Ideal JD for these chores

[Builder]

I'm moving onto a bigger piece of land. Depending on how much I clear, it looks like I'll need to cut 4 acres of lawn-quality grass and maybe 1-2 acres of meadow grass. I would also like to be able to pull a 6' York rake on my jobsites to finish grade around houses & additions I build. I'd also like to be able to possibly add a plow or snowblower to the front in the future.

Must have:diesel engine,4x4,mid/rear PTO, ROPS/sun canopy

I'm thinking I'd like to have 30+ HP to run at least a 62"-72" mower and maybe a 5' bush hog. I'd like to get the cutting done quickly so the bigger the mower the better (lots of activities with the kids). I already have a full size backhoe for really big stuff and a small GT235 for light grass work. I might sell the GT235 if the bigger tractor can mow "delicate" areas around the new house and I'll probably design the landscape to fit the new, bigger tractor.

OK, enough of my life story-what JD models should I be looking at? Also considering the orange-type.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Since you already have an L39, you should be pretty familiar with the size range you're looking at. Before you listed the required features and size, I was thinking of a large diesel garden tractor. Since that doesn't sound like what you want, I would be thinking of a 3320/3520 at the large end and a 2305-2520 at the smaller end. I think that pretty much covers everything green in that range. Not sure about the 790 but I don't think it has a mid PTO, if that's important to you. Otherwise it might be an option. I'm not sure you actually need 30+ hp for those tasks - I would think 25+ would handle the mowing you describe.

 

[aesanders]

2520 would be my recomendation for you. Or maybe down one to the 2320. The 2520 will handle a foot larger mower than the 2320 and is still light enough and agile enough to make it one helluva mower.

 

[AKfish]

My vote would be the 3320. If you want to pull a 5' brush hog and a 6' finish mower, I don't think you'd want to drop down to the 2520.

My neighbor has a 2520 and it's a dynamite machine. But it's very light on it's feet! He pulls a LX-4 and a 4' Landpride boxblade with it. Without weighted tires and no FEL.

Those attachments are all you want to grab onto without added weight.

The 2520 might be more stable with the FEL (added weight) and filled tires and therefore the bigger 5' brush hog and 72" finish mower would not be too much too handle --- but IMO you'd be near the line...

AKfish

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm moving onto a bigger piece of land. Depending on how much I clear, it looks like I'll need to cut 4 acres of lawn-quality grass and maybe 1-2 acres of meadow grass. I would also like to be able to pull a 6' York rake on my jobsites to finish grade around houses & additions I build. I'd also like to be able to possibly add a plow or snowblower to the front in the future.

Must have:diesel engine,4x4,mid/rear PTO, ROPS/sun canopy

I'm thinking I'd like to have 30+ HP to run at least a 62"-72" mower and maybe a 5' bush hog. I'd like to get the cutting done quickly so the bigger the mower the better (lots of activities with the kids). I already have a full size backhoe for really big stuff and a small GT235 for light grass work. I might sell the GT235 if the bigger tractor can mow "delicate" areas around the new house and I'll probably design the landscape to fit the new, bigger tractor.

OK, enough of my life story-what JD models should I be looking at? Also considering the orange-type.

Deere: 790, 3120 or 3320
Kubota: B7800, B2910

Also, look used for Deere 4300 (or 4310) or 4400 (or 4410).
Definitely a 72" mower! You might even want to look at an 84" unit.

All the machines listed can easily handle a 60" cutter.

There you go...how much do you want to spend?

 

[Builder]

Since you already have an L39, you should be pretty familiar with the size range you're looking at. Before you listed the required features and size, I was thinking of a large diesel garden tractor. Since that doesn't sound like what you want, I would be thinking of a 3320/3520 at the large end and a 2305-2520 at the smaller end. I think that pretty much covers everything green in that range. Not sure about the 790 but I don't think it has a mid PTO, if that's important to you. Otherwise it might be an option. I'm not sure you actually need 30+ hp for those tasks - I would think 25+ would handle the mowing you describe.

I sold the L-39 and bought a full-size backhoe. I used to use the L-39 for the York rake, and it worked great.

Deere makes so many tractors, the numbers get confusing. They make some tractors in the 20-30 HP range that look like Garden tractors on steroids, then they make some some small farm tractors that look like they were in the movie "honey, I shrunk the farm tractor".

Seems like the smaller farm tractors would be more rugged and the bigger garden tractors would be more quiet & comfortable. I'd like to try to get something that can do some dirt chores and then cut a very nicely groomed lawn.

Looks like turf tires are going to be a must have on this tractor, too.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

IMHO, you need to choose between frame sizes. From what you've written, I'd say to look closely at the 2520. The smaller frame size will mow your delicate yard area and fit into "backyards" with a 5 foot gate. If you need to spread some dirt in a new house construction leveling type job, you'll be surprised how fast you can "nibble" at a pile working in confined areas.

I've got a 4310 and I do drive it on my yard occasionally but only when its dry. BTW, my yard needs aeriating right now....Kyle

John Deere products for homeowners: Features for 2520 4WD Compact Tractor (26.5hp)

 

[Builder]

I'm beginning to think I need some kind of old deere or kubota with ag tires & 4x4 & maybe a FEL for the york rake & snow plow and maybe an oversized 4x4 lawn tractor for cutting.

The the problem of 2 cheaper used machines instead of one, new all-purpose machine.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm beginning to think I need some kind of old deere or kubota with ag tires & 4x4 & maybe a FEL for the york rake & snow plow and maybe an oversized 4x4 lawn tractor for cutting.

The the problem of 2 cheaper used machines instead of one, new all-purpose machine.

Not really...and you don't really have the acreage to justify two machines.

You plan on clearing the acreage (which was what was written in the first post) and maintaining...any mid-sized tractor would do the job (depending on your property, you may have to contract some of the clearing work as well as heavier landscaping)
Since you want a mid-PTO, I'm assuming you'd use a mid-mount mower and front snow blower (maybe).
Any of the mid-sized tractors (the ones I suggested, or others) can handle the work quite easily. There's a number of TBNers who use 20-35 HP machines to mow their lawns...I do myself (big lawn tractor, but has other uses too). I cut with a 60" RFM and do a little trim with a walk behind mower. I could use a 72" RFM with no problem, but at this point in time, I can't justify the price of a 72" RFM (implements depreciate pretty fast and my 60" unit does a great job and is paid off).

As far as quality of cut, any of the machines and MMM or RFM will give a good quality cut.

Since you want the work done fast, a 72" Mid Mount would serve you the best. You can't get one of these for a 790, but can for the 3320 or used 4300 machines. With 4 acres of finished lawn, that's the direction I would take. I'd lean toward the 4300 to save some money. The one Deere I would not look at would be the 3203 (no Mid PTO and cannot be used as a stationary power unit). As far as Kubota, probably the B7800 (new or used).

There you go...now you have to decide how you want to spend your money.

 

[Builder]

Not really...and you don't really have the acreage to justify two machines.

You plan on clearing the acreage (which was what was written in the first post) and maintaining...any mid-sized tractor would do the job (depending on your property, you may have to contract some of the clearing work as well as heavier landscaping)
Since you want a mid-PTO, I'm assuming you'd use a mid-mount mower and front snow blower (maybe).
Any of the mid-sized tractors (the ones I suggested, or others) can handle the work quite easily. There's a number of TBNers who use 20-35 HP machines to mow their lawns...I do myself (big lawn tractor, but has other uses too). I cut with a 60" RFM and do a little trim with a walk behind mower. I could use a 72" RFM with no problem, but at this point in time, I can't justify the price of a 72" RFM (implements depreciate pretty fast and my 60" unit does a great job and is paid off).

As far as quality of cut, any of the machines and MMM or RFM will give a good quality cut.

Since you want the work done fast, a 72" Mid Mount would serve you the best. You can't get one of these for a 790, but can for the 3320 or used 4300 machines. With 4 acres of finished lawn, that's the direction I would take. I'd lean toward the 4300 to save some money. The one Deere I would not look at would be the 3203 (no Mid PTO and cannot be used as a stationary power unit). As far as Kubota, probably the B7800 (new or used).

There you go...now you have to decide how you want to spend your money.

Roy,

I have a full size backhoe for the land clearing. I clear my own lots with large machinery for customers, so I'll be doing all the land clearing & excavating for this project, too. I'm just trying to picture what tractor would be good to take over where a backhoe leaves-off, like for york rake, light FEL work and then will morph into a small estate size maintenance tractor later after the house is built doing the large lawn, small pasture, snow removal, york raking, etc.

I just don't want to spend too many hours mowing.

maybe one tractor would work, but i think a set of ag tires would be nice for when I need to do "construction" work, then switch to a set of Ag tires for maintenance work. I just don't know if R-4's are too rough on finished lawns.