Mowing How heavy is "too heavy" for mowing?

[Pooh_Bear]

Great. Thanks for the info.
So now I know I have R1 tires on my 8N tractor.

I know what turf tires are. I have seen those on a website
that had an N tractor and a belly mower.
Also my LT has turf tires on it. Albeit small ones.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear

 

[john_bud]

I'm shopping for a 25-35 hp tractor right now, where first priority will be mowing. I'm probably going with the R4s, but not sure if I am going to be too heavy for my yard. My yard is a sandy mix with bermudagrass.

1. 
   
   What is the heaviest you would go? This tractor will also be used an all-purpose tractor for our small horse farm.
   
   FYI, the range of weights I have seen in the tractors I have been shopping have been 2500 - 3500 lbs.

1. 
   
   
   Go with a L3400 or L3130 or L3430 or an L4400. All will be good for your use. Do get 4x4 if you are going to use a FEL.
   
   
   Also get turf tires. There are many many many tread styles. Some are super dooper wide and some are fairly agressive. Check them all out. Most dealers are willing to help you get the tire you need. R4's will mark and rut your soft sandy soil. R1's will simply rip it apart. Most landscape companies use turf tires and they drag heavy stuff around, use the FEL and mow. Hmmm, sounds like your application....
   
   jb

 

[bigdeer2000]

i cut the grass at home with a 6ft finish mower until last year.started out with a L3600 kept it just under 3 years traded it for 3710 kept it for about 3 years traded it for 4330 cab. all 3 had r4 tires. never really had any lawn damage,would leave tire imprints when very wet but lawn allways looked good after mowing.soil here has quite a bit of clay in it. i'd say type of soil would be a factor.

 

[Pooh_Bear]

I would also think your expectations would have a lot to do with your choice.
My yard was originally a cow field. I just started mowing it.
I don't fertilize, I don't do weed control, I don't water it. I just mow it.
Last summer I fenced about half of it off and let the cows back on it.
Hoping to do that again this summer. (family didn't like the idea).
Mowing with the 8N and R1 tires won't hurt my yard. Or I don't notice.
And I have one of the best looking yards in the neighborhood.
Pooh Bear's Place

But I also know there are people out there that wouldn't think of letting
my tractor on their lawn. They would mow with a hovercraft if they could.
Myself, I love the smell of that first cut of the year
when I go out to mow the onions.
If I take a divot out the yard when I make a turn I simply don't care.

I don't mow the lawn. I do battle with the vegetation.

Pooh Bear

 

[Soundguy]

My tractor is about 12k# with the mower.. seems to work fine in my yard and pasture...

soundguy

I'm shopping for a 25-35 hp tractor right now, where first priority will be mowing. I'm probably going with the R4s, but not sure if I am going to be too heavy for my yard. My yard is a sandy mix with bermudagrass.

1. 
   
   What is the heaviest you would go? This tractor will also be used an all-purpose tractor for our small horse farm.
   
   FYI, the range of weights I have seen in the tractors I have been shopping have been 2500 - 3500 lbs.

 

[LBrown59]

Just a little more info:

I have a Kubota L175 right now, which is super-light, but with narrow R1s it cuts up the yard unless it is bone-dry.
My neighbor has a John Deere 870 (2400 lbs) with a 6ft finishing mower and it does fairly well even with R1s (wider than mine).

Seems any tire can scuff up the yard so why forfeit the much superior traction of R1s for little if any gain on minimizing turf disturbance?

 

[schmism]

i mow my lawn (~2 acers) with my TC33 wit hR4's. In fact i sought out one with a MMM for that exact reason.

on dry ground the lawn shows no sign the tractor was there... on moist ground (say a day after a hard rain, or a few hrs after a little rain) You can see tracts but they arnt impressions in the ground.

when its wet and soft expect to leave tracks. not that you have tore up the lawn but youve left noticable imprints. hard turns you can expect to tare up some turf, 4x4 (engaged) makes it a LOT worse.

I've mowed with both the FEL on and off... its a lot smooth ride with it off, but adds 20 -30 min to the job to pull it off/on. The addtional weight doesnt seem to affect tracks/no tracks.... (no loaded tires)

 

[LBrown59]

Pooh Bear

Do you ever get any flooding in your house from that river?

 

[Bob_Young]

LSU,
Seems like you already have the lawn tractor; that super-light L175. What you need is a set of turf tires for it. With a larger tractor on hand, you can dedicate the turf-tired L175 to lawn duties and spec. out the large tractor for the heavy, horse farm work. You can then go as heavy as you want without worrying about the lawn. Maybe even get an M7040 like Glowplug ;-).

A fella' NEEDS more than one tractor. Right, LBrown?
Bob

 

[TrippleT]

I have a TC33D with fel and never take it off. I have the R4 tires on it and have no troubles on the soil here. One thing is to not mow with the FWD on. It bites in somewhat if your turning short. Another thing is to make longer turns if mowing with a tractor. I would guess the weight close the 3 with mower and loader. The mower itself is 625 lbs. I mow about 10 acres of yard with this.