Hi Everyone- First sorry this is such a long post; I hope someone has time to read through it? have been reading the forum a lot looking at various posts on compact tractors. Everyone seems really willing to share their knowledge. I have done most of my research on the 2000 and 3000 series John Deere tractors and had pretty much made up my mind that if I bought one tomorrow I would get a 3320. I came up with this looking on the internet, talking to guys at work, and the sales guy at the state fair.
Here's the trouble though...I don't know the first thing about tractors, I think it may be overkill, and I was hoping someone could tell me if I am going about this all wrong.
I just completed a house on 5.3 acres. The house sits on a very high hill so we have great views, but also some steep grading. I don't know how steep exactly but for example I was using a little 10hp Craftsman today to mow weeds and there was a lot I couldn't do because I was scared it would tip. There were some I couldn't because the mower just wouldn't go up the hill. I would say at least an 1 acre or 2 was disturbed during the building process and has gone to weeds. The rest is brome grass. I have a 36' by 24' concrete and about 200' ft crushes concrete driveway to remove snow from. There is a family watermelon patch (actually pretty big) in the back that I probably would need to disk or something if I keep it up.
Like I was saying 3320. I would get the loader for snow removal and landscaping, and a brush hog for mowing the pasture ground. In the finished yard I would use the old Craftsman until it gave out and then get a Cub Cadet rider or something. Then I would get farm and other attachments as needed. But I got to thinking is the 3320 overkill and would it be too much for someone that has had nothing to ever do with a tractor? I'll probably end up hiring a lot of the landscaping out because I am never happy with my own work most the time. Once the pasture gets back to brome someone would probably come in a bail it for free hay. That could be awhile though and I like being able to keep the weeds knocked down when I want and not have to wait on someone.
I started thinking maybe a X500 or X700 John Deere with a snow blower attachment would be the answer. I know 2 guys with places about my size and both just use these size of machines. The guys with the bigger tractors are all on 20 acres plus. Thinking that there would be a huge price difference between the yard tractors and the compact tractors I could have more money to hire work done. Any money I save would go to putting in the finished yard. Also it would be more of what I am use to and wouldn't have to worry about buying a small rider for the yard latter on. But the 10 minutes I looked on JD website tonight showed me that the X700 series isn't much of a cost savings; a X500 looks a little more appealing. I haven't researched these at all and couldn稚 find anything on the website showing which yard tractors are made for which size of property/needs.
So SORRY FOR THE LONG thread but wanted to put out as much info as I could. To sum it up...what do you guys think for a guy with 5 acres, steep grade, primarily mowing and snow removal. Secondary use would be in the garden, odd jobs, and new yard projects (for what I am spending I would at least have to try and tackle a few myself )
Thanks a lot,
Nick
Here's the trouble though...I don't know the first thing about tractors, I think it may be overkill, and I was hoping someone could tell me if I am going about this all wrong.
I just completed a house on 5.3 acres. The house sits on a very high hill so we have great views, but also some steep grading. I don't know how steep exactly but for example I was using a little 10hp Craftsman today to mow weeds and there was a lot I couldn't do because I was scared it would tip. There were some I couldn't because the mower just wouldn't go up the hill. I would say at least an 1 acre or 2 was disturbed during the building process and has gone to weeds. The rest is brome grass. I have a 36' by 24' concrete and about 200' ft crushes concrete driveway to remove snow from. There is a family watermelon patch (actually pretty big) in the back that I probably would need to disk or something if I keep it up.
Like I was saying 3320. I would get the loader for snow removal and landscaping, and a brush hog for mowing the pasture ground. In the finished yard I would use the old Craftsman until it gave out and then get a Cub Cadet rider or something. Then I would get farm and other attachments as needed. But I got to thinking is the 3320 overkill and would it be too much for someone that has had nothing to ever do with a tractor? I'll probably end up hiring a lot of the landscaping out because I am never happy with my own work most the time. Once the pasture gets back to brome someone would probably come in a bail it for free hay. That could be awhile though and I like being able to keep the weeds knocked down when I want and not have to wait on someone.
I started thinking maybe a X500 or X700 John Deere with a snow blower attachment would be the answer. I know 2 guys with places about my size and both just use these size of machines. The guys with the bigger tractors are all on 20 acres plus. Thinking that there would be a huge price difference between the yard tractors and the compact tractors I could have more money to hire work done. Any money I save would go to putting in the finished yard. Also it would be more of what I am use to and wouldn't have to worry about buying a small rider for the yard latter on. But the 10 minutes I looked on JD website tonight showed me that the X700 series isn't much of a cost savings; a X500 looks a little more appealing. I haven't researched these at all and couldn稚 find anything on the website showing which yard tractors are made for which size of property/needs.
So SORRY FOR THE LONG thread but wanted to put out as much info as I could. To sum it up...what do you guys think for a guy with 5 acres, steep grade, primarily mowing and snow removal. Secondary use would be in the garden, odd jobs, and new yard projects (for what I am spending I would at least have to try and tackle a few myself )
Thanks a lot,
Nick