zero turn to CUT

[jcdogfish]

I am looking for input on going back to a tractor for mowing. Currently using zd326p and cutting 6-7 acres. I also have a small garden where the tractor would come in handy. Do you get a fair trade in price at most dealers and approximately how bad of a beating will I take on the trade in? Just need a tractor and finishing mower. would love to swap for a good unit with similar hrs. I have 200 hrs on the zero turn.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I might as well be the first one to tell you to contact Barlows. They deliver all over and sort of set the standard for good deals.
It's a free painless process to contact them to see what they will do.
Barlow Equipment - Home of the Kubota Tractor Package Builder

 

[JHTFarmer]

I hope you enjoy cutting grass cause your going to be spending a lot more time doing it if your going from a ZD326 to a subcompact with a finish mower

 

[phiferpharm]

+1 on the time to mow with a CUT versus a Zero Turn. I did about 5 acres today in a couple of hours on my Z-turn. It took me way longer and did not look nearly as good when I did it with the tractor and mower. Best thing I did was get the Ferris. Still use the tractor for other stuff, just not mowing.

 

[jcdogfish]

I know it will take twice as long to mow. I have an old football neck injury(disc pinching nerve) and I had a boating accident 3 years ago. AC 3 shoulder seperation. It is difficult to keep both hands on the handles that long. I can drive with one hand but a lot of the area is kinda rough and while the 326 is a grass cutting sob, it also is very rough riding. It will beat you up pretty good. I am leaning to keeping the 326 to cut the 2 acres or so around the house and use the tractor for the rest and the garden. I can't use the walk behind tiller anymore with the shoulder/neck thing. It's a pain to get old.

 

[TripleR]

I know it will take twice as long to mow. I have an old football neck injury(disc pinching nerve) and I had a boating accident 3 years ago. AC 3 shoulder separation. It is difficult to keep both hands on the handles that long. I can drive with one hand but a lot of the area is kinda rough and while the 326 is a grass cutting sob, it also is very rough riding. It will beat you up pretty good. I am leaning to keeping the 326 to cut the 2 acres or so around the house and use the tractor for the rest and the garden. I can't use the walk behind tiller anymore with the shoulder/neck thing. It's a pain to get old.

Similar reasons my wife and I will not buy a ZTR, plus the versatility of a SCUT/CUT fits our needs much better and allows us to do things we would otherwise have to hire someone else to do.

 

[fredhargis]

I'm one of those guys who think you never win on a trade-in, you just get royally screwed (remember, this is juts my opinion). I would try to sell the ZT and buy the tractor.....there might be some exceptions, like a long relationship with a dealer or fall into a spectacular trade arrangement like the guy with a JD over in the general forums. But my experience (which is admit ably short on tractors) is that trading will cost you about 15-20% of the value of whatever your trading.

 

[KU Gator]

I have a John Deere garden tractor I bought from the previous owners of our property. We did not trade it when we bought the Kubota, so I frequently use it to mow our 3 acres just because I don't want it to just sit. So last night I was mowing and a little over half done when making a big turn, both front tires turned oposite directions. Looked like one of those cartoon trucks. So I towed it back to the house with the Kubota, put the mower deck on the Kubota (about a 5 - 10 minute job) and started mowing with it. I couldn't believe how much smoother it was and it was really noticable coming right off the other one.

So while it will cost you a little time to go to a CUT, you are likely to find the ergonomic improvement worth the time. If you already have back issues, you may want to go with a CUT vs the SCUT to get the bigger tires and a little longer wheel base for a better ride.

Addendum: It was nice to be able to go to the J.D. website and get a parts break down of the no longer in production garden tractor. Then call the local J.D. dealer expecting to order the tie rod and be told "we have that in stock".

 

[TroyR57]

Hey JCdogfish, where you at, I have a BX 23 TLB with 54 inch MMM, we could talk about trading. I am in Louisiana. I just got a Kubota B3200 with TLB, so the little BX is just used for mowing now any way. It has 600 hrs, but has just been serviced complety, having a little trouble with one of the safety switches, but could have that changed easy enough. I also just put a new battery in the unit. I have two sets of tires, R4 and Bar turfs, and the Three Point hich has never been out of the box.

I am in Louisiana.

 

[jcdogfish]

I am between Baton Rouge and New Orleans