<font color="green"> We have bought 3 acres of land . . . I also have 2 acres that I live on now that need to be cut and maintaned . . . Mid mount mower for sure, loader for sure and a blade? Snow blower? Box blade? And I do have a budget, 16k or so.
</font>
I would suggest that a SUB-CUT might be a good way to go. They are the smallest of the compact tractors, but should be plenty big enough for that size property and will also fit into your budget.
You have a 1200' long driveway, to me that screams for a front mount snow blower IF YOU ARE IN A SNOW BELT AREA, but those are expensive, could easily run $3500. A typical rear mount blower will run $1500 to $2000 depending on brand. All of the brands of Sub-CUTS have front mount blower options.
In the Sub-CUT class of tractors you can choose from the following (in alphabetical order, based on the dealers you list in your area)
- Deere 2210
- Kubota BX series tractors
- NH TZ series tractors
Any of the above will deal with up to 5 acres, but are better suited to either 2 or 3. I presume you are ultimately going to sell the 2 acre propery you have now . . . and be left with just 3 total in the future. That presumption my not be accurate, but if it is, that is why I suggest a SUB-CUT.
If you want to scale up to a small frame CUT, then you have some more options:
- KIOTI: The CK20 is a nice unit in a small package, it has lots of features and a great front end loader and plenty of capacity, the MMM is reported to be marginal, but last I read it is being redesigned.
- NEW HOLLAND: You probably won't find a New Holland small frame CUT that will fit your budget if you add on the implements, I think they are the nicest small frames on the market now, and pack up to 26hp into a tractor that is the same size as the CK20. But like I said, the price is not going to fit you.
- KUBOTA: A Kubota B7510 is a great small frame tractor for mowing, light weight so it doesn't impact the yard much, but still very capable. Depending on the dealer, reports place it at up to $800 less expensive than the Kioti CK20 (but the CK20 has some capacity advantages if that becomes an overriding issue). The Kubota B7610 is the next step up in size over the B7510, reports put that at slighly more ($200 to $500) than the CK20, but the B7610 has greater HP at the engine and PTO to power larger implements if you think that is where your needs lie.
JOHN DEERE: JD has several models including the 4110 and 4115, typically priced higher than the corresponding Kubotas, usually in-line with or slightly lower than the corresponding New Hollands.
Bear in mind pricing is VERY REGIONAL.
If you are basically going to work for a year or two on the 3 acres and then move there, a SUB-CUT is still my first choice for a long term tractor. Bear in mind you can easily go up to a Small Frame CUT, but my neighbor has 2.5 acres and maintains it with a $1500 Sears Craftsman lawn tractor and occasionally (about once evey other year) will rent a piece of equipment. From the economical standpoint, he is saving a heck of a lot more money than I am with my machines. I recommend the SUB-CUT largely because of LONG TERM use. On a small property it will not be too big to fit under the ornamental trees your wife plants, it will turn tighter than any small frame CUT and make your mowing tasks go faster (realize that a Sub-CUT and a small frame CUT both use about the same size mower decks). A Sub-CUT won't tear up the lawn. Most sub-CUTs have as much or MORE horse power than the lower powered small frame CUTs so they are more capable with snow blowers! Now the sub-CUTs will be slower/less able with a box blade than a CUT, but I doubt you will end up box blading every week. Most people box blade their driveway about 2 or 3 times a year, but they mow their lawn about 35 times a year and blow their snow 12 to 36 times a season (and if you are in a snowbelt, then a front mounted blower is the way to go and the sub-CUTS have excellent front blowers and plenty of power too).
JMHO. I tend to get heat from people, but I think many buy tractors that are larger than they need, and then end up buying a lawn tractor too.
