Buying Advice 6 Acres - What to buy? Rider/ZTR/SCUT? Teach me wise ones!

[CrionLord]

Hey Everyone,

Tractor newbie here looking for buying advice.

My wife and I bought a piece of land last year outside the DFW area in Texas, and we're just starting to build a house on it. It was an old horse pasture with 3 generations of 50-year-old overgrown barbed wire fence around it.

The majority of the pasture has been knocked down periodically so it's mostly open field. The property has a gentle slope maybe 1-5% grade in places, with trees around the perimeter and one huge 80-100' pecan in the middle.

The more I've done research, the more I've realized I can't really afford enough tractor to do the "tractor" type work I need done (Ripping out old fence, hauling off trees on the property line), but for those few bigger projects I can borrow a Mahindra 4510 from a family member if I need to.

Which brings me to my decision criteria.

- We plan on having goats, chickens, and maybe a beef calf or two.
- In terms of obstacles, I will be planting a small orchard (20-40 trees) and probable a half a dozen shade trees in the yard around the house.
- I am thinking 90% or more of my seat time will be mowing, but it's that last 10% that has me stumped.
- We keep debating how much area to fence in and mow vs leave pasture and keep goats/cows on, so the mowing area could be a 50/50 split between yard and pasture.
- I have Kubota and John Deere Dealers within 5 miles. Both seem to be pushing me towards a commercial ZTR both are really nice people with what I think would be great customer service.
- Not sure if the marketing hype on ZTR mowing times is real or not, and I'm not crazy about the fact that they're one trick ponies but I know that's most of what I'll be doing.
- I like the idea of being able to pull a utility cart or small trailer behind the garden tractor for driving stuff around. I'm sure I could come up with projects to justify a SCUT with a FEL (Grading, scraping, etc...) but I keep hearing that I'll be disappointed trying to do any meaningful tractor work with a Kubota BX series for example.
- There's the whole Gasser vs Diesel debate I keep reading about but the fuel savings never seem to justify the higher price tag. Are current engine lifespans/reliability really that different or is diesel just a macho thing because it "moar better".
- Budget - I really can't justify spending much over $15k so I know that keeps me out of newer 30HP+ tractors and even limits my SCUT buying options. I'd prefer new, just because I'm mechanically mediocre, and I'd like to learn while something is still in warranty but I could be convinced to go used if I found the right deal on a BX2670 with a drive over MMM and a quick attach FEL.

Thoughts? Questions?

Thanks!

 

[newbury]

If you can move up to the equivalent of a B series in 24HP or more you will probably be able to do 90% of what is needed.
Look at Mahindra, Kioti, Yanmar etc.

And get a non-motorized push electric or gas lawnmower and limit your lawn to what you can mow in 30 minutes.
Let the goats and calf manage the rest.

 

[4570Man]

I can mow twice as fast on my 72” zero turn as my 60” cut b7200. The tractor would gain some time with an equal width deck and power steering, but you’ll loose time with a loader or rear implements. The one trick pony is the best at it’s one trick. A ZTR is by far the best mowing of the 3 tools.

 

[dragoneggs]

Your $15K budget rules out the easy answer of getting both a SCUT and a Z turn, unfortunately. But don't let anyone tell you a SCUT (BX in my case) can't do much 'meaningful' work. That is just flat wrong. It might take a little while longer and you could occasionally run into lift limits with forks or a grapple but with proper implements, you can do just as much damage as the bigger guys.

In my case I didn't want a belly mower for ground clearance reasons and I didn't want the hassle of swapping it out so a ZTR quickly followed after the BX did a bunch of terracing and putting in grass.

Good luck with your hunt for the perfect machine!

 

[Diggin It]

My initial recommendation would be to look at the JD X7XX series or equivalent in other brands. They'll mow, take an FEL or snow plow and run small tillers among other things needs for garden tasks. Borrow the bigger tractor when needed.

A SCUT will mow, but not rapidly. If time mowing is an issue, that isn't your best option.

ZTRs are OK for golf courses and parks.

 

[Rmart30]

I can mow twice as fast on my 72” zero turn as my 60” cut b7200. The tractor would gain some time with an equal width deck and power steering, but you’ll loose time with a loader or rear implements. The one trick pony is the best at it’s one trick. A ZTR is by far the best mowing of the 3 tools.

Truth. Id get this or similar and a zero turn . Late model 56 hp Ford 4 56 hp diesel tractor with loader & 5ft cutr - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[dalola]

First off, deck width inch-for-inch, a commercial ZTR will smoke ANYTHING for finish mowing quality & efficiency, period.

However, in your situation, it sounds like versatility might be king. With a SCUT, you can do everything you describe. Yes, mowing will take longer, but it's the price you pay for the versatility.

In your shoes, I would go SCUT w/ FEL, MMM or RFM, and necessary attachments added over time. Perhaps later, if budget allows, a ZTR could added to the stable.

Good luck!

 

[mcfarmall]

Kubota M5660 SUHD with FEL and a 7' finish mower.

 

[4570Man]

Kubota M5660 SUHD with FEL and a 7' finish mower.

That’s only a tad out of the OPs budget and I’d still beat it with my Grasshopper mowing grass if you’re using a 7’ mower. Not a very helpful post.

 

[Deere Dude]

First off, deck width inch-for-inch, a commercial ZTR will smoke ANYTHING for finish mowing quality & efficiency, period.

However, in your situation, it sounds like versatility might be king. With a SCUT, you can do everything you describe. Yes, mowing will take longer, but it's the price you pay for the versatility.

In your shoes, I would go SCUT w/ FEL, MMM or RFM, and necessary attachments added over time. Perhaps later, if budget allows, a ZTR could added to the stable.

Good luck!

X2
I would get a SCUT hopefully with a FEL and mower. 3PT attachments can be had anytime.
I have a JDX7XX and a small compact and I use the compact for lifting and toting constantly, more than I would have expected.

I have mowers for both tractors and my wife runs one and I run the other. Both are diesel and are reliable and efficient to run. I tossed up the idea to my wife to get rid of here smaller JD X7XX and get a ZTR but she shot me down quickly. She uses that thing for trailer moving, gardening, rototilling, hauling water etc. If I just had a lawn and no other uses for at least a Garden Type tractor I could see a ZTR.