New member from Michigan

[Mare]

Hi! I'm shopping for something all around that will mow the lawn, scrape the barnyard in the spring, and flip the manure pile. I have 2 horses on 3 acres and most of it is lawn now but will eventually be mostly fenced for the horses. I'm thinking John Deere because they have good special offers. I don't want to buy used; as a single woman I don't want to horse around with repairs. I'm thinking a x300 or x500 and attach a johnny bucket jr. for flipping the pile. I know they don't lift very high but FEL is out of my league.

I'm thinking X series rather than D because I want it to last a long time.

I also have a small non-PTO manure spreader and would like to be able to remove snow in some way but don't really want to think about that now since it's finally spring in Michigan!

I welcome any and all suggestions!

 

[davesl708]

Hi. Welcome. The X would be a good choice. Consider used to get a bigger machine with a FEL. Will give you more options.
Used equipment is usually low hours. You will find the FEL has a lot of uses. A SCUT can do all you want and last a lifetime.

 

[mguitas]

:welcome:

 

[Mare]

Hi. Welcome. The X would be a good choice. Consider used to get a bigger machine with a FEL. Will give you more options.
Used equipment is usually low hours. You will find the FEL has a lot of uses. A SCUT can do all you want and last a lifetime.

I forgot to mention, also, my barn is only 30 x 50 and I don't have room to keep anything larger than a garden tractor unless I built a lean-to on the back or something.

 

[Walt 2002]

Welcome,

Walt Conner

 

[zzvyb6]

I would not rule out a used machine so quickly. This will save you some money and also give you time and experience with a tractor that you may want to use only until you find out what you really need (as in buyer's remorse). A used machine will easily sell if you keep it maintained and clean. Maybe get a used something to dig holes for fences, cut grass and fields, and clean up the yard. Then sell and get something to just maintain your property. Your barn is plenty big for horses, hay, bedding, tack and a tractor.

Once you've had a loader for moving stuff, pulling out broken fence posts, moving trailers around, getting firewood, carrying 'stuff' up to the house, grading a driveway and moving snow, it's hard to give one up.


BTW: There is a nice looking 2011 X540 showing on Craigslist in Fowlerville right now. Comes with mower deck, snowblower, tire chains and front blade. You could sell off attachments you don't want or need. The 47 snowblower looks brand new and would easily sell for +$2000 in season.

I borrowed a few tractors before I bought new. Now my machine does everything I need for horse operations. The earlier machines didn't work out. That meant separating the lawn mowing job from horse operations and pasture maintenance. A "just for mowing" machine makes more sense for me and good used ones are all over the place.

 

[Mare]

I would not rule out a used machine so quickly. This will save you some money and also give you time and experience with a tractor that you may want to use only until you find out what you really need (as in buyer's remorse). A used machine will easily sell if you keep it maintained and clean. Maybe get a used something to dig holes for fences, cut grass and fields, and clean up the yard. Then sell and get something to just maintain your property. Your barn is plenty big for horses, hay, bedding, tack and a tractor.

Once you've had a loader for moving stuff, pulling out broken fence posts, moving trailers around, getting firewood, carrying 'stuff' up to the house, grading a driveway and moving snow, it's hard to give one up.


BTW: There is a nice looking 2011 X540 showing on Craigslist in Fowlerville right now. Comes with mower deck, snowblower, tire chains and front blade. You could sell off attachments you don't want or need. The 47 snowblower looks brand new and would easily sell for +$2000 in season.

I borrowed a few tractors before I bought new. Now my machine does everything I need for horse operations. The earlier machines didn't work out. That meant separating the lawn mowing job from horse operations and pasture maintenance. A "just for mowing" machine makes more sense for me and good used ones are all over the place.

Thanks, I checked out that tractor and I can use every one of those attachments, no need to sell them off. I will definitely get in touch with that seller!

I came back here tonight to ask opinions about an 11 year old nice condition x485 for $5100 with no implements and that's when I saw your post. The x540 looks like the better bargain by far.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

Wow, you must have a lot of stuff in your barn. I have 30x36 barn and have a zero turn mower, my Massey tractor, a boat, a quad and a go cart. I think you would really like a SCUT tractor with a loader. They are not really much bigger than the x540 you are looking at. Go talk to Keith at Budd's Tractor on Michigan just west of town. He sells Kioti and they make a nice SCUT the model is CS2410. They usually have good financing deals available.

 

[Mare]

I talked to Mike at Budd's just the other day! I looked at that very machine and would certainly not mind having it some day but I like the previous advice from dave and zz about buying used until I figure out exactly what I need.

I could squeeze a loader tractor into the barn, no problem, but then I wouldn't have room to move horses around much plus I'd be walking around it all the time which could get old. Building some kind of lean-to on the back would be easy so that's something to consider for the future. Rome wasn't built in a day.