Which one 5740 or 4540?

[Stampeder]

As I noted in another thread, I am looking at a 5740 with the new curved FEL arms and a 4540 with the older straight FEL arms.
They will both price out about the same and similar warranties.

Here's my use:

15.5 acres of flat pasture. Will be haying most of it. Mowing, baling, stacking of square bales. Possilby some discing.
Barn with two horses growing to four.
No snow to push around.
Will be doing subsoil plowing in of waterlines and telecom/electrical cables.
Will be using a brush hog and auger.
Will also be using pallet forks.
Like the quick change front ends on new FEL's.

What is the opinions of those who have or owned one or both of these given the conditions I describe.

Thanks.

 

[Doc_Bob]

5740

You can never go wrong with more power. I own a NH TN70A, so this opinion is simply based upon more power.
Bob

 

[Maka]

Hi Stampeder. I am sorry I have not gotten right back to you as it has been a bit crazy. Here is the way I see it. The 4540 is a great tractor and my personal favorite of the compacts. Lots of power for size and will do lots of work.

What size bales? Stacking how high? What type of soil are you working in?

First off, the old style loader on the 4540 is OK but may not have the lift height for stacking or the even the lift capacity. I like them well enough but they are nothing compared to the curved boom loaders. By the way, it has a quick connect and bale spears and forks are available but it is not skid steer compatible.

If you are only doing small square bales stacking only a few high using a small disc etc. the 4540 is enough.

The 5740 would be a great machine but might be more than you need. Anyone else?

Maka

 

[Dargo]

it has a quick connect and bale spears and forks are available but it is not skid steer compatible

No kidding?? Why would that be?

 

[dgl24087]

No kidding?? Why would that be?

It may have the new ISO "world" mounting system. I couldn't tell from the pics on the Montana web site. The curved arm loader looked alot like the Rhino loaders supplied to NH to me.

 

[xxxsandman]

I own a 4540 with older style FEL and do all the items you mentioned, on 40 acres.

I wrote a detailed review of it in this forum over a year ago. You can search and find it, I'm sure.

How big and tall are you? If you are 6' or taller and/or over 200lbs do NOT get the 4540. The operator station is way to cramped. That's my biggest grip with it.

The 4540 is a powerful machine for it's size. Power isn't a issue with it. The ONLY advantage I can imagine a 4540 has over a 5740 is being able to operate easier in tighter spaces, such as cleaning a barn out and tight mowing. It's excellent at cleaning my barn out. It also makes a very fine mowing machine, as it's got all the PTO horsepower you need, turns tight, and doesn't leave a big foot print due to weight.

For ME, I would take the 5740 in a heart beat. I could use the extra lifting capacity and weight of the machine. But for you, you should consider the couple of things the 4540 is better at and see how they apply to what you will be using it for.

 

[montanaman]

Like has been mentioned, you are really going to have to think about how you will use the tractor and go from there. If they do price out close to the same, it sounds like the 57 is a better deal but a good deal doesn't matter if you aren't happy with it once you own it!

It seemed to me that there was some confusion in this thread about the bucket mounts. The curved boom loader IS a skid steer style loader while the old style loader is not. The old style loader does have forks and bale spears available,but they aren't universal.

I really like both tractors and I guess for me, it would likely come down to how much room I had to use it, and what I needed the loader to lift.

Just think it out and I think you'll be happy!

Ken

 

[Stampeder]

Thanks for all your replies and thought provoking questions.
Maka: I fully understand at this time of year I was not surprised. No problem
A number of you asked questions about the use I will make of my Montana.
First, I am 5' 10" and weigh over 200 lbs.
I will be dealing with small square bales and this will be amost totally by myself. All our kids are grown and on their own.
Hence, I am also really interested in everyone's experiences with bale grabbers. These would greatly reduce the physical labour with the small bales.
Also, I plan on running this tractor on biodiesel. Any experiences with this.
My barn is only about 1 to 2 years old. It was built with two 10' wide 10' high doors, one on either end so I can drive straight through to clean it out. Got to thank the guy that designed it for that.
The other question I had about these two tractors is how would they be for mowing the grass around the house with a finishing mower? Or should I just get a riding mower? We have a couple of large trees in the back of the house.
Back to the bales. I don't think I want to stack more than 8 or 10 bales high. I've got room and it can get a little aukward otherwise.
As to the soil type it's pretty sandy with clay down below 2 ft.
I have a question on tire types. Should I equip this with turf tires or go with the Ag tires that are on it? I'm in North Texas where it is pretty dry (in the midst of a 3 year drought) so mud isn't a big problem as you can imagine.
Thanks again for all the great responses. I find I gain a lot of information from this forum.

 

[Chipperman]

Thanks for all your replies and thought provoking questions.
Maka: I fully understand at this time of year I was not surprised. No problem
A number of you asked questions about the use I will make of my Montana.
First, I am 5' 10" and weigh over 200 lbs.
I will be dealing with small square bales and this will be amost totally by myself. All our kids are grown and on their own.
Hence, I am also really interested in everyone's experiences with bale grabbers. These would greatly reduce the physical labour with the small bales.
Also, I plan on running this tractor on biodiesel. Any experiences with this.
My barn is only about 1 to 2 years old. It was built with two 10' wide 10' high doors, one on either end so I can drive straight through to clean it out. Got to thank the guy that designed it for that.
The other question I had about these two tractors is how would they be for mowing the grass around the house with a finishing mower? Or should I just get a riding mower? We have a couple of large trees in the back of the house.
Back to the bales. I don't think I want to stack more than 8 or 10 bales high. I've got room and it can get a little aukward otherwise.
As to the soil type it's pretty sandy with clay down below 2 ft.
I have a question on tire types. Should I equip this with turf tires or go with the Ag tires that are on it? I'm in North Texas where it is pretty dry (in the midst of a 3 year drought) so mud isn't a big problem as you can imagine.
Thanks again for all the great responses. I find I gain a lot of information from this forum.

Stampeder
He is my 2 cents. For your purposes do not buy any tractor if it does not have the skid steer mount. You say you will be working mostly alone and you are considering a bale grabber. They do make grabbers you can use with out a skidsteer mount but it is far, and I mean far easier to use the quick connect instead on pounding out and back pins. In addition to the skidsteer mount you would be wise to purchase the tractor with a 3rd function mounted to the loader boom. Again you can plumb a grabber into the aux remotes but the 3rd function is much quicker and easier to use. Last thing I will add is for mowing around the house buy yourself a riding mower and if you can afford it a ZTR. What ever you chose I hope you enjoy it.
Happy Holidays
Chipperman

 

[Doc_Bob]

As to the soil type it's pretty sandy with clay down below

If you never will run on lawn, go with Ag.
Bob

 

[JimmyBean]

Hi Stampeder,
I may be biased, but my choice would be the 5740, hands down. I have owned a 5740C for a year and a half. It is one awesome machine. Mine has the Koyker loader and is built to work. I can plow the 6 foot bucket with tooth bar clear full of shale and lift it in a matter of seconds. I also have the pallet forks and do firewood for a sideline business. This tractor has no problem lifting a 2000 lb. load with a counter weight on the 3PH. I carry 10 - 14 foot logs all the time with 3 or 4 on the forks. I have 40 acres and bale hay on about 10 acres. I use a 7 ft. Hesston haybine that runs with ease. I would also consider the cab because it is very nice to sit in air conditioning while the temperature is 90 degrees plus outside. I would not recommend this tractor for finish mowing only because of its weight. I have the R4 tires and these are great looking tires. They are a little less aggressive than ag tires but give a lot bigger foot print. I get on some pretty soft ground and still leave very light tracks. Also they are a lot heavier duty type tire and will last much longer in rougher service conditions. With the four wheel drive, you will not lose any pulling power. I think the skid steer quick attach would be greatly appreciated because of all the attachments out there.
My barn also has 10 foot by 10 foot doors and this tractor goes through with ease. You need just over 8 feet for head clearance because of the cab. Sounds like the new style curved boom loader is the best yet too. The 57 horses are a nice plus too. You can do so much without even taxing the engine on this machine. Well I hope I have given you some food for thought. I am sure which ever machine you decide on will be great for you. Oh yeah, my wife says the only down side to our's is that it should have had a CD player instead of a tape deck.....LOL.

Jim T.

 

[montanaman]

Oh yeah, my wife says the only down side to our's is that it should have had a CD player instead of a tape deck.....LOL.

Jim T.

I think there is a disc changer that will work with that radio if you could find it!! I found the manual for the radio on line a while back but can't remember the details at this point. Check it out and you may have the next birthday gift for your wife covered!

Ken

 

[gemini5362]

Like has been mentioned, you are really going to have to think about how you will use the tractor and go from there. If they do price out close to the same, it sounds like the 57 is a better deal but a good deal doesn't matter if you aren't happy with it once you own it!

It seemed to me that there was some confusion in this thread about the bucket mounts. The curved boom loader IS a skid steer style loader while the old style loader is not. The old style loader does have forks and bale spears available,but they aren't universal.

I really like both tractors and I guess for me, it would likely come down to how much room I had to use it, and what I needed the loader to lift.

Just think it out and I think you'll be happy!

Ken

Montanaman, I have a question for you. I have one of the old style loaders without the quick attach. I purchased the adapter from Montana. How can I tell if the adapter is skid steer compatible ?

 

[montanaman]

Montanaman, I have a question for you. I have one of the old style loaders without the quick attach. I purchased the adapter from Montana. How can I tell if the adapter is skid steer compatible ?

Do you know what brand loader it is and can you post a picture of the adapter?

The skid steer ones will have two levers to lock the bucket. The adapter has plates at the top that fit under a lip at the top of the bucket, or attatchment, and two square pins that slide down through slots in the bottom of the plate to secure it.

Not easy to describe but I hope that helps.

Ken

 

[gemini5362]

Do you know what brand loader it is and can you post a picture of the adapter?

The skid steer ones will have two levers to lock the bucket. The adapter has plates at the top that fit under a lip at the top of the bucket, or attatchment, and two square pins that slide down through slots in the bottom of the plate to secure it.

Not easy to describe but I hope that helps.

Ken

Actually that is a very good description and very helpful thank you. I have one of the older ansung loaders I bought the adapter plate for it from montana. The adapter has a plate that fits under a lip on the bucket and two square pins that slide through slots in the bottom of the plate just like you described. I wanted to make sure what I had before I looked at ordering any skid steer compatible attachments