SMALL tractor/mower suggestions?

timb · Aug 10, 2004

Just thinking out loud here...

I'm blessed with not only a great CFO, but the wonderful set of in-laws she came with. They've done more for us than we can ever compensate - not that they are looking for that. (In fact, one of the tough parts of this will be getting them to accept something from us.) But, now that we can, we have discussed doing something or other as a small token of our gratitude and have bounced around a couple of completely unrelated ideas.

One of those ideas would be to buy them a new small tractor. They love gardening and also keep about 2 of their 4 or 5 acres in 'good' lawn. MIL does most of the lawn cutting, FIL does most of the gardening ground work. Today they have an old Ford Jubilee (which runs great and isn't going anywhere) and a middle-aged JD 265 lawn tractor (small walk-behind rear-tine rototiller for the garden and walk-behind snow-blower for winter as well). Really, the two tractors compliment each other pretty well - and I'm now 500 yards away with my 4710 and 460 FEL if we need to do something heavier.

So while there's no compelling reason to add another tractor - I was thinking of primarily replacing the JD 265 with something a bit more deluxe for mowing as well as possibly something that would help them continue gardening and other groundskeeping for as long as they want (they're both 65 now). FIL built a small stainless steel cart for the 265, and with bar tires and weights does a lot of light hauling chores with it. The old Ford gets the heavier loads with a big cart and does the 'field/yard' cutting with a 6 foot Woods rfm (both of them drive it, my MIL grew up on that tractor).

They are JD fans, (the Ford notwithstanding) and I'm 98% sure that for mowing reasons on their good lawn (much nicer than mine) I wouldn't want to go any heavier than a 4110 - or with a mmm deck much bigger than 52"-54". In fact I'm primarily thinking either X-Series or 2210. I like the idea of a ROPS for them, but I'm not sure I could get them to use the seatbelt anyway - and the non-folding ROPS on the 2210 would get in the way in a lot of spots. Actually a new 300-series would probably work, but I like the X-Series all-shaft, easier attachment work, and possibly MFWD.

I also know that they are too... ah.. "thrifty" to ever be likely to buy any significant attachments after the fact - so I'm figuring whatever we do it would likely be a package deal - maybe tractor, mmm, and tiller, possibly a snow blower, but 'probably' not an FEL (not sure about that yet).

There would be no real heavy landscaping - just cutting, the odd hauling, and the gardening and snow removal (maybe 1800 sq feet of driveway) SO... for the folks who have studied the X-Series/2210 decision, what way did you go - and how has that worked out? Anyone have one of the high-end current 300's?

beenthere · Aug 10, 2004

Please don't take this wrong.
I am a firm believer in 'letting' them make their own decisions on what to buy (but I got in trouble once on this forum suggesting that to a daughter who was making the decision to buy a tractor for her 'old' dad).

Regardless, seems the 'old' FIL and MIL (same age as I am!), would be happier with a gift certificate to buy what they want, and would be much happier than something 'picked' by SIL.
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif No 'lecture' intended here. Do as you wish to do. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Last week I loaned my X485 to an 'old' neighbor whose YardMan broke down and he couldn't get it fixed (bearings, etc.) for another week, and he mows about 5 acres at his farm. At first he said he had trouble getting on and off, but he soon found that he was mowing more (54" vs 42"), faster speed, less gas, more comfortably, and really liked the hydro forward, reverse. Also, found it easier to get on/off than his YardMan. He surprised me by buying a used (200 hour) X485 the next day, and has been mowing up a storm. This guy is in his middle 80's.
To me, the X series is the 'cadilac' of any mower line, and will come with a great snow blower, or blade, and has the leaf pick-up attachments and is pretty easy to make the changes between equipment. Should last the in-laws another 20 years. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PsRumors · Aug 10, 2004

**** I hope I get a SIL like you some day. I have a 1 in 2 chance.

jayhawkRoy · Aug 10, 2004

If the 265 is OK mechanically, and there is no compelling reason to replace it, consider paying for a good overall check up at the JD dealer and possibly replacing the seat and/or mower deck if they are really beat up. It may be that FIL & MIL like/are used to the set ups they have. The newer lawn tractors aren't all they're advertised to be -- I still like my JD 325 the best and it is the oldest. It's the keeper; the other two younger ones I maintain are dispensable.

If Plan A doesn't work, I like the Gift Card idea from a store they like to patronize. We do this for a lot of folks who have what they mostly need and are hard to shop for. Usually you get feedback on what was purchased with the GC and it is exactly what was wanted.

zuiko · Aug 10, 2004

I would think the X series would be the way to go, since they have access to the Ford and your 4710 if they need something bigger. That would eliminate any advantage I can see on the 2210.

A tiller and snowblower for it are a great idea and would justify the upgrade. I don't think I would want to have to run walkbehinds on those items at that age.

timb · Aug 10, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the 'old' FIL and MIL (same age as I am!), )</font>

LOL! No offense meant - they're actually in pretty good shape right now, FIL walks 4-5 miles or bikes 8-10 miles every day (we're close to one of the "rails-to-trails" in the area. MIL will usually go a mile or two at least.)

FIL also still cuts enough firewood to last them all winter (oil furnace is rarely used) back in our woodlot (and hand-split although he has been making noises again about getting a woodsplitter one of these days). But ten or even five years from now their ability to work outside may be significantly different than today.

There is a JD lawn&garden dealership a mile away where they bought the 265 (used even then) and they know and like the dealer. But I don't think they'd go for a 'shopping trip'. Likewise I know they would never accept more than a tiny 'gift card' from us - but if a shiny new tractor was parked in their driveway we could probably convince them to keep it. Maybe. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

They are extremely self-sufficient and consider themselves 'simple' folk and don't like needless new complications. (Despite the fact that my MIL has driven the Ford for decades and used to drive a 3-on-the-tree pickup - she took one look at my 4710 and declared it 'too complicated for her'.) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JayC · Aug 10, 2004

When I was reading this thread I was thinking a 2210 would be perfect. With iMatch, hooking up a tiller would be a snap. When I saw that the ROPS wasn't foldable that hurt the idea, but on second thought, there was a thread a while back where someone modified the ROPS on their 2210 so that it would fold. Would that be worth considering?

timb · Aug 10, 2004

I think so far the 'folders' are either home-grown or aftermarket, and not 'blessed' by JD. I can't believe it will be long before a folding ROPS is on the option list.

One thing that could affect the outcome would be ground clearance. FIL does take the 265 (and cart) back through our place to the woods occasionally - with mmm on since that one's not that much fun to take off. It works, but ground clearance and getting hung up is ever an issue. If one of these tractors could deliver significantly better ground clearance with the deck tucked up (wouldn't take much) - or make it much easier to remove (or both) that would be a win.

For the same reasons, MFWD would be nice, although just the locking diff on the X-400's would be a step forward.

BigEddy · Aug 10, 2004

I'm with Beenthere. They're happy with what they have, and it's working well - don't think they would be that thrilled with a "replacement" for something that's perfectly fine just the way it is (Gee - I think I hear my dad talking)

But - I think if a brand new log splitter showed up, or better still a small firewood processor - you might just have a winner. You're not replacing something they already have, it is certainly going to get used, and it's something they would like to have but may just be too thrifty to buy for themselves. Plus it will reinforce the FIL's independence by allowing him to continue to cut his own wood even after he can't manage the hand splitting any longer.

Just another option.

timb · Aug 10, 2004

BigEddy - the splitter is on the list of ideas as well, for sure - although that one would be more for the FIL than MIL. It's tough to find an idea they'd get equal pleasure/use out of. FIL was a millwright and has built a ton of stuff himself. He had ideas of doing a tractor-powered splitter and scrounged a few things (cylinders) towards that end but I think he was discouraged by the lack of suitable hydraulics on the Ford. Real reason I held off of that idea was I wouldn't mind getting one myself - and at the end of the day I would lean more toward a tractor-powered unit than a self-powered splitter. But while that would be compatible with my 4710, it wouldn't work with the Ford. (and I hate having more motors around to maintain.)

Another idea was we'd really like to take them / send them on a nice trip. CFO and I have been fortunate enough to travel to Maine and Hawaii and a lot of place in between, but MIL won't set foot on a plane (especially after 9/11).

Tough to treat 'simple folks' who really do have everthing they need for their lifestyle. Just about anything we'd do would be just for the pampering/luxury aspect and they're the kind who tend to scoff at 'too much luxury'.