Tractor Buying Advice for 1 acre Lot

[Stussy1035]

I am looking for some buying advice and if a sub compact tractor will be to large for my needs now and in the future. I tend to buy things that keep them for life. I am wondering if a sub compact tractor will be overkill and I should get something such as a John Deere X700 or X500 series. I currently have an old Craftsman 1994 GT6000 garden tractor and I was looking for a loader / Johnny Bucket to do the work below. I came to the conclusion that I could not find a loader for the tractor and it would still be limited in that it does not have a locking rear differential and not 4 wheel drive.

So I started to look at Sub compact tractors and trying to justify the cost and if it will fit my needs now and in the future. I would like to own more land in the future. It seems like I am always working in the yard and not much is getting done because I am trying to do it with manual labor and I have a lot of projects that I would like to complete. I had some quotes for the landscaping, just to remove the debris from the above ground pool area, and bring in dirt and remove the deck, rock and dirt they quoted $8,500. This does not include any of the actual landscape work which will be approx $15,000 which will total about $23,000 if I were to hire someone to do all of the work.


I have the money to spend, but trying to justify the cost and will I get my use out of the tractor. Is a sub compact tractor to large for a 1 acre lot in the future. I tend to wrench on my own tractors, cars, do oil changes, and maintenance. I am not looking forwarded to another item (tractor) to keep up, repair and maintenance, so not sure how much work or how often the tractors break and require repairs? I would like to have an all electric tractor with electric attachments as it seems simpler and less maintenance but there really do not exist yet and it will probably some time. So it would be new for be working on diesel engines, dealing with hydrostatic trans and fluids, etc.



Any advice would be greatly appreciated with the size of tractor to fit my current lot size and needs below.

Lot Size: 1 acre, would like to own more land in the future but not sure if it will happen.
I live in northern IL so we get some snow. I currently have a newer Ariens snow blower for our 75' driveway.

Current needs and projects:
1. Move and fill in above ground pool that was removed and turn it into a vegetable garden. There is about 30 yards of rock, dirt that needs to be moved and compost / soil that need to be brought in to turn it into a vegetable garden.
2. there is a above ground deck that needs to be removed, and rocks under deck that need to be removed, to make room for a patio.
3. Landscaping around house bushes and rocks need to be removed, ground needs to be regraded and new landscaping installed.
4. I have several trees that need to be removed, large logs of 30" dia that need to be split and wood piles that need to be stacked

Long Term Needs:
1. Mowing most of the lot. the lost is mostly grass with 10+ trees, landscape bushes, etc.
2. Moving tree trimmings and brush to the front for our annual brush pickup.
3. vegetable garden work (size 30' x 30' currently), maybe using a Brinly-Hardy Plow, cultivation disks, etc
4. Laying down mulch around landscape
5. any future projects


thanks again for any advice and help.

 

[atsah]

I would buy the SCUT for what projects you have outlined. Small enough to move around in small areas and more than enough capability for your needs, I think you would be glad you did..

 

[dodge man]

I agree, I'd also look at SCUT, something similar to the Kubota BX line, but everybody make similar model.

 

[LMychajluk]

I would agree. Something like a JD 1025R or Kioti CS2510 can be had w/ a loader and, if you think you need it (will you be digging often?), a small back hoe along with a mid-mount mower (check to see how the MMM attaches w/ the back hoe if you want both - some models may not allow you to have both attached at the same time). The loader bucket can be replaced with a small grapple (48-55") as well, which may come in handy for the brush cleanups, and the PTO will allow you to run a small tiller for your garden and maybe a chipper for your brush. You didn't say where you are, but you could also mount a snow blower to do your driveway in the winter.

Check out Tractor Time with Tim on YouTube for some of the stuff you can do w/ a relatively small machine.

 

[jeff9366]

VIDEOS (2) : Are Sub-Compact Tractors "REAL" Tractors?? - TMT - YouTube

John Deere 1 Series VS. Kubota BX Series - YouTube


If your garden in approximately the same 30' X 30' space each year a Cultivator should suffice for soil prep and weeding until plants are 9" high, the ground clearance of a BX or most other subcompacts.

 

[Navvet]

I bought an X495 24hp Diesel and have never regretted it. These are true Deere workhorses.

They are available with 3 pt hitch, rear PTO and front hydraulics and a 62" mowing deck. This is my go to yard machine.

I use a 6' landscape rake for gravel and dirt leveling as well as a 54" hydraulic front bade for snow, mulch, loose dirt and gravel. There are several nice aftermarket front end loaders (see JOHN DEERE X475 X485 X585 X595 X700 ultimate ) reasonably priced that will do a surprising amount of work. With the PTO and the 3 pt hitch the implements available are amazing.

If I were in your position right now I would seriously look at the x700 series (diesel) mowers. great mowers that will also do a lot of other work.

There are a lot of videos of the X series on youtube moving snow, digging dirt, moving rocks, etc . ..

 

[Mike Madison]

I would suggest renting a big piece of equipment for a couple of days for filling in the pool-might cost $1,000 or more, but worth it. A little tractor is not really suitable for that job. Then I would look for a restored older tractor of 30hp or so (Ford 2000, MF35, Deere 950 etc) that someone else has mechanically rebuilt, put new tires on, painted etc. Try looking at the ads on Yesterday's Tractors. Takes some patience,but there are excellent deals to be had on older tractors, and those from the '60's and later are pretty modern (live PTO etc). For your garden you want a chisel plow/cultivator, a rototiller (reverse rotation recommended) and a tool bar for building beds,marking rows, and weeding. A flail mower will do a neater job of mowing than a bush hog. For moving stuff around a big scoop on the three point works well, and saves you having a loader. Of course there are many right ways to go about this, and some other line-up of stuff might work as well. After forty years of truck farming and dealing with all kinds of tractors and equipment, I would tend to go the way I suggested.

 

[Tractorable]

I think the OP is the perfect candidate for a SCUT. Keep the riding mower to mow the lawn and the snowblower to clear the driveway of snow. A Kubota BX or equivalent with a loader, grapple, and landscape rake with gauge wheels would be perfect for his one acre lot.

Pictures of the above ground pool garden project would help us assess what would be required to do that job.

 

[dodge man]

I filled in where our above ground pool was with a BX. Moved maybe 3 truck loads of dirt around to the back of the house and it didn't take that long. I was more or less just trying to get that flat spot to drain when I was done.

 

[flusher]

1 acre. You can do a lot of work with a 20 hp (engine) SCUT with hydrostatic tranny and a 4-ft wide FEL. My first tractor was a 2005 Kubota B7510HST bought new for $12.6K.

 

[Stussy1035]

thank everyone so far for all of your input and help. I have attached some pictures of the many outdoor projects that I have.

 

[rngrrymd]

VIDEOS (2) : Are Sub-Compact Tractors "REAL" Tractors?? - TMT - YouTube

John Deere 1 Series VS. Kubota BX Series - YouTube


If your garden in approximately the same 30' X 30' space each year a Cultivator should suffice for soil prep and weeding until plants are 9" high, the ground clearance of a BX or most other subcompacts.

John Deere 1 Family vs. Kubota BX Video - YouTube <-- Only fair to post a 1025R series vs BX video from the other viewpoint.

 

[4570Man]

Wow you can latch the loader without getting off the tractor. I can put the pins in my Kubota from the seat. I guess the John Deere doesn’t need hydraulic hoses or support stands. And she also had to lower the gauge wheels in the John Deere. I guess I didn’t expect any different from a place that usually sells opinion as fact and doesn’t do apples to apples comparisons. The manufacturers should really stop with the stupid videos.

 

[rngrrymd]

Wow you can latch the loader without getting off the tractor. I can put the pins in my Kubota from the seat. I guess the John Deere doesn’t need hydraulic hoses or support stands. And she also had to lower the gauge wheels in the John Deere. I guess I didn’t expect any different from a place that usually sells opinion as fact and doesn’t do apples to apples comparisons. The manufacturers should really stop with the stupid videos.

It's a marketing video from Deere. In the other video Neil Messick is marketing his Kubota that he sells. Kubota is not end all tractor. John Deere is not end all tractor. OP asked for help with advice and his main task is mowing. Kubota tends to have better loader specs than Deere but Deere's mowing deck system is the best out there. Only fair to the OP to throw out both models for him to consider. No need to be one-brand biased.

Stussy1035, go to a Kubota dealer and test drive the BX and go to a Deere dealer and test drive the 1025R. Pay special attention to the mowing systems and see what you like most. Also check out Kioti CK2510 (CK has drive over deck , CS models do not) and Massey GC1705, GC1715 as well. All of these tractor's loaders will be fine for your purposes.

 

[sea2summit]

I bought my BX 1860 when I had an acre and a half, sales guy was adamant that I wasn't going to be happy in the long term because after I started using it I'd find more chores I wanted to do...when it went in for the 50 hour service a BX-25D came home I was in a similar situation to you only I had no yard at all so needed to clear about three years of brush growth, put in topsoil, level, build retaining walls, dig post holes in dirt with 6-8" rock (justified the backhoe), then the church had chores that needed to be done, this and that neighbor asked for help. I never regretted it, moved to a larger lot and moved up in size. I never liked it as a primary mower, it was slow, but other than that they are great tools.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

For big one-time jobs, like the pool and deck removal, consider hiring a machine that can do those. Then buy a tractor sized for your ongoing maintenance and projects.

I also dislike maintaining multiple engines (others love having a "stable" of machines--the more the merrier). So I'm always looking for ways to consolidate, and like you, I'm wishing and waiting for an electric tractor--maybe in 5 years or so???

Tractors--even SCUTS--are not great for mowing; they are slow, they are heavy (can compact your ground and 4WD can tear up your grass), and if you have a FEL, you really have to remove it to mow efficiently. So you'll need to keep your riding mower. Or you could buy a new, bigger riding mower and equip it with the Johnny Bucket and Sleeve Hitch. I'm one of the few folks on TBN that happens to have a garden tractor equipped with the Johnny Sleeve Hitch pulling a Brinly box blade. (I do now have a real tractor as well, but I have 15 mountainous acres.) This setup can do a lot more than people *who have never used one* think That would be everything in one machine for you. OTOH, a riding mower for mowing plus a SCUT would give you a dedicated mower plus a much more capable machine for your landscaping and other projects. OTOH it's hard to imagine your projects being that extensive on one fairly suburban acre; once everything is "done" what does the tractor do? (In the country there are ongoing tasks like gravel drives to maintain, wood trails to maintain, and with heavily wooded property, it just never ends.) OTOH, if money is no object and you want a SCUT why not?

Just don't let them talk you into a 45HP CUT.

Sounds like you're a country boy at heart. Maybe get the *property* you really want first, then think about the tractor.

If you have further questions about the Johnny products, I am happy to answer.

 

[Stussy1035]

rngrrymd mentioned that the mowing deck on the john Deere is better than the Kubota and I would be curious why so when I am looking at the tractors I can give a fair comparison. I have already looked at the tractors in person and mostly looking at John Deere and Kubota, the other brands such as LS, Massey Ferguson, Mahindra there really is no dealer near me.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think you are on the right track with looking at a SCUT with FEL. As to getting a mowing deck with it, that really is a personal decision as to if it is worth the cost to do it, especially since you have a mower already. I think I would just get the tractor without the mower. IF (when) the Craftsman wears out, look at replacing it with a good commercial grade zero turn mower. DO NOT get one of the residential grade mowers as found at the big box stores as they will not last more than 4-5 years and the hydro gear motors that propel the residential mowers are not serviceable except to be replaced at $1500-2000 per each axle.
Get a zero turn with 3200 or higher grade of hydrogear drive system with oil filter system when you buy and with proper service (yearly oil changes in the engine and hydro-gear drive it will last 20+ years. I also recommend the Kawasaki commercial engine rather than a Briggs and Stratton or Kohler engine.

 

[Tractor Dell]

I have a Kubota BX23S. My lot is 1 and 1/2 acres. Half yard, and half woods. There are some small hills I work on. I am finding all kinds of uses for my FEL and BH. Not to mention, once your neighbors see you on your tractor, they will find things for you to do too! haha

Seriously, even when I use it as a motorized wheelbarrow to move cement bags, wood/logs, or other things, I keep thinking how much my back and legs love this thing. A SCUT (whatever brand you want) will be good for what you want/need to do. Since your area looks flat and open, you can't go wrong with any choice.

 

[stevem5215]

IMO the mower decks are all different on every model. Some are really great a nice even cut. Some are really great at cutting tall grass. Some are really heavy duty and can take banging into objects without bending them up. I've had and used just about all of the above. The manufactured decks are great for durability but you will see some complain about the quality of the cut. That's a factor for sure. I have a Steiner with a front mounted optional deck. It's a great cut but it blows the grass all over you and the machine regularly. So it's a PIA that way. It's a manufactured deck so the steel is very durable of course but the spindles are known to be weak and if you try cutting heavier brush with it you'd regularly be replacing spindles. It's mean't for finish cuts only like a front lawn is. This is all subjective based on your needs and what you want your grass to look like. At our house my wife cuts the front lawn area of our 4 acres. She is currently using the Simplicity ZT2500 ZTR with a manufactured deck 48" wide. Every year I go to great lengths to adjust the cutting height by measuring the blades at various points and adjusting the deck to be level to the ground. This helps to ensure a nice level cut that looks great in the front yard. Last year it broke the mower deck weld that held the adjuster for deck height on one side. I rewelded it over the winter and readjusted it again. It's been holding up ok with my Harbor Freight 80amp welder job (they work but are pretty low on the heat for welding). See, it all depends on what you want to achieve. And hence his comments about the mower deck on his John Deere vs the Kubota. And just remember, that one deck from a manufacturer (like my Simplicity) can vary from machine to machine. So it's important that you try it out yourself. Most good dealers will offer you a demo to make sure it's what you want from a mower deck cut. Hence why Consumer reports tests theirs on high grass, thick grass, and for evenness of cut. Same idea as your demo would be.

Good luck on the choice.
Steve with a Steiner 420, a Ford 1900 with a 72" rear discharge finish deck, and a Black Craftsman Professional 42" deck and a Simplicity ZT2500 48" manufactured deck. And all cut the grass differently.

rngrrymd mentioned that the mowing deck on the john Deere is better than the Kubota and I would be curious why so when I am looking at the tractors I can give a fair comparison. I have already looked at the tractors in person and mostly looking at John Deere and Kubota, the other brands such as LS, Massey Ferguson, Mahindra there really is no dealer near me.