JCB 4220 vs JCB 3230

[masseyman1993]

Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on weather to go for a 4220 or 3230. Will mainly be used for road haulage work and on triple mowers in summer. The 4220’s get a great review but with the higher HP and faster top speed surely a late 3230 would be better than an early 4220??

Thanks

 

[Hesston4860s]

Aren’t they both 40 ish MPH and only 10hp difference ?.

 

[masseyman1993]

I’m led to believe the 3230 xrta boost to 280 in top 3 gears? 3230 are 65kph and 4220 are 60kph... this is all salesman speel from a guy who has multiple 3230s for sale.... that’s why I’m looking clarification!

 

[Hesston4860s]

@Andrew might know.

 

[Foxcover]

If it was just haulage I’d say 3230, the PUH is closer to the axle too so they tow better in theory but I couldn’t tell the difference between a 3230 and a 4220 pulling same trailer.
The 4220 is a different beast though, so comfortable, didn’t want to give it back after a 3 day demo, getting back in the 3230 felt like a big step backwards.

 

[Andrew]

I thought the same, loved my 3230 and thought about another, but then I had a 42 on demo and the 3230 suddenly seemed pointless - no wonder JCB stopped making them.

4220 does 39mph, 3230 does 40mph according to GPS.

3230 is more hp on the road, but only in top gears, so you don’t notice it that much. In the field they’re the same power.

3230 Xtras the gearbox is OK if you drive them hard, drive them gently and they don’t know what gear to be in. Spend all day in the top few gears and the gearbox will go bang as well.

4220 is so much more nimble, and vario gearbox suits field work slightly better.

 

[masseyman1993]

Thanks folks,

I know the Fendt Vario is well proven but on road work is it not more likely to start slipping on hills and that?

It seems all drivers reckon 4220 is the way to go and dealers are all saying 3230 xtra! Maybe they’ve got a better stock of them to shift!! [emoji849]

 

[Andrew]

Thanks folks,

I know the Fendt Vario is well proven but on road work is it not more likely to start slipping on hills and that?

It seems all drivers reckon 4220 is the way to go and dealers are all saying 3230 xtra! Maybe they’ve got a better stock of them to shift!! [emoji849]

On hills it’s slightly slower but really not enough to be noticeable. My workload is probably 40% bale chaser 40% triple mowers, rest trailer work and the 4220 is definitely best for that. 4ws makes headlands a breeze.

The P tronic gearbox in the 32 is really not designed for a lot of roadwork, and they eat thermostats. In the field they are not as good, you can’t mow above 13mph, and rapid speed changes are just not possible. It’s still a very nice tractor, but the 42 is really a big leap forwards.
I can well believe there’s a stock of late 32s about, everyone’s trading them in for 4s.

 

[Bald Rick]

On hills it’s slightly slower but really not enough to be noticeable. My workload is probably 40% bale chaser 40% triple mowers, rest trailer work and the 4220 is definitely best for that. 4ws makes headlands a breeze.

The P tronic gearbox in the 32 is really not designed for a lot of roadwork, and they eat thermostats. In the field they are not as good, you can’t mow above 13mph, and rapid speed changes are just not possible. It’s still a very nice tractor, but the 42 is really a big leap forwards.
I can well believe there’s a stock of late 32s about, everyone’s trading them in for 4s.

We had a demo 4220 and found it slightly underpowered on triples. And thirsty (or rather the tank is small) in comparison to our JD6195
For trailer work though it was good

 

[Andrew]

We had a demo 4220 and found it slightly underpowered on triples. And thirsty (or rather the tank is small) in comparison to our JD6195
For trailer work though it was good

More power would be better, but only way to do this with JCB is go up to an 8000 series, which has a lot of drawbacks.

 

[Bald Rick]

More power would be better, but only way to do this with JCB is go up to an 8000 series, which has a lot of drawbacks.

Just bought a secondhand 4220 to stick on a slurry tanker for most of the year with brief forays to cut grass then haul it.
Might get Diesel Doctor to run his stethoscope over it ...

 

[masseyman1993]

So let’s give you all two options..... both spec’d similarly and priced roughly the same

4220 with 4500-5000 hours

Or

3230 xtra with 2000-2500 hours?

Anyone wairy of 5k hours on a Vario that you don’t know who was driving??

 

[s~~t shoveller]

if your thinking of buying a 3230 p tronic try the gearbox properly, to see if you can live with it, would be my advice.having said that, not that keen on a vario personally either!feels like the clutch is slipping on hills with a trailer.leaves you where, i dont know!

 

[masseyman1993]

if your thinking of buying a 3230 p tronic try the gearbox properly, to see if you can live with it, would be my advice.having said that, not that keen on a vario personally either!feels like the clutch is slipping on hills with a trailer.leaves you where, i dont know!

That’s my thoughts too. Something in the back of my head just rings alarm bells with a 5k hour Vario, especially on a 60k tractor....

 

[s~~t shoveller]

i had a 3230 p tronic and like andrew said ,never in the right gear somehow ,so much disliked it that i sold it.it pulled really really well though.have an 8000 with a vario and on hills with 18t trailer,a 3220 with a manual gearbox will eat the 8000 for breakfast .but the vario is silky smooth ,been no bother much,only the forward reverse motor on outside of gearbox we replaced,so cant complain.someone said that the smaller vario,ml 160 is it?thats in the 4000 series jcb is available to replace for about 5000 quid ,not sure if thats correct,anyone else heard that?only the vario unit for that,need to fit it.....8000 jcb uses ml260 as in 9 series fendts

 

[s~~t shoveller]

fendts are 60 k and upwards mostly anyway now i think ...

That’s my thoughts too. Something in the back of my head just rings alarm bells with a 5k hour Vario, especially on a 60k tractor....

 

[masseyman1993]

i had a 3230 p tronic and like andrew said ,never in the right gear somehow ,so much disliked it that i sold it.it pulled really really well though.have an 8000 with a vario and on hills with 18t trailer,a 3220 with a manual gearbox will eat the 8000 for breakfast .but the vario is silky smooth ,been no bother much,only the forward reverse motor on outside of gearbox we replaced,so cant complain.someone said that the smaller vario,ml 160 is it?thats in the 4000 series jcb is available to replace for about 5000 quid ,not sure if thats correct,anyone else heard that?only the vario unit for that,need to fit it.....8000 jcb uses ml260 as in 9 series fendts

So the Vario in the 4000 would be the equivalent to what in the 700 series Fendt only running at 60kph rather than 50 kph?

 

[masseyman1993]

fendts are 60 k and upwards mostly anyway now i think ...

Think 700 fendts are still 50kph and 800/900 go to 60kph

 

[s~~t shoveller]

yes im sure its the same as the 700 series,which are 60 k, i think now,certainly 55k plus.dont think theres much speed difference.as i understand it theres only 2 models of vario,ml160 and ml260

 

[Stewie]

if your thinking of buying a 3230 p tronic try the gearbox properly, to see if you can live with it, would be my advice.having said that, not that keen on a vario personally either!feels like the clutch is slipping on hills with a trailer.leaves you where, i dont know!

On the other hand, there is not much a driver can do to abuse the vario on a Fastac, is there? Except driving in high gear all the time, and even that is probably more likely on an equivalent 724?