If you've been hunting for a reliable stack-fold planter lately, the john deere 1720 is probably at the top of your list for good reason. It's one of those pieces of equipment that seems to just keep going, regardless of how many seasons it has under its belt. While newer, flashier models come out every year with more sensors than a spacecraft, there is something to be said for a machine that is straightforward, easy to work on, and gets the seed in the ground exactly where it needs to be.
What Makes the 1720 Stand Out?
The 1720 isn't just another planter; it's specifically designed for guys who need to move between fields without a police escort. Because it's a stack-fold model, the wings lift up and sit right on top of the center frame. This is a huge deal if you're dealing with narrow roads, tight gates, or bridges that weren't built with modern 60-foot implements in mind.
Unlike a front-fold planter that gets really long and awkward when you're towing it, the john deere 1720 stays relatively compact. It's basically a 12-row or 16-row powerhouse that acts like a much smaller machine when it's time to head back to the shed. That convenience factor alone has kept these machines in high demand on the used market for decades.
The Beauty of the Stack-Fold Design
Let's talk about that frame for a second. The stack-fold design is pretty clever. When you're ready to move, the outer sections lift and "stack" over the middle. This keeps the weight centered over the wheels. It's stable, it doesn't fishtail as much as some other designs, and it makes backing into a tight corner of the machine shed a whole lot less stressful.
However, it's worth noting that because the frame is rigid when it's unfolded, it doesn't always love super hilly terrain. If you've got fields that look like a roller coaster, you have to be a bit more mindful of your down pressure and row unit travel. But for most folks working relatively flat or gently rolling ground, the 1720 frame is about as solid as it gets. It doesn't have a lot of "give," which means it stays true and straight as you pull it through the field.
MaxEmerge Row Units: The Gold Standard
One of the best things about owning a john deere 1720 is that it usually comes equipped with MaxEmerge XP or MaxEmerge 5 row units. If you've spent any time in a shop, you know that these are basically the gold standard for parts availability. You can walk into almost any farm supply store or dealership in the country and find the disc openers, gauge wheel tires, or seed tubes you need.
You aren't stuck waiting for some proprietary part to ship from halfway across the world while your planting window is closing. Most of the maintenance on these row units can be done with a basic set of tools and a little bit of patience. That's a big win for the guy who prefers to do his own wrenching rather than paying a technician $150 an hour to show up in a white pickup truck.
Hopper Boxes vs. the CCS System
When you're looking at a john deere 1720, you'll generally see two different setups for seed delivery. You've got the traditional individual hopper boxes on each row, or the Central Commodity System (CCS).
A lot of the older 1720s you'll find on the used market have the individual boxes. Some guys love them because if one row has an issue, it's isolated. You can also run different varieties in different rows if you're doing some unofficial "test plots" for yourself. The downside? You're hauling bags of seed up a ladder and filling 12 or 16 different boxes, which is a great workout but a total pain when you're tired and the sun is going down.
The CCS models are much more common on the later versions of the 1720. Having two big tanks in the middle makes filling up a breeze, especially if you have a seed tender. It saves a ton of time and keeps the weight concentrated. If you can find a 1720 with a CCS that's been well-maintained, it's usually worth the extra bit of money for the sheer convenience.
Can You Modernize an Older 1720?
This is where things get interesting. Just because the john deere 1720 has been around for a while doesn't mean it has to act like an old machine. These frames are incredibly popular candidates for "retrofitting."
You can take a base 1720 frame and strip it down, then add all the high-tech bells and whistles you want. We're talking about electric drives, hydraulic down pressure (like DeltaForce), and high-speed seed tubes. Because the frame itself is so durable, it makes sense to invest in the technology. You end up with a planter that performs like a brand-new $250,000 machine but for a fraction of the total cost.
Even if you don't go full "high-tech," just adding a modern monitor and some better row cleaners can make a world of difference in your stand counts. The 1720 is a great "blank canvas" for however you want to farm.
Things to Check Before You Buy
If you're scouring the classifieds for a john deere 1720, don't just look at the paint. These machines are tough, but they aren't invincible. You want to look closely at the hinge points on the folding wings. If they look like they've been welded and re-welded, or if there's a lot of "slop" in the pins, that's a sign it's seen a lot of hard acres.
Check the parallel arms on the row units too. If the bushings are shot, the row unit will wiggle side-to-side, and your seed placement is going to be all over the map. It's an easy fix, but it's a tedious one. Also, take a peek at the frame for any hairline cracks, especially around the hitch and where the lift cylinders attach.
Lastly, check the tires and the wheel bearings. It sounds simple, but a flat tire on a stack-fold planter in the middle of a 100-acre field is enough to ruin anyone's afternoon.
Why It Holds Its Value
It's honestly impressive how well the john deere 1720 holds its resale value. You'll see 20-year-old machines selling for prices that seem crazy at first glance. But when you realize that a new planter is basically the price of a small house, the used 1720 starts to look like a bargain.
It's a "safe" investment. If you buy one, use it for five years, and keep it greased and under a roof, you can probably sell it for close to what you paid for it. There is always a market for a 12-row stack-fold planter because they fit so many different types of operations—from the guy who is just starting out to the big operator who needs a dedicated "small field" or "refuge" planter.
Wrapping Things Up
At the end of the day, the john deere 1720 isn't about the fluff or the fancy marketing. It's a tool designed to do a job. It folds up tight, it stays stable on the road, and it puts seed in the dirt with consistent depth. Whether you're running it stock with original finger-pickup meters or you've decked it out with the latest Precision Planting tech, it's a machine that earns its keep.
If you find a clean one that hasn't been abused, don't be afraid to pull the trigger. It might just be the most reliable partner you have on the farm during those hectic weeks in the spring when every hour counts. Just keep it greased, check your wear parts, and it'll likely outlast most of the trucks in your driveway.