Bob_Skurka
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2003
- Messages
- 7,615
<font color="red"> If the tractor is too big for the property, is the issue of possible damage to the lawn or equipment, or is the issue...The dumbass paid wayyyy too much for what he needed? I do appreciate any and all advice regarding this as I've never even considered that I was buying too large.
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I suppose I will remain the lone voice that you are buying too big. But here goes my logic.
Too large issues:
* Can't fit into some places! - This is not an issue if your land is treeless, fenceless, and devoid of lots of landscaping. Will become an issue if you use the tractor to plant things!
* Heavier - Don't think of pulling it out of the garage after a rain (maybe for several days).
* Too tall to fit under the small trees, have to fold the ROPS to get into the garage - no explaination needed.
* rutting the lawn (even in dry weather on dry soil) - on a small property like 3 acres, you will be running the tractor over the same areas and compacting the soil, you'll find that you will eventually rut the yard if you keep going over the same areas (like through a gate) because you can't take other paths. With larger property this is a non issue.
* sure it costs more, but if you want to save money you could find a bargain brand machine instead, I am all for you spending $22K, but I really think you will find you end up buying another small tractor or push mower or rider in the future because the larger machine is too cumbersome on a small property. I'm all for you spending your money but I don't see that you need to throw it away.
Just my experiences here, but I have a hilly 10 acres with about 25% woods, 35% farm field, and 40% of the property has trees spaced 15' to 50' apart with some rare open areas. I use a B2910 and a TC24 and find the B2910 won't fit into places the TC24 will fit into. There are times I really wish I even had a smaller machine than the TC24. We have put in many landscaping beds over the past decade, and a couple of fences. The TC, small as it is, can't even mow in some of those areas and I have to pull out the Ventrac for those areas. I'll admit in the farm field (which is 3+ acres), the TC24 seems pretty small, but the B2910 doesn't, and that is smaller than either tractor you are considering. In fact, there is really no reason to even have the B2910 since buying the smaller, but still very capable TC24, and I have over 3 time the amount of property you have. Now the B2910 does come up to the industrial park for snow removal duties every winter so it is in no fear of going unused. But I think you will find that on 3 acres you will be using far too much machine and will eventually end up push mowing or getting a small rider for around your house, fences, walls, and landscaping. You said your main jobs included MOWING the lawn, honestly I feel you are really going to regret a large tractor on a small piece of property. Just my 2 bits. Others obviously disagree.
Why don't you RENT a tractor for a few days, drive it around the property, try to mow up against your wife's prize roses, imagine planting more trees, flowers, etc because that is what most new homeowners do, and the see if you will end up with a cumbersome beast that is too large to efficiently use.
EDIT :: I went to the New Holland Product Counselor and filled in criteria based on what I understand your property to be. Mowing 3 to 10 acres, material moving, gardeing at <2 acres, snow removal at <1/4 mile. The LARGEST tractor they recommend is very similar to the JD 4115. The recommend 3 of the very small Sub-CUT TZ series machines as well as the smallest 2 versions of the TC class machines, the TC23 and the TC26.
New Holland product councelor
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I suppose I will remain the lone voice that you are buying too big. But here goes my logic.
Too large issues:
* Can't fit into some places! - This is not an issue if your land is treeless, fenceless, and devoid of lots of landscaping. Will become an issue if you use the tractor to plant things!
* Heavier - Don't think of pulling it out of the garage after a rain (maybe for several days).
* Too tall to fit under the small trees, have to fold the ROPS to get into the garage - no explaination needed.
* rutting the lawn (even in dry weather on dry soil) - on a small property like 3 acres, you will be running the tractor over the same areas and compacting the soil, you'll find that you will eventually rut the yard if you keep going over the same areas (like through a gate) because you can't take other paths. With larger property this is a non issue.
* sure it costs more, but if you want to save money you could find a bargain brand machine instead, I am all for you spending $22K, but I really think you will find you end up buying another small tractor or push mower or rider in the future because the larger machine is too cumbersome on a small property. I'm all for you spending your money but I don't see that you need to throw it away.
Just my experiences here, but I have a hilly 10 acres with about 25% woods, 35% farm field, and 40% of the property has trees spaced 15' to 50' apart with some rare open areas. I use a B2910 and a TC24 and find the B2910 won't fit into places the TC24 will fit into. There are times I really wish I even had a smaller machine than the TC24. We have put in many landscaping beds over the past decade, and a couple of fences. The TC, small as it is, can't even mow in some of those areas and I have to pull out the Ventrac for those areas. I'll admit in the farm field (which is 3+ acres), the TC24 seems pretty small, but the B2910 doesn't, and that is smaller than either tractor you are considering. In fact, there is really no reason to even have the B2910 since buying the smaller, but still very capable TC24, and I have over 3 time the amount of property you have. Now the B2910 does come up to the industrial park for snow removal duties every winter so it is in no fear of going unused. But I think you will find that on 3 acres you will be using far too much machine and will eventually end up push mowing or getting a small rider for around your house, fences, walls, and landscaping. You said your main jobs included MOWING the lawn, honestly I feel you are really going to regret a large tractor on a small piece of property. Just my 2 bits. Others obviously disagree.
Why don't you RENT a tractor for a few days, drive it around the property, try to mow up against your wife's prize roses, imagine planting more trees, flowers, etc because that is what most new homeowners do, and the see if you will end up with a cumbersome beast that is too large to efficiently use.
EDIT :: I went to the New Holland Product Counselor and filled in criteria based on what I understand your property to be. Mowing 3 to 10 acres, material moving, gardeing at <2 acres, snow removal at <1/4 mile. The LARGEST tractor they recommend is very similar to the JD 4115. The recommend 3 of the very small Sub-CUT TZ series machines as well as the smallest 2 versions of the TC class machines, the TC23 and the TC26.
New Holland product councelor
