Buying Advice Dilemma - equipment needs for new house

[nirion]

My wife and I had purchased 8 acres to build on, but due to issues with appriasal/lack of comps/etc, we are buying an existing house instead (maybe building in 5+ years).

We are keeping the 8 acres for now. It is basically a flat, former field with a pole barn added. The house is on 2/3 acre.

I purchased a new 3032e in 2012 to use to rough cut now and had planned to buy a finish mower after building. With the change in plans, I have a dilemma on what to do equipment-wise. The 3032e was a compromise of something light enough to finish mow and big enough for other work.

Options I am thinking of:
1) Keep 3032e and buy riding mower for new house (maybe x300 or x320 with 48" deck?)
2) Trade 3032e in on new rider (again looking at x300 or x320) and a cheap (under $5-6k) utility tractor that could easily pull a 6' brush hog
3) Trade 3032e in on new rider and a Gator with a rear pull behind brush mower (like a swisher 60")
4) Trade 3032e in on smaller compact/sub-compact tractor (something like a used 2520 to a new 1025r) that can have mid mount mower for house and pull a small brush hog

Thought/opinions? This forum served as a great resource when buying my 3032e.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[DHD]

IMO CUTS and SCUTS do certain things well but are just a compromise lawn mower.
They're not going to match the cut quality of a regular lawn mower, nor are they going to be as maneuverable.
Wife or kids could operate a riding mower more easily, than a CUT or SCUT.

I recommend getting a lawn tractor or garden tractor to mow your lawn.
I'd keep the 3032e for all your other chores. You've already got the loader, blade and 5 'bush hog.
I don't believe you'd see a huge advantage going to a 1' wider bush hog.
Even if you did go to a 6' bush hog, I bet your 3032e could handle it, you'd probably just have to reduce your ground speed a little.


I have a RM 6ft finish mower for my Kubota B7800 HST 30HP. (tractor weighs a little less than 2000 pounds)
Tires are not loaded (to keep tractor lighter) with the idea I'd finish mow closer to the house, reducing area to mow with regular riding mower.
Kubota still too heavy, have slight depression in lawn from R4 tires, had to ensure not to turn too tight or too suddenly, would tear turf.
I now use RM finish mower to mow an old pasture 2 or 3 times a year and use a 600 pound lawn mower to mow the lawn.

good luck

Edit.. IMO the best lawn mower to get is a front mount mower, it has so many more advantages over the typical mid mount lawn mower.

 

[Will_C]

Another vote for keeping your tractor and getting a riding mower for your new lawn.

You are in the same position I am in- I have 10 acres and a pole barn on land I hope to build on soon. I found my tractor is invaluable for use on that property. I have a ZTR mower to mow at my current house and my mother's. I am sure that even after you build, there will be a part of the land that you would want to use a riding mower of some sort on.

Will

 

[nirion]

Thanks guys. I was honestly leaning toward option 2 (new rider and older utility), just because when before I had my 3032e, I used an old Deere 2010 that weighed about 5500-6000 lbs and had about 45 pto hp. It never bogged down with the tall grass and a 6' mower. My 3032 with 5' mower bogs down some with the higher stuff (only 25 pto hp).

 

[peterc38]

Yep, of the options you listed, I like #1 the best.

 

[flusher]

Option #1 is the way to go.

When my house was built in 2005 on my 10 acre place, I bought a Huskee riding mower (MTD made, from Tractor Supply, $899 floor model) with a 42" deck. Used it for 10 years to mow my about 1.5 acres of lawn and almond orchard.

Sold the property a few months ago. The new owner is using the Huskee and probably will get another few years out of it if he keeps it serviced. Pretty cheap investment for lawn maintenance.

If you need a larger tractor, shop for a used one. There are plenty to choose from in the 30-50 hp pto range.

Good luck.