Garden vs. Yard tractor for 4 acres...compare, opinions please

[3v0]

You don't have to agree with me, I have time to argue for a spell. Just came in the house after hitting my kneecap on the trailer hitch I should have removed this morning and thought I would sit down for awhile.

That will teach you to mess around in the dark!

Maybe somebody should point out that this is the worst time of the year to buy garden equipment and small tractors. I bought a used BX last fall and this spring similar units are 2K higher.

 

[cordobaman]

Sounds like maybe I need to:
1. Patch up the POS MTD and save my pennies till fall when the prices drop.
2. Let the woody pasture go uncut, maybe just a path to the creek.
3. Roll and smooth out the yard around th house.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[GreenWannabe]

You don't have to agree with me, I have time to argue for a spell. Just came in the house after hitting my kneecap on the trailer hitch I should have removed this morning and thought I would sit down for awhile.

I have done that before, the trailer hitch really does a number on the ol' shin and knee! I feel your pain. Ice is your friend for it - 10 min. on, 10 off.

Sounds like maybe I need to:
1. Patch up the POS MTD and save my pennies till fall when the prices drop.
2. Let the woody pasture go uncut, maybe just a path to the creek.
3. Roll and smooth out the yard around th house.

Thanks for all the advice.

You might add this:
4. Save money to increase the upper limit of the budget!

 

[radioman]

I dunno man -- I too was using retail box store mowers and it never lasts. I think I spent more on buying them and fixing it then I did buying my kubota BX once and done. If it wasnt for a financing like for a car, I wouldnt have the BX. It did more then what I asked of it and I think I saved time and money with a real scut then I did with boxed store mowers .

 

[chim]

There are tractors out there that could work for you at affordable prices. I still have and use a mid-80's Ford 1210 that I bought over 20 years ago for around $3,000. It was the only tractor I owned for the first 10 years after buying it. The amount of work it did over the years ranged from mowing anywhere between 2-1/2 acres of yard to around 6 acres that included turning an acre or two of pasture into a "yard" with a Caroni 5' RFM. Snow here is a feast or famine thing, but I take care of at least 700' of driveways and since the Ford never had a loader it was all with a 5' rear blade. For several years my 300' driveway was gravel so I made a drag from 2 pieces of I-beam bolted together flanges down.

I threatened to sell it a few times but it is too handy. I often have a project when it's nice to leave one implement on the Ford so I don't need to switch implements back and forth several times in a day. Here's a family photo from when the last tractor was delivered. The B7500 in the center has gone away but served well for 10 years.

 

[capt_met]

you might consider renting the equipment needed to get your yard in better shape, hire out the bush hogging to keep it managable for this year while saving and shopping for your tractor. by using the rental equipment you will also get a bett idea of what you will need. you may find a rental plac in your area that rent s small tractor with attachments. Good Luck,

 

[jenkinsph]

chim and capt met,
Both have made some good points imo, alot depends on what equipment you can find in your locale. In some areas there are lots of good older small tractors that could fix up the lawn and keep it mowed as chim has. Other than that rent or hire the landscape work and keep it mowed with a good riding mower.

I would think it would take more than a roller to fix it right in most cases. For most people on a budget and for a one shot deal it makes alot more sense to rent or sub out the work.

 

[Carl_NH]

Here are several in your area on CL. The cub cadet 3000 is a GT series, and like others have said, the JD 318, and 425 series are also good GT (garden tractors)

CUB CADET GT3200 MOWER

john deere 212 riding mower tractor

John Deere 425 [Very nice]

 

[2720wes]

Welcome to TBN cordobaman.

Like others have said I would stay away from the JD X300 with that K46 tranny. Right now on ebay there are at least 5 or 6 used Deere garden tractors in the Pennsylvania, NJ, NY and MD area under $3000 that are plenty strong for your needs. A GT225. GX335, 400, 420. You may be sitting on them for a while mowing 4 acres but you won't break them. All have heavy duty trannys. I would be all over that 420 in MD if I needed one.

 

[scoutcub]

I would support the opinions of looking at the sturdier garden tractors like the Cub 3000 series or JD 400 series. I've owned the GT3200, it's a great machine with diff rear lock, PS, cruise, & tilt wheel. It already has the 2nd valve for adding a front hitch, which can take a blower or blade. You can add a 3rd valve for hydraulic angle on the front blade. And you can add a rear 3-pt hitch for tiller or other implements. It will also take a 60" deck if the 54" is too small. I'm sure the JD 400 series offer the same amenities.
The only reason I sold mine is to get into a SCUT.
The newer JD 500 & 700 series are very nice, but $$$. My dad has an X300, and he loves it. But...he's only mowing around .75 acre of flat grass. 4 acres is a healthy amount of seat time......
Seems like a good deal on the 3200 at 2K, and assume you could probably get it for less. New it was a $6500 machine.


good luck!