Affordable GARDEN tractor

[Mollydot]

As a child of the 69s I am familiar with garden tractors that were small, could pull a plow, and would bury the axle spinning before the transmission broke. I have a couple hundred yards of gravel driveway and trashed my poulan LT pulling a light blade on wheels. Is there a real compact tractor that will mow, pull a blade and not cost 10 or 20 k in existence?

 

[lostcause]

when you say "pulling a plow" do you mean pulling an angled grader blade? In today's world, i think anything targeted as an inexpensive "garden tractor" is really only meant for a mower deck and pulling a cart full of potting soil and flowers. i have an "old school" john deere 318 in need of a lot of repairs in the shed. easily capable of running a lot of attachments - mower, snowblower, hydraulic front blade for snow and even dirt. rear tiller - used to have one with a rear 3PH and shaft drive tiller. capability of running most anything that you could find in a scaled down size. it was heavy and had a steel frame that is about 1/4" thick. but... if you scale that 40+ year old garden tractor to today's dollar, i'm pretty sure that would be in excess of 10k. There's still lots of that old tired iron around. some cared for like new, some restored, and some well loved. price points across the board.

 

[leonz]

Helo Mollydot,

Look at the BCS 2 wheel tractors for what you want as they can do everything.
I miss the lawn tractors we had with single stage snow throwers, the crap they
sell today cannot hold a candle to them.

If you have your heart set on an old reliable lawn mower with a horizontal crank engine
check with the folks at Wengers in myerstown, PA.

 

[JeepHead]

Find yourself a good used John Deere 318. I had one that I ran a hydraulic 3pnt hitch on with a 4' box blade and it worked well. I have seen a few posted for sale within the last week around me for cheap. I have owned a few 3 series JD garden tractors and they were nice. I would like to pickup another one some day.

 

[2manyrocks]

To my knowledge, no one still makes a heavy duty garden tractor like the old International Cub Cadets and their competitors from the 1960s through mid 1980s.

If you want new under $10k, one of the chinese mini skid steers might be an option for driveway work, but not mowing. BCS or Grillo might be an option if you would be okay with a 2 wheel tractor.

Cheapest option would be a used wheel horse garden tractor if you can put a blade on it. I mention this brand because they are more easily repowered due to their belt drive system.

From there, it is all used stuff below $10k like a used Kubota bx.

 

[Jstpssng]

If all that you need is occasional use and don't want to break the bank; you might do better with a conventional rider or an ATV, and one of these.

https://www.drpower.com/power-equipment/atv-attachments/power-graders

 

[dstig1]

Several years back I had to get a John Deere X738 as I needed the 4wd to manage my hilly place. With a mower deck and bagger attachment that was $14k, and again this was several years ago. It can handle everything you need though I only use it for mowing really. I would have gone much lighter/cheaper if it were not for the need for 4wd. So to answer your question: no. You won't find anything heavy duty enough below 10k, new. I'd seriously consider looking for a used tractor, maybe a Kubota BX or 1000 series Deere or similar. I guarantee it will still cost a lot more than you expect but you have a job to do and need the tools that will do it.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Too bad General Electric doesn't still make the E20 Elec Trak lawn and garden tractor.

 

[Skypuppy]

After the FOURTH "garden tractor" in total lasted less than 10 years, I decided that enough was enough of that money pit. I decided to get a real tractor, so I did. Wound up with a BX2660, mostly for cutting the grass! There were other tasks that the little tractor was needed for as it turned out. Got my new BX2660 in 2009 for less than the total expenditures of the (trash) "garden tractors," including the cost of the 60" mowing deck. Getting the four foot bucket (front end loader) but me at just over the combined costs of those 4 TOYS. And I am SO glad I got it. It has more than paid for itself in the savings compared to rentals and/or hiring the work out to others. BX2660, compete, was a tad over $13k, while 4 "garden tractors" with repairs, parts, and service was over $12k. I made out in the long run.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

After the FOURTH "garden tractor" in total lasted less than 10 years, I decided that enough was enough of that money pit. I decided to get a real tractor, so I did. Wound up with a BX2660, mostly for cutting the grass! There were other tasks that the little tractor was needed for as it turned out. Got my new BX2660 in 2009 for less than the total expenditures of the (trash) "garden tractors," including the cost of the 60" mowing deck. Getting the four foot bucket (front end loader) but me at just over the combined costs of those 4 TOYS. And I am SO glad I got it. It has more than paid for itself in the savings compared to rentals and/or hiring the work out to others. BX2660, compete, was a tad over $13k, while 4 "garden tractors" with repairs, parts, and service was over $12k. I made out in the long run.

Buying the right thing the first time is generally a money-saving event. I would have been better served just biting the bullet the first time and not dealing with the stress of a "bargain" that cost me a lot in repairs and aggravation over the years I had it.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have a International Cub Cadet 1650 with bar tread rear tires, rear wheel weights, and hydro rear lift to control a rear blade. It will move the top layer of gravel around on the driveway, but a heavier 4x4 wheel drive tractor like a BX or L series will do more work with less strain. I'm all for fond memories, but...

 

[deezler]

The way that I buy affordable garden tractors is to buy used John Deere machines.

Got a GT275 for $500. It was a little rough but fixed up nice. The 44" piranha deck was too narrow for my acreage, so I saved up a little and found a GX335 with 54" deck and bagger setup for $1800. Probably going to sell it soon because I was gifted a Cub Cadet ZT2 50" zero turn that makes mowing even more enjoyable and efficient.

 

[Skypuppy]

When you trust the "garden tractor" companies, with brands that have good history and well-known, THAT's where we all screw up for not doing enough background checks on their expensive products. However, this was before the Internet was even born.. <sigh>

 

[Skypuppy]

Trouble with a "zero turn" is that mowing the grass is ALL it can do!

 

[dstig1]

Buying the right thing the first time is generally a money-saving event. I would have been better served just biting the bullet the first time and not dealing with the stress of a "bargain" that cost me a lot in repairs and aggravation over the years I had it.

Well sure, but that assumes you know what the right thing is at the beginning. A lot of what is being described here is the learning curve to understand what you actually need vs what you got the first, second, etc time.

 

[dj1701]

If you can find a used one of these in good shape they will outlast the new so called garden tractors.

 

[bigtiller]

Nice, a 318 was my first rider, but I always wished for a 430 diesel but never got one.

 

[Dunno]

I have Simplicity PowerMax tractors. 20hp, 1400lbs, very nice styling, a small large tractor. Built as well as you could build a tractor. If you can find a nice original one, $4-6K, it’ll outlast you. The later 20hp Sunstar models have power steering. Still really well built tractors. All the implements you can want. You won’t get a warranty, so if you can’t maintain it, it won’t be the tractor for you.

 

[BackRoad]

Huge number of good running small frame Ford 8n, 9n, 2n and Massey Ferguson TO 30 or 35s still to be found for under $2000.

They'll be running long after we're gone and can plow, work your drive and pull a finish mower.

If taken care of, they are bullet proof, easy to operate and cheap to maintain.

 

[IndyIan]

A used sub compact 2wd kubota/ford/diesel tractor without a loader should be available well under $10k.
Even 4wd ones too I guess if you've got the hills to need it. Some had mid mount mowers and all would run a nice size 3pt finish mower? I see a new kioti C52210 is $12k too. That could be towed behind any car with a simple 3k single axle trailer.