To upgrade or not to upgrade...?

Ovranalyzr · Jul 8, 2014

Ok guys long time reader, few time poster. I am in need of some advice and I know I've come to the right place.

I have approximately 6 acres with my house, driveway and yard taking up a little less than half of that amount. I have a Husqvarna 48 ZTR that is 8 years old and a Mitsubishi D1500 with a 4ft bush hog to keep the place up. I've been on the fence about getting a larger ZTR or tractor for some time. I know that a ZTR will run circles around a tractor, however, my pastures are not smooth. I used to have horses to help keep the grass down, but don't any longer and am finding myself cutting more frequently than desired.

I need some of my time back on the weekends. I'm afraid of upgrading to a nice larger tractor to only have my ZTR die on me next season. My ultimate goal would be a tractor with about 35-45hp and at least a 6ft finish mower, but don't want to spend a horrible amount of money. I also will have to keep a ZTR due to all the trees and yard. I've found an older JD, Case IH and New Holland for around $6k which is doable, but I'm still hesitant.

To top it all off, I'm trying to sell my place. It's been on the market for over a year and I have little hopes it's going to move any time soon. I'm close to taking it off the market and staying put for a few more years. I just like to keep the place looking nice and may be a little OCD about it, but I need some of my time back for other chores and maybe a little fun. Am I being naive to think I will gain a decent amount of time back by purchasing a larger tractor and a cutter with a wider width? Thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks ahead of time for your input!
Mark

wayne48 · Jul 8, 2014

How much time does it take you to mow everything now?

Gary Fowler · Jul 8, 2014

I don't know about your case, but with my 52" Ferris ZTR, I can mow as fast as I can with my 7 foot bush hog and 70 HP tractor and also get closer to ditches and under all the trees. The ground isn't smooth so it is fairly rough even on the tractor. My mower suspension is better than my tractor so I can really go faster on the mower. I have one patch that has several trees and a creek on one side. It takes me an hour or more to mow with the tractor and 45 minutes with the mower and I mow more area under trees I cant get under with the tractor. I set the mower at max height (4") so it misses most of the debris in the pasture.

pmsmechanic · Jul 8, 2014

Do what I did. I bought an F-935 (72" deck)and my wife runs that. I run my 4410 with a rear mower (72") and we are done in an hour and a half. I think you are just about there. You just have to convince somebody to run the ZTR.

jeff9366 · Jul 8, 2014

It seems as though you want to renovate and smooth your pasture so you can mow it with a Zero Turn mower.

Unfortunately, to renovate pasture requires a pretty heavy tractor, a moldboard plow and a Disc Harrow for starters, then a heavy Landscape Rake, Box Blade, Rear Angle Blade or Land Plane to smooth the rutted areas; plus quite a lot of time.

If your plans for your next abode include the need for a tractor, maybe you should go ahead.

Used equipment can be fine if you are mechanically inclined and have the tools and want to spend the weekend in maintenance but you said: "I need some of my time back on weekends."

newbury · Jul 8, 2014

Where in Alabama?
If your trying to sell who's going to want to mow 3 to 6 acres? If you kept it up for horses and got in a few "boarders" it might be worth letting them board for whatever it costs to maintain the "pasture". Or you could plant it to super pines. Mowed lawn is highly overrated beyond what is needed for bug and fire control.

And IF you do sell what are your plans? An apartment in Huntsville? A ranch in Texas? What will you want after you move?

Ovranalyzr · Jul 8, 2014

It takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours for my yard and up to 4 or more for my pastures. I have to mow my yard at least every week and a half and my pastures maybe once a month.

Ovranalyzr · Jul 8, 2014

pmsmechanic said:
Do what I did. I bought an F-935 (72" deck)and my wife runs that. I run my 4410 with a rear mower (72") and we are done in an hour and a half. I think you are just about there. You just have to convince somebody to run the ZTR.

It's just me at this point so that's not an option unfortunately.

boggen · Jul 8, 2014

replied to similar thread earlier
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...eneral-mower-reccommendations-needed-rfm.html

we getting into july, and hopefully the rain will start backing off, so everything stops growing as fast.

i gave up on pasture mowing, and mow trails through the pasture, to check flood gates, fence lines, get to walnut trees, look at the animal paths, and a simple drive into the pasture to check things out. basically wide enough to get truck down there, and some round about turns. granted it is not wide, wide, but hopefully to slow down a fire.

if your selling i could understand trying to keep it mowed down so buyers can get in there and actually see what is there.

if it is wearing you down, mow pasture 1 to 3 times a year. just to keep the bushes and thistles and like at bay, and if need be get in there to spray the un-wanted nasty stuff. to kill it out.

no one said you have to mow it, let it run wild, and let nature take over and do a mowing every couple years, to keep overgrowth down to a min.

Ovranalyzr · Jul 8, 2014

newbury said:
Where in Alabama?
If your trying to sell who's going to want to mow 3 to 6 acres? If you kept it up for horses and got in a few "boarders" it might be worth letting them board for whatever it costs to maintain the "pasture". Or you could plant it to super pines. Mowed lawn is highly overrated beyond what is needed for bug and fire control.

And IF you do sell what are your plans? An apartment in Huntsville? A ranch in Texas? What will you want after you move?

I'm outside of the Montgomery area Newbury. I've thought about trying to get some boarders, but not sure if I want the liability of horses that aren't mine on the property. I'm looking to downgrade a little to a place with about 1 acre as opposed to 6. I still love the country feel and don't want a neighbor within arms reach of my house which is another reason I've thought about just staying put and making things easier around here.