Buying Advice Is it worth it!??

[Gary Fowler]

If you decide to go the tractor route, GET the FEL. I thought I would never use one since I grew up on a farm and we never had one. My brother in Law talked me into getting my first tractor with FEL. I would never buy anything without one now. They are just too universally useful for loading, moving and lets not forget, they are also useful for getting your tractor out of situations where traction is no longer available, just lower the bucket and use the hydraulics to push your self out. I have saved myself lots of work with the FEL when I went some place I shouldnt have. I wish I could justify the need for a backhoe but I just cant make the figures work on that at least not in my case. Your case may be different.

 

[kday64]

Well all,

The wife has agreed that I can get the tractor because I really want one.

On a bright note I am 100% done dealing with the leaves this year. The wife and I spent nine hours blowing leaves into piles, raking them on to a tarp and then hualing the tarp out into the woods. All in all it was ten, 10x16', tarp loads.

Just to make people laugh a little bit. The wife and I rented a rented a little Toro leaf vac to help fight the yard this year. I knew that it had a little bag but at the very least I thought it would help me get rid of acorns, as advertised. Well the advertisement LIED! With an empty bag, the dang vac was unable to suck acorns off the drive way. What a waste of money! Conviently enough the wife said, "well we know never to do that again."

The Last Hurdle - The Shed
Our current shed is a 10x8' shed with a single 24" door and a 48" wide double door on the 10' side. The tractor I want won't fit through the doors and won't fit length wise, with a FEL/Snow Thrower.

Now I have two reasonable options. Replace the existing shed or build a covered enclosure under the deck.

~Kevin

 

[Don87]

Well all,

The wife has agreed that I can get the tractor because I really want one.

On a bright note I am 100% done dealing with the leaves this year. The wife and I spent nine hours blowing leaves into piles, raking them on to a tarp and then hualing the tarp out into the woods. All in all it was ten, 10x16', tarp loads.

Just to make people laugh a little bit. The wife and I rented a rented a little Toro leaf vac to help fight the yard this year. I knew that it had a little bag but at the very least I thought it would help me get rid of acorns, as advertised. Well the advertisement LIED! With an empty bag, the dang vac was unable to suck acorns off the drive way. What a waste of money! Conviently enough the wife said, "well we know never to do that again."

The Last Hurdle - The Shed
Our current shed is a 10x8' shed with a single 24" door and a 48" wide double door on the 10' side. The tractor I want won't fit through the doors and won't fit length wise, with a FEL/Snow Thrower.

Now I have two reasonable options. Replace the existing shed or build a covered enclosure under the deck. ~Kevin

To save space, I would be inclined to go under the deck.

 

[cfs]

you can't go wrong with a Mf 2400, 2410,2600,or 2610 . we have a 2610 TLB. i think that for your small yard a BH would be nice but hardly justifiable. As others have said once you have the FEL you will wonder how you ever got by without it. To get rid of those rocks rent a BH or minni ex for a day many rental companies have very resonable rates.

 

[jimmyj]

Hooray! Great news. What exactly did you get now?

 

[scoutcub]

Kevin -

I typically tell folks buying a tractor to get a loader, as they are very handy to have around. (as many other posters have suggested)
However, I think with you're financial situation and .75 property, you could probably get away without one.
I thought about you're needs and looked on Ebay....found a couple of machines that might interest you. Since Cubs are my specialty, I only looked at them.
First one is a 2284, it's a super garden tractor, with a mower, blower and trac-vac.
22 HP Gas engine with very low hours, it's NOT 4wd, but with a machine like this on you're flat property it'll power thru 2-3' snow drifts. I had a similar machine, and did go thru 3' drifts with it. I did have the rear Ag tires and some rear weights as well. It's got 4 days left on auction, and is up to $2,000. The trac-vac would make quick work of the leaves, and the machine might fit in your shed.

There's another used Cub, a 7254 that's a 4X4 CUT, with a 25 HP gas motor, loader, mower deck, and the dealer is selling a blower that fits it separately. Probably could get everything for around $8,000 if you talked to him. That blower is a huge 54" monster that will move some snow, ask me how I know!

Anyways, just a few options to think about, I think if you look around enough you can find a great deal on a used machine to save you some $$$.
Good luck in you're search!

 

[Don87]

Kevin -

I typically tell folks buying a tractor to get a loader, as they are very handy to have around. (as many other posters have suggested)
However, I think with you're financial situation and .75 property, you could probably get away without one.
I thought about you're needs and looked on Ebay....found a couple of machines that might interest you. Since Cubs are my specialty, I only looked at them.
First one is a 2284, it's a super garden tractor, with a mower, blower and trac-vac.
22 HP Gas engine with very low hours, it's NOT 4wd, but with a machine like this on you're flat property it'll power thru 2-3' snow drifts. I had a similar machine, and did go thru 3' drifts with it. I did have the rear Ag tires and some rear weights as well. It's got 4 days left on auction, and is up to $2,000. The trac-vac would make quick work of the leaves, and the machine might fit in your shed.

There's another used Cub, a 7254 that's a 4X4 CUT, with a 25 HP gas motor, loader, mower deck, and the dealer is selling a blower that fits it separately. Probably could get everything for around $8,000 if you talked to him. That blower is a huge 54" monster that will move some snow, ask me how I know!

Anyways, just a few options to think about, I think if you look around enough you can find a great deal on a used machine to save you some $$$.
Good luck in you're search!

Hows the parts availability for original Cub Cadet's? I sold my 2160, partially because of the parts issue, but mainly because of the 'belt' issue.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I would suggest you go try out a BX Kubota or similar tractor. Get the bagger for leaves, but I'd hold off on the snowblower. They are expensive and you may find the loader and a simple back blade are all you need. If you want one later you can add one. Once you have a small tractor you'll never be without one again. Maintain them well and you'll hand them down to your kids. My neighbor has an old kubota with a few thousand hours on it still going strong. It is an investment but few other things you'll buy in life will last as long and do as much. It sounds like your wife will be using it a lot so make sure she gets to demo one and feels comfortable with it. I plowed all this with my BX and never once had a problem. If you have big drifts, just use the loader and pile them up.
And as a bonus, tractors are a lot of fun!

Nice pictures!!! :thumbsup:

 

[scoutcub]

Hows the parts availability for original Cub Cadet's? I sold my 2160, partially because of the parts issue, but mainly because of the 'belt' issue.

Don -

I've never had any problems in 15+ years of owning Cub tractors for getting parts. Just had to order a bunch of front grill parts for my 07 CUT, and was a bit concerned they might be unavailable, (Cub went to CCY in 08) but all parts were available. I owned several 2000 & 3000 series machines, as well as 3 super garden tractors. Really liked the supers...!

 

[kday64]

Hi all,

I have yet to "pull the trigger" on my new tractor yet. Sadly, this weekends shopping agenda has been ruined by my wife having the flu. If the wife feels better tomorrow, we will go walk around the tractor dealership's lot.

As for getting a used SCUT. The wife and I both agree that there is no beating the 0% financing. Please keep in mind that we both bought new car/trucks in 2003 and they are both payed off and have 250K miles between the two. So we are partial to knowing the things we own from craddle to grave.

Right now I am leaning toward a new BX2360 with a 48" MMM. I am guessing the wife will make the decision on wether or not we get the FEL or SnowBlower. I am sure that I would be happy with both!

I have to admit that since I joined this sight just a few weeks ago I have read an insane amount implements and after all that reading I now look at my back yard in a different light.

As for those pesky leaves I am leaning toward a tow behind Cyclone Rake. I am thinking this is a better option than the grass catcher. According to the local Kubota Dealer the Kubota Grass Catcher vaccum is so powerful that it doesnt give the mower any time to chop of the leaves. The Cyclone Rake appears to mulch leaves like something fiece and it colapses into something small.

Right now I thinking I am just going to destroy my small shed and build a much larger shed (12x20') that supports my needs. On Tuesday I am calling the local building inspector to find out if 2x8 framed floor resting on dek-blocks would support the weight of a 1500lb SCUT or if I need to venture towards a cement foundation.

~Kevin