Buying Advice Tractor I need vs tractor I want.

[desertdog71]

So am I understanding this right?

The majority of folks that have or once had MMM do not like them and do not use them? In hindsight they would by a riding mower instead?

Speed is not that important to me, and with my wife's ear and balance issues a zero turn is out of the picture anyways. She'd be comfortable putting along on a riding mower where all she has to do is glance down a few times while mowing and pretty much just drive it like a car. This quick movements of a zero turn wouldn't work for her.

As for mid deck, I've seen anywhere from $1700-$3500 quoted for them depending on the brand, and you can grab a Cub Cadet at Home Depot for less that any of them. When I say maybe 2 acres of lawn, that may be an overestimation too, I won't know for sure until we get everything built, but it is our desire to have minimal lawn except right around the house and basically the septic field. The rest can be brush hogged a few times a year and remain semi wild. Any saplings that aren't undesirable types will be allowed to grow for the most part. We don't need pasture or anything and we want some trees to grow in. We have some woods already on the land but really its only along the back edge near the water and there's a few scattered trees elsewhere. Most of the land was cleared in 1998, but it hasn't been touched since then.

The need for HP is an interesting point because when I rented a tractor a couple weeks ago, it was a JD 3039R with a 5 foot Razorback Bush Hog. It cut the brush really good but when I would get into groves of saplings it would bog the engine down 500-600 rpm's. I suspect a 25HP would really struggle. These were saplings in the 1 1/2 to 2 inch range and about 10 feet high, so it was significant and there was some volume to them, but this is something I rent a machine for a day and take care of for the most part. I foresee most of my cutter needs just being brush and weeds that pop up. Again this is after the property is established.

I really appreciate all the feedback, it's helping my change my perspective and consider things I wouldn't have thought about otherwise.

 

[4570Man]

I don't find that to be true. Mine is on most of the time, even when using the BH or loader. And it isn't really that difficult to remove or install when necessary.

Your property must be pretty smooth and free of hang ups like a low cut stump. They’re very limiting for off-roading. And if you’re mowing with the loader and backhoe on you’re really getting the worst of both worlds. I’d rather have and do have a dedicated mower anytime. There’s zero hassle of screwing with implements, my tractor isn’t always where I need to mow, and my 72” ZTR will mow circles around a MMM. I’ve done my share of mowing with MMMs and there’s no comparison between the speed and convince of my ZTR.

 

[4570Man]

So am I understanding this right?

The majority of folks that have or once had MMM do not like them and do not use them? In hindsight they would by a riding mower instead?

.

I hate a lawnmower with a steering wheel but if a ZTR is a hard no I’d still take a good dedicated mower over a MMM. Good is the key word. I’d take a mmm over a box store mower. You can buy an older machine like a 455 Deere or equivalent machine pretty cheap and they’ll last a lifetime unlike the cheap mowers with plastic rear ends and soup can decks. I’m not a huge fan of green paint but the 455 is the Cadillac of lawn mowers. Yanmar diesel that sips fuel, hydraulic deck lift, power steering, and a durable rear end. Power steering makes a huge difference in the comfort of use on a riding mower. I don’t know of anything better that can be bought for $3-4K.

 

[Diggin It]

So am I understanding this right?

The majority of folks that have or once had MMM do not like them and do not use them? In hindsight they would by a riding mower instead?

I can only speak for one. I went into it a bit green thinking I'd be able to use it full time and get rid of the old riders. Took me about two mows with it to realize otherwise. They both have their places and aren't really interchangeable. I can take my steeper hills with the SCUT that were eating the transmissions out of the riders, but I don't have the smoother ride or the turning radius of the riders. Also, keep in mind that a SCUT with MMM will run in the 2,000 pound range instead of the 600-750 pound range of a rider which means more ruts if you have softer ground/turf.

 

[Diggin It]

MMM Yay or Nay is becoming like the BH buy/rent debate. There is no right or wrong answer. It's all about individual circumstances and preferences.

 

[4570Man]

MMM Yay or Nay is becoming like the BH buy/rent debate. There is no right or wrong answer. It's all about individual circumstances and preferences.

I’d have to say there’s a huge difference between the 2 topics. 99 percent of the anti backhoe crowd don’t have one. The vast majority of the people that don’t like a mmm have had one or at least used one. And a MMM will get the job done but there’s no denying there’s faster and easier options.

 

[desertdog71]

Backhoes cost $6-10 grand to add on, and seem to me would be used less often than a mower. I'm pretty much in the camp of no backhoe, no auger, no lots of attachments that might get used a couple times and then sit around. Machines need to be used or they go to crap.

 

[chim]

Personal preference is a big factor and we all think everyone else needs to like what we do

Wouldn't be without a loader. First tractor had MMM, next 4 all had RFM's. Tried a couple ZTR's and disliked them. Haven't needed a backhoe for anything except the one day when I buried the pipes off my rain spouts using a subsoiler and shovel. I'm not a backhoe hater, just never needed one.

Here's my favorite mower so far. I can trim whatever this doesn't get with one 5AH battery in the DeWalt string trimmer except for the 4 or 5 times I whack the creek banks each Summer. Don't mind spending under an hour and a half in the A/C away from the bugs, dust and pollen to cut our 3.5 acres.

 

[desertdog71]

I appreciate all the feedback and it's helped me narrow things down. I think a 25HP tractor similar to a B series is probably where I'm going to settle. The mid mower is still up in the air and I'll cross that bridge when the time comes. Most likely will be a cheaper Korean brand though or maybe Massey. That will be a matter of me testing them out, evaluating the dealer and seeing what just feels right. My only experience is the JD 3039R I rented and ran for 7 hours, but at least I have something to go on. It seemed like too much honestly in the long term, it would be nice for the first year though.

 

[dodge man]

I used a cheap box store riding mower on my yard for a couple of years, it fell apart. I then bought a better one, like $3000 worth. I then bought a Kubota BX with a FEL and 60” mid mount. I kept the $3000 mower and thought I would mow most of my yard with it. I did not, the Kubota did as good a job with the mid mount and was more comfortable.

The deck for a mid mount on a tractor is expensive for a reason, they are built heavy, have quality spindles, the mounting system is better, they have hydraulic lift etc. My yard is rough, has some hills and just tears up a cheap rider. If you plan on a nice smooth yard with no hills, a rider will work good and probably last. Like already mentioned, some people love them or hate them.