Buying Advice Buying the right tractor for 1.5 acres

[bumperm]

All this talk about needing or not needing what size of tractor for X amount of acreage is a little confusing. We're talking tractors here, and a tractor is a tool, right?

I'm a "tool person", and if there's any possibility of ever again needing a tool that I need right now, I'd rather buy than rent. Long ago, I convinced my wife that tools are "off budget" as far as my toy account is concerned. I mean, I can *work* with tools and they "can" make money - it is irrelevant if they ever actually *do* make money. I use male logic when deciding if I should buy a tool or not, the formula is Need X Want = Buy! A small amount of Need with lots of Want means I still get to Buy!

bumper

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

. . . the formula is Need X Want = Buy! . . . .

LOL! :laughing: I'll have to remember that next time I'm agonizing over another implement expenditure.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

All this talk about needing or not needing what size of tractor for X amount of acreage is a little confusing. We're talking tractors here, and a tractor is a tool, right?

I'm a "tool person", and if there's any possibility of ever again needing a tool that I need right now, I'd rather buy than rent. Long ago, I convinced my wife that tools are "off budget" as far as my toy account is concerned. I mean, I can *work* with tools and they "can" make money - it is irrelevant if they ever actually *do* make money. I use male logic when deciding if I should buy a tool or not, the formula is Need X Want = Buy! A small amount of Need with lots of Want means I still get to Buy!

bumper

We'd get along just fine:thumbsup: my sentiments exactly!

 

[buickanddeere]

It's not about the acres. it's about the size of the job.
Lots of good 10yr old low hour tractors from rural estates. Where the owner has gone broke, become ill or died.

 

[txdon]

It's not about the acres. it's about the size of the job.

Also consider if the job a one-time job?
Consider how often a job will be done and does it justify the cost of the tractor.
Ask yourself would it be economical feasible to rent or hire out a one-time or seldom done job.
I have hired people with larger tractors and bulldozers for dirt work and I know I have come out way ahead.

 

[Tractorrr]

I haven't because I have never lived on an acreage before this will be my first home and I am unaccustomed to the work/chores that go with it. After I have given it more thought I'm thinking about looking into zero turn and a standard walk behind snow blower for the amount of money. Just trying to get opinions of those that have "been there done that" and see what direction that takes me.

That would be the way to go to save money. Get a zero turn or lawn tractor and a walk behind blower. Then you could hire out additional work that you needed done that might require a tractor or other equipment.
You may not need a tractor PTO tiller either. Yes they are nice but they are also expensive. Just like snowblowers there are walk behind tillers. They are more work don't do as great a job as a PTO tiller but would probably be enough for a small garden. Walk behind tillers are good for weeding between rows so some people have both a PTO and walk behind tiller.
Raised beds are an easy way to garden too. Don't think you even need a tiller for raised beds

Kubota Kommander is in the 5700 dollar range and is a nice homeowner zero turn but not commercial. I've mowed with it a few times and it does a nice job. I know someone who mows 4-5 acres in a couple hours with it so 1.5 would be easy. I was also thinking the x300 or x500. Or a comparable deere zero turn.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

So, based on all these comments steering you away from buying a tractor, it's clear to me that you need to buy more land so you can justify buying a tractor.

 

[buickanddeere]

Either a zero turn or a garden tractor that uses 5 bolts to hold the rear wheels on. They have HD ground engagement transmissions.
The light duty toy lawn tractors hold the rear wheels on with a key way and a "C-clip".

 

[scoutcub]

Let's keep it friendly.

The OP is new to all this and is working his way through the information and ideas tossed out here. He needs to have an idea of what can be done with what equipment.

Years ago I lived on a 1.5 acre flat as a pancake lot in NW Ohio. A decent garden tractor with a blade, tiller, snowblower, mower would have been the bee's knees for that situation. If someone wanted to get into more intensive home food production, like a large garden, some chickens, a 2-3 hog pen, etc. on 1.5 acres, then a SCUT would be a welcome tool along with a low-cost mower to keep after the small amount of yard left open.

Great post by Dave.

I hope this new subscriber has not disengaged from the thread by some critical comments.

Matt - Your original thread was asking about which tractor for the 1.5 acres you might purchase, and it seemed you were keying in on a 4X4 tractor with loader/mower. That's what most members responded to with their input.

I agree with Dave on the garden tractor, I am very familiar with the Cub 3000 series having owned several, and have had snowblowers, front angle plows, 50-60" mowing decks, rear 3-pt hitches with tillers. Although the series is no longer produced, there are still numerous used tractors out there for sale. Certain 3000 series models had differential rear lock, which really helped with traction. Not trying to blow the horn for Cub, just overly familiar with their products....JD has similar garden tractors with the same options, as perhaps other manufacturers as well. New ones can get very pricey, you could easily get into the Sub-compact price range. Obviously plenty of used machines out there. You can also get a jonny bucket, cab, etc. for the garden tractors.

You priced out some sub-cuts and seemed OK with it....but never really mentioned budget. A used garden tractor with front plow and mower could easily be had under 5,000.

Regarding the blowers....are there neighbors close by? Blowers with gravel driveways aren't typically a good match....don't want to sling a stone thru the neighbors windows.....or thru the neighbor....:laughing:

Zero-turns - great machines for mowing only. I also have 1.5 acres, and use a 50" zero-turn-tractor. Takes me awhile to do, so actually in the process of upgrading to a 60" Zero turn with steering wheel.....supposedly the cats meow for slopes. (I'm on a healthy slope)

For snow I do have a 24HP subcompact....with front 72" hydraulic angle plow. I need the 4X4, again it's a steeply sloped 170' driveway and large landing I'm plowing.

Hope this helps, and hope you find some answers!
And, did/are you going to purchase the home?

 

[Matt95684]

Great post by Dave.

I hope this new subscriber has not disengaged from the thread by some critical comments.

Matt - Your original thread was asking about which tractor for the 1.5 acres you might purchase, and it seemed you were keying in on a 4X4 tractor with loader/mower. That's what most members responded to with their input.

I agree with Dave on the garden tractor, I am very familiar with the Cub 3000 series having owned several, and have had snowblowers, front angle plows, 50-60" mowing decks, rear 3-pt hitches with tillers. Although the series is no longer produced, there are still numerous used tractors out there for sale. Certain 3000 series models had differential rear lock, which really helped with traction. Not trying to blow the horn for Cub, just overly familiar with their products....JD has similar garden tractors with the same options, as perhaps other manufacturers as well. New ones can get very pricey, you could easily get into the Sub-compact price range. Obviously plenty of used machines out there. You can also get a jonny bucket, cab, etc. for the garden tractors.

You priced out some sub-cuts and seemed OK with it....but never really mentioned budget. A used garden tractor with front plow and mower could easily be had under 5,000.

Regarding the blowers....are there neighbors close by? Blowers with gravel driveways aren't typically a good match....don't want to sling a stone thru the neighbors windows.....or thru the neighbor....:laughing:

Zero-turns - great machines for mowing only. I also have 1.5 acres, and use a 50" zero-turn-tractor. Takes me awhile to do, so actually in the process of upgrading to a 60" Zero turn with steering wheel.....supposedly the cats meow for slopes. (I'm on a healthy slope)

For snow I do have a 24HP subcompact....with front 72" hydraulic angle plow. I need the 4X4, again it's a steeply sloped 170' driveway and large landing I'm plowing.

Hope this helps, and hope you find some answers!
And, did/are you going to purchase the home?

We are going to purchase the home we are in the process right now. I originally thought tractor would be a good idea but having checked into some pricing at this point I'm talking myself out of it for the sheer expense. I can get a nice zero turn for quite a bit less money. And either get a walk behind blower or hire someone to move my snow. A friend of mine kind of out the nail in the coffin said do you like getting up really early and moving snow in the cold? I said I don't mind then he said how about fixing something when it breaks because that's when it breaks even if you spend 15k something will happen. I guess I will just have to live there awhile and see how things go. I've gotten opinions for tractor with attachments and zero turn and walk behind snow blower from people on here and in person and it sounds like it's individual preference. I was all excited about a tractor because I have wanted one since I was a little kid on the farm but I don't know that I can justify the expense.