What to do? What to do?

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 9, 2004

Ok, my father in law calls and says we really have too much money wrapped up in tractors with a combined value of $50000. Told me to think about it and asked what we might should do. He originally bought his to refurbish his 52 acres but decided to hold off until he retires in about 10 years.

His tractor:2001(I think)JD5420 w/power-reverser,541FEL,MFWD,isolated platform,canopy,250 hrs.

My tractor

purchased new OCT 2002)JD4310 ehydro,430FEL,MFWD,R4's, 88 hours.

Options are:
1)Sell the 4310 and keep the 5420.
2)Sell the 5420 and keep the 4310.
3)Trade or sell both and get a happier medium(probably a 4710 ehydro).

Obviously there are things I can do on his but can't do on mine. But, there are many things I can do on mine that I can't do on his. What, you may ask? Look at the attached photo and you try to mow between those trees with a 5420.
We have 26 acres, some open, some wooded with a big pond. My father in law likes me to keep it looking like a park.
Mowing out over the pond is done now using my 4310 ehydro to back out over the water, lower the shredder, pull forward, scoot over and repeat. A real pain in the neck. (I am looking into a 7' sickle bar with a hydraulic lift.)
Eventually a handful of calves will help mow but I have to admit, our coastal bermuda grows faster than I care to mow with a 4310 by myself. 26 acres is a lot for a 5' shredder. It sure is nice having 2 tractors when I get his help. The 5420 rides so much smoother across a bumpy field its not even a contest.

I'm going to take votes on this so please feel free to reply and adlib freely. Also, if you want might be interested in either tractor, let me know.

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 9, 2004

For perspective size, here is the pond, look closely and you'll see my 4310 stuck on the farside (last year's picture)

SteveH_CT · Apr 9, 2004

Enviable Quandry you're in... I guess if I was making the decision, and the 5420 is simply to big for most of the jobs I'd go 4710.

With that said - Could the 5420 do most of the jobs you need done??? If so maybe sell the 4310 and get a rider or some such thing to do the grass areas that the 5420 can't get to.

You should get quite a range of opinions - this will prove to be interesting. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

BWa · Apr 10, 2004

Since you asked for opinions ,based on what little I know ... I have to agree with SteveH CT, keep the 5420 and get a smaller less costly machine to do what you can't get done with the 5420 ....
Best of Luck in what you go with ...
Bill G.

JimR · Apr 10, 2004

What are you going to use to pull your tractor out with the next time it gets stuck? I would keep the little guy. Sometimes bigger is not better.

cowboydoc · Apr 10, 2004

I'd definitely keep the 5420. But something like a 445 or 455 to mow around the trees.

rockyridgefarm · Apr 10, 2004

Sell the 4310 and buy a Diesel lawn tractor and you'll end up with only $44K tied up... And no 4310. Yuck!

Sell the 5420, and You'll take a big hit , but in worse case you can buy a older utility for as little as $5K. Boy that 5420 sounds SWEET!! Sell the 5420 and regret it, you get hit twice. YUCK!!

I'd sell the 5420 (But only if I REALLY had to...) and get some cows. That would cut down on the mowing.

Neither tractor has any hours on it. But, its used and why would someone pay an almost new price for it compared to a new one?

The 4x20s sound like they'll be showing up this summer. That might make the value of the 4310 go UP or down....

YUCK!!!

btw, how is that 5420 at hay bale jumping...? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

yellowsocks93 · Apr 10, 2004

Keep the 5420 since it's more durable than any compact tractor out there. Then buy a new JD X series for your heavy mowing. You could get a good one with a 60'' deck and 23 horse V-Twin. That would be quite the rig to mow with and they too are very durable and nice, nice machines. If you prefer used get an older 445 like Richard said. They are also very good garden tractors. We sell a fair amount of X series and everybody loves theirs!

RoyJackson · Apr 10, 2004

If you have to sell one, I'd say the 4310. It'll probably be easier to sell.
I expect you'd (actually, your father in law) would take a pretty good hit if he sold the 5420.

However, if you'd take a loss on either tractor...unless you really need to sell one, I wouldn't let either go...
Do you have financial reasons requiring the sale of either machine? If not...then why sell either one? Even if there's a cash flow problem, can you sell and at least break even? Not much use in selling one if you'd still have to pay off a loan.

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 11, 2004

Mike the front end on the 5420 is too heavy to qualify it for even a decent bale jumper...Hummmm...Maybe if I had a real heavy cutter on the back to help with mid-air vectoring...hummmm???

Actually, the 5420 is suppossedly decent at resale value. Probably percentagewise better than the 4310. We'll see. Neither of us are anywhere near upside down on the amount owed. I just don't want to take a big hit selling mine. We are waiting to see what the dealer says in a few days. My father in law is the convenience type, he doesn't mind paying(losing to me) for the convenience of trading in. I'd prefer to sell either one or both ourselves and then try to find a slightly used (like ours) 4710 or equivalent. This way, we don't take a beating all around.