I had an acquaintance who knew I was looking for a tractor approach me about a JD 4200 tractor with approx 100 hours. It's a 2000 model with 26 HP, 4WD, live PTO, ROPS, a front end loader with 5' bucket and a backhoe for $9,000. I know he's probably making at least a couple grand on the deal, but that's not important. It still seems like a real deal (even though I can't imagine a need for the backhoe).

My question concerns whether or not it's big enough to do what I want. I'd been looking at much older pieces (at least ten years older) and much larger pieces (around 40 HP and 1,000-2,000 pounds heavier) with the same basic equipment (except the backhoe). I currently have eleven acres I need to brush hog. I also want to use the tractor loader to just generally clean up the property.

Also, I may acquire an adjacent 27 acres and the work would increase accordingly if I do. What I'm wondering is if the JD 4200 is enough tractor for what I want to do? The price is sure tempting, but even at $9,000, it's not a bargain if it won't do what I want.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), December 10, 2001

Answers

if it's in nice shape he got a steal of a deal if he's going to make a few grand on that. You didn't say if it's the hydrostatic, I'm guessing not at that price. Never cared for those transmissions much but that's just personal preference, nothing wrong with them if used properly.

For pulling a brush hog and utility work with the loader that's plenty of power. Even with more acreage, unless you start tending crops I doubt you'd need much more. At that price you wouldn't lose much if at all selling it later on if you needed to upgrade. (I'm partial to Case cx series or a mid 1980s IH 584/684 for the next step up)

$9000 for that with the backhoe included? Is that a JD backhoe? If so, I cannot see you ever finding a better price for a setup like that.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), December 11, 2001.

Holy smoley Gary, have you price Deeres????? A 2001 like you are looking at is $13,000 without any attachments. Your the one with the steal of the century! Like Gary said you can always sell it later. Believe me..Deere's hold thier value!

There are lots of advantages to a Deer also, you can rent equipment from John Deere for it if you only need a piece once in a while. For instance, if you need to bush hog for the first time and then you need a mower, you can rent the bush hog and not have invest in the one time piece of equipment. They also last a lifetime. Your grandkids will be driving the little Deere. They have great customer support (even on used ones you buy from someone else!). Go for it! It will do what you need it for for now and best thing is you can trade it up on a bigger one. John Deere has some great trade up offers.

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), December 11, 2001.

Gary, Jump on it and fast. The 4200 is worth more than the asking price. Then Figure 2 grand for the front loader and another $5 grand for the backhoe. My first reaction would be whats wrong with it at that price!

The tractor will meet your immediate needs and you an resell it without any problems and most likely for a profit if you need more HP in the future.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), December 11, 2001.

You are not going to "clear" land with a front loader. They are for loading loose material, not scraping or knocking over anything.

Just in case you did not know it ;>).

-- Rickstir (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), December 11, 2001.

Rickstir, I've used bigger ones to scrape up dirt and knock things over, but then again I get carried away at times.. ; )

Gary, something just doesn't seem right here. Who would buy a setup like that and then a year later, when it's still practically new, sell it for 50% of what it cost? A Deere yet? Make sure this didn't fall onto the back of someones truck or something...

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), December 11, 2001.

Yes, it is the hydrostatic transmission, which is what everyone tells me I'd want with a loader. My understanding is the gentleman who bought this is no longer with us (hopefully not from a tractor mishap) and his son is selling it. I had heard the local Deere dealer had lost some in a theft but called and found all have been recovered, so I felt a little better about that. ;o)

I like the idea of being able to rent an attachment, too. Something like an auger comes to mind. Once I used it to put up a fence, I'd likely not need it again. For moving dirt, I suppose I could always rent a box blade or a tiller to break up the dirt and then move it with a back blade or the bucket. I could see using that rental deal as an opportunity to "test drive" different attachments before investing in them.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), December 11, 2001.

yeah the hydrostatic would be smoother operation. Less work driving too. The only problem I ever had was operator error(me). I would get too impatient at times and skip coming to a stop before going from forward to reverse. Doing that would snap a shear pin once in a while. I guess they put those in the driveline for people like me. This was on an 1980s smaller Deere so they've probably worked on that design since then.

The hydrostatic lists for $1500+ more than the base transmission. If everything checks out that is one heck of a deal.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), December 11, 2001.

Nothing much to add to the comments but if quantity count then I'd agree with everything thats been said. Except that it isn't a bargain if it won't do what you want buy it and flip it for something bigger! Not only will it get you started but if you upgrade you'll make money on the deal. Assuming it's not hiding a weak point! Even if it is you've got lots of lee way to fix it right, and still get your money out. Buy it fast!

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), December 12, 2001.

I can't tell you about local values, and I can't tell you about this tractor (although I've done some research and on the face of it it looks like a nice compact tractor). What I can tell you is I'd buy it in an instant. Given enough time, you can move mountains with a front- end loader; and dig holes to bury them with the back-hoe. That may not be a concern for you, but I'd be using it to build earth dams (you'd call them ponds, I think). Also think cellars and foundations. And underground pool or billiard rooms. Actually, swimming pools too.

Really, you can do more with a front-end loader than with a bulldozer. It just takes longer when you're working in the dozer's area of specialty, but no dozer can pick it up and put it in a tip- truck. Have you got an area of gravel you could quarry to do your road? Even a quarry five miles down the road the local council uses for their roads? This could make a terrific start to the foundations you're (I assume) putting your SIP home on too - dig it into a hillside, gravel and cement walls for the cellar and billiard-room and drive-in garage, then house on top.

Use the back-hoe to dig a hole for your septic tank. Dig a trench for your leach-field. Dig a hole for your swimming pool - oops, I mean reserve water supply for fire-fighting.

But, as you say, is it good (powerful) enough for what you want to do? It probably is, provided you're prepared to get a contractor (or neighbour) in to harvest crops (if any). That's the only thing I could think of that you might not be able to do (albeit more slowly) with that amount of power. I envy you. Dammit! (Actually, use the front-end loader to dammit).

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), December 13, 2001.