One Tractor To Do It All?

[Dr_Zinj]

I would like some input on whether I am making a smart choice or not. I think one tractor to do my chores would be better than my current set up of mowing with a zero turn and snowplowing with an ATV. Basically, downsize from 2 machines to 1.

I mow 6 acres with a 61" zero turn mower (Ferris IS2100z with suspension and suspension seat).

I plow with an ATV with 54" snowplow (Suzuki King Quad 500).

Both do the job, but would a tractor be better suited?

I would get a compact tractor with a cab (heat and air conditioning) and a 72" belly mower. Being exposed to the elements is not exactly fun. My allergies are bad during mowing season and getting cold and wet during the plowing season is getting old quick.

The mowing area is not smooth, so mowing wide open throttle on the zero turn is not an option. So, the benefit of the zero turn being faster is not really a reality.

My acreage is wide open. No trees to maneuver. I even am considering a large 3 point attachment mower 10 ft wide or so, but I know that requires a larger tractor. I do not have the space to store (indoors) a large utility style, high HP farm tractor. Plus, I do not want such a heavy tractor to tear up the yard.

My driveway is 450 ft of gravel, so maintenance is periodically required. I have no way to perform the maintenance now and either have to borrow or rent equipment to do it. Or pay a contractor. It seems like a front end loader and box blade combination would be great to have.

I think the Kubota LX line of tractors might be a good fit for my needs. I am open to other brands/models. I do not believe in paying the John Deere green premium, so John Deere is not an option.

Has anyone went from multiple, job specific machines to a tractor that can do it all? Any regrets?

Thanks!

My Bobcat CT230 (Kioti DK25) would mow 6 acres with a hog just fine, and it does a decent job of plowing my 1400 foot dirt driveway with the FEL and a backblade. (Also did a nice job moving 13 truck loads of crushed stone base when I upgraded the drive.) The problem is, you want filled tires and/or wheel weights and even chains for plowing, but you don't want all that much weight on your field killing the grass from soil compaction, or massive ruts/stuck tractor if the field is too wet and soft.

 

[JorgePR]

Hello, reading some of the replies, I believe that if you could have it your budget - keep the Ferris and for the tractor perhaps a CK3520 HST w/ the implements you need to replace your quad, also if within budget get the 3rd function to the front for grapple, and other front implements. Hope it helps.

 

[mikester]

Mowing 6 acres? This is all you need

 

[pmsmechanic]

I did what you propose for about 5 years. It was always a pain to switch out the fel and/or rototiller for the rfm. Mowing time was usually on a Saturday after doing numerous other chores with the tractor. I got tired of it so I bought a used F935. Mowing time on approx 3 acres went from 2 hours to about 1.25. If we mow with both machines we are done in about 3/4 of an hour if all goes good. If I was to sell one of my mowers the first one to go would be the rfm.

The ride was rough on the F935 with the original 8'5" wide tires. I installed duals for a while and that really helped but I eventually widened a set of rims and installed 12" wide tires. Big improvement in the ride.

And now I can just go out one evening and mow my lawn.....

 

[generic farmer]

You might be surprised to find out that the orange premium you will pay is as big or bigger than the green one. Its been about 20 years since I needed a new compact tractor (something to be said for the dependability of the green ones), but back then a John Deere, with an American-made engine, was a little less than a comparable Kubota.

I think John Deere is offshoring all of the engines on their compacts now though. My 20 year old JD will likely last longer that I will, without any serious trouble. If I had to buy today, I’d take a good look at TYM or Kioti. Those might actually save you some money for comparable performance. I’m glad I bought mine back when the getting was good before the Tier IV days.

I found this true recently before purchasing. 2038r out the door with loader was 30, lx 3520 was 30. Deere gave me more for my trade in......it was hard to turn down.

 

[marinohh5]

Its been about 20 years since I needed a new compact tractor (something to be said for the dependability of the green ones), but back then a John Deere, with an American-made engine, was a little less than a comparable Kubota.

Speed Test​

 

[MossRoad]

I would like some input on whether I am making a smart choice or not. I think one tractor to do my chores would be better than my current set up of mowing with a zero turn and snowplowing with an ATV. Basically, downsize from 2 machines to 1.

I mow 6 acres with a 61" zero turn mower (Ferris IS2100z with suspension and suspension seat).

I plow with an ATV with 54" snowplow (Suzuki King Quad 500).

Both do the job, but would a tractor be better suited?

I would get a compact tractor with a cab (heat and air conditioning) and a 72" belly mower. Being exposed to the elements is not exactly fun. My allergies are bad during mowing season and getting cold and wet during the plowing season is getting old quick.

The mowing area is not smooth, so mowing wide open throttle on the zero turn is not an option. So, the benefit of the zero turn being faster is not really a reality.

My acreage is wide open. No trees to maneuver. I even am considering a large 3 point attachment mower 10 ft wide or so, but I know that requires a larger tractor. I do not have the space to store (indoors) a large utility style, high HP farm tractor. Plus, I do not want such a heavy tractor to tear up the yard.

My driveway is 450 ft of gravel, so maintenance is periodically required. I have no way to perform the maintenance now and either have to borrow or rent equipment to do it. Or pay a contractor. It seems like a front end loader and box blade combination would be great to have.

I think the Kubota LX line of tractors might be a good fit for my needs. I am open to other brands/models. I do not believe in paying the John Deere green premium, so John Deere is not an option.

Has anyone went from multiple, job specific machines to a tractor that can do it all? Any regrets?

Thanks!

So I went the "one machine to do it all" route about 2001 when I bought our PowerTrac PT425. In a nutshell, it's a little articulated loader where all of the attachments mount to a quick attach on the end of the FEL.
Buckets
Mowers
Brush cutter
Power angle snow blade (curls,too)
Forks.
They make about 40 different attachments.

For our uses, it's perfect.


There are drawbacks with these types of tool carrier type machines when comparing them to an AG style tractor. For example, it will not pull like a tractor, say plowing a field or pulling a stump. But it WILL run circles around an AG style tractor doing FEL work, hauling material from point A to point B. It's great at mucking horse stalls as well. It can get into tighter spaces with a mower. But a farm tractor just has better gearing and traction.

It has a nice cut and all, but it's not a zero turn.
It'll stack snow over 6' high, but it's not a snow blower.
Stuff like that.

A purpose-built machine will almost always be better at a task than a do-it-all machine. But a do-it-all machine means one less machine to maintain.

If I hadn't bought this machine, my next choice back then would have been a New Holland TC21D. It had a great ergonomic feel and I'm sure it would have suited us as well.

So poke around, look at different machine types and try and get some seat time on everything you possibly can. Good luck in your search.

 

[MossRoad]

I want your planter!

Planter envy?

 

[Runner]

So I went the "one machine to do it all" route about 2001 when I bought our PowerTrac PT425. In a nutshell, it's a little articulated loader where all of the attachments mount to a quick attach on the end of the FEL.
Buckets
Mowers
Brush cutter
Power angle snow blade (curls,too)
Forks.
They make about 40 different attachments.

For our uses, it's perfect.


There are drawbacks with these types of tool carrier type machines when comparing them to an AG style tractor. For example, it will not pull like a tractor, say plowing a field or pulling a stump. But it WILL run circles around an AG style tractor doing FEL work, hauling material from point A to point B. It's great at mucking horse stalls as well. It can get into tighter spaces with a mower. But a farm tractor just has better gearing and traction.

It has a nice cut and all, but it's not a zero turn.
It'll stack snow over 6' high, but it's not a snow blower.
Stuff like that.

A purpose-built machine will almost always be better at a task than a do-it-all machine. But a do-it-all machine means one less machine to maintain.

If I hadn't bought this machine, my next choice back then would have been a New Holland TC21D. It had a great ergonomic feel and I'm sure it would have suited us as well.

So poke around, look at different machine types and try and get some seat time on everything you possibly can. Good luck in your search.

View attachment 3331654

Moss, just curious, do you ever hit your head on the little roof mounted to the roll bar when mounting/dismounting? It seems like you would, but maybe it's higher than it looks.

 

[MossRoad]

Moss, just curious, do you ever hit your head on the little roof mounted to the roll bar when mounting/dismounting? It seems like you would, but maybe it's higher than it looks.

Absolutely!