Help choosing small tractor/mower

[ronco]

I need some help from our tractor gurus here. I remarried about three years ago. My wife has a house that we are trying to sell. It is inconvenient to keep the grass cut twice a month during season and I am lazy too (the house is an hour away). I have two riding mowers (12 and 18 H. P. ) and I am killing them with the load. The house is on three acres and I need a small tractor with maybe a belly mower to cut the bulk of the yard and use the smaller riding mowers for the edges and smaller areas. I don't know if a bush hog will work well because of the swing with the deck. Now, I now as much about tractors as I do brain surgery, so keep that in mind. What should I look for or ask for when visiting local dealerships? I prefer used equipment as this is hopefully short term usage. What kind of money are we talking about spending? I tried searching online with little luck. I have found 1000's of used riding mowers, but like I said, I own two of those. Most heavy equipment dealers only have backhoes and loaders and skidders and trenchers. I don't want to remove the grass, only cut it to keep the house looking presentable. All help is appreciated!





Ronco

 

[Lnwing]

Ronco,



If all you are doing is just mowing, my advise is to get a commercial grade zero-turn mower. It'll mow the large areas faster than a belly mower and will trim up the smaller areas better and faster than the riding mowers. My guess is that you'll never want to crawl back on the riders again!



Lynn

 

[ronco]

Thanks for the info. I will look at commercial grade equipment to see what is available.





Ronco

 

[QRTRHRS]

Front mounted decks tend to give a better cut then the belly mounts even on a ZTR. Prep yourself for sticker shock. Used? Same rules as any motor vehicle apply.

 

[lschultz]

Here are a couple of places to get info on tractors/mowers

http://www.jplan.com/cgr-bin/tractor/homepage.pl

http://www.tractorbynet.com/index.shtml

I bought a Kubota BX1800 with a mid-mount mower about a year ago and it cuts great. Way faster than the other mowers I have had. I got a Cud Cadet now and there in very little comparison between the two. Should of bought it a long time ago. Son uses it to on his place. I think he cuts around 5 acres. Gets around trees very close and a lot faster than a gas mower. It will give a zero turn mower a run for its money. Holds 5. 5 gals of diesel and you can cut lots of grass on that. High grass don't even slow it down. I think it cost me around 8500 with the mower but it will probably last longer than me There are other manufactures that make about the same thing but Kubota has a good reputation sorts like the Cummings

 

[parcher]

I work part time in a power equipment shop (fixing 2 cycle stuff). WE had a customer come in and buy an $11,000. 00 Scag to mow his own lawn. 27hp Kawasaki, 62" deck, bagger. Nice mower. A bit much for one lawn but nice just the same.

 

[E7mack96]

How about a diesel riding mower?



John deere makes one with a diesel engine and a 60" underbelly deck. It is used to cut 11 acres.



Being a diesel, it muscles right through.



Pricey? it was around 10K.

 

[Newf Limo]

John Deere

We have a John Deere 335GX with a 48" mower deck, Hydro-static drive, power steering and it does a great job. We mow about 3 acres and it doesn't complain a bit. It has a 20 Horse Kawasaki engine and has plenty of power. W started out with about a half acre that was "mowable" and the John Deere, plowed through the brush to make the rest mowable. You might call it a Lawn and garden Bush Hog! We now have a set of blades for grass and a set for field. 6 and a half more acres to go

 

[ronco]

lschultz, the first link is a pay site and the second one has few small tractors but thanks for the help anyway. I have an 18 H. P. lawn tractor. It cuts well enough, but the belts are not lasting and the wear factor must be high. I would like to find something in the 2K to 3K range. I will probably use the mower about 8 times a year. For that kind of use, I don't need to spend alot of money and the mower will be sold when the house sells. Thanks to everyone for a reply and your helpl.





Ronco

 

[Tim1]

Rent one

Hey bud, why not just rent a unit for the 8 times that your gonna need it. Let them do the upkeep on the unit. I would! Tim

 

[ronco]

Tim, that is the best idea I have heard yet. I never thought about it! I will look into that. Thanks, Ronco

 

[michigandon]

Find yerself a 1970s model Economy or Power King, as there is nothing better.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Buy a real tractor. I bought a used Ford DIESEL 3000 and rear mounted trim mower for $8,000. Then bought a bushhog, and a blade. My neighbor has more attachments that I can borrow.



You won't limit yourself to just mowing grass. After 12 years, the trractor is still worth what you paid for it!



I have 3 acres. I also get other work to do as I want.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Originally posted by lschultz

There are other manufactures that make about the same thing but Kubota has a good reputation sorts like the Cummings

Somebody reslap this guy.

Larry if you keep talking like this, I'm gonna send Kev back down to your place. This time he'll stay a month.

 

[lschultz]

I been slapped so much I don't feel it anymore. It would be very interesting to have Mr. Whitmore down here a month. I do not know what I would do. And I don't know if Texas could take a month of his presence.