1 acre lawn tractor/mower/ztr buying advise?

[RalphVa]

Why not let about 1/2 acre go wild and just mow the other 1/2 with a self-propelled walk behind? You can get a good one (JD or Lawnboy) for $400-800.

You don't need to do it all at once. I do my front, side/part back and back yards totalling approx. 1/2 acre total in sections. Take about 1/2 hour each one.

Let wild grass and wildflowers grow on the other. Rent or hire a bush hog to do it periodically to control unwanted brush and weeds. Some weeds even look good.

Ralph

 

[radioman]

I have lived on our 3 acres for about 12 years now, of which I mow only about 1.5 acres. I started out with a $1300 dollar MTD. That lasted about 5 years, and I hated it. The deck fell apart on it. I then bought a cheaper John Deere, that I bought at Lowes, and called a Scots brand. Cheaper still meants about $4k. It was a 25 hp with a 54" deck. It was much better but still strugled on the hills for traction. I ended up with a Kubota BX2350. I have an end loader, rear blade and 60" deck. I have alot more in it than it sounds like you want to spend, but I almost feel I wasted my money on the two previous mowers. If all you want to do is mow and your ground is flat and smooth, you can get by with a cheaper mower. I use mine to move dirt, haul fire wood, clear my 600 foot driveway of snow, and mow, and I have fun doing it. The only thing I'm upset about with my Kubota is that I didn' buy one 10 years ago. I'm not trying to talk you into something you don't need, just look at other uses you might have for it.

you just described me too! - maybe op will realize that no matter where he goes unless he moves into the city with 1/4 acre lot , there would be no need to sell the BX series for 20 years or so. Look at it this way - a 16k machine for 20 years amounts to 800 bucks a year of value. With more versasilty then a cheapo or ztr that lasts 3-5 yrs or so, its worth every penny. The higher quality machines is not like a car where after 5 years it needs to be babied to last a bit longer.

 

[farmeratheart]

Hello All,

I've been "lurking" on this thread almost from the day that the OP started it. It's been fun to listen to the varied opinions. I have my own, but they have been already presented by others. When threads get long like this one, I often wonder what the OP decided to do? Anybody else get curious?

Have a good weekend everybody!

Frank

 

[greenmule]

Well,alls you got to do is go back to page 6[today] and find out.

 

[Johnny Mac]

hang on I haven't done anything yet.... and I got another curve ball today too...

I was offered any mower at cost by our local hardware store.. they don't stock them, but they get a truck every wednesday... unfortunately they only catalog MTD... I do wish there was a better selection tho... but I am 1000% certain when he said cost, he is shooting me straight...

Home Improvement Store for Home Repair and Remodeling: DoItBest - home hardware store, housewares, hand tools

 

[Johnny Mac]

update: those are some cheap tractors.. and at cost I can't hardly expect much service after delivery

 

[greenmule]

Well,told you my three selections of "cheap" lawn tractors. Look at the snapper LT200. Under 3,000. Heard that 22 hp b/s intek wasn't that bad a motor[maybe not the best],but probably better than some thats on a 50 inch cut.

Cheapest is easy,best is pretty easy,inbetween is pretty hard.

 

[Johnny Mac]

Cheapest is easy,best is pretty easy,inbetween is pretty hard.

yes, and I find hanging onto the money is harder than making it somedays

 

[jas67]

Johnny Mac,

If you have hills, you might want to think twice before buying a ZTR. The consumer models have pretty small back wheels, and easily loose traction on hills, especially going across slopes, they want to turn down hill all the time, plus, I find, I end up tearing up the turf when turning around obstacles. The inside rear wheel wants to drag through the turn.

I had purchased a Simplicy Javelin ZTR brand new, and used it for one season before buying my Kubota G1800S, used. The G1800S has four wheel steering; it doesn't turn as tight as the ZTR, but much better than one w/o 4WS. Plus the 16-HP 3-cyl diesel uses about 1/2 the fuel of the V-twin Briggs on the Simplicity.

Good luck with your shopping,
Jay

 

[Johnny Mac]

thanks jas, I have been concerned about my hill... 15pct grade I am pretty sure, maybe a little less..

stopped at the hardware store today and bought gloves, the owner is off on the weekends... I commented about maybe buying a mower and his clerk mentions they sold a Husky to a guy last week, I said I didn't see it on the website and he said the website isn't always up to date with what they can order, but they definately sold a Husky a few days ago.

I'll have to stop in again when the owner is there