Need help picking a garden tractor

finnfarmer2 · Sep 6, 2016

First post, been lurking for a while. It's time for us to buy a companion to our compact utility tractor. We need a garden (yard?) tractor that is capable of mowing grass, pulling implements such as an aerator or a seeder on the pasture/meadows. Most of our property is wooded, so we need something that we can use in the woods riding along tractor trails picking up wood debris, firewood etc. Our clear cut pastures are about 4 acres total with slopes. Our two meadows have big trees on them and have steeper hills than the pastures, total area about 3 acres.

We thought about using the CUT tractor for all of this, but found it to be unpractical (too heavy=leaving imprints, need something to turn easily in tights spots, not designed for mowing etc.)

What would you recommend? Looking at a Craftsman Pro Series 54" 26 HP, however it's kind of pricey $3,000, would like to stay in the $2000-$2500 range.

Thanks!

murphy1244 · Sep 6, 2016

finnfarmer2 said:
First post, been lurking for a while. It's time for us to buy a companion to our compact utility tractor. We need a garden (yard?) tractor that is capable of mowing grass, pulling implements such as an aerator or a seeder on the pasture/meadows. Most of our property is wooded, so we need something that we can use in the woods riding along tractor trails picking up wood debris, firewood etc. Our clear cut pastures are about 4 acres total with slopes. Our two meadows have big trees on them and have steeper hills than the pastures, total area about 3 acres.

We thought about using the CUT tractor for all of this, but found it to be unpractical (too heavy=leaving imprints, need something to turn easily in tights spots, not designed for mowing etc.)

What would you recommend? Looking at a Craftsman Pro Series 54" 26 HP, however it's kind of pricey $3,000, would like to stay in the $2000-$2500 range.

Thanks!

Your price range is too low for a quality garden machine. Need to go up to 5 or 6k.

flusher · Sep 6, 2016

I found a Bolens GT 1453 garden tractor on Craigslist for $650. Came with a mid-mount mower deck (48" wide) and a 33" wide rototiller.

Used it mostly to till the veggie garden. After 4 years I replaced the ailing Tecumseh engine with a $350 Predator engine (420 cc, 13 hp, Honda clone) from Harbor Freight.

New garden tractors are pretty expensive ($4K plus).

Good luck.

oldballs · Sep 6, 2016

I'd agree with other posters about your price range for a new decent machine. Your best hope would be to find a machine like flusher's. I've got a 33 year old Case 18 HP that I've retired from extended hard work. They are out there, but you had better get ready to do some serious parts searching and wrenching to maintain one....unless you are extremely lucky. :2cents:

Wagtail · Sep 6, 2016

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

If you're happy with the level of support from your Kioti dealership, I'd talk with them about your needs. They may cut you a deal due to being a repeat customer, although you may have to talk with a different salesperson as SCUTs and above are usually separate sales from 'Lawn Tractors' & mowers. They may have something that's been "previously loved" to suit your requirements.

Enjoy the site.

roadhunter · Sep 6, 2016

The first time I tried a zero turn was the last time I considered lawn tractors. This was just a cheap zero turn but it runs circles around the green lawn tractor I used to buy every few years. They will still pull things just fine but mow much faster.

There are certainly nicer one in the 6k range available that are more commercial quality but you can mow a lot of grass with a 2.5k or 3k zero turn. This is probably a good time to buy a mower.

buickanddeere · Sep 6, 2016

The sure way to know the garden tractor has a heavy duty transaxle is if the rear wheels use five bolts to hold each of them on. Under no circumstances purchase a lawn tractor with a K46 transaxle unless it's for a small level lawn and plans for using the tractor for more than 200 hours in it's lifetime.

finnfarmer2 · Sep 7, 2016

Thank you for all the replies! Unfortunately, our budget is tight this fall as we need to buy a chipper and a stump grinder. I might have to start looking for a used one, even though I do not like to buy other peoples problems (my experience).

Good comment about staying away from the K46 transmissions. That's what we figured as well, the garden tractors we've been looking all have the K58 transmission.

finnfarmer2 · Sep 12, 2016

We found a great clearance deal on a Craftsman Pro 50" 26 HP and brought it home. This one is identical to the 54" we were looking at earlier, but $900 cheaper fitting our budget and needs perfectly. Thanks again for all the replies. Now off to getting a new chipper....