Purchasing a Garden Tractor for my 2 acre yard.

[Gittyup]

I would look for a used X700 series, BX, JD 23xx or 41xx, MF GC series, or similar sized machine. You'll get a lot more tractor that is way more capable. Even a used JD 400 series in good condition would be a great way to go. I would be leery of the X300's for pulling ground engagement tools. I've read that the trannies aren't up to heavy duty usage. They would be fine with a tiller, but not something like a boxblade. The x530 might be the best option for new under $8K. Don't underestimate the value of hydraulics.

 

[KennyG]

For the leaf vacuums, the DR, the Trac Vac and the Agri Fab all seem to be reasonable choices. However, I went with the Cyclone Rake for two reasons. First the quality appears a little higher and there are more options on sizes and accessories. Second, it folds up and hangs on the wall. If storage space is any kind of an issue, the CR takes very little floor space.

 

[s219]

I think for most of what you described, an X300-X500 is fine. However, for rototilling and land leveling, I would go with something better. A Deere X700 series can manage a rototiller very well in soft ground (i.e., an established garden). Not sure what you mean by land leveling, but that is likely to challenge even an X700 series machine with 4WD. For any serious ground engaging work (box blade, etc) both power and traction are needed, and you will often run out of one or the other if really moving a lot of material or digging in.

As mentioned, a Kubota BX can do all of the above and more, plus gives you the ability to have a very capable front loader. Same goes for the Deere 1000 series. As soon as you start looking at the X700 price range, to me you may as well go with a BX or 1000 series.

I have an older Deere LT lawn tractor, which is between the X300 and X500 series nowadays. It has a gear transmission, which is very robust. It's great for mowing and pulling around a garden cart. It does fine towing a core aerator loaded down with block weights, but definitely works hard on slight hills. It will run out of traction fairly quick, so I know its limits well. I would not use it for any sort of grading, tilling, etc.

I also have a diesel 4WD tractor for grading work, plowing snow, moving firewood, and driveway maintenance. Most of these chores are hinted at in the brochures for the X500/X700 series tractors, but I would not do it. The smaller tractors would struggle with power and traction.

 

[Baby Grand]

Hello!

I am looking to purchase a new garden or yard tractor to ease my everyday yard chores as I've just moved in to my new home with a 2.4 acre yard. The yard is mostly flat land with very slight bumps and several trees scattered across. I need a tractor that can mow the lawn and is capable of carrying a rear attached leaf vacuum bag, a rear attached rototiller, and if possible, a rear attached land leveling equipment.

I have been looking at specifically two price ranges; one being a price range of $3000-$5000 and the other being a price range of $5000-8000. For the $3k to $5k price range, it seems to me that the John Deere x304 and Hasqvarna GT48XLS are the leaders of this price range in terms of quality and a lot of other things according to many tractor info sites out there. For the $5k to $8k price range, I am hearing that the John Deere x500 series takes the cake? However, before I jump headfirst in buying, may you guys tell me your thoughts about these specific tractors and if there are even better value tractors out there in your opinions for these price ranges?

Also, for the well informed, may I receive any suggestions on the best attachments (looking at about $1k to $3k each one) for a leaf vacuum, rototiller, and some equipment to level the ground. So far, all I have to go on are these DRPOWER mower attachments, but I'm wondering if there are better quality and value ones that you guys may have looked into before.

DRPOWER Leaf Vacuum: DR Power Tow-Behind Leaf and Lawn Vacuum: Premier 9.59 ft lbs torque
DRPOWER Rototiller: DR Power Roto-Hog PREMIER 9 FPT Tow-Behind Rototiller

Finally, I wanted to apologize ahead of time if I am sounding misinformed about the topic of tractors and I really appreciate any suggestions or advice given on here. Thank you all so much as you are all helping me immensely by posting here, really.

Regards,
Lawrence

Welcome to the WTF (Which Tractor Fray), Lawrence.

What I learned, after much frustration, repairs and unbudgeted expenses, is to get a tractor that is up to the tasks that you need done, want done, and haven't yet dreamed of doing, but will. You're getting a lot of good advice pointing you towards the BX and for good reason. If we can disregard price for a minute, the BX, or similar tractor, is the ideal match for the tasks that you've described.

If I had 2.4 acres to maintain & improve, that's exactly what I'd be shopping for. It will give you decades of faithful service. It's diesel will burn about half (or less) of the fuel that the gas powered tractors will burn - to do the same amount of work. It will help you keep your lawn looking great.

Coming back to cost - with 0% financing, it may be a very affordable option. After paying it off in 4 or 5 years you will have a tractor that's still almost new, provided you maintain it and give it some shelter. It will hold it's value for a surprising length of time. Good luck trying to find much of a discount on a 4 or 5 year old used one in decent shape. Spend some time looking and you'll see what I mean.

By adding attachments, when you need them, it will adapt to match your changing needs. The BX is sort of the Swiss Army knife of the backyard. Bullet proof, flexible and very capable. With 4 wheel drive and a long, flat torque curve you can level ground, till up a huge garden, bury irrigation lines, etc. With the addition of an FEL, you can move piles gravel, mulch, soil, you name it - without busting your back.

Go visit some dealers, kick tires, get on and ride them.
Good luck & enjoy ... and tell us what you decide!

 

[the old grind]

I believe that holding to a price range may come back to haunt. What many of us learn when buying a first tractor is how big it should have been, so learning the potential trade-offs is paramount to the selection.

Kubotas are known for good hp/weight ratio, and seem to be ideal for mowing for just that reason. (tilling too!) Consider also that a CUT or SCUT's horsepower rating is no fair comparison to that of a gas powered and/or air cooled garden tractor by numbers alone. (We think in hp, but work with torque)

Better IMO to have something that accessories can be bought for, or not, than something that limits what the options are. It seems that those who don't spring the bucks going in often pay more later to catch up to their original intentions.

All that said, and no particular fan of the brand (objectivity, I hope) I couldn't agree more that a BX Kubo would be an ideal starting point. Bought or resold 'used' it will hold value long-term, and certainly get the job(s) done 'til then.

The OT part: bagging grass all season (to minimize 'hay rows') may stretch mowing intervals, but depletes already-poor soils even more. (how much of the ~two ac would be mowed and fertilized?) Bagging leaves makes sense, but unless you desire a s__-ton of mulch or compost bagging/unloading clippings adds time to the routine mowing job (up to x2 from experience). IMO best results come from mowing more often and keeping it simpler. Mow tall & often to minimize weeding and fertilizing. (13 yrs mowing 2ac over sandy soil (ZTR), and nice turf to show for my minimalist approach)

Lastly, I suggest that maintenance would be less o'all on a CUT/SCUT, and service access far better. 'Use enough Tractor' from the git-go. :2cents:
:welcome: tog

 

[check]

I agree with the old grind. I know it's easiest for us to spend your money. But I never regretted adding in the extra dollars that I needed to buy my Kubota BX 25.

If you are really lucky, you may be able to find a used one for sale, but you may have to pry it from the owner's cold dead hands! I know that you said you wanted to buy new, and so did I, but I would have bought a used one if I could've gotten my hands on one. They are that good.

The very best of luck to you!

 

[paulfun9]

. Instead, I've decided to follow through with a tractor from the John Deere X500 series as I am hoping that it is enough to get the job done.





.

The advice here is solid! The statement you make in this post isn't!

If I had to " HOPE SOMETHING" was enough there is no way I could not see that alone as a big enough red flag to immediately make me stop and rethink the purchase! Add to that the solid advise here from those who have gone that route before and have learned from their mistakes to the mix and its a second solid red flag!

My advice is the same as all others here. Look at the BX and all the machines of equal size from all the competition as well. You will be way ahead in the long run and you can take comfort in the fact that which ever of those machines you buy will be enough tool for the job.

 

[mikehaugen]

I at one point was dreaming of an x540 and was doing some comparison. I think Simplicity makes a comparable machine (in this case specifically the prestige) and I would seriously consider it as an alternative. I ended up getting a used commercial mower for cheap so the search has been put off for a few years, but when the need arises and finances allow those will be the 2 at the top of my list.

Btw, I have 2 1/2 acres also.

 

[Gittyup]

A lot of suggestions for a BX. A good choice no doubt. I just wanted to point out that in that size or similar, and similar cost, one should also consider the JD 1-series, Mahindra Max (my pick of the bunch), MF GCs, Kioti CK20, LS J-series.... The point is there are many to choose and the smart shopper will try as many as they can before buying.

The X700's will pull a tiller with no problem and work a small box blade within reason. Their bane is loaders (or lack thereof). You can get an aftermarket loader, but not OEM, and the capacity is pretty low. The X700s are outstanding mowers, snow movers, and pullers. Their small size coupled with excellent power and attachments makes them great for lawn and garden maintenance, but earth movers they are not the best choice.

I have the same size property and needed to do similar chores. I quickly came to the conclusion that one machine that does it all would not work because I had some fairly large earth moving projects plus highly complex mowing in many tight spaces. I ended up getting the mower first (back then a 425 that I've just replaced with an X739) and put off the earth chores until I could afford a real tractor. I now have a Kioti CK25, which is a beast for ground engagement and loader work. I use the X739 for grass, cart towing, snowplowing, sprayer,... everything it can do well. The CK is only used for loader, backhoe, and other earth moving chores.

Certainly a more costly approach to have two machines, but something to consider. If you can put off the earth chores until you can afford a second machine (or rent for this purpose only), you might find you can get more done with the right machine rather than compromise performance for an all-in-one.

 

[TJP89]

A small SCUT with turf tires will cut grass just fine, and will be a better earth mover than any lawn/garden tractor. By the time you pay for a big lawn tractor with specialty implements, you are at least equal to a small SCUT with loader and real implements. As mentioned, if you go with a SCUT, look at all the brands near you.