I've been using my new 865R a few days and the differences vs. my 855D are both significant, and in some cases, annoyingly the same.
Cab: Much more sealed unit mounted on a bit longer wheelbase. About 1/2 the noise level as the 855D. Controls are visible and easy to use, EXCEPT the "don't know what else to do so we'll do up a Mickey Mouse parking brake." If you're tall, you can't get your leg/foot back enough to engage it. If you have ice on your boots, the pedal will deliver it back to your face when you hit the release. JD certainly could have done a neatly tucked in lever with press button. Huge step backwards. Cab heat is good with the cab sealed so you don't get 855D radiator heat blowing in during the summer.
Seats: Much more comfortable with deeper cushion. Fabric is a bad idea though. I put a Ruff-Tuff cover with the same camo pattern in. Seatbelts are an improvement over the earlier AmSafe (Am Unsafe in my book). If your cousin Vinny who tops over 350 pounds gets in, a fairly common seat belt extender will work. Oh, the cab can seat three, but not three widebodies.
Climate: Much better heater. Presumably the A/C will be great.
Radio: I got the middle one with the SiriusXM and bluetooth. It's hooked up with the premium speaker set which costs more than it should but they shake you down because they can. The audio easily overcomes the lower level cab noise. Speakerphone works great. I did notice a glitch on media play. The dash unit would be in BT Audio Pause and I couldn't free it up. If you get this, the solution for me was to reboot the phone as phone BT connections get schizoid over time. Although the radio is "iPhone/iPod", it works fine on my MotoZ Android. The radio has the main common connection protocols. I dug up an old iPod Nano and plugged it in. Three minute songs play in 40 seconds, but I prefer to plug in a tiny USB flush stick so I don't have a "Steal Me" sign on the dash.
Performance: Interesting that it will run at 35mph on the flats with 27 inch tires. The 855D typically hovers around 32mph at the same capped 3750rpm. Acceleration is diesel lethargic and with the heavier weight overall, screams more for a turbo upgrade like I have on the 855D. I'll wait a year until out of warranty. BTW, the engine and exhaust geometry are exactly the same so the 855D turbo out there will work fine.
Windshield: Good wiper and the washer system is much better as it distributes water on the wiper line vs. spray from the hood.
Driving/Work Lights: Nice LED products but the JD installers put them in bass ackwards. I can see over most my front 3 acres looking out the rear mirror though. They get to drive up and fix that as I'm not interested in pulling the head liner. They have to come anyways to put a correct bed extender in. The one JD sent is 3 inches short.
Bighorn Tires: I'm more impressed with the Mongrels I have on the 855D. Also, they'll wear down fairly quickly on the roads as there really isn't much rubber.
Street Tires: I've been using 205-75-15s on a trailer rim on the 855D for three season use. Works great with better speed, lower noise, and better roll. The front wheel well on the 865 has more space for tire experimentation. After measuring, I've ordered up a set of wider rims so I can go up to a 225-75-15. That diameter is 28.5 inches and fits with nominal room to spare. The speedometer will be off about 1.5mph as the display only goes up to 27" on the tire selection menu. Bottom line, no lift required.
Handling: The 865 is broader and boxier, hence it isn't as nimble as the 855D. With 23hp, how nimble do you need? The 865 corners about the same, but the additional weight bring the CG up a touch.
Engine: Same everything including the liftbed that covers it. JD continually refuses to relocate the fuel filter where it is serviceable without being double jointed. I'll move it to the right rail like I did the 855D. Gets it ready for the turbo later. Although this engine has been around forever, it still suffers from a low capacity sump.
Done Light: I was looking forward to the LED flasher as an improvement over the made in Romania mechanical rotator on the 855D. It isn't nearly as bright and worse yet, is on a silly bolted pivot. The old unit has a great spring loaded rotating shaft, so when you hit a tree, it just folds neatly back. The new one won't be as lucky. Another poor design "improvement" by JD.
Manuals: Operators, standard and you'll always wish for more. Tech Manual is around 1200 pages and goes deep into everything. Like newer authorship, there are ever more syntax and language busts, but that's par for the "Me and you" vs. the "You and I" types. The tech manual will slap your wallet hard for $120 or so. Paper is $150.
Misc: The air cleaner is external and easy to pop open. The washer fluid tank is accessible through a pop open panel below the right door. The battery is essentially trapped in difficult location outside behind the seat storage tub. I'll have to look up how to service it, but the days of popping a seat up for full access is over. The 865R has both high/low LED beams which is a nice touch. Frustrating are the flashers, stop, backup lights are the same cheap filament. Why JD couldn't install LEDs there is perplexing. I already changed out everything except the rear turns as JD went with a silly "Euro" base which isn't easily found at Autozone. Amazon to the rescue. The flasher relay works fine with LEDs.
Bottom Line: Even with the current warts, I'll appreciate the 865 as it helps allay some of the difficulties I have from my military derived disabilities. I can get more years with my body in that. If you want to have the benefits of much better climate control, a decent sound system, space for the dog to lie down, or whatever, it's worth considering. For me, I'm just using it every day on the spread.
Questions? Cattleboy can also weigh in.
Cab: Much more sealed unit mounted on a bit longer wheelbase. About 1/2 the noise level as the 855D. Controls are visible and easy to use, EXCEPT the "don't know what else to do so we'll do up a Mickey Mouse parking brake." If you're tall, you can't get your leg/foot back enough to engage it. If you have ice on your boots, the pedal will deliver it back to your face when you hit the release. JD certainly could have done a neatly tucked in lever with press button. Huge step backwards. Cab heat is good with the cab sealed so you don't get 855D radiator heat blowing in during the summer.
Seats: Much more comfortable with deeper cushion. Fabric is a bad idea though. I put a Ruff-Tuff cover with the same camo pattern in. Seatbelts are an improvement over the earlier AmSafe (Am Unsafe in my book). If your cousin Vinny who tops over 350 pounds gets in, a fairly common seat belt extender will work. Oh, the cab can seat three, but not three widebodies.
Climate: Much better heater. Presumably the A/C will be great.
Radio: I got the middle one with the SiriusXM and bluetooth. It's hooked up with the premium speaker set which costs more than it should but they shake you down because they can. The audio easily overcomes the lower level cab noise. Speakerphone works great. I did notice a glitch on media play. The dash unit would be in BT Audio Pause and I couldn't free it up. If you get this, the solution for me was to reboot the phone as phone BT connections get schizoid over time. Although the radio is "iPhone/iPod", it works fine on my MotoZ Android. The radio has the main common connection protocols. I dug up an old iPod Nano and plugged it in. Three minute songs play in 40 seconds, but I prefer to plug in a tiny USB flush stick so I don't have a "Steal Me" sign on the dash.
Performance: Interesting that it will run at 35mph on the flats with 27 inch tires. The 855D typically hovers around 32mph at the same capped 3750rpm. Acceleration is diesel lethargic and with the heavier weight overall, screams more for a turbo upgrade like I have on the 855D. I'll wait a year until out of warranty. BTW, the engine and exhaust geometry are exactly the same so the 855D turbo out there will work fine.
Windshield: Good wiper and the washer system is much better as it distributes water on the wiper line vs. spray from the hood.
Driving/Work Lights: Nice LED products but the JD installers put them in bass ackwards. I can see over most my front 3 acres looking out the rear mirror though. They get to drive up and fix that as I'm not interested in pulling the head liner. They have to come anyways to put a correct bed extender in. The one JD sent is 3 inches short.
Bighorn Tires: I'm more impressed with the Mongrels I have on the 855D. Also, they'll wear down fairly quickly on the roads as there really isn't much rubber.
Street Tires: I've been using 205-75-15s on a trailer rim on the 855D for three season use. Works great with better speed, lower noise, and better roll. The front wheel well on the 865 has more space for tire experimentation. After measuring, I've ordered up a set of wider rims so I can go up to a 225-75-15. That diameter is 28.5 inches and fits with nominal room to spare. The speedometer will be off about 1.5mph as the display only goes up to 27" on the tire selection menu. Bottom line, no lift required.
Handling: The 865 is broader and boxier, hence it isn't as nimble as the 855D. With 23hp, how nimble do you need? The 865 corners about the same, but the additional weight bring the CG up a touch.
Engine: Same everything including the liftbed that covers it. JD continually refuses to relocate the fuel filter where it is serviceable without being double jointed. I'll move it to the right rail like I did the 855D. Gets it ready for the turbo later. Although this engine has been around forever, it still suffers from a low capacity sump.
Done Light: I was looking forward to the LED flasher as an improvement over the made in Romania mechanical rotator on the 855D. It isn't nearly as bright and worse yet, is on a silly bolted pivot. The old unit has a great spring loaded rotating shaft, so when you hit a tree, it just folds neatly back. The new one won't be as lucky. Another poor design "improvement" by JD.
Manuals: Operators, standard and you'll always wish for more. Tech Manual is around 1200 pages and goes deep into everything. Like newer authorship, there are ever more syntax and language busts, but that's par for the "Me and you" vs. the "You and I" types. The tech manual will slap your wallet hard for $120 or so. Paper is $150.
Misc: The air cleaner is external and easy to pop open. The washer fluid tank is accessible through a pop open panel below the right door. The battery is essentially trapped in difficult location outside behind the seat storage tub. I'll have to look up how to service it, but the days of popping a seat up for full access is over. The 865R has both high/low LED beams which is a nice touch. Frustrating are the flashers, stop, backup lights are the same cheap filament. Why JD couldn't install LEDs there is perplexing. I already changed out everything except the rear turns as JD went with a silly "Euro" base which isn't easily found at Autozone. Amazon to the rescue. The flasher relay works fine with LEDs.
Bottom Line: Even with the current warts, I'll appreciate the 865 as it helps allay some of the difficulties I have from my military derived disabilities. I can get more years with my body in that. If you want to have the benefits of much better climate control, a decent sound system, space for the dog to lie down, or whatever, it's worth considering. For me, I'm just using it every day on the spread.
Questions? Cattleboy can also weigh in.