A Fork In The Road

[TBJolly]

I'm getting older. Couple that with a surgery or two, and the old horse ain't what he used to be. I mow my yard with an old Kubota G5200 and fool around on the rest of my land with a 40 horse Mahindra. But lately, it seems like every time I need to mow, I need to fix a little something on the old Kubota. Plus, it's looking more and more like I'm going to have to mow my in-law's place (5 acres), which is five miles down the road.

So I need to work smarter, not harder. And with less aggravation.

I thought about a ZT mower, but I don't want anything that will be worn out in 5-6 years. And for just working around the place, a small FEL could sure come in handy, even if it's not much more than an overgrown wheelbarrow. So, an old man's thoughts have turned to small tractors.

Some criteria:

1. It needs to have a good, mid-mount mowing deck. Grass cutting is Job 1.
2. It needs to have an operator's area that is comfortable and will fit a big man, but also accommodate the wife.
3. It needs to be easy to get on and to get off.
4. It needs to have adequate power to cut short (4" or so field grass). Anything taller, I'll just hook up a brush hog to the red tractor.
5. It needs to be able to use its FEL to the best of the ma輊ine's ability.
6. It needs to be fairly maneuverable.
7. My local dealers are John Deere, Kubota, Mahindra and LS.

So...Suggestions on what machines will fit my needs? How big is too big? What horsepower is too small? And since I'm not a big bells and whistles kind of guy, what machines feature value and longevity? Lastly, what should I budget?

 

[LouNY]

I would start by looking at the smallest one they manufacture with a cab and AC especially way down south.
Nothing like mowing or just in general using a tractor in AC comfort when it's hot and humid.

As far as your points #2 and #3 you will not know till you actually get in the seat.

Also the low hp units under 26 hp to my knowledge at this time do not have to meet Tier IV emissions and its associated garbage.

 

[dodge man]

If you think you will take the mower deck on and off some, I'd look at JD just because they off the auto connect deck. I have a 2025 with auto connect and once you do it a couple of times, it comes off and on in a couple of minutes. If taking the deck off and on isn't important, just about any brand you like is good.

Budget? I just bought a JD 2025R, end loader, 60" deck, and pallet forks for tax and everything, 21k. I traded in a Kubota BX, 60" deck, and end loader for about 7K. Its a smaller tractor but that was about what it was worth. So if you don't want new you could get something decent for 6k to 10k. For a lot of mowing I personally wouldn't want anything bigger than a 2 series JD or a B sized Kubota.

If you start looking at cabs, that will add a lot of cost. I personally don't want a cab.

 

[cathy liebchen]

New Kubota LX would do it

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

An LS mt125 (25 hp) would fit your needs very well, a plus is it's a LOT less than the other colors. At least worth it to go look at them!

 

[airbiscuit]

Don't know about your budget, but I would prefer a small CUT (e.g. John Deere 2 series or Kubota B series) over a SCUT (John Deere 1 series or Kubota BX series). The little tires on the SCUTs just sacrifice too much traction.

 

[Navvet]

I've been running a JD X495 with a 24hp diesel for 16+ years. I have a 54" hydraulic front plow for snow and had a FEL (good for about 700#). Bar tread tires give it plenty of traction year round (although I do wish I had bought the 4 wheel drive). Also have a 3 pt hitch that works great with a 6" landscape rake.

All around great, solid, reliable SCUT.

 

[4570Man]

For mowing more than 5 acres I’d get a good ZTR. My old B7200 pulls a 60” mower through the worst conditions pretty good so I don’t think HP will be a problem with any of the options. I think any of the new tractors will have power steering but that’s a must have feature IMO.

 

[nards444]

Depends on what your looking to spend. A good zero turn that will last will run you 5k, little better unit will run you 7-10k. A tractor scut/cut with mower and loader probably closer to 15-20. For your kind of property I would stay away from the 1 series and BX level tractors as well, those are great but probably more for the few acres smaller jobs. Have to think about a tractor with a cab to, and if your down south that means AC, only scut/cut with cab that has an AC is a Kubota 2650. Otherwise you will have to go larger in other brands to get that

With that said you can spend about half on a good ZTR that will last forever and cut grass twice as quick as any tractor.

 

[Jchonline]

I would go with a ZTR. They are really working smarter.