My 4020 Story: A Father Son Restoration Project

A 1968 John Deere 4020 was dad’s first tractor in 1994 and he used it for everything; cultivating, planting, moving wagons, swing-away auger, batwing mower, and countless things in between. Although bigger tractors came over time, the 4020 still earned it’s keep around the farm. Fast forward to my senior year of high school, dad and I restored it while having down to bare bones while putting in a new wiring harness in the 2016-17 winter. Our mindset was to put everything back to original, or as dad said “how it would’ve looked new in ‘68.” Given the tractor was already mechanically sound, we sandblasted, primed, painted, installed new lights, switches, fresh bolts for weights, original steering wheel, new seat, and all the matching stickers. While it is still used a handful today, it gets its fair share of showtime in local parades, tractor rides, and shows. I hope to carry on the John Deere legacy through this tractor to my kids, like my dad did with me.

Story written by Kevin Toohill. Have a 4020 story to share with Prairie State Tractor? We're collecting John Deere 4020 tractor stories to help promote our new 4020 special inspection program. Plus, our favorite entry will get their 4020 inspected for free. Click here for all the details on how to submit your own story. To schedule a 4020 special inspection for only $195, click here and complete the form.