Need guidance in selecting Mower vs Yard Tractor

[dnmccoy]

So at 35 Im pursuing my dream and buying a house with just under 7 acres. Its not a huge sprawling compound, but for my wife and 2 small kids itll be perfect. Most of the ground is pasture with some yard, and Im looking at my mowing options. It seems that a zero turn would be the fastest way to hit it, but I think eventually Id like the option of a tractor with implements for projects. Right now I dont know that the budget will allow us to do buy both, so I guess Im looking for input from the hive. I checked out the local JD dealers open house and got to play with zero turns, lawn tractors and even the 1 and 2 series. What struck me was that the x500 and x700 series lawn tractors dont seem to be much slower than the hustler zero turn Ive been looking at, and the range of attachments is interesting. Im wondering if I could get by mowing, moving snow,grading the driveway and plowing the gardens with a x500 ? I think it would be nice to eventually have a front end loader, but there seems to be several attachments I can use to move gravel or shovel snow. Ive read some of the older JD lawn tractors are more robust and capable of running attachments

Heres the parcel. The big expanse on the left is pasture, the ground near the house is mowed down nice

Heres what the grounds look like. Its pretty flat, didnt seem to bumpy when I was out walking it

 

[Citydude]

Nice looking property! Buy the most tractor you can with your budget that can accomplish the tasks you list and skip the zero turn. You will find that a piece of property needs more than just mowed.

 

[ericm979]

If you're going to be mowing all the roadside and pasture a lawn tractor's not enough. It'll take a long time. You want a CUT and a large rough cut mower of some kind.

What was used to mow it in the past?

 

[dnmccoy]

Not sure what they used. I was test driving a John Deere x570 and it wanst much slower than the hustler zero I was looking at

 

[coobie]

I went from a Kubota Z-turn diesel to a JD X740 diesel lawn tractor.My yard is bumpy/hilly terrain.The Kubota beat the H-LL out of my back.The JD turns very sharp and is pretty fast,but not as fast as the kubota was.

 

[hillwood]

I have had 300, 500, and 700 series units. I suspect if you get a 700 series you will find many other uses for it. It is a HD garden tractor with 2 hydraulic remotes.
500 Light garden.
300 strictly a lawn tractor.
I have a X360 for the wife. Power steering and lift. I don't have to worry about the grass getting cut. She loves her JD.
ZT mowers a fast mowers, but that is all they are good for.

 

[dnmccoy]

What about the older 420 and 425 models? They seem t be able to use similar attachments and Ive found some used ones

 

[airbiscuit]

I would think you would be happiest in the long run with a 20hp - 28hp Compact Utility Tractor or Sub-Compact Utility Tractor. You will wonder how you ever got along without a loader. I see lots of used Kubotas on Craigslist in OH. What is the nearest major city to you?

There is an interesting TBN thread on a new LS SCUT (MSRP MT125 - $12,333.00, backhoe $4166.66, mower $1888.00, Plus free loader promotion?)

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/ls-tractor-buying-pricing/374720-new-ls-sub-compact.html

Video here...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1404336562934642

 

[dnmccoy]

I'm between Columbus and dayton

 

[rekees4300]

I have an X500 and it's a great mower. However for your property you will need a real tractor like the Series 1 that has 3-point attachment capabilities. Keeping your lane open in the Winter is going to be a challenge.