Do I really need a tractor on 1.5 acres?

[Bentrim]

If you can afford it I believe the GC will serve you just fine. With 4 wd and turf tires it should not rut up established turf.
My only question would be a mid mount mower as they are hard to service, hard to remove and replace, handicap the tractor, have a limited lift, can only mow what the tractor can run over, and yes it can be used with the loader mounted.
My personal choice (note: yours may differ) would be a three point hitch mounted deck, for all the reasons listed above. They can also reach over banks, by backing to the edge.
Yeah I know I am prejudice as I have Massey's in my shed, and worked for a Massey dealer for 20 years, Even though JD raised me.

 

[diamondbrookfarm]

You will have a problem with your wife using the tractor if you buy the loader... every time I turn around , my wife is doing something with it... from gardening, to mowing the lawn, to moving lawn furniture... we have a 1025R John Deere w/60" mower, with industrial tires (not turf tires), never had a problem with it... DO NOT load the back wheels (to avoid ruts), but get the weight box to off-set what you carry in the loader.

 

[Mister3]

I've had 3 different yanmar tractors and loved them to death. Sold them and moved 2k miles away and now have 5 acres with a bobcat toolcat 5600. Can do some tractor work, doubles as a side by side, has heat/ac, enclosed cab, seats 2, large dump bed, 4wd, 4ws, 4k lb towing capacity.
The wife thought I was an idiot for getting it but after the first time out clearing brush she realized what a neat tool it was. I have used it as a tow truck, moving car shells around the property, loading and unloading pallets of whatever, snow plowing, moving random stuff around town (has lights, signals, etc), use for cleaning gutters on the house, spreading gravel, leveling some land, etc. No mowing as of yet but can get skid steer brush hogs or finish mowers or if you get the 3 point w/pto adapter can get all the 3 point attachments for less $. Been slowly acquiring attachments but so far have:
Bucket
3pt w/pto adapter
Kwik way hyd angled snow plow
Pallet forks
Bradco 625 trencher
3pt w/o pto to receiver hitch for the rear
Box scraper

Granted the toolcat cost me more than all my compact tractors combined (yanmar 135d w/FEL, yanmar 155d w/FEL, yanmar ym240) but I deserve it

 

[furnone]

You need that tractor!....

In 1976 we bought our first home on 1 acre, 1/2 acre of lawn. The next year I bought a 16 hp. Wheelhorse 8-speed garden tractor with a 48" mower deck and 48" plow which served me well for the next 34 years. Especially during the blizzard of 1978 when we had 3' of snow with 6' drifts. It took all day with that 48" plow, but I hate to think of having to shovel that much snow.
In 2011, I sold the Wheelhorse for $1200, about half of the original cost, and purchased a 2004 JD 2210 with 500 hours on it for $10k. The 2210 had a FEL and a 54" mower deck. I also found a 46" front mount single stage snowthrower on craigslist for $1200.

My wife was very much against spending $10k for a tractor. After a year or so of seeing all that could be accomplished with the 2210, blowing snow, moving bushes, installing a gravel pathway etc. she was bragging to her friends about all the things we could do with that tractor.

I upgraded last February to a 2018 JD 2025R with 250 hours on it complete with loader and 54" snowblower. The JD 2210's are now selling for around $15k, but, being fairly comfortable financially, instead of selling, I gave it to my son for his 1 acre property.

I learned that I couldn't do loader work with the mower deck on the 2025R because it hung too low and banged into things. Although it was quick attach drive over, it was a pain to attach and remove every week to mow. I had to take the bucket off, retrieve the mower from the storage location using the load n' go, mount the mower, put the bucket back on, and remove the loader from the tractor. Then, reverse the procedure when done mowing. I fixed that problem with a JD 540m Zero turn with 70 hours on it.

You will be very happy over the years that you purchased that tractor. I suggest that you get turf tires and don't use 4-wheel drive while mowing, it will tend to tear up the grass.

I also advise against including a backhoe unless you have a lot of need for it, it's an expensive attachment that will probably sit a lot. It sounds like you will be using 3-point hitch implements more.

 

[C79]

To the OP, you can justify it anyway you like but once you have one you will use it for more than you originally planned. Me personally I'm not a [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]kubota[/AFFILIATE] fan but, that is not the question here. I will caution you that sometimes you can go too big and be hamstrung when the ground is too wet for a big machine. Get an FEL because kit can get you unstuck once you know how to use it. As far as mowing you can get a 3pt finish mower relatively cheap now that the covid gouging is dying down. The rear discharge are my preference but you can only buy what's available. My first machine was a 30 hp 4x4 with a FEL and it became my wheelbarrow, manlift, log skidder, mower, brushclearing, bulldozer, and even a second set of hands after some add one to the bucket. My property is 35 acres and I have settled in on a 55hp for what my needs are. Once you have one and then you don't you realize you need one. Once you have everything done you will find more to do.

 

[ernemats]

Like m5040 and mossroad mentioned look at the Power Trac. I have 2 of them a 22 hp and a 45 ho . I have owned the 22 hp for 23 years and the 45 hp for 18 years , I have used them for many uses mowing, plowing snow leveling drive way and tilling garden, also carrying stone, firewood and many other things. They are well built and made in USA.

 

[I R Wayright]

I have 1.45 acres. Mostly woods, hilly, plus I live in snow country. I bought a [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]Kubota[/AFFILIATE] B2601 with loader and backhoe. I have added a tooth bar to the bucket on front, plus forks and added a winch to the front frame. Additional lighting showed the dynamo was not up to the job, so I changed it out for an alternator. This thing is the Swiss Army knife for a property owner. As you get older, and don't have any helpers, it becomes nearly essential. It doesn't have chains or loaded tires but I can easily move 23 inches of snow. I can drag trees or pull them down in a direction I want, haul firewood, dig out a a stump, move and load a drum of waste oil in my truck. I built trails so I can traverse all my property and rearranged some land and dug a ditch for better drainage when we get downpours. The local phone company brought me 5G so we buried the line from the road to the house. They brought a trencher but I used the B to move a section of stone wall out of the way so they had better access. Then I smoothed out the area and seeded it. I have a well that is 120 feet deep. I keep a spare pump in the basement in case i have to replace it. I will use the backhoe arm to lift the pump and lines when the time comes. If you get a similar machine, you will continue to discover labor saving uses for it if you add the proper accessories.
A BX will do the job but I wanted something a little larger than a glorified lawn mower. I checked into rental, but the expense and weather changes make that all but impractical.

 

[Ezra Job]

Hi everyone, forum newbie here. Recently I moved to a new property, much bigger than my last. However after seeing our neighbors down the street playing with their bx, I'm questioning if we need one (a subcompact)


We're only on 1.5 acres, it's mostly flat. There are some big dips and ruts down the rear end of the property, but nothing extrodinary. We do have a large garden just above that, and a rocky driveway that I'm considering levelling.

We do use a cub cadet xt2 46in, and this is more than adequate for mowing. However I've found it hard to turn with (seriously who in their right mind decided permanent difflock is good for a lawn mower???) And during the rainy season often times the mower will get stuck,or slide around tearing up the grass. Or most likely just bog down due to the water. Meaning mowing is a chore that will take 2+ hours


I'm planning to start a 120M x 20M garden, however this all clay soil so it's necessary to use a large tiller, of which is extremely expensive.


Preferably something to mow with during the wet, so 4wd is very much preffered.

And planning to modify the garden bed/generally move dirt ect.

I'm thinking of a sub compact but would this be the best choice? I have a Massey furgeson gc1705 with a midmount in mind, that's at a very nice price,and a loader is the cost of a new mower. Therefore I'll end up buying the loader for certain with the machine, and thankfully they are cross compatible.or should I just save my money and rent one when necessary? Hopefully with the tractor I'll sell the lawn mower, but I'm not certain yet

I have looked at the Massey Ferguson and I like the design except for the front axle and front wheel size. For the money they are charging they should not be skimping on tiny wheels that will cause low weight issues and high wear on the front transaxle. The axle itself is too small and susceptible to breakage under load. The [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]Kubota[/AFFILIATE] is a nice tractor but too expensive and John Deere, in this size range are all made in China. But I found a great alternative.
Kioti tractors (I bought the 3510 hst series (I am disabled and couch was too much) with 35hp) are about half the price of some of these other ones, they come with or without a cab. I bought the one without (-$8000). I have 10 acres and grow hay, clean four barns, clean a rabbitry weekly and till a garden. I tend to disagree with those that say don’t rent. If you are using once per year for two days you have $600 per year into it plus fuel, no maintenance and no wear and tear. When you buy it, you own it and you have $26,000 into a tractor and impliments are about $1800-$5000 each so up to $30,000 in impliments. If you are producing a product like we do that is great. Ours pays out for itself in 4.8 years at CURRENT price points for our goods..but prices are going one way…so profits will increase.
Another thing is that the Kioti is a powerful 3 cyl. Diesel 111 cu. In. engine and is all made in South Korea. Some of the finest farm, driving and war machines in the world come out of these factories. The specs on the axles is nearly double of the same size Massey or John Deere and the hydraulic system is second to none. One of the things that we do as a side hustle is manufacture ’One Man Impliments’. These are like one man walk behind tractors that we custom build for older and handicapped farmers…think ‘Farmer’s Mechsuit’. If you can walk you can lift and move 1000lbs of hay, walk it across rough ground through the barn door and stack it where you want it…or take it upstairs. (But I digress). I like the Kioti (sounds like ‘Coyote’) because it is heavy and built to last. It is 4 wheel drive and the PTO is unstoppable. I run a baler, cutter, rake, bush hog, now blower and rototiller off it and have never once had an issue…but it’s newer…so…? It keeps up with ever bit of work that my old 51hp Case 1194 used to do. I only sold it because I was offered 8x what I paid and the water pump was shot…it’s 40+ years old and was a fix and repair daily. I’m getting older and demand reliable things.
that’s my 2 bits (in a 6 bit bag)

 

[dkmc]

This reminds me, I grew up in a small town and one of the neighbors had a house with a lot that was probably 50ft x 75ft, no garage. He had a 16hp lawn tractor kept it under a tarp behind the house. It'd take him maybe 15 minutes to cut his grass with it, longer to untarp, fuel up, get it started. We always kinda chuckled about it, figured he was havin fun with his toy, or bought it in spite of his wife. More power to him...

 

[Powellcrazy Gearman]

Do you need a tractor for 1.5 acres? Maybe not. But as mentioned many times, you will not regret the purchase and put to good use

We have .22 acres and use our [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]Kubota[/AFFILIATE] B2601 for all kinds of tasks.

Snow pusher, pallet forks, bucket to mover dirt/gravel. You won’t regret having to help complete tasks

 

[gstrom99]

This thread seems to go on forever.

To the OP:

The consensus is - YES.

 

[5030]

My final comment is, if you can afford one, why not. It's your wallet, not mine.

 

[rogerwrob]

Kubota BX23s for sale N.E. Kansas

I bought this new on 02-28-2019. It has 82 hours of use . It has 2.5 years of Kubota warranty left on it . It comes with these attachments. QH05 land pride Ez Hitch. Kubota 3 point hitch. Bxpanded Piranha Teeth. Bro-Tek front and rear 1/8 inch Steel diamond plate skid plates for the bottom...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[pacosperson]

Hi everyone, forum newbie here. Recently I moved to a new property, much bigger than my last. However after seeing our neighbors down the street playing with their bx, I'm questioning if we need one (a subcompact)


We're only on 1.5 acres, it's mostly flat. There are some big dips and ruts down the rear end of the property, but nothing extrodinary. We do have a large garden just above that, and a rocky driveway that I'm considering levelling.

We do use a cub cadet xt2 46in, and this is more than adequate for mowing. However I've found it hard to turn with (seriously who in their right mind decided permanent difflock is good for a lawn mower???) And during the rainy season often times the mower will get stuck,or slide around tearing up the grass. Or most likely just bog down due to the water. Meaning mowing is a chore that will take 2+ hours


I'm planning to start a 120M x 20M garden, however this all clay soil so it's necessary to use a large tiller, of which is extremely expensive.


Preferably something to mow with during the wet, so 4wd is very much preffered.

And planning to modify the garden bed/generally move dirt ect.

I'm thinking of a sub compact but would this be the best choice? I have a Massey furgeson gc1705 with a midmount in mind, that's at a very nice price,and a loader is the cost of a new mower. Therefore I'll end up buying the loader for certain with the machine, and thankfully they are cross compatible.or should I just save my money and rent one when necessary? Hopefully with the tractor I'll sell the lawn mower, but I'm not certain yet

If you have hills and ruts and clay soil you absolutely must have 4 WD and chains, in my world view. I had a very hilly property with clay soil and never removed the chains from all four wheels. Even with chains I once slide SIDEWAYS down a slope into my garden. Enjoy your property. Projects will grow over time. Equipment remains what you bought. Good luck.

 

[CAchris]

Hi everyone, forum newbie here. Recently I moved to a new property, much bigger than my last. However after seeing our neighbors down the street playing with their bx, I'm questioning if we need one (a subcompact)


We're only on 1.5 acres, it's mostly flat. There are some big dips and ruts down the rear end of the property, but nothing extrodinary. We do have a large garden just above that, and a rocky driveway that I'm considering levelling.

We do use a cub cadet xt2 46in, and this is more than adequate for mowing. However I've found it hard to turn with (seriously who in their right mind decided permanent difflock is good for a lawn mower???) And during the rainy season often times the mower will get stuck,or slide around tearing up the grass. Or most likely just bog down due to the water. Meaning mowing is a chore that will take 2+ hours


I'm planning to start a 120M x 20M garden, however this all clay soil so it's necessary to use a large tiller, of which is extremely expensive.


Preferably something to mow with during the wet, so 4wd is very much preffered.

And planning to modify the garden bed/generally move dirt ect.

I'm thinking of a sub compact but would this be the best choice? I have a Massey furgeson gc1705 with a midmount in mind, that's at a very nice price,and a loader is the cost of a new mower. Therefore I'll end up buying the loader for certain with the machine, and thankfully they are cross compatible.or should I just save my money and rent one when necessary? Hopefully with the tractor I'll sell the lawn mower, but I'm not certain yet

I remember when I brought my first subcompact tractor home- which I bought used. My wife gave me a look like I had wasted money and claimed I was “playing” every time I used it.
But after nearly 20 yrs and lots of projects and work completed- She didn’t say anything when I sold my old tractor for what I paid for it and upgraded from the subcompact to the compact tractor- Deere 2032r.
I can assure you that you will find lots if uses aside from the obvious. Including:
1. Storing/moving firewoood. I keep 4 cords of wood in fruit bins and I can move them with the tractor as needed.
2. Unloading/loading heavy things from the truck. Saves your back. I brought home her new 200lb farmhouse kitchen sink and moved it from the truck to the back porch with the tractor. Saved my back!
3. We had a pipe burst on a holiday and I was able to dig 3 feet down for the repair in no time- she had water again in no time! Saved big money and time.
4. We wanted to move a chain link fence 5 feet back- no problem pulling the posts.
5. She comes home with a new tree- it gets planted in a hole fast!
6. Needs solar panels lifted to the roof- use your pallet forks.
7. Have several 300lb landscaping rock’s delivered- move them where you want without help.
8. Need fuel- lift your fueler to the back of the truck and go fill it. Unload the same way!

I could go on and on- but as you age- you will be happy to use the tractor to save your back on small things that you might do with a wheelbarrow and shovel. The big projects speak for themselves. I use my tractor all the time and it really is a help. It allows me to not injure my back and save money/time. Totally worth it.

Buy the next size up from what you think you need now. Pay once, cry once. By the way- I could probably sell my 2018 2032r for near what I paid for it new.

 

[Gstigs]

 

[ksbrdmkr]

I have an 92 [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]kubota[/AFFILIATE] 5200 42in mower, a 4ft grasshopper a turn and a kioti CS2410 with a 5 ft rear mower and I keep chains on all except the grasshopper which I keep out of wet and steep areas. A tiller is great on the sub compact for the garden.

 

[HAR]

A lot of good discussion here. IMHO, probably everybody needs a tractor, but only the serious really want one!

I live on 3+ acres, (1+open, 2- Wooded mixed hardwoods). The soil is heavy clay, with some loam. I have mowed the 1+ acre with a push mower ( 6+hrs) a small Craftsman riding mower (3.5hrs), a Case 446 w/48" deck(2.5hrs), and now my B7300 w/60" MMM (.75hrs). When it is mostly dry it is fine, but If it is wet, it is a nightmare, so I just let it grow. The MMM will cut it back once it dries out. Turf tires work fine most of the time, and I just stay clear when it is really wet. In winter snow, or when working in the woods, I use tire chains.

Would I go back? Never. Once I purchased my B7300 in 2002 (used) with FEL, MMM, bushhog, and snowblower, I never looked back.
So many chores that were manually done are now handled one way or the other with the tractor. Why lift, push, or pull something if you have a tractor that will save you both time and your physical being? As one poster alluded, a tractor is like the power head to a multi-tool. There are so many add-ons that can be had, either new or used. And, as noted in several threads, if you are the only one in the area with a tractor, you will become indispensable. Plus, during a recent state wide power outage, I was one of the few places on my road that had lights and heat, as I had my PTO generator, and the others either had home stand by systems or were farms with PTO generators.

My daughter and her husband, who live 7 miles from me, purchased a piece of property 4 years ago, and this past year purchased an adjoining 7 acres with a pond. It was part of an old apple orchard that is now overgrown and a mess. Their gravel drive is about 500+ foot. They just purchased a JD 3025E with FEL & back blade. He works on the town road crew and is a volunteer fire fighter. My daughter is a working mom with 3 kids. She tends her garden for home use and sales, and raises chickens for eggs to sell.

Both have taken to the tractor like bees to honey. In the few short weeks that they have had it, their driveway is now well graded and there is now decent drainage along side. The land around the pond is now fairly well cleaned up and it is now visible and when they are done, it will have a dry hydrant. They plan to make an area next to it where a fire tanker could back in to load. They are being careful not to disturb some of the natural area around the pond, as in summer, ducks, geese, rabbit, and other wildlife abound. The chickens will soon find that the area around the pond will be a great forage area. They are also going to try to save some of the old apple trees, removing just the dead ones for firewood, as deer and turkey also use the area. There are approximately another 100 acres of old apple orchards on either side of them, so having a somewhat clearer zone in the middle, will make a little wildlife haven. They have a large garden, and now they are looking at a small set of harrows to keep it tilled and smoothed. They are also considering a PTO generator.

Could they get by without a tractor. Sure. Would they want to? Probably not!

 

[Gstigs]

I have this BX 25 D that replaced a B 2710 with fel only which was to big for an acre but the subcompact is great for driveway cleaning in winter and repair of same.
I don’t mow with it but use a cub cadet for that but all around is an asset to use when ever. Bought it I 2016 and have 530 hrs on now.

 

[CE2]

If you use your imagination a tractor can do anything you need to do .