I'm mowing 3.5 acres, all hills and snowplowing a 300 ft driveway, also a hill, but paved. Each task takes about 4 hours. I'm using a 27hp diesel sub compact tractor and dearly wish I could afford something with more hp and a cab. Your weather can't be a whole lot different than mine, but the topography probably is. There are times in the winter that I have chains on all 4 wheels and still have trouble getting up the driveway. Another couple of hundred pounds of weight would come in handy. If it weren't for the fact that I have to keep the tractor stuck in 4 wheel drive in the winter, and most of the summer I would not be able to complete either job. My blower in on the back of the tractor because I can't take care of drifts and road plow piles without using the bucket on the front. I should have bought a tractor with at least 30hp and the cab. I've got a 6ft belly mower and that works well enough but I wind up finishing the job with a 21in walk behind and a weedwhacker. Every tractor manufacturer has some built in problems along with the "safety" switches that cause significant problems, always at the most inconvenient times. So my advise is to buy whatever color you feel comfortable with the deal and overbuy in regards to size. But don't forget to consider that you'll need parts and repairs sooner or later and how far you'll have to travel to get them. I feel bigger can be better. Cheeahs (Cheers with a Maine accent)Hey folks, looking for some advice. Just purchased first home in upstate NY and am seeking opinions on a machine to maintain it. Property is 10 acres, ~6 of which are very flat, mowable lawn with minimal obstacles. The rest is wooded/swampy, which i won't be doing much work in. Possibly some woodcutting for garage woodstove at some point. The driveway is shared, but owned by me. My section total is ~1200 feet, flat, paved with two straight shots (one of which is wooded). Snowfall is about 75 inches per year. We always get a couple noreasters that will dump 1+ feet, sometimes 2 or 3.
I currently am using a 54' Husqvarna ZTR that takes me ~3hr to mow the lawn. At full clip and mowing only once per week, it does tend to bog down/clog at times, slowing me down further. For snow removal, I currently have nothing. I also have no truck. So now to the point, i am exploring getting a machine that could handle both duties, while keeping both speed and price in mind. The alternative would be a used plow truck, while keeping the lawn duties assigned to a ZTR(possible upgrade in future to 62'). A crucial point is that i work 13 hour shifts 3-4 days in a row, so speed is fairly important when im already waking at 430 a.m. I know a truck wins here, but with current truck prices, is a beater plow truck going to be worth the headache? No interest in buying new. Ive also got an opportunity to buy a 2006 trailblazer with a small homesteader plow for ~5k. I fear this will spend more time being fixed on my lift than actually plowing. Final option is to get a quote for a plow guy, which keep in mind my neighbor would halve to split cost.
So obviously you all are biased to tractors, so thoughts and opinions on what you would do and what size/model of tractor if so? Thanks!!
Genius. The wife keeps telling me she wants to learn the ZTR, but every time I offer a lesson she is "busy". She always was smarter than me....
Good points. I indeed am in my mid 30s, freshly married. The prior owner actually went this route. He was able to get a farmer down the road to come hay the areas he didn't mow for free. I'm a sucker for a nicely mowed lawn as my dad had me on the mower at age 8, stressing how perfect the lines had to be. But working 60 hr weeks and trying to maintain health and relationships, the lawn may be the sacrifice. I'm sure kids will force this on me also. Appreciate the input.
