John Deere 4020: all-round fabulous tractor

Jul 07, 2016

Manufactured between 1963 and 1972

IN THE SHOP with Rachel

The John Deere 4020 is one of the all-around fabulous tractors that gives John Deere a good name.

Ranking as one of the most popular tractors of its time, the JD 4020 is still at work today in North American fields. More than 180,000 tractors were manufactured between 1963 and 1972. The 4020 is the most well-known tractor in the New Generation series.

John Deere 4020

The vast majority of these tractors were diesel fuel, but the tractor was also manufactured in gasoline and LP gas versions. The gasoline version has a huge carburetor, greatly reducing the fuel efficiency of the tractor. You can get just as much horsepower for far less fuel by purchasing the diesel version of the tractor. Because so many (160,000+) of these tractors were diesel (compared to around 8,000 gasoline), you can assume that any JD 4020 you see for sale is a diesel - but check before you buy, just to be safe.

While the 4020 doesn't have any major issues, there are a few things you should look for when purchasing one of these tractors.

First, make sure the PTO is in good working condition.

Second, check the steering system.

Third, look at the front end. Wide front ends are popular - even ones that didn't come this way from the factory have often been replaced aftermarket. Whenever possible, purchase one with a factory front end rather than an aftermarket version. John Deere factory front ends are very heavy-duty and reliable. I haven’t seen an aftermarket version that quite matches up.

Finally, check for extra bonuses. It's usually worth paying a bit more for dual remote hydraulics. While a cab can make repairs a bit more complicated, even the basic cabs these tractors offer are a nice way to increase operator comfort.

This past week, I found a great deal on a 4020 John Deere that was too good to pass up. Next time you find a deal, consider making the 4020 a part of your tractor lineup too.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.