Tractor Buying Advice for 1 acre Lot

[Stussy1035]

thank everyone so far for all of your input and help. I have attached some pictures of the many outdoor projects that I have.

 

[rngrrymd]

VIDEOS (2) : Are Sub-Compact Tractors "REAL" Tractors?? - TMT - YouTube

John Deere 1 Series VS. Kubota BX Series - YouTube


If your garden in approximately the same 30' X 30' space each year a Cultivator should suffice for soil prep and weeding until plants are 9" high, the ground clearance of a BX or most other subcompacts.

John Deere 1 Family vs. Kubota BX Video - YouTube <-- Only fair to post a 1025R series vs BX video from the other viewpoint.

 

[4570Man]

Wow you can latch the loader without getting off the tractor. I can put the pins in my Kubota from the seat. I guess the John Deere doesn’t need hydraulic hoses or support stands. And she also had to lower the gauge wheels in the John Deere. I guess I didn’t expect any different from a place that usually sells opinion as fact and doesn’t do apples to apples comparisons. The manufacturers should really stop with the stupid videos.

 

[rngrrymd]

Wow you can latch the loader without getting off the tractor. I can put the pins in my Kubota from the seat. I guess the John Deere doesn’t need hydraulic hoses or support stands. And she also had to lower the gauge wheels in the John Deere. I guess I didn’t expect any different from a place that usually sells opinion as fact and doesn’t do apples to apples comparisons. The manufacturers should really stop with the stupid videos.

It's a marketing video from Deere. In the other video Neil Messick is marketing his Kubota that he sells. Kubota is not end all tractor. John Deere is not end all tractor. OP asked for help with advice and his main task is mowing. Kubota tends to have better loader specs than Deere but Deere's mowing deck system is the best out there. Only fair to the OP to throw out both models for him to consider. No need to be one-brand biased.

Stussy1035, go to a Kubota dealer and test drive the BX and go to a Deere dealer and test drive the 1025R. Pay special attention to the mowing systems and see what you like most. Also check out Kioti CK2510 (CK has drive over deck , CS models do not) and Massey GC1705, GC1715 as well. All of these tractor's loaders will be fine for your purposes.

 

[sea2summit]

I bought my BX 1860 when I had an acre and a half, sales guy was adamant that I wasn't going to be happy in the long term because after I started using it I'd find more chores I wanted to do...when it went in for the 50 hour service a BX-25D came home I was in a similar situation to you only I had no yard at all so needed to clear about three years of brush growth, put in topsoil, level, build retaining walls, dig post holes in dirt with 6-8" rock (justified the backhoe), then the church had chores that needed to be done, this and that neighbor asked for help. I never regretted it, moved to a larger lot and moved up in size. I never liked it as a primary mower, it was slow, but other than that they are great tools.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

For big one-time jobs, like the pool and deck removal, consider hiring a machine that can do those. Then buy a tractor sized for your ongoing maintenance and projects.

I also dislike maintaining multiple engines (others love having a "stable" of machines--the more the merrier). So I'm always looking for ways to consolidate, and like you, I'm wishing and waiting for an electric tractor--maybe in 5 years or so???

Tractors--even SCUTS--are not great for mowing; they are slow, they are heavy (can compact your ground and 4WD can tear up your grass), and if you have a FEL, you really have to remove it to mow efficiently. So you'll need to keep your riding mower. Or you could buy a new, bigger riding mower and equip it with the Johnny Bucket and Sleeve Hitch. I'm one of the few folks on TBN that happens to have a garden tractor equipped with the Johnny Sleeve Hitch pulling a Brinly box blade. (I do now have a real tractor as well, but I have 15 mountainous acres.) This setup can do a lot more than people *who have never used one* think That would be everything in one machine for you. OTOH, a riding mower for mowing plus a SCUT would give you a dedicated mower plus a much more capable machine for your landscaping and other projects. OTOH it's hard to imagine your projects being that extensive on one fairly suburban acre; once everything is "done" what does the tractor do? (In the country there are ongoing tasks like gravel drives to maintain, wood trails to maintain, and with heavily wooded property, it just never ends.) OTOH, if money is no object and you want a SCUT why not?

Just don't let them talk you into a 45HP CUT.

Sounds like you're a country boy at heart. Maybe get the *property* you really want first, then think about the tractor.

If you have further questions about the Johnny products, I am happy to answer.

 

[Stussy1035]

rngrrymd mentioned that the mowing deck on the john Deere is better than the Kubota and I would be curious why so when I am looking at the tractors I can give a fair comparison. I have already looked at the tractors in person and mostly looking at John Deere and Kubota, the other brands such as LS, Massey Ferguson, Mahindra there really is no dealer near me.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think you are on the right track with looking at a SCUT with FEL. As to getting a mowing deck with it, that really is a personal decision as to if it is worth the cost to do it, especially since you have a mower already. I think I would just get the tractor without the mower. IF (when) the Craftsman wears out, look at replacing it with a good commercial grade zero turn mower. DO NOT get one of the residential grade mowers as found at the big box stores as they will not last more than 4-5 years and the hydro gear motors that propel the residential mowers are not serviceable except to be replaced at $1500-2000 per each axle.
Get a zero turn with 3200 or higher grade of hydrogear drive system with oil filter system when you buy and with proper service (yearly oil changes in the engine and hydro-gear drive it will last 20+ years. I also recommend the Kawasaki commercial engine rather than a Briggs and Stratton or Kohler engine.

 

[Tractor Dell]

I have a Kubota BX23S. My lot is 1 and 1/2 acres. Half yard, and half woods. There are some small hills I work on. I am finding all kinds of uses for my FEL and BH. Not to mention, once your neighbors see you on your tractor, they will find things for you to do too! haha

Seriously, even when I use it as a motorized wheelbarrow to move cement bags, wood/logs, or other things, I keep thinking how much my back and legs love this thing. A SCUT (whatever brand you want) will be good for what you want/need to do. Since your area looks flat and open, you can't go wrong with any choice.

 

[stevem5215]

IMO the mower decks are all different on every model. Some are really great a nice even cut. Some are really great at cutting tall grass. Some are really heavy duty and can take banging into objects without bending them up. I've had and used just about all of the above. The manufactured decks are great for durability but you will see some complain about the quality of the cut. That's a factor for sure. I have a Steiner with a front mounted optional deck. It's a great cut but it blows the grass all over you and the machine regularly. So it's a PIA that way. It's a manufactured deck so the steel is very durable of course but the spindles are known to be weak and if you try cutting heavier brush with it you'd regularly be replacing spindles. It's mean't for finish cuts only like a front lawn is. This is all subjective based on your needs and what you want your grass to look like. At our house my wife cuts the front lawn area of our 4 acres. She is currently using the Simplicity ZT2500 ZTR with a manufactured deck 48" wide. Every year I go to great lengths to adjust the cutting height by measuring the blades at various points and adjusting the deck to be level to the ground. This helps to ensure a nice level cut that looks great in the front yard. Last year it broke the mower deck weld that held the adjuster for deck height on one side. I rewelded it over the winter and readjusted it again. It's been holding up ok with my Harbor Freight 80amp welder job (they work but are pretty low on the heat for welding). See, it all depends on what you want to achieve. And hence his comments about the mower deck on his John Deere vs the Kubota. And just remember, that one deck from a manufacturer (like my Simplicity) can vary from machine to machine. So it's important that you try it out yourself. Most good dealers will offer you a demo to make sure it's what you want from a mower deck cut. Hence why Consumer reports tests theirs on high grass, thick grass, and for evenness of cut. Same idea as your demo would be.

Good luck on the choice.
Steve with a Steiner 420, a Ford 1900 with a 72" rear discharge finish deck, and a Black Craftsman Professional 42" deck and a Simplicity ZT2500 48" manufactured deck. And all cut the grass differently.

rngrrymd mentioned that the mowing deck on the john Deere is better than the Kubota and I would be curious why so when I am looking at the tractors I can give a fair comparison. I have already looked at the tractors in person and mostly looking at John Deere and Kubota, the other brands such as LS, Massey Ferguson, Mahindra there really is no dealer near me.