Advice for 1.25 Acre Lot, .75 grass cutting, 125 foot, 20 foot wide driveway snow

[Rock Crawler]

Kind of had your same layout and needs and been through a craftsmen lawn tractor with belt driven blower, Husqvarna Z254 zero turn, and as simplicity 32in pro snow blower walk behind. First house had an acre, house I am currently closing on has almost 3. New lot will have 4. I will b upgrading to SCUT/CUT and trying to eliminate machinery. What I can tell you craftsmen is junk, but dont look at craftsmen there are a ton of other brands out there that are the same thing just painted different including JD, you have to go up in series to get a true JD, but you probably know that. As for the Belt driven snow blower. I live in upstate NY not uncommon with lake effect to get 5-6-12 in at at time. This set up worked good with light snow and anything up to 4-5in of non heavy snow. Actually got rid of the riding lawn mower and blower for the simplicity and the Husky 254 zero turn. I have 225ft driveway.

Based off what you got and what you plan on doing this is how I would proceed. Get a zero turn mower for an acre the commericial grade stuff is great but youll never get the cost benefit of high priced machines. My 254 was 2500 bucks and works great on probably 2 acres of actual mowable property, takes me about an hour and 20 mins, my guess an acre could be done in around 30-45mins. With 125ft driveway I would go with a nice 30in walk behind, its not like your out the elements on the tractor you are selecting anyways. Total cost new would run you probably 5k.

I will say this nothing beats the speed and efficiency of mowing a lawn with a zero turn.

But being that he lives here in western Pa, he may live on slopes steep enough that a zero turn is a horrible product to consider. He mentions PA as where he lives, some of us in PA need repelling gear to mow the grass.... So he needs to first determine if a zero turn is even an option based on his property and his mud. I have natural springs that surface on my 3.5 acre lawn that even in the dry season my tractor is sinking an inch into mud/water rolling down the hillside. And what really gets me.... is I am at the top of the dang mountain! Where are these water sources coming from?

 

[radioman]

Look into the models. The kubota bx. You won't be disappointed after getting one compared to the gr series. I have 1.5 acres and use line for clearing snow ,mowing, firewood,diggin ,etc

 

[Rock Crawler]

Look into the models. The kubota bx. You won't be disappointed after getting one compared to the gr series. I have 1.5 acres and use line for clearing snow ,mowing, firewood,diggin ,etc

I had a BX25D and hated it, found it useless on my slopes and dumped it as quick as I could with joy in my eye. Hated every day it was here.

 

[ZTMAN]

I have 1.5 acre of ground and about 150 foot drive way, also in PA. Have a ZT for the lawn and snowblowers for the driveway. Use the single stage for under four inches, because it is fast, and a two stage blower for the bigger snows.

If you do not like blowing snow, I do, you can get a used four wheeler with a plow for about the same price as JD wants for one of their hydro plow attachments.

 

[Captain Insano]

I have decided it's a zero turn that will serve me best.

Now...what brand / model? I want something with about a 48" deck and that will last. So far I am looking online at Gravely, Kubota, Toro, and Scag.

Any recommendations on a 48" model that will hold up?

 

[Henro]

I had a BX25D and hated it, found it useless on my slopes and dumped it as quick as I could with joy in my eye. Hated every day it was here.

Gee...I live in Pittsburgh too...and have springs that come up on my property...and have a BX that I use mainly for grass cutting. Ag tires all foam filled for extra stability. Also fairly steep slopes in some places.

Could you share with us why you feel so poorly about your former BX?

I love mine for grass cutting and some chores like pulling my 5'x8' dump trailer. But there are limitations. I use my B2910 for real work.

On slopes with the foam filled tires the BX excels. Hands down better than my larger tractor. Would never even consider taking the larger tractor on the side slopes I take the BX comfortably.

Your feeling is so completely opposite my experience I would love to hear more about your negative experiences with the BX.

Bill

 

[fried1765]

I've got my father's Craftsman cart from the late 70's or early 80's. It's painted Kubota orange now, but it's still in use

I've still got my dad's 1972 Sears steel cart (original paint).
Never use it.
Just put whatever I have in either of my two loader buckets, or on a pallet on my 3pt forks.
I guess I only keep the cart for nostalgic reasons.

 

[nards444]

I have decided it's a zero turn that will serve me best.

Now...what brand / model? I want something with about a 48" deck and that will last. So far I am looking online at Gravely, Kubota, Toro, and Scag.

Any recommendations on a 48" model that will hold up?

Like I said I have the Husqvarna 254 which is a 54in, think it was around 2500, the 48 would be cheaper. If your mowing around an acre probably less after you subtract house and driveway, I think you are waisting money considering anything commercial like. Anything that Lowes, HD, etc sells would last and work great, only thing Im leery of is cub cadet, mainly because of their deck construction. Be sure to look at engines and how the deck is constructed as in how thick of steel and how its reinforced. Your money but spending anything over 2-3 grand for an acre is money lost.

 

[ZTMAN]

Nards, I would respectfully disagree with your box store ZT advice. I used to have a bigger property that required a commercial ZT to mow. I kept it when I downsized to a 1.5 acre property, I would guess about 1 acre worth of grass.

I sat on a box store ZT this weekend. Feels like a toy. You can get a nice commercial Gravely for a reasonable price which will be more comfortable, last longer, and get the job done better than a box store mower.

Also, you have to assess your mechanical ability. If the box store mower goes down, who are you going to take it to????

Buy once, cry once

 

[nards444]

Nards, I would respectfully disagree with your box store ZT advice. I used to have a bigger property that required a commercial ZT to mow. I kept it when I downsized to a 1.5 acre property, I would guess about 1 acre worth of grass.

I sat on a box store ZT this weekend. Feels like a toy. You can get a nice commercial Gravely for a reasonable price which will be more comfortable, last longer, and get the job done better than a box store mower.

Also, you have to assess your mechanical ability. If the box store mower goes down, who are you going to take it to????

Buy once, cry once

Commercial grade mowers are better hands down. My only point is are they worth double to 5 times the cost to mow an acre to maybe two acres, IMO they arent, ive mowed on both. Depending on land lay out on an acre you probably never utilize the speed of that commercial grade tractor.

As far as box store stuff, mine has never broke in three years, and if it did it was covered for three years, even replace the machine if they cant fix it. Next its small engine, any small engine repair shop can fix these things anyways, getting service done should be of no concern.

To each his own, box store equipment is not made for heavy duty or large property usage, but they do have their role. We have summer for 3 months out of the year so I am mowing maybe 12 times, have another drought maybe half that. So over 3 years that mower cost me 70 bucks per mow not including gas, the bottom line commercial grade would cost me 150 per mow, realistically for 150 bucks I can have somebody else mow my lawn and not touch it all together. Frankly I could buy this box store mower 2-3 times over maybe even more compared to commercial grade. Commercial grade again is better, hands down, financially speaking though you will never realize the cost of one on a small plot you just wont, assuming you are comparing buying both new and not buying used or already having it. Being better and cost effective is two different things. Its like a lot of things. Most hunters kill deer at less than 100yds, which a 30.30 can easily accomplish, yes I use a 300mag that cost double to buy and double to shoot, lol all in the eye of the beholder i guess.