Tractor Buying Advice for 1 acre Lot

[LMychajluk]

Does anyone have any recommendations of a good new or used make a model garden tractor with rear differential lock with a after market front end loader? I am looking for something is a commonly available and easy to get parts.

Simplicity makes a nice garden tractor w/ a diff lock or 4wd, and I think there's an OEM loader w/ 48" bucket available for the Legacy XL model.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Simplicity makes a nice garden tractor w/ a diff lock or 4wd, and I think there's an OEM loader w/ 48" bucket available for the Legacy XL model.

I certainly looked at them too, but with the attachments it costs more than a SCUT.

 

[chim]

While out kicking tires, I found something (joystick function) on a couple tractors that I didn't care for. On both tractors I've had so far, I can lift and curl or lower and dump smoothly at the same time to keep the bucket level. I can also increase curl on the way up to scoop material from a pile.

Not all joysticks allow that control, and it would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[atitus74]

Having recently gone through this myself... I have almost 6 acres total but most of its woods. I ended up with the SCUT and I'm very happy with it. I couldn't justify the cost of a backhoe, if I get a project where I really need one I'll rent for a day or two. I looked long and hard at all the different garden tractors. What finally sold me on the substantially greater cost of the SCUT was the ease in which I could take the implements on and off. I can take everything on and off, in minutes with NO TOOLS, by myself. Maybe someday I'll be kicking myself for going with the 18 HP and I'll want a 23 or 26 but for right now what I have is working great. I can't wait till winter so I can test out the blower.

 

[Rock Crawler]

You could easily find something like I just sold this spring on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, a Kubota BX25D with loader and backhoe, 91 hours on it and sold it for $14,500. Essentially a new 23HP (91 hours, that is one oil change into life). And it went with LED lighting front and back, chain hooks and D-Rings welded to loader bucket, Piranha tooth bar on loader and the hydraulics raised.

$20,000 plus tax for new, or $14,500 for used with no tax and some useful "mods" that you would likely perform anyways. There are plenty of lightly/hardly used sub compacts out there. Color of paint should not at the top of your list for choosing.

I would say look for 300 hours or under, that is 2-3 oil changes into life.
Look for a brand that is well supported in your area. Don't buy a Kubota if the nearest dealer is 200 miles away.
Look for cost vs hours vs mods. In other words total value. If one has already had a tooth bar added, comes with a rear 3-point blade that you need anyways, and has similar price/hours as others.... that there is your value leader. Paint color means nothing unless it is not a paint color who has a dealership reasonably close to support you with filters and other maintenance items over the years.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Having recently gone through this myself... I have almost 6 acres total but most of its woods. I ended up with the SCUT and I'm very happy with it. I couldn't justify the cost of a backhoe, if I get a project where I really need one I'll rent for a day or two. I looked long and hard at all the different garden tractors. What finally sold me on the substantially greater cost of the SCUT was the ease in which I could take the implements on and off. I can take everything on and off, in minutes with NO TOOLS, by myself. Maybe someday I'll be kicking myself for going with the 18 HP and I'll want a 23 or 26 but for right now what I have is working great. I can't wait till winter so I can test out the blower.

Folks with mostly flat, open land just don't seem to understand. On heavily wooded land, bigger isn't always better (unless you're planning on logging it). I agree the SCUT is probably better than the implement-equipped garden tractor (have done both) in the long term, but I still sometimes wish I'd bought smaller than 26 HP. If they put bigger wheels on the 20 HP Mahindra, and had it in stock when I was looking (they were selling them faster than they could stock them) I'd probably have gone for it.

 

[Diggin It]

My main issue with JD is their elitist attitude. Many of their parts are designed so there is no direct aftermarket alternative. Some are patented or copyrighted to prevent third party competition. Even their V belts have unusual angles and thicknesses. Service manuals are expensive, if available at all. And they actively try to prevent sharing of those manuals on the web.


I prefer the joystick on the loader.

And no, I won't be viewing any videos on another site. Information should be posted here within the threads so we don't have to go to other sites.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
And no, I won't be viewing any videos on another site. Information should be posted here within the threads so we don't have to go to other sites.

Links to info should be posted, you don't have to go there, like you don't have to go to Amazon.

 

[atsah]

I find links to be very helpful. I don’t visit Amazon though..

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

My main issue with JD is their elitist attitude. Many of their parts are designed so there is no direct aftermarket alternative. Some are patented or copyrighted to prevent third party competition. Even their V belts have unusual angles and thicknesses. Service manuals are expensive, if available at all. And they actively try to prevent sharing of those manuals on the web.


I prefer the joystick on the loader.

And no, I won't be viewing any videos on another site. Information should be posted here within the threads so we don't have to go to other sites.

FWIW I agree with your first few points. YouTube is here to stay and can be a good resource as long as you take it for what it's worth.