Utility Tractor Help

[JerryR]

I am going to buy a tractor whose primary use will be mowing subdivision turf - roadway to 80' off the road x a mile or two per subdivision, detention ponds(can be steep sided) and our tree farm where we raise shade trees. We use an Exmark60" very successfuly today but will need other utility than mowing such as al loader for re-mulching hundred of street tree rings annually, a rototiller for prepping soil for fescue seeding between the rows of new shade tree liners each year,.

I want to have a great mowing cut for our subdivisions and lawns and need to get close to the Exmark workload daily-it can fly while mowing nicely. If I get too tall or wide of a machine, I cannot mow under trees on some lawns.

I like the Deere X585 or 595. Does anyone use a loader on theirs? I hear it cuts nicely but has a small bucket.

IS anyone out there have a suggestion?

Thanks! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Cowboyjg]

Jerry,

The first, and most helpful, thing you could do is to fill out your profile. All of the who, what, where and such are important in helping us help you.

Being in the construction biz here in Fla. I see people do alot of different things.

It sounds to me that you have organizational issues here. a crew to mow lawns a crew to mow streetside and a crew to handle mulching and such.

It may not be about a tractor as much as organization.

Limited info gets you somewhat vague and inaccurate answers.


Respectfully submitted!

[JerryR]

I have no crews; just an Exmark and an operator and me and some high school kids. I prefer to keep it simple so lets not discuss the intricacies of proper crewing.

Jerry

[thcri]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I like the Deere X585 or 595. Does anyone use a loader on theirs? I hear it cuts nicely but has a small bucket.
)</font>


I personally think you should move up to a sub-compact or a class 1 rig. I am thinking by the time you buy the X unit with 4 wheel drive which you will need for your ponds you are going to be in the price range of the JD2210 sub-compact. And I think you will have a lot more tractor.

Just my opinion.


murph

[JoeR]

I think you have a really tough question! For work around medians and Islands for mulching, you can't have too big of a tractor since you would block the road. For this work you would need a compact utility tractor.

Now for your retention pond slopes, you may need a good size tractor with a batwing or one with a mower on a boom. (I can't remember the proper name for that type of mower)

For roadside mowing with 80' width, you would definately want a 100+ HP mower with a batwing.

Although, if you have time then the 60" Exmark mowers can do the job, but the slopes are another story.

This really breaks down to considering how much your time is worth. If you need to get done faster, then a bigger mower is the way to go, but there is a break even point somewhere in this... Maybe a 50hp tractor would be a good compromise. It can do 72" mower, and can be used as a utility tractor with FEL. Going from 60 to 72" is a 20% increase; therefore, you should be able to get done 20% faster when mowing the roadside. That alone may be a good reason, but you know your business best.

Good luck,

Joe

[Bob_Skurka]

If you want EXMARK quality cut, in a small tractor, that is soft on the turf but will cut a heck of a lot faster than any traditional garden tractor, then I would take a serious look at both Steiner and Ventrac tractors. These units are used by golf courses, national monuments, etc where quality of cut is required. They are also far more manuverable than a traditional tractor, and while they won't cut quite as fast as a ZTR, they will cut much faster than a small conventional tractor. (we save an hour a week in our cutting chores now). The price is high, but the labor savings in speed of cut will pay you back.

<font color="red">
Steiner Tractors

Ventrac Tractors </font>

[JerryR]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have looked at the Steiners. The Xmas Tree Farmers here use them because of the articulation. Personally I found them interesting but a bit clumsy for me to drive.

Jerry

[KentT]

Have you looked at these? Not nearly as expensive as the Steiners or Ventracs, but articulated (i.e. maneuverable) and versatile...

Power Trac

[Cowboyjg]

<font color="blueclass=small">( I have no crews; just an Exmark and an operator and me and some high school kids. I prefer to keep it simple so lets not discuss the intricacies of proper crewing.


There is really more here than what you are talking about! Are you growing as a business? Are you staying the same but want to be more effeciant? You talk about keeping it simple but you want more productivity from your current compliment of people and machines.

I felt it important to let a few of the others respond before I said anything further.

YOU ARE GETTING BIGGER AND NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT FACT.

Yes, you need for your equipment to be as versatile as possible. You want the biggest bang for the buck when considering this equipment.

Your equipment will only accomplish as much as you personell will allow!!!!

Thank you for your participation in the forum. This is all I will say about your situation.

Respectfully submitted!!!

[Bob_Skurka]

KentT . . . good thought bringing up the Power Trac equipment, I think those are amazing tractors. I specifically recommended the Steiners and Ventracs due to their mowing quality, which is nothing short of outstanding. Power Trac, in my mind, lags behind those two brands in cut quality, but very easily surpasses those 2 brands (and most every other brand) in terms of versitility. Some of the fence &amp; landscape companies use PT equipement and I've had some 422's out at my house a couple times. If mowing is the ONLY real task, then I'd still stand behind the Steiners or Ventracs. If OTHER tasks are needed, then I think a POWER TRAC is one tough beast to beat, and I don't know of any tractor that actually can beat a PT for versitility.


Cowboyjg . . . good point about the growing company/productivity/efficiency issues.


JerryR . . . I will admit that it takes some getting used to operating a front deck articulated tractor, but they certainly mow far faster and with a superior cut quality to any traditional lawn type tractor I have ever seen or heard of.