Just how comfortable are 4000 series Fastracs?

[Flat 10]

I’m not sure why you feel that on 600 tenanted acres you should be able to buy a new tractor @Farma Parma ? I agree things are tough but I would gladly have a go with 600 tenanted acres on an aha (assuming that’s the case). I’m not having a pop at you personally just interested.
Btw I’m a tenant and never had anything new bigger than a washing machine and have just never expected to ever have anything new (but I guess some people have to buy new or there’s never any second hand)

 

[Farma Parma]

I’m not sure why you feel that on 600 tenanted acres you should be able to buy a new tractor @Farma Parma ? I agree things are tough but I would gladly have a go with 600 tenanted acres on an aha (assuming that’s the case). I’m not having a pop at you personally just interested.
Btw I’m a tenant and never had anything new bigger than a washing machine and have just never expected to ever have anything new (but I guess some people have to buy new or there’s never any second hand)

well atleast once every 10years poss a new one.
Yes iam on aha tenancy i most deffo wouldnt want it to be an FBT i can assure you that.
not that many years ago it all made financial sence to change tractors every 5000/6000hrs sometimes less than that.
i can do the basic servicing etc but iam no mechanic.
then of course there is other implements to add or replace as the years go by
ive got some kit here thats been on farm & used every year for over 20years some 25 even.
all stored over winter in closed buildings & kept in good order.
where iam based in Northumberland you have a narrow window harvest/sowing time to get the jobs done
which ultimately leads to having bigger gear than you might get away with much further south, kinder weather etc
& land type, medium to heavy clay on 70% of the farm here which needs HP & several types of implements to make the
best of it in that narrow window i was on about.
so in the last 27 years weve had 3 Used 4wd 100 - 240hp Tractors & 5 new 110 - 160hp Tractors
each one sold on to partly fund the next one & overall had some good deals on all
none of them silly money but thats just no possible anymore now. unless you buy used.
all of a sudden that £60k 160hp is now £85/90k altho its 175hp i agree but same physical size.
Yes they have more toys i dont dispute that but so does everyone's cars but they haven't increased no where near to where
we now find farm machinery at.
So to sum up in the past when you knew you might have a half decent profit you spent some of it to stay ahead of yourself
like most folks would do & hopefully balance this out against income tax etc etc.
not anymore you cant.

i dont farm livestock iam arable we chucked them things in over 23years ago & there is noway id go back.
run this operation myself now with some part time help at harvest & local contractors for some of the jobs i dont do.
my late Father worked into his 70's as he knew nothing else & to be honest was still very able.
we both ran a tight ship you have too we dont own any of the farm & only have limited borrowings.

iam just saying how much things have changed in such a short time but my time will ultimately be shorter than my dads
i just know it. each to there own how they run there farms buti can walk away tomorrow & not owe a single person anything.
if it was only mine to sell.

 

[Speedstar]

well atleast once every 10years poss a new one.
Yes iam on aha tenancy i most deffo wouldnt want it to be an FBT i can assure you that.
not that many years ago it all made financial sence to change tractors every 5000/6000hrs sometimes less than that.
i can do the basic servicing etc but iam no mechanic.
then of course there is other implements to add or replace as the years go by
ive got some kit here thats been on farm & used every year for over 20years some 25 even.
all stored over winter in closed buildings & kept in good order.
where iam based in Northumberland you have a narrow window harvest/sowing time to get the jobs done
which ultimately leads to having bigger gear than you might get away with much further south, kinder weather etc
& land type, medium to heavy clay on 70% of the farm here which needs HP & several types of implements to make the
best of it in that narrow window i was on about.
so in the last 27 years weve had 3 Used 4wd 100 - 240hp Tractors & 5 new 110 - 160hp Tractors
each one sold on to partly fund the next one & overall had some good deals on all
none of them silly money but thats just no possible anymore now. unless you buy used.
all of a sudden that £60k 160hp is now £85/90k altho its 175hp i agree but same physical size.
Yes they have more toys i dont dispute that but so does everyone's cars but they haven't increased no where near to where
we now find farm machinery at.
So to sum up in the past when you knew you might have a half decent profit you spent some of it to stay ahead of yourself
like most folks would do & hopefully balance this out against income tax etc etc.
not anymore you cant.

i dont farm livestock iam arable we chucked them things in over 23years ago & there is noway id go back.
run this operation myself now with some part time help at harvest & local contractors for some of the jobs i dont do.
my late Father worked into his 70's as he knew nothing else & to be honest was still very able.
we both ran a tight ship you have too we dont own any of the farm & only have limited borrowings.

iam just saying how much things have changed in such a short time but my time will ultimately be shorter than my dads
i just know it. each to there own how they run there farms buti can walk away tomorrow & not owe a single person anything.
if it was only mine to sell.

If it was all yours and you sold it for say 4million what would you do with the money at your time in life ?

 

[nick...]

I really like the new 4220 and requested to try one which never happened,but was really keen.. Spoke to others who had tried them and they liked them but all said they were not comparable to conventional tractors but reading one here most dispute that.
Nick...

 

[Farma Parma]

If it was all yours and you sold it for say 4million what would you do with the money at your time in life ?

oh heck i dunno but would you be worried about things like that esp as ya canna take nowt with you?
Farm most likely worth £5million with buildings & 4bed farmhouse.
altho seeing family has been here over 130years its allready been purchased twice hasnt it

 

[Farma Parma]

I really like the new 4220 and requested to try one which never happened,but was really keen.. Spoke to others who had tried them and they liked them but all said they were not comparable to conventional tractors but reading one here most dispute that.
Nick...

a agree Nick JCB are no fools & credit where its due to them.
Local lad had one on demo i heard last night & was well impressed compared to running Case Pumas atm.
sorry to jump off the original posts folks.

 

[Foxcover]

I really like the new 4220 and requested to try one which never happened,but was really keen.. Spoke to others who had tried them and they liked them but all said they were not comparable to conventional tractors but reading one here most dispute that.
Nick...

Had one on demo last year on sumo trio, grain cart and carrier. Wiped the floor with a 724 and JD7230 and was the most comfortable thing I’ve driven, didn’t want to give it back, only thing that could make it better in my opinion would be a bigger touch terminal like the the 10 inch Fendt one and better transmission software like TMS.

 

[deere150]

We are running a 4220, mostly trailer work. It's a massive step up in comfort from the previous 2140 which itself was way better than a normal tractor. Heavy loads on rough ground the 4220 soaks up the hits as fast you dare drive. Has to be tried to be believed. We do have the 800kg weight behind the cab which likely helps. 4ws makes a complete fool of a normal tractor for reversing trailers and the seat turns almost 90 degrees. A couple of stupid niggles, pickup hitch fouls most of the useless bulky designed drawbar setups. A joke, as two brand new bits of kit can destroy each other. nc and maccaully are trouble here. john deere hitch clears ok. I don't like the forward raked windscreen, the glare from behind you is very annoying and the bonnet is far too needlessly fat. You can't see the loader attachments and they sell it as a loader tractor! If that is not a health and safety factor, what is? overall the 42 whips the competition for nearly every job.

Pleased I'm not the only one that's noticed the windscreen glare

 

[Feldspar]

@Fendtbro, is there anyway of curing the pick-up hitch problem? Would probably use Scharmuller balls on a sprayer. Coating on the screen to reduce glare?

 

[Speedstar]

W

@Fendtbro, is there anyway of curing the pick-up hitch problem? Would probably use Scharmuller balls on a sprayer. Coating on the screen to reduce glare?

When we ran a fastrac , we used a ball hitch for the square baler and it made putting it on and off a lot better , but you do get used to were the pick up hitch is at on them , it was comfortable and very good at some jobs , had a 8330 on demo a few weeks ago was comfortable but very under powered and wheel grip was not the best

 

[d williams]

oh heck i dunno but would you be worried about things like that esp as ya canna take nowt with you?
Farm most likely worth £5million with buildings & 4bed farmhouse.
altho seeing family has been here over 130years its allready been purchased twice hasnt it

I'd say they've bought it more than twice there'd be 6 25yr mortgages they would have paid

 

[T Hectares]

@Feldspar I have had a dodgy back for many years, nothing structural, all muscular but agony if it goes awol

I had been seeing a Chiropractor for 12 years until It was suggested I see a Mc Timonney Chiro 3 years ago...

My back is in the best shape it's been in for years, one relapse ( caused by digging when fixing a water leak in middle of winter) in 3 years is a major improvement for me, at one point I was considering changing career to never sit on a tractor again as the constant pain was getting too much.





And I drive a dodgy NH !!

 

[Speedstar]

@Feldspar I have had a dodgy back for many years, nothing structural, all muscular but agony if it goes awol

I had been seeing a Chiropractor for 12 years until It was suggested I see a Mc Timonney Chiro 3 years ago...

My back is in the best shape it's been in for years, one relapse ( caused by digging when fixing a water leak in middle of winter) in 3 years is a major improvement for me, at one point I was considering changing career to never sit on a tractor again as the constant pain was getting too much.





And I drive a dodgy NH !!

The right chiropractor is the only answer to a bad back, fix the problem not mask the pain

 

[T Hectares]

The right chiropractor is the only answer to a bad back, fix the problem not mask the pain

Yep, and taking breaks to have stretch all helps.

And I'm my case, losing a stone and working ony core strength wouldn't go amiss

 

[SRRC]

Ha! Have the name of a back specialist I need to book in to see.

You don't need a specialist, just book in to Pilates twice a week! Much cheaper.

 

[bobk]

W

When we ran a fastrac , we used a ball hitch for the square baler and it made putting it on and off a lot better , but you do get used to were the pick up hitch is at on them , it was comfortable and very good at some jobs , had a 8330 on demo a few weeks ago was comfortable but very under powered and wheel grip was not the best

I defy anyone to hook a trailer up without assistance , luke skywalker would struggle .

 

[FarmyStu]

I defy anyone to hook a trailer up without assistance , luke skywalker would struggle .

I used to sub myself out to a local contractor. They ran a fleet of 3000 series Fastracs at the time. Their regular drivers clocked huge hours as did the tractors. I never mastered it but their drivers could reverse and hook up to a spreader, tanker or trailer in one swift move. No mirrors, cameras or getting out the cab to check involved. I was often left shunting back and forth as everyone else drove off out the yard. So it can be done with practise. But you could just make life easier with a mirror or cheap camera. Why wouldn't you?

 

[bobk]

I used to sub myself out to a local contractor. They ran a fleet of 3000 series Fastracs at the time. Their regular drivers clocked huge hours as did the tractors. I never mastered it but their drivers could reverse and hook up to a spreader, tanker or trailer in one swift move. No mirrors, cameras or getting out the cab to check involved. I was often left shunting back and forth as everyone else drove off out the yard. So it can be done with practise. But you could just make life easier with a mirror or cheap camera. Why wouldn't you?

Quite possibly , but I've got better things to do .

 

[FarmyStu]

Quite possibly , but I've got better things to do .

Like posting on here how hard it is to hook up a Fastrac?

 

[General-Lee]

Like posting on here how hard it is to hook up a Fastrac?

3pt would be easier you talking p/u hitch, camera soon solve that!