Tow Behind (ATV) or PTO Tiller?Disc

[Filmore]

Afternoon everyone!

I'm an extreme newb that just bought some acreage and I'm looking to turn some of it into a largish garden. Basically the area I have to work with is about 2 acres for the garden. Currently it's wooded with young trees, less than 4 inches, mostly less in circumference.

The only thing I own at the moment is a UTV and I'm having a tough time of what to get next to till the garden area. Looking for advice on whether it's cheaper to get a tow behind for the UTV or possibly purchase a JD X320 and get a tiller for that. Haven't got the JD yet but I will need something to mow the grass with and the trails.

So, is it cheaper to go with a tow behind tiller and discs for the UTV or is a PTO tiller cheaper?

Obviously the JD is gonna cost some money but if it's cheaper to by implements for the UTV than the JD I'd be able to just get a cheaper mower and spend more on the implements.

Any help is appreciated folks. Thanks much.

 

[kebo]

For a two acre garden, I think you should seriously consider making the jump to get a tractor, instead of using the UTV or an X300 for this type work. You will only wind up spending lots of extra time and effort (and maybe wearing that equipment out) only to be not totally satisfied with the results. Not saying that you can't go the routes you suggested, just that I think you need a real tractor to work a two acre garden, plus whatever other acreage there is for trails.

Just as a suggestion, you should be able to pick up a decent, serviceable Ford 8N (or similar MF like a TO-20 or a TO-35) for about $2000-$2500 get a disc harrow, and a rotary mower (either bush hog or finish cut depending on how rough the land is and how nice you want it to look) and then go at it. The harrow and mower will probably cost about another $1000-$1200 for both (used, of course). A tractor will handle the initial rough stuff, then later one you may be able to afford some nicer, additional equipment to maintain it with. Those 2-4 inch trees are just going to have to come down with a chainsaw though, unless you get a dozer so you might be wise to just hire a small dozer to do the initial clearing for the garden.

All this is just mho but good luck with whatever you decide on!

 

[Filmore]

Thanks for the reply Kebo. I should probably clarify that 2 acres is the max.... I likely have to settle now for .5 acre behind the house and another .5 by the shed. Where I live it's mostly hilly and forested. I agree I'll be pulling a few trees out with the saw and I'd try to hog down the rest.

I'm at that crossroads of needing multiple devices and don't know which is the best bet. I have hilly land so a 2K mower is likely to die on me in short order so buying an actual finish mower may be a waste of money. A rough cut may be necessary though, but that's a UTV tow behind item. That's where I thought do I go with more UTV or buy a tractor and go that route.

Initially I was concerned with which attachments are generally more expensive, the ones you tow with an ATV or the ones hooked to a PTO.

I see how most folks here have no problems with used equipment.... I have a peeve about it but maybe I need to get over it and start looking for something used.

As I figure though, initially it's going to be .5 acre parcels until I can find a way to link it all together into one good sized parcel.


BTW.... if going for a tractor I'd go up to maybe 4K