Bobcat CT450 Vs. John Deere 4320 for a 630 acre cow/calf farm

14524 Views 13 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Grateful11, Sep 16, 2010

Slik pak

Discussion Starter · Sep 12, 2010 (Edited)

Hi! my Name is Mitchell and my parents own a 630 acre cow calf operation farm. We already have a 7000 series JD tractor (7130) and a 2010 Bobcat Toolcat. Both pieces of equipment are really nice. Anyhoo we also want a larger CUT. Something that is small but powerfull. I am not a fan of CNH so I really only like Deeres. I test drove both a Deere 4320 and a Bobcat Ct450.

The Deere 4320 is a nice peice of equipment but I'm not a fan of the loader joystick control. Theres a design flaw in it that I know after a while it would make my right arm uncomfortable. I also do not like the plastic hood and fenders. The nice thing about the 4320 is it's 3 point hydraulic lift capacity. I also like the turbocharged engine on the Deere. The deere is B20 compatable also (I think all Deere powertech engines atre B20 compatable...we run B20 on our 7130).

The Bobcat CT450 was equally impressive. The biggest thing I don't like about it is that it is a non turbo. It still had some zip to it though. I couldnt even tell it was a non turbo. The loader joystick is much nicer and intuitive and I really do like the metal hoods and fenders. The 3 point hitch lift is a joke though at only 1800 something pounds. The loader hydraulics operate more smoothly than the 4320. Loader lift capacity is also a lot higher than the deere.

I understand that the Bobcat compact tractors are rebadged Kioti's/Doosans.

So far im kindof on the fence about which ones. The Bobcat tractors have a lot of nice features that are standard on it (hydro trans, suspension seat). However, the Deere has a slightly better dealer support and it's only 11 miles down the road vs. 102 to the Bobcat dealership.

Also money is not an issue.

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Upper5Percent

· #2 · Sep 12, 2010

What jobs do you envision this tractor performing?
Because it seems rather small for that particular sized operation...

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Slik pak

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 12, 2010

PaulChristenson said:
What jobs do you envision this tractor performing?
Because it seems rather small for that particular sized operation...

Thinking about using some hay fields for crops. Need to till land and such. Also our 7130 is way to big to get back throught the wooded area of the pastures.

We can use the toolcat but we also wan t a smaller tractor...something that can lift a bale of hay and pull a haytrailer.

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Team_Green

· #4 · Sep 12, 2010

I have a 2009 4520.. I think you will be disapointed with its performance for tilling.. its a great utility tractor.. NOT a drag your 14 foot disk or 4 bottom plow machine. small square baler would be find behind it but they feel light pulling much of a hay wagon..

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Slik pak

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 12, 2010

Team_Green said:
I have a 2009 4520.. I think you will be disapointed with its performance for tilling.. its a great utility tractor.. NOT a drag your 14 foot disk or 4 bottom plow machine. small square baler would be find behind it but they feel light pulling much of a hay wagon..

Neighbors of ours have an old (late 1940's) restored 20 horsepower Allis chalmers and surprisingly it will pull a hay wagon with hay on it. pretty much looking into a small utility tractor.

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Phoenix125

· #6 · Sep 12, 2010

If money is no issue, then buy both!

Welcome to MTF!

From reading your post, it seems that you prefer operating the Bobcat (more comfortable controls), also the metal hood/fenders. If you are going to be operating this machine a lot, I'd go with what is most comfortable for you.

As for the Bobcat's limited 3pt: I guess it depends on what you mostly plan to use the tractor for. If you will rarely need >1800 lbs lift capacity, then the Bobcat sounds like a winner... you could always use one of your bigger tractors for large 3pt implements.

As for the distance of your dealers: it should be rare that your tractor needs repair, so distance shouldn't be a big factor. You could buy routine maintenance parts (filters, etc.) two sets at-a-time, also, to save trips.

(Just my opinions based on reading your post.) Again, Welcome to MTF!!!

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Slik pak

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 12, 2010

Phoenix125 said:
If money is no issue, then buy both! Welcome to MTF!

From reading your post, it seems that you prefer operating the Bobcat (more comfortable controls), also the metal hood/fenders. If you are going to be operating this machine a lot, I'd go with what is most comfortable for you.

As for the Bobcat's limited 3pt: I guess it depends on what you mostly plan to use the tractor for. If you will rarely need >1800 lbs lift capacity, then the Bobcat sounds like a winner... you could always use one of your bigger tractors for large 3pt implements.

As for the distance of your dealers: it should be rare that your tractor needs repair, so distance shouldn't be a big factor. You could buy routine maintenance parts (filters, etc.) two sets at-a-time, also, to save trips.

(Just my opinions based on reading your post.) Again, Welcome to MTF!!!

Thanks!

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Upper5Percent

· #8 · Sep 12, 2010

Slik pak said:
Thinking about using some hay fields for crops. Need to till land and such. Also our 7130 is way to big to get back throught the wooded area of the pastures.

We can use the toolcat but we also wan t a smaller tractor...something that can lift a bale of hay and pull a haytrailer.

You will NOT be happy with a 4320 as a tillage tractor...or running a round baler...

You'd be better served to widen your route through the woods...

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Team_Green

· #9 · Sep 12, 2010

PaulChristenson said:
You will NOT be happy with a 4320 as a tillage tractor...or running a round baler...

You'd be better served to widen your route through the woods...

I have tried to use my 4520 with my three bottom plow.. what a waste of time, yet my ole 70jd will tug it along in 2nd..

I would never think of sticking a round baler behind one of these.. I would do what Paul said.. open up that path to fit the 7series down it..

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Slik pak

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 13, 2010

Lulz I wouldnt dare run a hay baler behind a 4320. I was actually talking about actually loading bales of hay and pulling them on a trailer. After deciding prolly goin g to go with a 4720.

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Upper5Percent

· #11 · Sep 13, 2010

Slik pak said:
Lulz I wouldnt dare run a hay baler behind a 4320. I was actually talking about actually loading bales of hay and pulling them on a trailer. After deciding prolly goin g to go with a 4720.

Depending on what your round bale weights are you may be happier(and safer) in the 5xxx range...

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Grateful11

· #12 · Sep 14, 2010

We drove the 4320, a Kubota L3940 and a McCormick of the same hp and went with the
Kubota, metal hood, fenders, comfortable joystick and Hydro. It's not worth a flip in the
field not even for raking hay. If you're going to do field work I'd go for a Gear model not
hydro. We own 6 tractors from 23hp to 106hp all of them red except the Kubota. Drive the
Kubota and if you're doing a lot of loader work you'll love the Auto-Throttle and Stall
Guard feature. I know what you mean about the JD plastic hood, we really wanted the JD
until drove it and when my wife, who runs the farm opened the hood she about freaked
at how it wobbled back and forth. To me turbo in this hp range is a non-issue, our top
2 tractors are are turbo and are great but they're pushing over 100hp.

Never thought she would get away from International red but she wanted
features and comfort over color.

Good Luck with whatever you get.

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Slik pak

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 14, 2010

Grateful11 said:
We drove the 4320, a Kubota L3940 and a McCormick of the same hp and went with the
Kubota, metal hood, fenders, comfortable joystick and Hydro. It's not worth a flip in the
field not even for raking hay. If you're going to do field work I'd go for a Gear model not
hydro. We own 6 tractors from 23hp to 106hp all of them red except the Kubota. Drive the
Kubota and if you're doing a lot of loader work you'll love the Auto-Throttle and Stall
Guard feature. I know what you mean about the JD plastic hood, we really wanted the JD
until drove it and when my wife, who runs the farm opened the hood she about freaked
at how it wobbled back and forth. To me turbo in this hp range is a non-issue, our top
2 tractors are are turbo and are great but they're pushing over 100hp.

Never thought she would get away from International red but she wanted
features and comfort over color.

Good Luck with whatever you get.

Thanks! I only like turbochargers because of the impeller (serious). We found a used Case JX1100U for a good price.

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Grateful11

· #14 · Sep 16, 2010

Slik pak said:
Thanks! I only like turbochargers because of the impeller (serious). We found a used Case JX1100U for a good price.

I have to ask why, do you take the impeller out and look at it or something?

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