Help! - I am buying my first tractor!

[dschneider]

My wife and I have just purchased our first new home! Big problem - we have three acres of grass on the side of a hill and a very large gravel driveway (also a big hill)! Ok so it is a problem many dream of! We need a tractor to cut grass and blow snow!

What Tractor should we buy?

We have looked at a John Deere 445, a Husqvarna (TXP or something like that I believe it is new this year - 25 HP) and have also considered an Ariens Grand Sierra 2200G and an AGCO ALLIS 220LC.

Do I really need to buy these huge tractors - Who makes the best at a resonable price? Is John Deere worth the extra 5K - also does anyone have any info on the Kawasaki engine found in the new Husqvarna? Did I miss any other good brands?

Please Help!!!
dschneider

 

[gerard]

The 25hp range you're looking at would be more than adequate to do what you're looking for. Not familiar with the brands you mentioned (Other than Deere) so can't comment. If looking at a compact I'd stick with one of the three majors (Deere, Kubota, or New Holland), maybe even look at Massey Ferguson. Find out how steep your grades are, that will be a factor if over 20 deg. With a 25 hp you can get a 72 inch finish mower which would cut the three acres pretty quickly. A 60 inch 3 pt blower should take care of the driveway or you could go with a backblade (about 1/2 the cost and can be used for things in the summer too. Snowblower's nice but limited to snow!)

 

[markcg2000]

Look, folks, someone who actually asks before buying /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif(yeah, I know Harv, you did too /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)

Big time congrats on the new home!!!!!!

Welcome to the forum! So many of us seem to get the tractor and then look for a place to find out what to do with it /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. I think that you'll find the dealer you're most comfortable with to be the brand you should buy. Most people here may love their machines, but we all know that no dealer support = no fun at all.

If all you have is the lawn, a riding lawn mower and a separate walk-behind snowblower may be your best bet. That gravel is a killer. You'll either plow the gravel into the grass or blow it to the house /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif. Come Spring that adds up to a real pain.
Where are you? Are you more likely to get 1" oor 1' of snow at a time? Does the snow pack ever/often melt off?
As far as "large driveway", how big?
Ever plan on putting in a garden?
Got neighbors who you'd like to help out? Or, got neighbors with whom you can discuss what their doing? That's a great ice breaker...everybody wants to brag, er, talk about their toys, er, uh, shoot I meant tools /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

<font color=green>mark</font color=green>

 

[PaulB]

Are you looking for a really good GARDEN tractor, like the JD 400 series, or a COMPACT tractor which will be diesel, 4 wheel drive, and accept 3 point attatchments, or a SPECIALTY tractor like the Steiner, which is 4WD, but has attatchments that fit only to it? What you need to do on your property will dictate what type of machine you want, or maybe like many of us you will WANT more than you NEED, which is OK too. Think about what other things may develop over time that will need a tractor - will you be doing landscaping, putting in a fence, re-graveling that driveway? If all you have to do is cut grass and blow snow, the JD would be awesome, but if you do go with a garden tractor, even the best garden tractor in the world, remember you will forever be limited by the attatchments that fit it, and 2 wheel drive. Lets say you do decide to put in 500 feet of fence. There is no post hole digger in the world that will fit the JD. The Steiner has a post hole digger made just for it, and it runs around $3,000 to buy. A compact tractor will accept a post hole digger from any of a dozen different manufacturers, available at any tractor shop, and will run from $350 to $1200 depending on brand. This is just an example, but I would hate to see you limit your future use of the machine by not buying the right one to start with.

 

[Rch]

IMO the absolute mininmum are catagory 1 hitch, 4 wheel drive and a front end loader.This gives you a flexible platform for many types of implements from many sources, used or new or even self or custom built,at competative prices. Resale is excellent if you stick to a major brand and parts and service are usually available from more than one source. The question is size,transmission, tires, local dealer reputation. Buying the right thing the first time is the trick. I have collegues that buy glorified garden tractors and regret it when they realize what these compacts can do. Don't be afraid of used, watch the classified, cruise dealer yards,keep an eye on weekly agriculture newspapers in your area.

RCH

 

[Thomas]

dschneider,
Congs on your new home first of all.

<font color=blue>"What tractor should we buy?"<font color=blue><font color=black>Well I can answer that one,<font color=black><font color=orange> KUBOTA<font color=orange><font color=black> there a <font color=green>cou<font color=green><font color=blue>ple<font color=blue><font color=black>other name brands you might be intested in./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
OMG /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif..you didn't even check out <font color=orange>Kubota<font color=orange><font color=black> first. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
Take a peek at the B2400 an B2710 thats in between 25hp,and BX2200 sweet compact as well.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[bpence]

A new home is a great thing - congratulations - and being able to do a lot of the outside work yourself can be real satisfying.

I've had a JD316 for almost 14 years and mowed upwards of 5 acres regularly, pushed a lot of snow with a front blade, and also graded and maintained a gravel driveway. A JD445, being the big brother to the 300 series, would probably handle all of the tasks you've described you'll want to do.

A couple of years ago I bought a Kubota B7100....wish I would have bought it when I bought the JD 14 years ago. The small compacts are a lot more versatile, very fuel efficient, easy to operate, and capable of a lot more work than a large lawn/garden tractor. The flexibility of having a 3-point hitch with the compacts changes all kinds of things. The variety of attachments available for the 3-points makes them worth considering for your needs.

A few tractors you may want to think about or look at: The Kubota BX series and Kubota B7400 & B7500. Great little diesel workhorses. Also, the JD4100 is a nice compact diesel that would be great for your size estate. And take time to look at the New Holland TC18 - a great little beast.......just ask JimBinMI. With any of these compacts, you have the choice of mid-mount or rear mounted finish mowers, 4 ft. bush hog capability, 5 ft. back blade capability, a front or rear snowblower, and on and on and on. Some have power steering, some don't. Some have position control on the 3-point, some don't.

Before you plop down $8,000-10,000 dollars on a lawn/garden tractor, at least take a look at the compact diesels. You might be surprised. Sit on them, drive them, see how you and your wife like them. Might be right for you.

Bob Pence

 

[WillingtonPizza]

Sounds like your going to have fun. I have a john deere gator with a Kawasaki motor, it has been great. We almost have 2,000 hour on it with no problems. I replace plugs, filters etc every spring and that is all. A lot of people talk about dealers, I am one of the few that disagree. A bad dealer though may put together equipment wrong more likely but I do not think that happens often. If you want to stick to the big three I bet the BX would work nicely on your hill. One thought, if you buy a machine that can handle a front blade it will probably be faster, cheaper and has less moving parts (less to break down). I bought a Power-Trac PT425, 4 wheel drive, 25hp and articulating. You would be hard pressed to tip this machine over. (power-trac.com) If you live within traveling distance to there factory they will give you a free all day maintnance class, let you try the different machines and put you up in a hotel. Before you actualy buy the tractor.

 

[ERNIEB]

Have you looked at the NH TC18? That should suit your needs. Where is JimBinMi? We need him here to sing the praises of his mighty TC18,/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Ernie
"You can plainly see that the Alamo was never built by a military people for a fortress."
Green Jameson, Jan 1836 (in a letter to Sam Houston)

 

[Thomas]

ERNIEB,
I think Jim still has the <font color=blue>blue<font color=blue> <font color=black>flu. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[JimBinMI]

ERNIEB,

Here I am! I can't keep up with all of the posts...it's been a problem for awhile now. End of school semester is upon me now and grades are due this week! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Yes, by all means, he should go directly to the nearest New Holland dealer and buy a TC18, don't talk to any other dealers or even look at the other machines! I already did all of the research and found the best bang for the buck and the best features and the most capable equipment in the New Holland line. DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200, YOU'LL SAVE MORE THAN THAT IN THE QUALITY OF NEW HOLLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There, now don't you all feel better! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Seriously, do a lot of looking, pricing, talking to dealers and owners, find a good dealer. If you want my serious comments, just do a search for TC18 and you'll find some of my over 800 posts sing many praises to my "Mighty TC18"!

Have fun shopping most of all!

Good Luck, JimBinMI

 

[Muhammad]

Hmm Thomas, I think he has fully recovered.... see post. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

BTW Jim... what do you think of the new New Holland blue? I saw them side by side with the old color, and the new 'electric' blue is quite nice... the old blue looks to have a much more turquoise hue to it... nice but the new color is more 21st century, for sure. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[JimBinMI]

Muhammad,

I saw the "New" blue a little while ago while cruising the inventory at my New Holland dealer. It is a nice shade, I still like mine too though. If I ever do decide to get a FEL, due to the color change, I'll probably have to get a new tractor (with power steering this time) so that the colors will match! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
While I'm at it, I probably should get a TC25D (or a TC45D) so that I can get the swivel seat to do my backblading! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

JimBinMI

 

[Muhammad]

Yeah, I mean.... a mismatched loader wouldn't be a very nice thing to do to your TC18. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Sounds like you have the right idea long-term... for upgrades.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I was in your shoes a couple of years ago, a lot of work and not a lot of cash to buy a tractor. Well, I looked around a lot and decided to buy a Gray market Yanmar compact tractor. It has been the BEST decision of my adult life! it was great quality at a cheap price. Parts are available for Yanmars and a dealer near me is very willing to service it. It was in very good condition with low hours and is capable of many tasks. If you are considering a compact tractor, go to the Yanmar Owners Group site on Yahoo and read the 7,000+ posts and educate yourself on gray market tractors. The money you will save will be you own!
Cameron