Buying Advice Buying the right tractor for 1.5 acres

[oldpilgrim]

Point taken on the longevity part. I will take another look at mahindra in the forums they were in my list to start but moved away from them because the dealer is 40 miles from me, but maybe that isn't all too bad? Also I assumed (perhaps mistakenly) that they were grey market. Do you know if that is the case?

To be honest I think they are a very nice looking machine and so far everything I've read from people who own them is positive. I will take a look at the links you sent, thanks!

definitely NOT gray market. Mahindra is a HUGE company. They make cars, trucks, planes and a bunch of other stuff. They make some of their tractors in their own plants but also have other companies make some to their specs, just like Deere, Ford, Massey and others also do.

I'm not saying a Kubota wouldn't serve you well, it would, but you need to look at all options, and perhaps get as good a machine for a little less money.

For an area the size of your lot, I really feel that you could 'oversize' yourself very easily.

Compare like I did and you'll see the Mahindra, point for point, is a tougher tractor, and a less expensive alternative to the top 2 sellers. I did just that and was duly impressed.

 

[murphy1244]

Dang it. All I need to do is buy a backhoe for the Kioti so I can get a ripper tooth for it.

Better get with it!

 

[Matt95684]

definitely NOT gray market. Mahindra is a HUGE company. They make cars, trucks, planes and a bunch of other stuff. They make some of their tractors in their own plants but also have other companies make some to their specs, just like Deere, Ford, Massey and others also do.

I'm not saying a Kubota wouldn't serve you well, it would, but you need to look at all options, and perhaps get as good a machine for a little less money.

For an area the size of your lot, I really feel that you could 'oversize' yourself very easily.

Compare like I did and you'll see the Mahindra, point for point, is a tougher tractor, and a less expensive alternative to the top 2 sellers. I did just that and was duly impressed.

I will take a look and see what they have to offer good tractor at better price always sounds good! If I don't have a trailer do you think 40 miles is too far from dealership in case I end up having problems or just for routine maintenance?

 

[oldpilgrim]

I will take a look and see what they have to offer good tractor at better price always sounds good! If I don't have a trailer do you think 40 miles is too far from dealership in case I end up having problems or just for routine maintenance?

that depends on the dealer. Some will transport cheap, some won't. You;ll need to ask them what their policy is.

 

[jeff9366]

If I don't have a trailer do you think 40 miles is too far from dealership in case I end up having problems or just for routine maintenance?

A dealer has to charge $1.50 per mile to transport a tractor on a HD trailer, pulled by an HD truck, driven by a driver/mechanic with commercial insurance. So---- 40 X 4 X $1.50 = $240 roundtrip transportation cost. ( five hours for the driver/mechanic, including listening to the owner's woes, ramps and 2 X tractor tie downs.)

Transport costs are not covered under tractor warranties.

Dealer proximity is important.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

How much snow do you move/grass do you mow? Also what size is your fel and mmm? I was thinking bx would be nice also for size of property but after reading on forum everyone saying that they ended up trading their tractor for something bigger I was thinking about the used b2620 from what I gather 400 hours on a kubota diesel is just getting it broken in. The dealership is asking nearly $15k for the used b2620 and I could probably swing that if I had to, but where I get stuck is do I need that much tractor when I could probably get something smaller for cheaper and be just as happy with it. Bottom line I guess us that $12k is the price point I'm most comfortable with...I just keep going back and forth in my mind if I'm willing to spend 12 why not a little more for a bigger machine that I KNOW will tackle any job I can throw at it in the future? Sorry for the long response just don't want to get something and then regret it.

Snow depends on the winter we're having, I'm in Massachusetts. I have a 200 foot paved driveway. I've done 18" without much trouble and I have turf tires without chains. You just have to take your time with heavier wet snow. It's not as fast as our bigger Ford 3930, but it's a heck of a lot more maneuverable. I'm currently mowing a little better than 3 acres of lawn with a 48" MMM and remember I have a BX1500. They no longer make it, anything new will be more hp and a bit bigger in size. This little bugger never ceases to amaze me. I also have a little 42" Land Pride rotary mower for tall thick stuff.

On a side note, my neighbor has a John Deere 790 on just under 2 acres. He wishes he went smaller. It's too much machine for his property.

 

[Matt95684]

Snow depends on the winter we're having, I'm in Massachusetts. I have a 200 foot paved driveway. I've done 18" without much trouble and I have turf tires without chains. You just have to take your time with heavier wet snow. It's not as fast as our bigger Ford 3930, but it's a heck of a lot more maneuverable. I'm currently mowing a little better than 3 acres of lawn with a 48" MMM and remember I have a BX1500. They no longer make it, anything new will be more hp and a bit bigger in size. This little bugger never ceases to amaze me. I also have a little 42" Land Pride rotary mower for tall thick stuff.

On a side note, my neighbor has a John Deere 790 on just under 2 acres. He wishes he went smaller. It's too much machine for his property.

How long does the 42 inch deck take to mow the 3 acres? Knowing what you know now would you keep the 42 for the maneuverability or something bigger for speed I realize mowing around things makes a difference just curious to get someone's opinion so I can figure out what sized deck might be right. Do you think the 60" is probably too big?

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

A rule of thumb I was given never have your mower any wider than tractor if tractor will go through so will mower. keeps from breaking things mowing 3 acres depends on what you mowing if open pasture a bigger cut is faster only makes sense if you have a lot of obstacles to mow around I suggest a zero turn.

 

[Threepoint]

Matt, lots of good things for you to consider in this thread. For your needs, it sounds like a 22 to 26 hp SCUT with 4wd, HST and FEL would do everything you need, and more. Can't go wrong with Kubota and JD, but I, too, urge you to look at the small Mahindras. Lots of tractor for a lot less $$. I'd say add Kioti as well, but no dealers anywhere near you right now.

Before you go with a mid-mount mower, be sure to carefully research the pros and cons. In the right situation it is great, but it will reduce ground clearance a lot when you're trying to use the FEL, or grading with a box blade or rear blade, if you plan to do any of that during the summer months. You may find that taking it off and putting it on gets old fast. Conversely, if you have many trees, bushes and decorative planting beds to mow around, the FEL can get in the way and require a lot more stopping, backing up and turning. My wife enjoys mowing, and for the first several years after we got it, she used our Kubota B2150 with a MMM to mow about 3 acres of hilly lawn with lots of trees and plantings. She hated mowing with the FEL on, and inevitably as soon as I dropped the loader I'd need it for something. We ended up getting a Kubota GF1800 as a dedicated mower (we wanted 4wd diesel). These days the price of decent residential zero-turn mowers has come down to the point that I'd recommend going that direction, or with a gas lawn tractor, unless your lawn is so hilly you need 4wd. Have fun looking at tractors!

 

[oldpilgrim]

As was said above, taking a mmm on/off on certain brands can be a BIG pain. The Mahindra has a drive on mower which makes it easier, but still not something you're going to want to do on a weekly basis, it will get old fast.

Also as mentioned, mowing with the FEL on leaves a lot to be desired as well as 'tractoring' with the mmm on it can be problematic.

I feel that if you want a tractor, get a tractor. If you want a lawn mower, get a lawn mower. I think your lot size (and your wallet, as well as your sanity and that of your wife) would be better served with a small tractor AND a riding lawn mower.

Saving the cost of the mmm would allow you to get a mower that would be more efficient as a mower and cheaper to run as well.