Right tractor? Price check? Hilly sloped property...JD1025r, Kubota 2680

[Rock Crawler]

Re: Right tractor? Price check? Hilly sloped property...JD1025r, Kubota 2680, LS, GT

Some of you guys and like you've never mowed on slightly sloped property.

 

[Upstate315]

Test drove grasshopper front mount with chevron tires and several ferris models with turf tires today on a hill they had at the shop varying from 20-25 degrees (checked with my phone app). It was wet, muddy, and soft. The grasshopper was a bit better on down slopes and side slopes but struggled for traction going uphill. The new Ferris 800 did everything but it was a little light on the front end and the front did lift a tad once going uphill. The 2100 and 3200 had no issues whatsoever no matter what angle I chose. I was impressed. The 3200 is one heck of a machine overall and ridiculously comfortable. I felt the most confident on that to be honest. In dry conditions I am pretty confident they would perform even better. The grasshopper and ferris 2100 and higher models are great options on hills.

All of that said, I'm right back at an expensive option. I got what I think are competitive offers on all of them but I think I am going to see what I can find used as I am not sure I want to spend that much.

 

[dalola]

Test drove grasshopper front mount with chevron tires and several ferris models with turf tires today on a hill they had at the shop varying from 20-25 degrees (checked with my phone app). It was wet, muddy, and soft. The grasshopper was a bit better on down slopes and side slopes but struggled for traction going uphill. The new Ferris 800 did everything but it was a little light on the front end and the front did lift a tad once going uphill. The 2100 and 3200 had no issues whatsoever no matter what angle I chose. I was impressed. The 3200 is one heck of a machine overall and ridiculously comfortable. I felt the most confident on that to be honest. In dry conditions I am pretty confident they would perform even better. The grasshopper and ferris 2100 and higher models are great options on hills.

All of that said, I'm right back at an expensive option. I got what I think are competitive offers on all of them but I think I am going to see what I can find used as I am not sure I want to spend that much.

Assuming you're referring to the ISX800 not the F800X (front mount). The 800X is a total beast, and is priced accordingly. The 3200 is easily a top 3 mid ZTR, and a beast in it's own right. I think the 2100 is the sweet spot for most non-commercial customers. If my Yazoo ever wears out, it's probably what I will get next.

What kind of prices were you quoted?

 

[Upstate315]

Best quote on a 3200 was 11,500 before tax. The diesel grasshopper was just out of my range. Then I got rough retail quotes for the ISX800 and IS2100 that I’m sure you can get lower at 8,044 and 9,944 respectively. The 3200 and 2100 with the highest possible Vanguard EFI and oil guard all 61”, the 800 with the big kawa efi for that model.

During the process so far I’ve also had a quote for a 1025r tlb deere at 19,900 and an LS mt125 tlb at 16,500 if anyone is curious.

 

[dodge man]

Just my opinion here, but I would start out with a 4 wheel drive tractor with a MMM. I'd love to have a ZTR to do part of my mowing but my opinion is they won't work as well on the hills. Some of the high end ones will, but they aren't cheap. Kubota makes a F model that is 4 wheel drive. A ZTR is also limited on what it can do, mow. A tractor can do so much more.

 

[Locoweed]

I'll throw in one more thing for consideration. Bigger tires give a smoother ride. I use a B2620 with loaded industrial tires & a flail mower on 30° slopes with loose rock with no problems. I wouldn't attempt it side to side though. Up & down only.

 

[Upstate315]

Yea the issue is side to side. I have 2 or 3 spots that I need to mow side to side or just not mow. Given my future desires for the field out back I think I will need a bigger tractor eventually anyway. As you all know they are way more versatile than a mower. If I ever finish enough projects where I can start the dang farm started I'm either going to need to hire a farmer to turn the field over or get myself a tractor with probably at least 40hp which is an entirely different machine than just a mower and something I am not ready for financially.

In the mean time I have at least 2 years of projects on the house that need to get funded and so just getting a good mower that will last and can mow the property and its hills up/down and side to side is what I've decided I need. I tried the smaller tractors on hills and I just don't feel safe. Bigger tractor is more than I can afford right now but believe me I want I want

For the sake of mowing, I think I have decided on a used commercial ztr, old 430 (if I can find one) or if I hit the jackpot, a cheap low hour x748 lol. A new ztr or just pay the guy who mowed for me last year to do it one more year is always another option I suppose. Someone mentioned the Kubota F series but man are they expensive way out of my price range.

This would certainly work lol. I love this video and it's the kind of crap I have to mow sometimes. Ok, that might actually be worse than mine but I have a couple slopes not far off that.

 

[Upstate315]

I wish someone would do this exact test and a test on even larger wider side slopes and video it on a F series kubota and deere, 1025r, BX, commercial ztr, and grasshopper. Might as well throw in a powertrac too. You see the body english they use... Can't do that on a sub compact I don't think? Haven't seen anyone do it. Even on the riding tractors without body english and as a larger rider hmmm would it tip without a dual wheel setup?? Also, the ztr they use is not commercial, not very wide, smaller tires than commercial and no roll bar and seatbelt. So comparing a 5k-6k ztr to a 12k 4x4... Put a 12k commercial ztr there and equip it with knobby tera trac tires then compare.

 

[Upstate315]

Then there is this but closest dealer is 1.5hrs from me. Who knows, maybe it's worth it

 

[dodge man]

In my opinion, your overthinking it. A small 4x4 tractor is still my recommendation. If you can sidehill it you can mow up and down. There might not be room to turn around but you can just drive up it and back down it.

Find a used one and bring it to your place to try it out. There should not be a problem with getting a used one a little dirty.