Buying Advice New to the site and to owning acres

[Don87]

Life is hard. Its even harder when your stupid.

Sounds like someone wants to start trouble, but lacks the knowledge to back themselves up.

For knowledge hop on over to the lawn and garden section and do some reading on the MTD mowers.
My next door neighbor(20 years ago), asked my advice on buying a rider for his 3 acres....I told him to get a Cub Cadet.
He picked up one of those 4 wheel steer things from Lowes. 2 weeks later, an axle broke off, then the charging system went, then the tranny locked up. It didn't even finish the summer.
My father-in-Law purchased one of those cute Yard Machine lawn tractors, he got 2 years out of it mowing 1/2 acre.......same deal as my neighbor, broke down at least every other week.
A good friend of mine that lives in South Carolina, Picked up a nice Troy Built(now made by MTD), just this year. Nothing but problems with it he said. Especially the charging circuit. After he runs it for an hour, it starts drainng the battery........dealer told him it was designed that way.
I could give you numerous more 'real life experiences' with MTD, but I think my point was made.

 

[jimmyj]

Welcome to TBN and congrats on your new land-lubber lifestyle!

If you just want to mow, a ZTR is the way to go. My neighbor just gone one of these and it is amazing. I don't know if they have them in your area, but commercial quality can't be beat.
CubCadet - The TANK - Category

 

[smstonypoint]

Life is hard. Its even harder when your stupid.

Or can't spell. You meant "It's even harder when you're stupid."



Steve

 

[TripleR]

First, I would like to thank you for your service.

As to the mower, I will add my opinion. I know lots of people like the ZTR mowers, but I am not one of them and I can't even get my wife to look at one. My preference for pure mowing would be a front deck like the F Series from Kubota. Yes, they cost a lot of money, but you may never need another one.

As to MTD, won't own another one, ever.

 

[TripleR]

As for quotes, just thought I would add this:

Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway.
John Wayne

Get off your butt and join the Marines!
John Wayne

Get off your horse and drink your milk.
John Wayne

I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.
John Wayne

If everything isn't black and white, I say, 'Why the **** not?'
John Wayne

If you've got them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow.
John Wayne

Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid.
John Wayne

Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid.
John Wayne

Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much.
John Wayne

Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.
John Wayne

Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.
John Wayne

 

[gauthier]

No wonder I always liked john wayne movies

 

[fredhargis]

I've used a Dixon ZTR for 15 years and highly recommend them. If you get in touch with Sweet's tractor you might get a killer deal (no connection). I would also avoid the Lowes JD...only because I think the mass market units aren't as well made as the higher end brands/models. BTW, Sweet is an advertiser on this forum, I don't have link but there's some info around here somewhere.

 

[hmblasi]

Ive seen Sweet in a few forums, he does seem to get some good deals for people. I need to find out where the nearest service center is.....just in case. My neighbor has a used dixon he bought, seen him working on it the other day

Anyone know much about Dixie Choppers? They have some good deals for brand new mowers.

 

[scoutcub]

Welcome to TBN and congrats on your new land-lubber lifestyle!

If you just want to mow, a ZTR is the way to go. My neighbor just gone one of these and it is amazing. I don't know if they have them in your area, but commercial quality can't be beat.
CubCadet - The TANK - Category

Another welcome to TBN, and thanks for your service! Now that you've given up you're "sea legs" you can have some fun seat time.....!

I will second the Cub Cadet "Tank" as living up to it's name. I had a M72, 72" deck with 28HP diesel, talk about an indestructible beast. I sold it because my yard at the time was a bit small... now with my new 1.5 acres, wish I still had it.....

good luck and have fun shopping!

 

[Gittyup]

Many, many options to your problem. But, given the amount of grass and the associated hours placed on the machine doing the cutting, I wouldn't consider anything but diesel. If you go gas, you'll be replacing it or rebuilding the engine every 5 years or so. And then there is the fuel consumption to consider.

If it were me(really though I would never cut 5 acres on a regular basis), I'd be looking for at least 72 inch cutting width, diesel, and fast (if the land is smooth enough for that). So, for $7K this would push you to a good used professional grade machine. Doubt you can get new for that price.

And if you have other chores, like snow removal, loader work, etc, you should then be looking for a tractor with a big finish mower. Again, 72" minimum or bigger with this option, may think about 7 or 8'. Of course, that will mean a little older (but still plenty good iron) 40+ HP that can handle the bigger mower and stay within your budget. Then buy a cheap riding mower for around the house. My dad had great luck with $1000 mowers from Sears. He cut 3/4 acre and would get 10 to 13 years out of them.

The other view is to treat it as desposible and replace it every 3 - 5 years. Here you'd be looking for the lowest cost best quality and that's a real subjective one there. Nothing short of high quality is going to last or be fast enough on 5 acres.

You want the land and you want to keep in like a lawn, you're simply gonna have to pay for it.