upgrading 3120 to 4000 or 5000 series

jonnysteals · Sep 21, 2012

My tractor now
I have a 2008 john deere 3120 and it is a nice tractor(220 hours). I have the 300cx loader, hydro, cruise control and a bunch of attachments. My issue is lately I have been finding myself wanting a little more tractor. 90 percent of the time I am cutting grass with the brushhog with cruise control and it makes my life so easy. My issue is when I am pulling the box blade or doing heavy dirt work it seems a little underpowered and light. I have stalled the tractor out pushing a big pile of dirt and when the bucket is full the tractor seems really tippy even with the box blade on back and a full bucket. I do not have my rear tires filled so I believe I can greatly improve my tractor stability by doing that. My issue is my tractor is paid off(paid cash) but if I upgrade I will have to finance the purchase. I would like to get a grapple but I mainly need a loader and brush hog.

My Uses
My property is 30 acers with 5 being cleared grass I cut. I also have been slowly clearign additional space and maintaining a 1000 foot stone driveway. My brother has 16 acres that he is begining to clear and asked abotu me helping out.

3120 4320 4045E
Horse 29.2 48 45
pto horse 22 40 37
weight 3000 3700 5000
transmission hydro hyrdo manual
Leader model 300Cx 400Cx 553
loader lift 1600 2300 3100

Base 28000 21000
options 1600 2200
loader 6000 5800

the 4320
I have been looking at a 4320 but they are an expensive tractor and I just don't think they are much different than what I have. The loader lifting capactiy is only 500 pounds more and the weight is only 700 pounds more. I am sure that loading my tires I would weigh more than the 4320. I would love to stay with a hydro because it makes moving dirt so easy and I do alot of manuvering in close area's. The tractor is very expensive; I wish I would have started off with a 4000 series instead of my 3000 series. It seems that the 4320 is a nice tractor but the 5000 series is cheaper and a **** of a lot more tractor.

The 5045E
The 5045E seems like a complete monster of a tractor. The big issue is the manual trans. I don't know how hard that will make life having to worry about shifting while doing loader work. Seems like it would slow me down some. They say this tractor is basic but I mean my 3120 isn't very fancy either. How hard will it be cutting grass with this tractor. This big issue for me is how will the maneuverability be with this big tractor and the manual trans? This seems to be the best bang for the buck money wise.

I am not 100% sure I am upgrading because I am unsure I want to make payments on a tractor. My 3120 does 90 % of my work fine but I could use more tractor sometime. The 5045E is the best bang for the buck and is $7000 dollars cheaper than the 4320. Specs wise the 5045E is the clear winner but is the 4320 really much better than my current tractor. If I do decide to purchase new I want to make the right decision because I plan on keeping this tractor for 30+ years. Any help would be great.

vtsnowedin · Sep 21, 2012

jonnysteals said:
My tractor now
I have a 2008 john deere 3120 The 5045E.....

The 5045E seems like a complete monster of a tractor. The big issue is the manual trans. I don't know how hard that will make life having to worry about shifting while doing loader work. Seems like it would slow me down some. They say this tractor is basic but I mean my 3120 isn't very fancy either. How hard will it be cutting grass with this tractor. This big issue for me is how will the maneuverability be with this big tractor and the manual trans? This seems to be the best bang for the buck money wise.

Any help would be great.

I have to agree on the 5045E being the best bang for the buck. A complete monster? Hardly. It is a real tractor compared to the scale model toy tractors many of the small CUTS are. Ive never had an issue with a manual tranny and loader work. An HST is nicer but when you go to do steady work like mowing you are a slave to the go pedal. If the majority of your work was back and forth loader work I'd go for something with HST but if your primarily pulling implements round and round a field then a standard tranny is the way you want to go.

Cidertom · Sep 21, 2012

"tractor and I just don't think they are much different than what I have. The loader lifting capactiy is only 500 pounds more and the weight is only 700 pounds more. I am sure that loading my tires I would weigh more than the 4320."

Having the forerunner to the 3x20 (4300) and now having the 4520. They are much more tractor. The JD made powertech diesel has a better power curve, the frame is biggger and you have a bigger stance. I don't know about the loader lift ratings but so far I am picking 2500 with my 400cx fairly often. However! this requires a lot of ballast. The book is loaded tires, wheel weights and the ballast box. Which will make it less than ideal for mowing. If the current one is meeting the 90% of your needs, and paid off, then I would be real hesitant to move to a large frame utility. I found that the 4520 was too big for some of the 4300 jobs. I solved that by buying the wife a 2305 but ...

vtsnowedin · Sep 21, 2012

The JD 5045E weighs 5070 and the 553 loader weighs 1519. Add in 1411 for loaded rear tires and put yourself on the seat and your over 8000 lbs total. The loader will lift 4000lbs or half the units weight. A nice stable number.
Of course there are bigger tractors for those that have bigger requirements and smaller ones that fit into tight places and don't tear up the lawn, but the 5045E is a LOT of tractor for the money.

MtnViewRanch · Sep 21, 2012

Trust me when I tell you this. Fill your tires and you will be happy and all will be good. Once you fill your tires, it will seem as though you have a different more powerful machine. And the reason that it feels that way is because you will have a more powerful machine. That extra weight makes a WORLD of difference.

When I bought my 32HP tractor I knew that I was going to be hauling it around a lot. I did not want to fill the tires because of the added weight. I tried using it dry for a week, I couldn't stand it, everything was a chore. I filled all 4 of the tires and what a difference it made. No more problems loading the bucket full, pulling a full box blade, it made working the tractor enjoyable. I would wager a small amount that you will be happy just getting your tires filled.

You can always add a diverter valve to run the grapple, not really that much money.

Good luck

jonnysteals · Sep 22, 2012

vtsnowedin said:
I have to agree on the 5045E being the best bang for the buck. A complete monster? Hardly. It is a real tractor compared to the scale model toy tractors many of the small CUTS are. Ive never had an issue with a manual tranny and loader work. An HST is nicer but when you go to do steady work like mowing you are a slave to the go pedal. If the majority of your work was back and forth loader work I'd go for something with HST but if your primarily pulling implements round and round a field then a standard tranny is the way you want to go.

I have cruise control currently so I just set it and relax. I can adjust the speed faster and slower witht the click of a button as well. Yea I am just worried it may be too big for my intended uses.

Cidertom said:
"tractor and I just don't think they are much different than what I have. The loader lifting capactiy is only 500 pounds more and the weight is only 700 pounds more. I am sure that loading my tires I would weigh more than the 4320."

Having the forerunner to the 3x20 (4300) and now having the 4520. They are much more tractor. The JD made powertech diesel has a better power curve, the frame is biggger and you have a bigger stance. I don't know about the loader lift ratings but so far I am picking 2500 with my 400cx fairly often. However! this requires a lot of ballast. The book is loaded tires, wheel weights and the ballast box. Which will make it less than ideal for mowing. If the current one is meeting the 90% of your needs, and paid off, then I would be real hesitant to move to a large frame utility. I found that the 4520 was too big for some of the 4300 jobs. I solved that by buying the wife a 2305 but ...

Yea If the the 4000 series tractor is wider I can seee that making a huge difference. I do not want to buy two tractors. If I did that I would buy a tlb and a zero turn.

vtsnowedin said:
The JD 5045E weighs 5070 and the 553 loader weighs 1519. Add in 1411 for loaded rear tires and put yourself on the seat and your over 8000 lbs total. The loader will lift 4000lbs or half the units weight. A nice stable number.
Of course there are bigger tractors for those that have bigger requirements and smaller ones that fit into tight places and don't tear up the lawn, but the 5045E is a LOT of tractor for the money.

Yea I agree with you its the best bang for the buck by far. I still am curious why they call it stripped down.

MtnViewRanch said:
Trust me when I tell you this. Fill your tires and you will be happy and all will be good. Once you fill your tires, it will seem as though you have a different more powerful machine. And the reason that it feels that way is because you will have a more powerful machine. That extra weight makes a WORLD of difference.

When I bought my 32HP tractor I knew that I was going to be hauling it around a lot. I did not want to fill the tires because of the added weight. I tried using it dry for a week, I couldn't stand it, everything was a chore. I filled all 4 of the tires and what a difference it made. No more problems loading the bucket full, pulling a full box blade, it made working the tractor enjoyable. I would wager a small amount that you will be happy just getting your tires filled.

You can always add a diverter valve to run the grapple, not really that much money.

Good luck

My biggest issue really isn't the money its the use. These tractor lives at a rental property of mine. If this was at my primary residency I could easily justify the additional cost. I only use this tractor when I am out there playing around in my garage.

How much weight does filling the tires add? What is the cost to do this? Filling the tires really made that much difference?

ON my tractor they sell a kit that you cna add to get a rear remote. The issue was the lever is in a terrible location. The kit is cheap but I wanted to make sure that if I buy a grapple for this tractor woould it fit on say the 5045E or would I need to upgrade my grapple then as well?

jonnysteals · Sep 22, 2012

Also I am not very concerned about trailering this tractor. I drive a f250 diesel with the tow package and a 3 year old 25 foot long deck over trailer. The trialer has 8k axels and the trailer weighs 4000 pounds. I can safely put 12k on the trailer.

If I need a bigger trailer my brothers got a 3500 dually diesel with a 40 foot long triple axle gooseneck trailer. Im pretty sure I could put all three of the tractors on this trailer

jenkinsph · Sep 22, 2012

I agree with Brian, fill those tires and try it out before you proceed to shop for a new tractor. The three things I would want to have besides the grappel you mention would be filled tires for improved traction, wheel spacers for added width and stability and topntilt for controlling the boxblade. If you don't have these I can assure you that this is a heck of alot cheaper than changing tractors and will make a huge difference in what you can do.

All the tractors you mention are good and have their own individual merits. If your current tractor is doing 90% of the work you wan't to do then stick with it. There isn't a tractor made yet that does everything perfectly and I found it takes multiple tractors to do what I need done. My 4520 with iron weights without a fel (my preference for close quarters work) weighs in about 5500lbs. The boxblade is a Frontier Woods Gannon that is 84" and 1250 lbs, this can be a real load at times for the 4520, most of the time though it is an excellent combination. My tires are not loaded, if they were I would have more traction, but for a lot of other things such as running up inclines it would slow the tractor down more than I wan't. Nothings perfect.

A 5045E is a larger frame tractor but is not necessarily going to get more done than a 4x20 machine. For boxblade work and landplane work which I do alot of the 4520 will beat a 5045E all day long, the extra power and manueverablilty will make the difference. If you wanted to pull a subsoil plow across a larger field all day long then the 5045E would be more efficient and a better choice.

MtnViewRanch · Sep 22, 2012

jonnysteals said:
How much weight does filling the tires add? What is the cost to do this? Filling the tires really made that much difference?

ON my tractor they sell a kit that you cna add to get a rear remote. The issue was the lever is in a terrible location. The kit is cheap but I wanted to make sure that if I buy a grapple for this tractor woould it fit on say the 5045E or would I need to upgrade my grapple then as well?

How much weight depends on what fluid you use. I added about 1000lbs when I filled my tires. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

It cost me less than $100, I did it myself.

It will feel like you are operating a different machine, a much more powerful machine. If you have doubts, get a filler adaptor and just fill with water. Costs about $15, then you will know and understand first hand for yourself.

Get a diverter kit, reasonable cost and you can put it with about any tractor that you would get, and the control will be a button on your loader control lever.

I can't help you out with the grapple question, to many variables.