Buying Advice Buying a garden tractor

[Santa Craig Cringle]

Just sold my Ford 881 after 8 years. It was the perfect tractor for my 20 acre mini farm. Now my family is moving south and unfortunately I’ve had to downsize to 1 acre.

My new place has a sloped yard as it’s on the side of a mountain in Alabama. I’ve convinced my wife that in exchange for moving to a bigger home/smaller yard that I would get a chance to get a fully decked out “garden tractor”. Basically I’m looking for something that will be used primarily for mowing 1 acre but I also want a loader and a mini 3 point hitch for gardening and light construction. For fun I want a backhoe as well.

A friend suggested the Kubota BX series but to be honest it looks like a mower and to be honest a little boring. I want something small that “looks” like a tractor, though as nails, reliable but also easy to work on. Also something newer than a vintage 50s tractor. lol

Probably buying used. Would like to hear your suggestions.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

Also thinking I would like 4wd and power steering.

 

[s219]

I think you have talked yourself out of most normal options because of looks, at least based on usual classifications. The BX is considered a sub-compact, and heavier duty than a garden tractor (which would be something like a Deere X500 or X700 series). Garden tractors can have 3-pt hitches and PTOs, but I've never seen a backhoe on one, or a front loader that was much more than a toy. So really, what you described *is* the Kubota BX or one of its competitors, since they are not much bigger than a garden tractor but give you a capable loader and backhoe. They can still mow yards very well.

If the BX doesn't look legit enough for you, then you'll need to step up to a compact tractor. But now you're getting into machines that are not great for mowing small properties. Certainly not finish mowing on a nice lawn. A lot of people have a riding mower and a compact tractor for that reason.

The first tier of compacts above a BX don't look any more macho than the BX if you ask me. Small chassis, small tires, etc. If you want something that really looks like a macho tractor, you're talking 30HP and up, and definitely too large to be mowing a lawn with. And in my opinion, much too large for 1 acre.

If you ask me, what you described for needs paints a bullseye on a BX. I wouldn't let the looks scare you off. They are really capable little machines. Worst case scenario, let your wife operate it! I am sure she won't care what it looks like and will have a blast!

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

I think you have talked yourself out of most normal options because of looks, at least based on usual classifications. The BX is considered a sub-compact, and heavier duty than a garden tractor (which would be something like a Deere X500 or X700 series). Garden tractors can have 3-pt hitches and PTOs, but I've never seen a backhoe on one, or a front loader that was much more than a toy. So really, what you described *is* the Kubota BX or one of its competitors, since they are not much bigger than a garden tractor but give you a capable loader and backhoe. They can still mow yards very well.

If the BX doesn't look legit enough for you, then you'll need to step up to a compact tractor. But now you're getting into machines that are not great for mowing small properties. Certainly not finish mowing on a nice lawn. A lot of people have a riding mower and a compact tractor for that reason.

The first tier of compacts above a BX don't look any more macho than the BX if you ask me. Small chassis, small tires, etc. If you want something that really looks like a macho tractor, you're talking 30HP and up, and definitely too large to be mowing a lawn with. And in my opinion, much too large for 1 acre.

If you ask me, what you described for needs paints a bullseye on a BX. I wouldn't let the looks scare you off. They are really capable little machines. Worst case scenario, let your wife operate it! I am sure she won't care what it looks like and will have a blast!

Not opposed to a BX. Just wondered what else might be available. Looks is way down on the priority list but if I find two options and all else being equal, I’d go for the one I like. lol

One question about the BX - with tires that size, how well do they operate in slick wet conditions and/or on gentle to medium slopes?

 

[chim]

Definitions vary with your upbringing. Wifey (a farm girl) told her cousin we were getting a new garden tractor back in 2012. It was a Kubota L3200.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

Definitions vary with your upbringing. Wifey (a farm girl) told her cousin we were getting a new garden tractor back in 2012. It was a Kubota L3200.

Mine really is for gardening and landscaping - carrying mulch around, materials, digging, grading, and of course, mowing.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Pretty much every manufacturer makes a subcompact....Massey, JD, TYM, LS, Kioti, Branson.... Some are more pricey than others, some 20 hp, others 25 hp, most can have BHs. Every one has the option of a mid mount mower (MMM). Shop around, sit on them to see which is comfortable, see what comes standard.

 

[slckeys]

I had a bx2370, it would climb and traverse my front hill quite easily while I mowed. Even did cross slope farther down than my current tractor due to the pucker factor.

 

[dusty3030]

Kubota
Tractors - Sub-Compact - BX23S | Kubota

Massey
Massey Ferguson | GC17 Series Sub-Compact Tractor

Deere
125R Tractor | Sub-Compact Tractors | John Deere US

Kioti
CX251 HST | Kioti Tractors

LS
MT1 Series – LS Tractor USA

Mahindra
https://www.mahindrausa.com/--series-tractor-eMax-l

 

[airbiscuit]

Get a Yanmar with the sexy gold wheels!

 

[chim]

Mine really is for gardening and landscaping - carrying mulch around, materials, digging, grading, and of course, mowing.

I wasn't suggesting what to buy, just commenting on perception

Our first "modern" unit was a Kubota B7500 back in 2002. It was enough tractor for the yard and snow removal. It was OK, but did often come up short of HP, weight and lift capacity.

I had looked at the BX series but when sitting on it I felt, as my grandad would say, "like a frog sitting on a mullein leaf".

I have never felt the need for a backhoe. Just not anything there was a use for here. I did rent a stump grinder twice in 30 years. As I've mentioned before, I have access to two Kubota mini hoes at work that I never borrowed.

 

[Diggin It]

Just wondered what else might be available.

One question about the BX - with tires that size, how well do they operate in slick wet conditions and/or on gentle to medium slopes?

Hop on over to Wagner's in Chiilcothe and put eyeballs on an MT125 or the new 225S. Ls tractor sale Chillicothe OH, Where to find ls tractor sales in Chillicothe Ohio, Bainbridge, Laurelville, Londonderry, Waverly, Piketon OH

R4s are fine on most surfaces. On slick mud ... not so much. Remember the old line in Happy Days, 'Sit on it and spin'? Yeah, that.

 

[fried1765]

Hop on over to Wagner's in Chiilcothe and put eyeballs on an MT125 or the new 225S. Ls tractor sale Chillicothe OH, Where to find ls tractor sales in Chillicothe Ohio, Bainbridge, Laurelville, Londonderry, Waverly, Piketon OH

R4s are fine on most surfaces. On slick mud ... not so much. Remember the old line in Happy Days, 'Sit on it and spin'? Yeah, that.

Ah ha!
So, we now know a bit more......Lower Uncton would seem to be somewhere in Southern Ohio!

 

[shooterdon]

Chim made a good comment about the BH. I have no idea what you would use fit or on a one acre lot. They are expensive and then you need to take them off and store them to use the 3PH. I have seen a number of small units for sale and the BH normally looks like new. Buying used may not be the best option. Those little machines go for stupid prices here in my area...and a lot have the useless BH that makes them expensive. Get a new one without the BH and get the warranty IMHO. Set aside $600 for a contractor to do your BH work.

 

[mred2]

Welcome to Alabama. It sounds like you will be northeast of me. I am north of Tuscaloosa. A little more land to take care of a bigger tractor need. But that said, used prices here are up. If you find a good used one in the area, you may be asked to pay almost new price. A friend of mine is shopping for a new and bigger tractor. His old tractor is 5 years old and is expecting to sell if for almost what he paid for it. And he may get it. Go and check out the new tractors at dealers, Deere, Kubota, Massey, LS, Case, etc. Test drive and have fun shopping. This will give you a much better idea of what size and how they drive. The options on them and attachments available. Keep your eyes open for used. If you find a used that you want, you will have a better idea on price vs new. If you don't find used that you want, you can go new with new warranty. Most likely you don't need a backhoe, but mower, tiller if you want a garden, FEL, if gravel drive, you may want a land plane or box blade. And you might find a little land not far from you that you can pickup if the price is right. And then you can get a bigger tractor.

 

[edgarrian]

bobcat is making subcompacts as well. IM sure they will be pricey

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Aren't Bobcats just rebranded Kioti's??

SR

 

[chim]

Aren't Bobcats just rebranded Kioti's??

SR

That's what they were in 2012 when I was looking at them - white Kioti. The loader frames were different, but the tractors looked identical. There was a place near Brownstown PA that had a Kioti dealer next door to the Bobcat dealer. You could walk back and forth and see them. Pricing was about the same but I think the Bobcats were a bit less. The Bobcat, Kioti, Mahindra and Kubota tractors all compared favorably at the time. Got the best deal on a Kubota L3200.

Not long after I was shopping the Bobcat tractors went away and only came back recently.

 

[slckeys]

That's what they were in 2012 when I was looking at them - white Kioti. The loader frames were different, but the tractors looked identical. There was a place near Brownstown PA that had a Kioti dealer next door to the Bobcat dealer. You could walk back and forth and see them. Pricing was about the same but I think the Bobcats were a bit less. The Bobcat, Kioti, Mahindra and Kubota tractors all compared favorably at the time. Got the best deal on a Kubota L3200.

Not long after I was shopping the Bobcat tractors went away and only came back recently.

That dealership closed down. Kioti moved to Mountville now. Just in case you were curious.

I stopped and looked at the bobcat version a few months ago... They had a lot more safety features compared to my Kioti.... In reality, my tractor can be running, PTO can be engaged, in gear, brake off, and I can open the door and step out if I desired. Salesman told me bobcat would not let that happen on their machines.

 

[chim]

Hollinger was in Mountivlle as long as I remember and had the Brownstown location as a sort of satellite location for several years. They sold Internationals(?) at Mountville and Kioti at Brownstown before leaving Brownstown. A guy I work with went to the Mountville store to pick up a few odds and ends for his riding mower and was really shocked when they wanted to charge him something around $6 for a 1/2" fender washer. It was funny hearing him tell the tale.