Buy decision on Wheelhorse 518xi

[Anonymous Poster]

Been researching a Garden Tractor buy for a little while now and came across you folks. Here's my net, newly-built house with about .75 acre to mow regulary (a little more occaisonally), which could be handled by a lot less machine. But I have a newly paved 850 foot driveway with about 300 feet of it at a nice incline (15 to 20 degrees maybe) that I want to be able to plow snow off of. Want to avoid chains so as not to tear up that investment. Here in Maryland hills north of DC, winter on average means 1 or 2 snows of 12 to 18 inches a year and 5 to 10 lesser ones.

Was leaning towards a Kubota TG-1860G (about $6K including 48" deck, plow and taxes) until I saw the Wheelhorse 518xi (about $7K equally equipped). Can't do the right thing (4WD BX). It's pushing the budget for sure after building, but want to think long term. My thoughts are that the added weight (1000 lbs vs 700), shaft drive, and low range that the Wheelhorse offers would probably do that hill without question. Never have plowed for myself though.

Have owned others (Cub Cadet, Sears Crapsmen), but not this big. Would appreciate any input from any angle on quality, reliability, capability, etc. Thanks in advance for your experience/thoughts. Tim

 

[Charliebrn]

Kubota financing has some decent terms right now, if you really want to do the RIGHT thing! Think BX.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[frank_f15]

tim: what u are looking at would be fine for cutting grass, but it is the 800 ft drive that makes me think u need to go at least to bx or someting equal. we all do what we can and u have make final decision. but 800 ft of drive with inclines and hevy snow requries either a very large tractor or a small one with 4wd. just mho! think about it.

 

[avanti]

I would consider waiting if nessecary, that driveway is going to having you buying bigger shortly after you do it a couple of times i fear anyway. Check into the cost having someone plow the driveway for a bit, then buy what you will need when the budget allows.


tom

 

[HootervilleMN]

Well, lemme tell you about my decision to sell my WheelHorse 520xi and buy a BX2200. I'm in a very similar situation to what you have described.

I had my 520xi for 2 years and loved it compared to the old Snapper 1600 I had been using. It is fast and a decent mower (48"deck), but the BX w/60" deck is faster and cuts better. The 520xi is actually more comfortable than the BX and has better ergonomics. I mow about 3 acres of fairly rough yard and in 2 years really beat the hell out of the 520xi. That's mostly my fault, because the 520xi goes so fast I didn't want to slow to a "safer" pace.

The extra weight of the 520xi over other garden tractors is a 2-edged sword. The 520xi really doesn't have very good traction in snow, especially with a heavy snow blower in front. I had chains and 100 LB total wheel weights and would frequently slide off the side of the driveway (mine is a 600' curvy gravel drive) and that heavy beast is nearly impossible to yank back out of a snow bank if the traction is marginal. Believe me on that - I have a hernia to prove it. Even though snowblowing is only 20-25% of the tractor use for me, it is the most demanding part and really requires the right tool.

I was sold on the BX with 4WD and diff lock. I'm just trying to decide if I'll need chains - I haven't had the "pleasure" of snowblowing with the BX yet.

If you can SOMEHOW swing the extra $$ (like double if you include the snowblower) for a BX, you'll be much happier in the long-run

 

[foz]

I used to own a JD 445 with a blower, worked great on flat drives, but even with chains & weights, it wouldn't go up the steeper drives at some of my rural plowing accounts, the BX with 4WD and no chains last winter worked better on the slope than my 4WD pickup. Weigh the overall costs long term of the BX versus the 518xi and then trading the xi two years from now. If you finance $9,000 through Kubota now for five years, i think the payment would be +/- $175/Month

 

[r0GuE]

I have about the same amount of property and bought the BX. You never get a second chance to do it right the first time.
Good luck in your decision...

Rogue