Does anyone mow 3+ acres with a $2000 mower?

dahogman · Mar 23, 2005

I currently mow between 3 and 4 acres. I own a Troy bilt with a 22 hp engine and a 46 inch deck. This tractor is built by MTD. I am not happy at all with this tractor. Blades dull quickly. Belts wear out quickly. Parts are priced to high for a cheap mower. Mower cost me 2300.00 new. I have used it for 3 years and I wish I would have never bought it. I am now looking at a zero turn mid mount. I borrowed one from a neighbor and fell in love. Fast, manueverable, and versatile. Attachments available and built to last. With your 3+ acres I would check to see if that Cub Cadet is built by MTD. If built by MTD I think you will be happy at first but the honeymoon will end quickly. I threw 2300.00 away I won't make the MTD mistake again. You have alot of grass to mow I really think you should look at a little better quality. In the end you will get more for your money

Mith · Mar 23, 2005

i mow 2/3 acre of our own, next door one ways 1.2 acres, next door the other ways 2/3 acre, down the roads 3 acres, and the local gude huts 1/3 acre with a mower i bought for £100.
its a 12HP 36" cut 4 gear 1998 rally mower.
not only that but it gets used about 7 hours a week for towing logs around the place. it still dont show any signs of quittin yet /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
buy second hand man.....way way better value /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Charlie_in_TX · Mar 23, 2005

I believe the Cubs are made by MTD. They kept them a seprerate co from the rest of the MTD conglomerate. Very little in commen. In short, if I were to by another tractor made by MTD it would be a Cub. Having said that I wouldn't buy a new $2000 mower for 3 acres. A use 200 series JD yes. A new Home Depot JD no.

Indydirtfarmer · Mar 23, 2005

I mow about 3-1/2 acres with a $1700 mower. It WAS quite a bit more expensive than that at one point in it's life. It was a trade in at a ;local John Deere dealership. (265 Hydrostatic, HAD a 48" deck, but was switched to a 54") I gave what was given as trade to the gentleman that bought a NEW mower. The dealer was happy to move it on the same day he took it in. It led a pampered life. Good as new. 9 years of mowing a 120 x 80 "city lot" didn't hurt it one bit. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'd suggest looking at "slightly used" bigger mowers. There's your REAL value. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

my1stcub · Mar 23, 2005

My parents have about 2.5 acres to mow. They bought a Poulan with a 12 hp B&S 38" cut in 1989. They have not had any problems with it except for the tires leaking down in the last several years. Of course you can't cut the grass in an hour. I think you would really like the 1050 you are thinking about. I purchased a Cub Cadet 1515 last month haven't used it but a few times but really think I'm going to enjoy it. If you decide to go with the Cub Cadet you may won't to buy from a dealer in your area in case you need service. You may even be able to get a better deal than at Lowe's, etc. They also offer 24 month 0% financing. Good Luck.

viking65 · Mar 23, 2005

The Cub Cadet brand is owned by MTD. The Cubs are supposed to be manufactured apart from the other MTD brands (Yard machines, Huskee, Troybuilt, Bolens, White, etc...) in a different plant. Although I have noticed a few similarities between the inexpensive Cub lawn tractors and the White lawn tractors. I was told that Cub engineering is mostly isolated from the rest of MTD.

I think with proper upkeep a inexpensive Craftsman or MTD branded Garden Tractor would do the job for several years.

slowrev · Mar 23, 2005

Blades dull quickly. Belts wear out quickly.
//
Get some good gator blades and gates belts.

Ben

hrb111 · Mar 23, 2005

My husband and I appreciate every single post on this thread. Thank you! Some things that we have learned from you are: 1) We are only looking at garden tractors, as my husband wishes to roll the yard, and possibly buy a snow blade. (We didn't realize the difference) 2) A good used model may work for us, and be in our price range, so we are window shopping at our local dealerships. 3)We are now a little gun-shy about the tractors sold at Lowe's and TSC, however the price point *is* enticing. We want to make a purchase that we will not regret in 3 years. We are glad to know that there are others out there that do not mow 3 acres with an $8000 John Deere! I will keep checking back!

Archdean · Mar 23, 2005

Do your self a favor and check out various Kubota models, they reign supreme!!!

web page For Kubota mowers

PBinWA · Mar 24, 2005

When I first got my 5 acres. I researched (poorly) and bought a Craftsman GT5000 (25hp) with a 52 inch deck. I mowed down field, blackberries, scotch broom (some over 1 inch thick) with it. The mower has taken some serious abuse. In the two years I've had it I've shredded two belts and replaced the blades. However, it is still running strong.

The biggest issue was TIME. It takes forever to mow with this thing. I then got a used Rough Country trail mower (11HP- 48 Inch swath) to speed things up (approx 8 foot cutting swath when both were combined). It worked great as long as the grass didn't get too high or wet. But last spring was prime grass growing season and when I let the field grow too long then it really slowed things down.

I finally purchased a real tractor (Mahindra 2615 with a 5ft Rear Cutter). Now I can let the field grow longer and still mow faster than on the riding mower. Of course the cut quality isn't as good but it only took two spring/summers in the NW for me to no longer aspire to the cultured park look.

I just want to cut the stuff down as fast as possible when it gets to the dry fire hazard season and keep the blackberries and scotch broom under control.

Now I have the best tractor and lawn mower in the neighbourhood. Not exactly the worst dilemna to have. At least if I fall on bad times I can start my own landscaping business.

I guess my main point was that if I had known better I would have saved the money spent on the lawn mower and bought something in between what I currently have (i.e. Mahindra 2015, BX23, GC2300, etc) then I probably would have come out ahead.

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

coveredbridge · Mar 24, 2005

I would say that there's a difference between 3 acres of "lawn", like in a subdivision, and 3 acres of "yard", like you often find on tracts like mine. If you're mowing a nice relatively level, contractor installed lawn, and only mowing a lawn, then the MTD, Sears, etc should be fine as long as you have the time.

If however, you're mowing 3 acres of "yard", up and down slopes, through converted (by mowing down the weeds) fields and pasture, you're going to spend more in the long run on big box tractors than you will on a more substantial model that is going to cost in the $5,000 - $10,000 range new. You've already mentioned you want to push snow, which means that you 're probably looking for more utility than is reasonable to expect from a $2000 mower.

I think your idea of looking for a solid used machine is a good one. However, my experience has been that most owners of these machines are fully aware of their value and the demand for them, and so they command a relatively high price. I've seen these types of tractors selling for 75% to 80% of new prices for comparable machines, generally speaking. For me, that's not enough of a discount, but that's strictly an individual decision. Good luck on your search! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

GerardC · Mar 24, 2005

( If however, you're mowing 3 acres of "yard", up and down slopes, through converted (by mowing down the weeds) fields and pasture, you're going to spend more in the long run on big box tractors than you will on a more substantial model that is going to cost in the $5,000 - $10,000 range new. )

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I've been mowing 3+ acres with my 16.5 HP B&S Hydrostatic (purchased at Wal*Marts) for 5 years now and NEVER have had any problems what-so-ever. I have hills, slopes, flats and quite a few areas that are pitted. I changed the blades once and do general maintenance regularly. Bet I get another 5 years out of it which puts me at about $100.00/year to own. How can anybody go wrong with figures like this? Gerard

NIXON · Mar 24, 2005

HRB . My brother in Law has a sears garden tractor . It's about 7 years old now . It has a 25 hp Kohler engine ,54' deck and is a hydro unit . He ( well his wife ) mows around 10 acres( possibly more as He is on 50 acres )with it .
Of course it's a multi day job . But , it works for them .
The only thing other than belts and blades has been a fluid change in the trans .
He even got it used for around $1000 .
John

LBrown59 · Mar 28, 2005

I mowed 2.33 acres for about 20 years with an eight and one quarter horsepower Bolens with a 38 inch deck on it.

GerardC · Mar 28, 2005

( I mowed 2.33 acres for about 20 years with an eight and one quarter horsepower Bolens with a 38 inch deck on it. )

And I bet it worked like a charm for you. GeraRd

LBrown59 · Mar 28, 2005

( ( I mowed 2.33 acres for about 20 years with an eight and one quarter horsepower Bolens with a 38 inch deck on it. )

And I bet it worked like a charm for you. GeraRd )
========
Well for 728 bucks I can't complaine.
It sure beat the socks off the power craft lemon I bought in 1995 for almost twice as much money.

fish_wisperer · Mar 28, 2005

shoot, my wife mows around a 2 acre pond and 4 or 5 acres around the house with a stanley 17.5 hp, it was 1500 from walmart. she has even mowed the whole 22 acres a couple times but it usually gets bailed.

1962 · Apr 2, 2005

if your trying to cut down your mowing time you could use a tow behind self-powered mower. it would attach to your lawn tractor, and offset to one side. you could also put it behind a quad(4-wheeler) too. if you had one with a 48" deck, and your simplicity is 38" you could cut a 7 foot swath with each pass. that would cut your mowing time in half..
or if you want another tractor, a used wheel horse with a large deck would be alot less $$ and is a quality machine for lawn & garden work. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

fouracres · Apr 2, 2005

Most of the "box store" mowers will do fine, for a few years. We have used a 1995 Saber by John Deere with 16hp and a 46" deck as our primary mower. This was a $2000 mower that we bought when we moved into our 5 acre, 4 acres of grass home. Mower has ~ 800 to 1000 hours, just take care of them.

Takes 3+ hours to mow the yard. Get the widest deck you can afford that will STILL fit through gates and between trees.

Best to buy from A DEALER!

If you go the intro mower route (John Deere L Series or Cub Cadet), you might want to start saving now for what you should have bought.

These mowers will last for many years, the only problem is that they are cheaper for a reason. Quality is lacking and they get old after 5 years. Don't get me wrong, they will still mow but cheap part problems start to rear their ugly heads.

Doug_Myerscough · May 14, 2005

We keep a little over 3 acres mowed and for a while did it with a riding lawn mower (about $1800) - the maintenance was a nightmare. Every month or so something would wear out - we went through 3 $1800 mowers in five years plus quite a bit more money in parts and repairs. If your land is perfectly smooth and you a very easy on the mower you can do it but from my experience you are better off getting a small tractor that can last you twenty years and do a lot more than just mow your yard.