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.

AndyMA · Apr 11, 2004

The 4310 sounds too small for that size property. I'd keep the 5420 and hand a bigger mower on it. For the tight places consider a Country Home Products Brush Mower. If possible I'd keep both machines.

Andy

_RaT_ · Apr 11, 2004

Both tractors are brand new. Do you guys actually use them? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif You should get excellent value for them.

ScottAR · Apr 11, 2004

I guess I don't understand what you two are trying to accomplish?? Do you need capital for some other venture? I would think the more tractors the better... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 11, 2004

( Both tractors are brand new. Do you guys actually use them? )
Yes and no, the 4310 is 1.5 yrs old and it gets used the most. It will be used more when I actually build and live on the 26 acres. The 5420 had over 210 hours on it when my father in law bought it. He had planned on using it to reclaim his 52 acres but decided on waiting until he retires in 10 years or so. I guess the fact that he rarely uses it, (I've put about 35 of the 40 hours on it since in our possession) he just thinks his money could be better spent elsewhere. His land needs root plowing, disked, planted and fenced to get it to the point where he'd like it. The root plowing alone will set him back $250-$300 per acre. I guess he's thinking if we combined our monthly payments into one tractor, it would make more economical sense. We'll see what happens when the dealer calls him and tells him what I'm predicting (that we'd both take a big loss initially). If I had some calves helping with the mowing, I feel I could keep up the place with the 4310. But I also feel that a 4710 would be alot more tractor than my 4310 and yet alot more maneuverable(sp?) than the 5420. I just wished we'd have done this in the 1st place...Kyle

jinman · Apr 11, 2004

Kyle, It seems to me that you are worried most about mowing, but you have many jobs that the 5420 could do. I think you'll be happier with the 5420 in the long run with your acreage and plans. Your trees don't seem to be the major area you mow. How wide is the 5420? I'd think you'd have to look out for the canopy under low branches a lot more than width. Besides, you can buy a cheap 5' rotary cutter for between your trees and get a 7' for the open areas.

Why not keep the 5420 and see how it works out. If things don't seem like they are working for you, then sell the 5420 and buy the 4710. You don't want to spend all your spare time mowing with something that's too small to get the job done. You need some spare time to catch some of the fish out of your nice pond. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

GerardC · Apr 12, 2004

Ditto. Buy a nice 25HP Garden Tractor.

Gatorboy · Apr 12, 2004

( Look at the attached photo and you try to mow between those trees with a 5420. )

It doesn't look that bad to me. I'd even give it a go with my M8950 and 15' Flexwing.

I'd definitely keep the 5420, and depending on how nice you want to keep the grass around those trees -- get a Scag or similar walk-behind with sulky, or a Billy Goat High Weed mower -- for trimming.

smilingreen · Apr 12, 2004

Keep the 5420, sell the 4310 and get a JD 757 ZTR mower/ 5'deck.

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 13, 2004

Thanks to everyone for replying. Here's the latest news,

1)Our dealer offered to sell the 5420 for 6% commission. Told father in law to sell 5420 and use some proceeds to mend fences and buy 6-12 calves for the growing season. Downside is manure everywhere and no 5420. Upside is freezers full of meat.

2)After we sell 5420, and if my tractor can't keep up with the shredding, then we'll look into a 4710. Which BTW, sells new for $23800 Includes, Hydro,MFWD, 460 FEL

3)He calls back and says he would hate to need a tractor and not have one. He's having reservations about selling his.

BTW, FYI a new 4310 like mine w/hydro,MFWD, 430 FEL sells for about $18,300 down here.

Chillimau · Apr 14, 2004

What percentage off list will your dealer sell for?

If you sell the 5420 try it on your own first. They don't last long at all around here in the paper and are pretty far and few between in the newspaper.