Newbie looking for recommendations on a purchase

[Badfinger]

Hi All,

I just happened to stumble on to this forum as I was surfing the web for pricing and information on JD equipment. What a great site! I'm buying a place and will need equipment to maintain or mow four acres and clear snow from about a 250' of recently repaved driveway. The mowing is all grass and pretty flat with maybe 20 trees and includes the areas around the house and barn. The current owner mows it all with a Toro Z Master and " never has to get off ". I'll try to attach pictures.


I went to a local dealer and they were very nice, no pressure kinda guys. They recommended either A X485 AWS or the x585 4WD with a 62" mower, 3 Bag System w/ blower and click-n-go, 54" blade w/ rubber squeegee, rear weight kit, and possibly the 47" snowblower. They said the blower doesn't do well with a small snow of a few inches and recommended the blade. I live in South West Ohio near Dayton and we get some pretty good snows.

My question is about the trade offs between the two tractors. I stuck between the advantage of the all wheel steering for the mowing and 4WD for plowing snow. Obviously, I'll be doing more mowing than plowing...I hope. I'm wondering how the X485 will do pushing snow with the blade as opposed to the X585. Also, would I still need the 47" blower?

I would really appreciate your thoughts or suggestions about these tractors or other recommendation.

I orginally considered a Zero turn and a walk behind 2 stage snow blower.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[browns40]

Hi badfinger,

When I was originally looking around I was looking at those models as well, and the JD dealer said:

"if that was in the price range you would do well to look at the 2210's d/t more capabilities down the road, without a huge price jump."

I ended up going as big as I could swing, but have large long-range projects in mind that I needed at least a mid-size for, so got the 3320...

That's as far as I got with the 485 & 585... nice machines though... I would have gone diesel for sure...

Good luck!

 

[Badfinger]

Thanks Browns 40,

I've just been reading on here about that very tractor. Would it be too big for mowing the yard around the house? I don't want to have to buy a second smaller rider if possible.

How do these prices sound?

2005 X485 w/ 62" mower = $ 9,969

2005 X585 , HDAP tires, 62" mower = $10,449
54" Blade w/ quick hitch & angling = $ 1,206
3bag system w/click-n-go = $ 1,491
Rear wheel weight brkt and weights = $ 360

Thanks for the quick response,

Jim

 

[keerym]

The 2210, and now the 2305 are great little tractors. BUT, not everyone needs one. If your just planning on mowing grass and plowing snow, get an X series. Thats what they do best. Do you have alot of things to trim around? If you do, I would look hard at the AWS version. 4 wheel drive is great for plowing, but before the X500 series and the 2210, people got by without it. Diesel is also nice, but in all honesty will probably outlast the useful life of the tractor. Diesels do burn less fuel, but you will need to run a LONG time to make up the difference in purchase price. Unless your a commercial user, the EFI gas engine should serve you just fine.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

I have a 3320 with a 72" 7-iron MMM and it is great. I mow around many obsticles including house, shop , 30+ trees, a pond, tons of culverts, lots of obsticles on grade, etc. It is great. With the loader I can also use a 72" snow plow, and the 3320 offers a 59" two stage snow blower, tons of rear mower options, not to mention tillers, Post hole diggers, chippers, sprayers, etc. It is an awesome machine for sure. I wanted it to be a versatile machine that will handle about any job I will need to do around the hobby farm I have.

If you have the room I would not think twice about a 2210 or larger on your four acres. Right now 2210s are prime items to buy as they will be replaced soon. I bet for 10K you can get a sweet 2210 with mower deck. Not much more money than an X (maybe cheaper with those prices) and sweet possibilities. Loaders and Cat1 hitch, and dual PTOs open a world more possibilities. My dealer was saying the2210 has all but killed his homeowner X sales. 10K is a chunk for a mower - might as well get the most you can from it. Those that jsut want the best mowers usually buy zero turns. Those that want functionality are buying SCUT and CUT according to the dealer. Price a 2210 locally.

Just some options.

If you go X I bet you will love it - with 4 acres a bunch of possibilities will exist! I know with the 6 I have it is crazy.

Also check financing options - may get some nice numbers in a SCUT like the 2210 or 2305.

Check out the info on John Deere's 7-iron deck. It is really really nice!!
John Deere 7-iron mowing deck

 

[al3]

Had a X485 for two year, a 2210 briefly, and now a 4110.

For mowing and snow removal (with a thrower or blower) only, it’d be hard to beat the X series. Previous poster addressed the gas vs diesel issues of longevity and fuel usage. Do a search and read previous posts about mower deck adjustments, lockup, cutting radius, ROPS/tree clearance and such. Might want to look up thoughts on resale value also, if that’s of any importance to you.

Joysticks are great for FEL work, but the two lever system on the X is easier (IMHO) for snow removal using the blower. One lever puts the lift in float; then you can use the other lever to direct chute rotation. A bit less user friendly (in cold weather, covered with snow) to do that with a joy stick without taking it out of float occasionally.

X is physically shorter (storage space), lighter (transporting on a trailer), squatter (lower center of gravity).

So if you don’t need a FEL or 3-point hitch set up (roter tillers to grow some great Ohio tomatoes) or the need to do some occasional off-road/lawn excursions where the lack of ground clearance will bite you, take a serious look at the X.

Mine had some cold weather surging issues at below zero; because of it’s compact nature it was also a beast to change out a broken hyd steering box hose. You’ll have to live with or address the reverse PTO lockout that comes with the X---not the best idea for winter snow-blowing. My 2WD X had some traction issues in severe ice and deep untracked snow that wouldn't ruffle a 2210/2305. The 2210 didn’t give up very much in the turning radius comparison either. And there was the cup-holder issue…….

Good luck

 

[Badfinger]

Thanks for the comment and suggestions. I have the room for it I just don't know how to gage or size the tractor to my needs. I'm getting there. I think it will fit in here:

http://jimmylee.smugmug.com/photos/44127563-M.jpg

 

[BloomingtonMike]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks for the comment and suggestions. I have the room for it I just don't know how to gage or size the tractor to my needs. I'm getting there. I think it will fit in here:

http://jimmylee.smugmug.com/photos/44127563-M.jpg )</font>

Typically those are built for a reason and mowing/snow plowing usually does not command that size of a home. Are there large tractors about??

 

[JDFANATIC]

badfinger,

Why not have the dealer drop off an X and a 2210/2305 for you to try out around your yard? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[ronjhall]

One thing to consider when you are purchasing, is how much time you want to spend on your task. A 60"ZTR will cut 4 acres of lawn in less than 2 hours.
A 2 stage walk behind snowblower will take hours to clear the amount of drive you show in your picture.
A tractor to mow at the same speed would require a 72" mower.
That same tractor would clear your drive and parking area in about 1/2 hour with a 72" front blade.
Any of the tractors mentioned will do the job for you. But if time is a concern. Consider a tractor with 72" MMM and FEL or front blade.
Did you notice when you found TBN, that we like spend other peoples money? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif