I know everyone here is probably sick of “which one should I buy” threads. I’ve been reading many of those threads on this forum and enjoy learning. I want to take a moment to introduce myself so you know my experience and why I’m here. Sorry for the long post. Feel free to skip to the section that interests you most.
MY EXPERIENCE:
I grew up on 85 acres where we spent most years square baling alfalfa hay. We used a John Deere 4430 for EVERYTHING. When I was little more than a toddler, I sat in the gap between my dad’s seat and the fender. When I got too big to sit there, I rode sitting on the fender and held on to the ROPS posts. I was driving tractors by myself in the fields running implements years before I could legally drive a car. When my dad passed away suddenly and my mother sold the farm. I’ve always wanted to have some property of my own to share the joy with my children of playing on the farm. My kids grew up and moved out before I could realize that dream, but I still hope to share that experience with my grandkids. While I was intimately familiar with that old 4430, it’s been 25 years since I’ve been on a tractor, so I consider myself a newbie once again. I’m brand loyal to a fault, so I will not consider buying any other than a John Deere.
MY NEEDS:
I purchased 13 acres. The front 7 of it is open grassland. It slopes up very gently as it goes back from the road front, cresting at the wood line and then has a medium downward slope in the 6 acre woods. I mowed the grassland myself this year with my John Deere X380 lawn tractor (the brush was 3-4’ high but the little girl fought through it. This is obviously NOT a job for a lawn tractor). I will soon be building a house on the land, so I’m starting my search for the appropriate tractor now. I foresee the following usage:
MY OPTIONS:
3R Series - With those inputs, I started my search at the 3038E as an affordable option. However, I was afraid that the lighter weight may be insufficient when giving hayrides. Also, I want to be able to give my grandkids a ride on the tractor, and feel a cab model will be a safer way to do so, so I went to the other end of the 3 series, the 3046R with a cab and loader. The 3R will be a cheaper option than the 4R, will allow me a mid PTO (for a belly mower or front mount snowblower), and be easier to store in the garage until my barn is built. I think it will probably do everything I need it to.
4R Series - I’ve always been told to buy one size larger than what I think I’ll need. The 4R will give me more room to grow and offer a little more stability. I lose the mid PTO option in the 4R, but I’ve heard complaints about the ground clearance of the mid-mount mower and its mounting hardware on the 3R. Therfore, I will likely just use a rough-cut and finish-cut or a flail mower on the rear PTO anyways. Snow removal would have to be front blade or rear 3PH blower with the 4R. Backing down a curving 1000’ driveway for multiple passes wouldn’t be as easy as a front mount unit. (I know there are ways to do a front mount on a 4R, but I’m keeping it simple for now). I’m considering a 4052R or 4066R with cab and a loader. The 4052R is probably powerful enough for my needs, but the 4066R can’t be ruled out Depending on price. The extra power wold come in handy if i start a hobby hay operation.
5E (Honorable mention) - Both the 3R and 4R are big enough to feel like a tractor and not an oversized garden tractor (no offense to the 1 and 2 series owners, they are very capable machines, but I’m coming from memories of a 4430 row crop tractor), but neither will be out of place on my modestly sized homestead. I briefly considered a used 5 series utility tractor for the bigger cab and the available ‘instructional seat’, but I think it would be overkill and would end up opening up a hole I’d have to get a second, smaller tractor to fill.
I’m pretty sure the 3R and 4R are the right range for me. I’ll just have to find a way to fit a little granchild in the cab for a short ride. I bet I can fab up something. As essentially a new, first time tractor buyer myself, I’d appreciate any words of advice or warnings to watch out for from others who have been through this. Am I considering the correct inputs? What am I overlooking? What mistakes am I getting ready to make? Any advice would be appreciated.
MY EXPERIENCE:
I grew up on 85 acres where we spent most years square baling alfalfa hay. We used a John Deere 4430 for EVERYTHING. When I was little more than a toddler, I sat in the gap between my dad’s seat and the fender. When I got too big to sit there, I rode sitting on the fender and held on to the ROPS posts. I was driving tractors by myself in the fields running implements years before I could legally drive a car. When my dad passed away suddenly and my mother sold the farm. I’ve always wanted to have some property of my own to share the joy with my children of playing on the farm. My kids grew up and moved out before I could realize that dream, but I still hope to share that experience with my grandkids. While I was intimately familiar with that old 4430, it’s been 25 years since I’ve been on a tractor, so I consider myself a newbie once again. I’m brand loyal to a fault, so I will not consider buying any other than a John Deere.
MY NEEDS:
I purchased 13 acres. The front 7 of it is open grassland. It slopes up very gently as it goes back from the road front, cresting at the wood line and then has a medium downward slope in the 6 acre woods. I mowed the grassland myself this year with my John Deere X380 lawn tractor (the brush was 3-4’ high but the little girl fought through it. This is obviously NOT a job for a lawn tractor). I will soon be building a house on the land, so I’m starting my search for the appropriate tractor now. I foresee the following usage:
- Mowing - Rough cut the open field (5 acres), finish mowing around house and drive (2 acres),
- Snow Removal and maintenance of a 1,000’ driveway
- Moving material and tree trimmings, and probably most importantly
- Taking the family on hayrides.
- I might end up cutting and baling 5-6 acres down the road. It would need to be turned over and reseeded in order to be of much nutritional value.
MY OPTIONS:
3R Series - With those inputs, I started my search at the 3038E as an affordable option. However, I was afraid that the lighter weight may be insufficient when giving hayrides. Also, I want to be able to give my grandkids a ride on the tractor, and feel a cab model will be a safer way to do so, so I went to the other end of the 3 series, the 3046R with a cab and loader. The 3R will be a cheaper option than the 4R, will allow me a mid PTO (for a belly mower or front mount snowblower), and be easier to store in the garage until my barn is built. I think it will probably do everything I need it to.
4R Series - I’ve always been told to buy one size larger than what I think I’ll need. The 4R will give me more room to grow and offer a little more stability. I lose the mid PTO option in the 4R, but I’ve heard complaints about the ground clearance of the mid-mount mower and its mounting hardware on the 3R. Therfore, I will likely just use a rough-cut and finish-cut or a flail mower on the rear PTO anyways. Snow removal would have to be front blade or rear 3PH blower with the 4R. Backing down a curving 1000’ driveway for multiple passes wouldn’t be as easy as a front mount unit. (I know there are ways to do a front mount on a 4R, but I’m keeping it simple for now). I’m considering a 4052R or 4066R with cab and a loader. The 4052R is probably powerful enough for my needs, but the 4066R can’t be ruled out Depending on price. The extra power wold come in handy if i start a hobby hay operation.
5E (Honorable mention) - Both the 3R and 4R are big enough to feel like a tractor and not an oversized garden tractor (no offense to the 1 and 2 series owners, they are very capable machines, but I’m coming from memories of a 4430 row crop tractor), but neither will be out of place on my modestly sized homestead. I briefly considered a used 5 series utility tractor for the bigger cab and the available ‘instructional seat’, but I think it would be overkill and would end up opening up a hole I’d have to get a second, smaller tractor to fill.
I’m pretty sure the 3R and 4R are the right range for me. I’ll just have to find a way to fit a little granchild in the cab for a short ride. I bet I can fab up something. As essentially a new, first time tractor buyer myself, I’d appreciate any words of advice or warnings to watch out for from others who have been through this. Am I considering the correct inputs? What am I overlooking? What mistakes am I getting ready to make? Any advice would be appreciated.