here, or is that just the "vocal minority"? It sure is convenient, but I've been dropping a clutch on power equipment for 35 years, so I don't really mind. Is there any other reason than convenience to go hydro?
Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer.
Just caught wind of JD's no interest financing and decided to go take a look for something to help me with my new 10 acres of Ozarks rocks. I have an old Bobcat that is great for moving piles of stuff, but I want a PTO shaft, something bigger to mow with than a little rider, and I don't want to do all my dirt work inside a cage. I've got several projects that are screaming for a backhoe, but the attachment for the Bobcat is dreadfully expensive. So, off to the local (pretty good sized) Deere shop.
They were out of 990's, had a couple of 4310's, several different models of the new 3000-20 series, including a 3520, and a 4410 with a 430 FEL installed. I talked to the first salesman for a while and gravitated toward the 4410, which had been on the floor of a trade show of some kind and still had the "show special" price tag of $18,700 including FEL and a screen on the ROPS. Doesn't even have an hour on the meter yet.
I wanted to see the loader taken off and put on so we visited the service bay, where a very helpful kid walked me through it. I was impressed and we started getting a bit more serious. Then the subject drifted to Hydro drive vs. traditional gear box. After a little talk on the virtues of hydro, I drove the 3520 around their test field. Maybe I'm too old a dog to go hydro...I liked it but could not justify paying more for it (to myself), particularly after test driving the 4410 with the Power Reverser.
Then I left to have lunch with my wife and break the news to her -- actually, it was her idea in the first place, I was just telling her that I really was going to go ahead.
I went back and a different salesman worked with me, this one more in favor of the traditional gearbox (fewer moving parts, more power to the wheels, etc.). We sat down and worked through the implements that I wanted. We went with the 4410 with 430 loader, 447 backhoe, a Frontier 60" finish mower, and a Frontier 60" box blade. The whole enchilada for $28,500.
He placed everything on order and gave me a credit app to fill out tonight. In my euphoria of finally going green, I started looking more closely at the Deere site and have been cruising through lots of posts here at TBN. Which has raised a couple of concerns that maybe some of you guys can help me with, so I don't make a mistake. I wouldn't mind spending a little more to avoid problems.
First thing I noticed is that the 430 seems to be discontinued and the Deere consumer site shows no FEL for the 4410. Is that anything to worry about? Just "last year's model"? I have read some good things about the 300CX loader, but apparently it won't fit the 4410. Does the 430 accept the same range of buckets, blades and the skid loader plate like the 300CX?
Next question is, did I dismiss hydro drive too quickly? It seems to be favored by lots of folks here, or is that just the "vocal minority"? It sure is convenient, but I've been dropping a clutch on power equipment for 35 years, so I don't really mind. Is there any other reason than convenience to go hydro?
Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer.
