Go BottomWhich 4000 series best fits
 | busstop
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2002-04-16 37517
We're sold on JD, but are at a loss to determin what size we need (cost is an issue.
We plan to tend to 30 of 65 acres, maintain a .5 mile drive, mow yard and mow and drag pasture. At this point, we don't think we need a loader and we could rent or borrow a post hole digger if needed.
We've talked to the dealer about the 4010, quoted us a price of 12K for tractor, 54" mid deck and ind. tires. Does this sound legit, or should we be looking at something larger? How's price sound?
Thanks,
Rob
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2002-04-17 37527
It's sort of tough differing with a dealer. A dealer's business really is matching needs to budgets, and the dealer probably spent quite a bit of time talking to you.
Sounds like the dealer thinks of this as a mowing tractor. Could be the best idea. A lot of what works has to do with how much time you're willing to spend at it. Small tractors generally do the same work as large ones but take longer--unless a lot of maneuvering is required.
One way to put perspective on things is to do some rough time calculations. For example, a square acre is 208'. A 5' implement will work a square acre in 41.6 passes of 208' and take .82 hours at an average ground speed of 2mph. Thirty acres would take just over 24 hours. By comparison, a 6' implement chops about four hours off the working time. The idea here is that larger tractors with more HP can use wider implements.
I'm not sure how reasonable a 2mph speed is for mowing. However, I'd keep in mind that the whole job is starting the tractor, going to the field, lunch as well as maneuvering and turn around times.
Time could be similarly estimated for drive maintenance. Here I'd keep in mind that it might be good to have enough power for an implement that would work the drive in two passes. Two passes with a narrow implement doesn't quite cover many drives.
I think of mid-mowers as expensive, compromising other uses of a tractor, but good for finish mowing especially around buildings and landscaping. I don't know what grows in the pasture or if any of the rest of the property requires brush cutting and if so whether a mid-mower if the best choice. I would see what kind of a post hole auger can be put on the tractor. Some low clearance compacts have difficulties with some models of augers.
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2002-04-17 37541
The more I read on this board and the more I run around on my 4100, the more I have come to believe that the proper way to buy a tractor is to consider overall size and weight first. Once you find the right size and weight then consider if it has enough PTO horse power to run the extra things you might get someday. For example: a 1000 pound tractor with twenty five horses would make a lousy machine for plowing but would probably excel at mowing. But a three thousand pound tractor with the same horsepower has the weight and traction to pull a plow but would be a real slow mower and would leave deep tracks in the pasture. If you want to do all things well you might need two: a dedicated mowing machine that is lightweight, fast and powerful and a heavier, slower tractor for the field work. The 4010,4110 and 4115 have enough weight for light field work such as dragging chain harrows and running a middle buster for planting potatoes, but are better suited I think for mowing than a larger heavier machine. ....
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| MikeB
Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 37 CT
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2002-04-17 37542
I think the 4010 is an excelent choice. Always keep in mind the excellent re-sale value of compact tractors. Later on....if your needs change....you can always trade for a larger one. ....
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