John Deere 4044R or 4052R, Which is the Best Value?

Had a viewer question about whether to get a Deere 4044R or 4052R. My advice today would apply to all tractors not just John Deere. I always advise tractor shoppers to get the biggest tractor you can afford because, regardless of what size and horsepower you buy, it seems like you always want the next size bigger.

In this case, I'm not so sure that holds true. Usually, when you move up in tractor hp, you get something else with it. In this case, both tractors have the same rated engine speed, 3 point and front end loader lift capacity, the same size power steering pump, brakes, wheelbase, transmission, battery and starter. They're both 4-cylinder Tier 4 engines with DPF filters. The 4044R at 42.5 hp and the 4052R at 51.5 hp seem to be identical with one exception. The 4052R has a turbocharger.

To me, if I'm only going to be using a brush hog that the 4044R can handle, and will just be using the front end loader to move around brush, I'll probably go with the tractor with less horsepower. If the price difference equals about what a new turbo would cost, or, in my mind, no more than $1200-$1500, then I'd go ahead and get the turbocharged model.

If the price differential is substantially more, I'm going with the 4044R, but I would look at the next frame size larger tractor and see what the price difference was for that. A bigger frame is going to mean a heavier tractor and more lift capacity, so that's what I'm going to compare to the 4044R and not the 4052R.

There is a big exception. In higher altitudes, turbocharged engines perform substantially better. If I'm in the mountains somewhere, then the 4052R gets a lot more attractive and eliminates the 4044R from consideration.

That's my opinion, but I'd be curious if any of my viewers feel otherwise. If you've had experience with turbo versus non turbocharged engines and want to present a different opinion, put it in the comments below.

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[williamgaines]

Turbo is another thing to break down, without without much gain. If all capacities are the same, 3pt lift, FEL lift, and PTO, the one less thing to break down(actually more since turbo has more than one part) is better than potential fuel savings from horsepower to displacement ratio.

[hughhead]

Golden advice. As a first tractor, that's a nice choice. For brush hogging, I'd buy an older used 2WD "beater" that's a size larger and keep the bush hog attached on it all the time. And then a nice smaller Deere for "detailed work" on the creeks and such. You'll put the hours on the smaller "easier" machine such as a 3046R or a 2038R and be glad to beat up the beater on the brush. One size does not fit all jobs. And having a backup machine in a pinch on 40 acres with a real farm operation is key.

[chriskennedy]

Great video Mike, I had a JD 4052m (No Cab) Hydro-static Transmission and had an issue with the tractor running hot while bush hogging large acreage ( Summer time in the south) I think that is inherent with the hydro transmission. I was going to upgrade to an 4052R or 4066R tractor in 2018. I was able to purchase a New JD 5075E (Cab Tractor) and payed a lot less For it than a New 4052R or New 4066R. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that an R series has but I'm OK with that. it has a Power Reverse Transmission no more running hot while bush hogging. I really enjoy your videos.

[jdfleetguy]

Always enjoy your videos. Not sure I agree with you on this one.
My experience is with owning or have owned 4044R 4066R 3033R 3039R 3046R. I highly recommend the turbo models whenever PTO work is involved.
If mostly just hydraulic work / loader work, then turbo doesn’t matter, your right all the 4Rs can lift and do the same hydraulic work.
But heavy or sometimes taxing PTO work like mowing, brush cutting type work, a turbo really helps push or power on through heavy grass or brush (taxing PTO work). Both The 3033R and the 4044R that I owned were much easier and did in fact stall whenever the PTO work got tough. I have seen this play out on my own tractors . Where identical scenarios the turbo 3039R turbo compared to the 3033R non turbo and 4044R non turbo vs the 4066R turbo.
The non turbo tractor bog down and stall out where turbo tractor can really help power on through. So for what this guy says he plans to use it for. I would steer or advise him to get the 4052R with the turbo.

[mikehaines]

I looked at all of the 4 series when I bought and wound up with a 4052M. It gave me the best fit at the cost. The difference in the 4052 and the 4066 costs were a little tough to justify when the 52hp would work just like the 66, for our purposes. Like every owner, I've kicked myself a time or two for not going up. If I was working flat ground like YouTubers GWT and TTWT do, the 4044 would've been okay but I have to get over some fairly steep hillsides and heavy growth. More HP for me.

[scubatraveler]

I love your channel. So informative and pleasant to watch

[carls]

I bought the 4044r, and you confirmed my purchase! Love the 4044r, it’s doing everything I want!

[darkhelmetlive]

We bought a 4066M at the beginning of this year. I was shopping for a 4052M but they had none in the dealer network, and with everything going on, I didn’t know when I’d be able to get one. They had a 4066M with the transmission I wanted on the lot. I was shopping for the 52 because after some reading and research I found a few people who felt the 44 was a bit underpowered for the frame size. Came home with the 66 because I didn’t want to risk not being able to get a 52 for who knows how long. Didn’t want to go to the 5 series because it was just “too big” for our use cases, and the 3 series was too small (moving round bales regularly, safely).

The other point is while they say “oh it’ll only do these few jobs”. Well…that will last about a day and then you realize all the things it can do and you start doing those jobs too.

I think figuring out the initial set of jobs you want to accomplish, find a frame size that will do those effectively and safely, considering the general cost and size of the tractor. Then figure out what a good HP rating would be, and buy the next bigger model. If you get the “right” tractor when it comes to frame size and features, going up in HP is rarely bad, but being underpowered is an equally expensive “mistake”.

All that being said, I think there’s special consideration to be made when you’re around the 25 and 75 HP ratings because of the emissions changes. You can do a lot with 25HP and have a simple, NA engine with no emissions equipment. You can also do a lot with 75HP with no DEF. The emissions systems have gotten a lot better since they first came out, but it’s still an extra complication and cost, just like a turbo.

[jamescausey]

I am a fleet mechanic who works on Yanmar powered Deere tier 4 final engines every day and I will tell you that if you will keep a clean air filter the turbo will not be an issue. sensors YES turbo, not typically, they are loud though

[firewoodblake]

Yes, the turbo adds to possible failures. But like anything else, there is an upside and downside.

Upside: performance boost on a turbo diesel makes the engine punch higher than its weight class and really helps the engine from bogging down during heavy mowing or heavy lifting applications.

Downside: cost and possible repairs in the event of a failure.

If you can afford it, go with a turbo. They are actually pretty reliable, especially the smaller turbos on the 4 series.

[davidbalvin]

I have been running older 30-40 year old John Deere 100 - 300 hp some turbo some not, same tractors since they were new. The turbos have not been more costly for repairs or any less reliable. Just run diesels at near full rpm and give the turbo time to cool down before shutting them off.
Your advice is sound. I just don't see enough difference between the two for it to matter other than price.

[tjt]

I purchased a 4044R in 2019, I also have a 40 acre farm, I bought a 6’ rotary cutter and a 6’ rotary tiller and the 4044r handles those with no problem. I till about 5 acres of food plots and mow about 4 acre of trails and clover food plots. I do regret not getting a cab tractor. The tractor is great to operate and does every thing I need it to do. I also have the loader with 6’ bucket and a set of 48” pallet forks. I sometimes put the rotary cutter on my 3032E and that handles the 6’ cutter great. Also the 4044r is very stable with the 6’ wide wheel base.

[thurmanharber]

Hi Mike, I have used 231 massy for 15 years now mostly for materail moving and brushoging loved the tractor but sold it and bought a turbo 5045e jd 2022 model. Some times wish I went back with massy.

[gckshea]

Great advice, Mike. My decision to buy the 2018 LS XR4140 over the other similarly equipped, but SLIGHTLY higher horsepower stablemates LS made that year came down to two items: price and intended use.
The 45, 50, and 55 hp cousins had no greater lift capacities, weights, frames size, three-point specs, or features. The engines were even the same 3 cylinder turbocharged block. The only thing that made them different was the ECU settings. The prices between models at that time was not insignificant; the cost to gain only 5 hp was greater than $2000.

It was a no-brainer....chose the 40hp. And I've had zero regret going with the smaller hp. It does everything I've needed: brushhogging, heavy lifting with grapple and brush, backhoe, box blade, plow ground engaging, and tiller. The only limitation is traction with R4 tires, and even that has not been an issue.

In my case, bigger frame with lower horsepower beats the choice of higher horsepower and smaller frame.

[helloeveryone]

Your video are awesome. You give great advices about tractor 🚜. I purchased Massey ferguson 245 to plow and tilling. No regrets.

[drasus]

I love your channel! Thanks for all the info

[ronevans]

Mike. I’ve got a new M/F 50 H/P have new bushhog a grapple n land leveler. Only 43 hr. I’ve have Ben under the weather for 3 months now due to surgery. I’m 75 YOA now. There nothing wrong with the tractor it’s in wonderful condition. Very nice. Love the video Mike.

[txtpqb]

Mike, you hit 100K subs !!!! Congrats, sir. Love your info and videos.

[MichaelDavis-othf]

I had the exact decision 3 years ago. I bought the 4052R. With what the viewer wants to do I would say the 52 is right. I use it for a 22 acre horse farm ad orchard. I Use a Deere MX6 bush hog and the extra pto hp is in use as I monitor the canbus engine load while clearing underbrush on my acres and on a large tract that a number of neighbors here maintain for horse riding.

[thedaileyhomestead]

We just bought a 4044r open station. It’s been great. I was originally set on a 3039r but the price difference wasn’t that much. So glad I got the bigger frame.

The only thing is I’ve bogged down in some very thick/overgrown grass with my 6ft shredder. But otherwise it has plenty of power.