Newbie Confused

[5hole]

All,

Hello! Been reading TBN for a few months now. Excellent site. I've enjoyed reading through the forums and learning along the way. I'm hoping that you all can offer some insight/advice to a tractor newbie.

I've made the jump from a 1/4 acre lot to 1 acre. Our new place has some hilly areas, but it's fairly gently sloping, from the front of the lot to the back, and side to side. I've got some moles which give some soft spots in the yard. And the back yard is soft for a day or so after a good rain since it's mostly shaded. I have a few trees to mow around, but the majority of the trees line the back of the property.

That being said, I'm in a real state of confusion over what to get to handle the yard. I spent a couple days at a JD dealer nearby looking at various tractors from the LT up to the 2210. I really liked the way the 2210 handled. But I'm concerned that it's too big for my property, both in size and weight. And there's part of me that keeps thinking that such a machine is severe overkill for my property. The dealer said that the 2210 would be fine, but they also said an LT would do the job.

I plan on using the machine mostly as a mower, say 90% of the time. I have some fill/grading work to do on the property to address some drainage issues. And I have a lot of landscaping (from vine to bushes to medium sized trees) to tear out around the entire house, and then redo the landscaping.

I can certainly see the advantages of the 2210, from an attachment standpoint if nothing else. An FEL and tiller seem like they would help me with the work I have ahead of me. And I have a few friends who I'm sure would LET me bring the tractor to their house for their projects.

Any guidance you all can offer will greatly be appreciated. I seem to be stuck in a never ending circle at the moment. I can think it through once and decide that the LT is enough, then go through the same process again and decide that the 2210 is what I need. I'm sure I forgot some detail, but hopefully I have enough here for your input.

Thanks in advance!
Greg

 

[Inspector507]

5hole,
I had an LT4000 Craftsman mower and mowed the lawn /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have 2 acres, so you can imagine the time I put in riding that thing. I was beating that thing to death.

Now, I'm not really up on the LT series, myself. But it will cut your one acre, no doubt. But I wouldn't put much money on it doing too much tilling and loader work. If you even THINK you'll need it to do those projects later, look at the 2210 a little bit harder.
I ended up buying a TC18 New Holland with loader and MMM. I've never looked back. I still have the LT4000. My wife MIGHT use it once a year to help out, but I keep it for the ditch by the road where the TC18 would flip over. If the riding mower ever goes sour on me, I'll use a weed whacker to cut out by the road /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[755inNY]

Greg,

This same problem (at all levels of the tractor line-up) has driven many a TBN member mad. Welcome to the club!

The LT will handle your mowing needs but not all of the other things you have listed (and even those you have not thought of yet).

If it fits your budget, I would go for the 2210. I think your dilema, common to many, is that you only NEED a mower but you would like to be able to do so much more. If you get the LT, I expect that you will be trading up in a couple of years because the "other" things will become needs that you will be compelled to satisfy.

Sooner or later you will get the tractor you WANT. Might as well be now.

Jeff

 

[beenthere]

You are getting good advice, IMO.
Now, if you find out the 2210 is 'too big', then buy a bigger place that fits the 2210.
Problem no more. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SteveH_CT]

I think I'll suggest another route here - Have you considered some of the larger garden tractors like the X series, or the Simplicity XL? To me, the 2210 might be mild to moderate overkill. I think they're great little tractors... and if you want to spend the bucks go for it, you'll be smiling. But for the self described 90% mowing of 1 acre or less I'd look smaller - Heck I've got a 4310 and I cut my lawn with a push mower still /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif - Of course that's my problem... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[rivers]

I was faced with a similar decision and I am very happy that I went with the 2210. JD salesman was dropping off my GT235 and was a little unsure how it would do on my hill of a driveway with a snowblower. Thank goodness my wife was home when he said that. It made things that much easier in convincing her on the 2210.
Seeing that you have some "projects" on the horizon, I'd go for the 2210. You'll be amazed that the 10% of the non-mowing time quickly increases to 20-25% with all the possible uses of attachments. Good luck.

 

[RobS]

You're getting good advice. For your lot size a lawn tractor (LT), intermediate (X-series) or SCUT (2210) will each handle the mowing well. The key difference will be the loader. If you have any inclination that you'd like a 20+ hp wheelbarrow to help you around the place, get the 2210. Once you have it (with FEL), you'll be amazed at what you can do with it. Your mowing percentage may drop to 80% and the FEL uses will grow daily /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Hambone]

I have a three acre lot to mow, minus house, barn garden ect. I started out with two and a Sears lawn tractor. Then bought a JD 335 in 2000 new. I purchased the other acre and thought I was spending two much time mowing with the 48" deck. Found this site.
Ended up buying the 2210 with the loader, never looked back! Mowing time is 1.5 hours. We use the loader all the time. Moving mulch, rocks ect. Bought a tiller for the garden and smoothing and reseeding areas. Best money I have spent. If all I did was mowing the 335 with a 54" deck probably would have been fine. I did not know how much I needed a FEL until I got one. Now have over 150 hours on the 2210 and wish I would of had one from the beginning.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Git the 2210. You will love it as mower and even more for the loader. If you get a lawn tractor and add almost anything to it you'd wish you'd gotten the 2210...

 

[deere_x475guy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You are getting good advice, IMO.
Now, if you find out the 2210 is 'too big', then buy a bigger place that fits the 2210.
Problem no more. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

Actually this is pretty much what I did....well not exactly. My wife and I currently live in a sub on a 1/3 acre corner lot. We just purchased 4.5 acres to build a log home and pole barn. I bought the 2210 the next day after closeing on the property. I thought that mowing my 1/3 acre would be a pain with the larger tractor. I was wrong. While it is over kill for the sub lot I can get anywhere I did with the X475 I had and I have less trim work to do. I have the 62 inch deck and it sticks out far enough to get in tighter.

Good luck on your decision....

 

[DAP]

5 ... you are correct. Go with your gut. That is too much tractor.

Any 15hp and up gas tractor will cut this area in the same amount of time and with basically the same results.

Save your cash and spend it where it's better used.

 

[JayC]

I, too, would recommend the 2210, but if you still think it is too big, what about a X585? You can have a FEL on it. I think it even has an optional limited 3PH. Also, if you're interested, Simplicity came out with a small tractor that can handle a FEL and hoe. I think it is called the Legacy XL. That is along the lines of the X585. Good luck in your search. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[SteveH_CT]

Finally some sane advice here! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I looked at the folks offering advice to buy the 2210 and all have multi-acre yards... this fine fellow has a 1 acre lot... minus driveway... minus house... you're looking at under an acre to maintain... come on you other guys - we all Love Deeres... but your talking him into driving a nail with a sledgehammer! A 2210 for under an acre of yard... I don't even think Deere would recommend that.

5Hole... Look around and come to your own conclusion... I understand the desire to want a bigger toy... but I'd go smaller than the 2210 and pocket the difference... go buy your beautiful wife something with the $$$ you save. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

DO NOT LISTEN to Steve, he is having trouble with his sanity at the moment...

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[jpr62902]

Okay, Steve. Now that your new Mrs. is NOT looking over your shoulder as you play on TBN, tell us what you really think. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I have an acre with a BX22 and it's real time saver. A 2210 will probably out last two or three LT's, plus it's much more versatile and capable of heavier duty chores.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Sorry guys... it's been so quiet around here lately that I thought I'd take a (good hearted) stab at getting some excitement! I don't see how he could go wrong either way. I actually do think a 2210 is kinda large for this yard... but as long as he's willing to spend the bucks it certainly would serve him well. With a 2210 and a pool he's gonna be the most popular guy in the neighborhood. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Inspector507]

OK, lets see, I have 1.67 acres, not quite twice his lot size. But I decided to quit tearing up a Crafstman LT and go with a TC18. My health dictates I do less manual labor nowadays.
With that said, I have dug numerous post holes, plowed snow, hauled wood, hauled 25 bags of quickrete, hauled 10 ton of stone to the back, tilled the garden, plowed the garden, drug a 500 lb wood stove ( 1/2" boiler plate construction) out of the basement, etc........
Lots of things for me to use something bigger than an LT on my property. Thats why I said......."If you ever THINK ..."

 

[Dutch445]

5Hole, here's another idea to consider. Look at the amount of actual loader work, now and after your landscaping is done, and try to justify if it is really worth getting into a compact tractor. If you think maybe not, you could look into an entry level garden tractor, GT235 or so, with a mower, a large cart, and you could even get a tiller. If you are having topsoil brought in, maybe they could dump that in small loads where you need it. There is even a front blade for the GT that could help level out dirt etc. You are only talking 1 acre, and the house, driveway etc take up some of that space, so it isn't like you are putting in a 2 or 3 acre lawn. The cart could be used for hauling old shrubs etc to the back 40, or moving dirt around. If you really need to dig, rent a loader/tractor or skid steer, coordinate it when you get your topsoil delivered, and do it all in a weekend. Look at future usage, for 1 acre, and think about how much will you really use attachments etc on a tractor like the 2210.
Just another opinion, of which there are many!

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif