Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??
I agree that your tractor is too heavy for lawn work. Almost all farms in this area have the same problem. Most have an ag or utility tractor to handle the large jobs and a smaller lawn tractor used for mowing. I made the mistake of trying to split the difference and bought a small CUT with a 48" finish mower. It turns out that a 42" lawn tractor from Lowe's can cut the two acre lawn about as quickly as my CUT with a 48" finish mower, mostly due to difference in maneuverability.
If your current tractor handles 85% of your needs, your least expensive solution is probably a small lawn tractor. I wouldn't go less that 48" cut, though, since that's a lot of grass to routinely cut with a lawn tractor (probably spend around 1-3K). The next step up would be the ZTR or a walk-behind with sulky (6-8K). The most expensive solution (and maybe not the best) would be a sub-compact diesel (9-13K). Considering the costs, it seems to me the best solution is a larger lawn tractor with a minimum cut width of 48" and a hydrostatic transmission. I would go with a used, name brand like Simplicity, Ford (model YT16H is nice), Gravely, or Case (model 444 is good too). I hope that helps!
