Price Check on mmm...............Ouch!

[teeravis1]

I stopped at the dealer where I bough my B3030 w/ a friend of mine last week because he was interested in a tractor and wanted to take a look. (I directed him right to Kubota, and probably helped the salesman more than I should have ) A few days later he is now the proud owner of a BX 24 with loader, backhoe, and snowblower. Anyway, while we were there I asked what the mmm for my B3030 would cost, because my plan was to buy the mmm this spring. They quoted me a price of about $3300. I really wanted the mmm, but now I am thinking to my self that for $2000 - $2500 I can get a heck of a nice good size riding mower. Then I wouldn't have to worry about putting the mower deck on and off when using the tractor in the woods. But it also means the B3030 will sit more instead of getting used more. Not sure what to do on this one, does anyone have any opinions or thoughts on the matter that I may have overlooked? Thanks Guys - Trav

[Mowbizz]

Originally Posted by teeravis1

I stopped at the dealer where I bough my B3030 w/ a friend of mine last week because he was interested in a tractor and wanted to take a look. (I directed him right to Kubota, and probably helped the salesman more than I should have ) A few days later he is now the proud owner of a BX 24 with loader, backhoe, and snowblower. Anyway, while we were there I asked what the mmm for my B3030 would cost, because my plan was to buy the mmm this spring. They quoted me a price of about $3300. I really wanted the mmm, but now I am thinking to my self that for $2000 - $2500 I can get a heck of a nice good size riding mower. Then I wouldn't have to worry about putting the mower deck on and off when using the tractor in the woods. But it also means the B3030 will sit more instead of getting used more. Not sure what to do on this one, does anyone have any opinions or thoughts on the matter that I may have overlooked? Thanks Guys - Trav

I think buying a lawn tractor is a better idea for the reasons you stated...

[statueman]

TEERAVIS1


I HAVE A 3030 MMM AND LOVE IT. I PAID $2,500. LAST
SPRING. I TOO HAD TO DECIDE SHOULD I BUY ANOTHER MOWER OR BITE THE
BULLET AND USE THE TRACTOR. I'M GLAD I DID WHAT I DID. THIS 60"
MOWER IS SO SMOOTH AND JUST SINGS RIGHT THROUGH THE GRASS. IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT GO FOR IT. YOU BOUGHT THE TRACTOR TO USE WITH IMPLEMENTS, THIS IS A GOT TO HAVE. WHAT USE TO TAKE ME 2.5 HOURS TO MOW WITH A CRAFTSMAN 42" NOW TAKES ME ALL OF 45 MIN.

[amigauser]

I had the same choice and decided on the garden tractor for the reasons you mentioned. That way I am not running up hours on my B3030 and I have the use of both. For example having the garden tractor pull a trailer that I load with the B3030. You can never have to many tractors .

There are a lot of quality used garden tractors in the 2-3k range.

I would look at the Ingersoll/Case tractors, JD or older Wheelhorse or Cubs. Some of them have 50 or 60 inch decks to. Check out the Lawn and Garden forum here on TBN - http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/lawn-garden/

If you have a lot of smooth finished lawn to cut and don't care about the tractor ability you can get a used commercial ZTR or a new homeowner version for around $3k to.

[megaboz]

If you'll be putting the mower off and on alot, then, buy another smaller tractor, especially if the smaller tractor will get around better to cut the grass.

Or get a Finish mower for the back.

Personally, taking the mower on and off, although is not hard, it is more of a hassle than what it might be worth.

[sixdogs]

This a tough question. If you didn't have to take the mower off the first the best choice would be the Kubota mower. It is what you want and it will work better than a Sears or whatever. Most important, it is what you want. Life is too short to not have what you want and to spend hours fixing what you do not want.

Find out the best internet price and negotioate the best deal you can with the local guy. Don't beat him to death but don't be a patsy. You did send others to him and he knows that. The price today is what it is and what it once was doesn't matter. Just know what they sell for in the internet.

I'm not sure how much you have to go into the woods so that not is not answered but I have a B7800 with mmm and I can say I only remove my mower once a year to clean under it. I don't like it but it's not all that hard.
I have one of those super-duty farm jacks (the American one not the import) and I lift the front of the tractor with it. Then I slide the mower out. This takes all of a couple minutes.
My vote is for the MMM.

[ihookem]

The reason a mmm cost so much is because it is a real good mower. I will bet you can cut 1000 acres with that 3030 / mmm and the mmm will still be in reparable shape. My 7510/ 60" mmm has cut an awfull lot of grass in the two years cause I cut my own ( 2 ac. @ 12-15 times a year= 25 ac.) I cut high grass at our church land and weeds too ( about 22 ac. three times a year) = 66 ac. So I cut about 200 ac. of grass and weeds in two years. It still seems new. Now, take a gas lawn mower and find out how many hrs. of grass cutting it takes before it's got problems. My dad has a little JD from a JD dealer for 3k. 100 hrs later, and carb and engine problems. Noone seems to know how to keep it running. So he goes out and buys a 4k JD lawn mower from the JD dealer, not Home Depot. So far its got 150 hrs? and no problems but with 7k he could have gotten a little diesel Kubota 1500 and been all the better. Look into the avr. life of a gas lawn more and it ain't pretty. Later, ihookem.

[BX2230_Lockport]

Originally Posted by statueman

TEERAVIS1


... WHAT USE TO TAKE ME 2.5 HOURS TO MOW WITH A CRAFTSMAN 42" NOW TAKES ME ALL OF 45 MIN.

I hear that! 45 mins with a 60", 2.5 with a 44" Kubota T1770, and finally, what was once 5 hours+ with a 28", granny handlebarred Snapper Rear Engine Rider (came with the house)! Evere see that Corvette commercial where the guy is oggling and drooling over his neighbors new 'Vette as he rides right thorugh his wifes flower bed? Thats the Sanpper I had!

[number two]

What about that rear finish mower? I priced a Woods 72" rear finish mower in Alpena,MI two weeks ago at $1950. And you could mow in comfort in your cab. I wouldn't worry about putting too many hours on your tractor. Besides,summer isn't long enough in the UP anyhow.

[teeravis1]

Originally Posted by number two

What about that rear finish mower? I priced a Woods 72" rear finish mower in Alpena,MI two weeks ago at $1950. And you could mow in comfort in your cab. I wouldn't worry about putting too many hours on your tractor. Besides,summer isn't long enough in the UP anyhow.

I haven't really entertained the thought of the rear finish mower. How do they compare on the cutting to the belly mower? Is there any significant pros or cons to the rear mower? Your right about summer, half of the year up here is winter.

Thanks for all the input so far everyone.