Tractor or ATV

jhgnag · Feb 7, 2002

This seems to be a place of many opinions, so I'm looking for some advice. I just purchased a place on 3 acres & clearly my push mower isn't going to cut it. I don't want to plant grass, only cut the field grass that is already there.

I'm hearing that a lot of people like the ATV w/a pull behind mower. I'd love to buy an ATV, but I have some concerns about that setup. Mainly, is the mower really going to have the necessary power if it's not hooked into a PTO.

Can you guys share your thoughs on this, and I'm also looking for a specific tractor or ATV recommendation. I'm thinking a rider mower might work, but not be durable or powerful enough for field grass. What do you think?

GaryK · Feb 7, 2002

If all you want to do is mow grass then I would seriously consider a larger garden tractor. A compact tractor will do what you want and more b ut you would be paying for more tractor than you can use. ATVs are great for running thorugh the woods and stuff and they use them down here to spray fields with but I personally don't think they are suitable for what you want.

JeffRey30747 · Feb 7, 2002

When you say field grass, do you mean something that a standard lawnmower or finish mower could handle or something of the rough and tumble variety that you will need a heavier rotary cutter for?
If it is truly just grass, a large lawnmower or small tractor with a finish mower would be sufficient. If you think you might be cutting some rougher stuff, a small tractor with a rotary cutter will be necessary. If your budget is an issue, you might want to look into the Yanmar greys. They are used tractors bought new in Japan for farming. You can get a YM1500 (18hp 2 cyl. diesel w/ 2WD) package for less than $4K where I live and it will outpull and outlast any new riding mower. If you want a little smaller up to a lot larger or possibly 4WD, they are also available. Check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/yanmartractorownersgroup>http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/yanmartractorownersgroup</A> for more details if interested. If budget isn't an issue any of the smaller orange or green tractors would certainly handle your task and much more.
I'm not really familiar with the ATV mowing setups, but I personally would shy away from them.

jhgnag · Feb 7, 2002

Jeff,

Thanks for the advice. As for the grass, I think a regular mower "could" cut it, but I also think it would struggle. Thanks for the Yanmar advice. I'm having a hard time justifying a $10,000+ mower. I will want to use it to remove snow from my driveway also. So how old are these Yanmar's typically. Are they bought new in another country first?

Thanks.

Gatorboy · Feb 7, 2002

For 3 acres, you might want to get yourself a 48" walk-behind with a sulkey. I have a 48" Scag, but there are many other brands just as good. I bought mine for $2600. These are commercial mowers that will most likely last for as long as you need.

You can see mine by clicking <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pbase.com/image/241697>here</A>
The site where my pictures are stored is currently down -- so try again later if the link above is not working.

Knight9 · Feb 7, 2002

My neighbor has only been on his place for under a year, but so far he is sticking to the ATV to do a lot of his work. He has a blade for it to scrape his driveway and clear the snow. He pulls a trailer behind it to move wood etc. However he does have a riding mower. I've seen several mowers that are finish and some that are rough cut that can be pulled behind ATVs. I guess if a guy had an ATV it might be worthwhile to calculate the cost of the ATV "implements" vs a small used tractor. I'm guessing resale may be challenging though.

Kevin

Knight9 · Feb 7, 2002

Dave,

That link didn't work for me? Can you double check it.

Kevin

butzkeg · Feb 7, 2002

If all you're going to do is mow a field and snow plow, an ATV would be adequate. I've plowed a 1/4 mile drive for the last 8 years with an ATV, and it really does work well.

You can purchase a rough cut pull behind mower for about $2300 from http://www.cyclecountry.com/. I thought about getting a mower for my ATV, but I had a lot more I wanted to do, such as landscaping a new home and planting a large garden every year.

ATV"S hold there value fairly well in my area. If you have any other uses for either a tractor or ATV, that could be a large deciding factor.

beenthere · Feb 7, 2002

I have a compact (JD4300) and a Garden tractor (JD445) and do not want or need an ATV.
However, if you have a desire to get an ATV for some things (hunting, recreation) other than just taking care of the field and the drive, then, if it were me, I would seriously consider sinking the funds into the ATV you want, and get it a plow for the drive and a pull-behind rotary cutter for the field. A nice feature is you can offset them to pull beside you, widening the path or reaching beyond where the ATV can travel.
My good friend has such a set-up, and mows the trails in his woods (brush) and through swamps (swamp grass) on 450+ acres with great success. I personally think he goes too fast, but that 8HP mower keeps on chugging and he gets the job done - FAST! Having said that, I don't like ATV's very much, as they ruined my hunting experience by making too much racket in the woods. But to each their own.

BKColeman · Feb 7, 2002

I used to ride ATVs a lot a few years ago. One of the guys I'd go trail riding with had a mower for his 4-wheeler. He mowed about 2 acres with it if I remember correctly. His ATV was a Honda 250cc, and the mower had a Honda engine, but I don't know who made it. He bought both from the same cycle shop. I believe it was about $2k for the mower, and it could be offset. He started off mowing a field, but after a while, it looked like a yard. He just had to go slow so the 4-wheeler's knobby tires didn't tear up the grass.

So I don't see anything wrong with the idea, as long as you've got other uses for the ATV (riding mowers don't do well trail riding /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif).

-Brad

Thomas · Feb 7, 2002

I looking to a rear pull behind mower and the only thing I didn't care for was,you can't life the deck if you come to a object when mowing,also if your mowing a slope the rear mower works its self down hill a tad.The horse power on the rear deck mower I look at came in 5hp also 10hp.The wheel adjustment were only 4 1/2 inches.,but the price wasn't to bad..$ 1,350.oo on the 5hp.

JeffRey30747 · Feb 7, 2002

Typically, most greys brought into this country range in age from 15 to 25 years old. There are a few that are newer but they are rare. Hours of usage vary by machine as does condition. Here in GA, there is an outfit selling tractors reconditioned in Vietnam that are pure junk but there are good machines out there, too. The Japanese govt. policies encourage the purchase of new farm equipment and used has little value there. Exporters buy them up and send them everywhere, including here. Removing snow might be a reason to opt for 4WD since small tractors suffer from poor traction due to their light weight. The technology on these machines is simple yet well refined. I am currently looking at purchasing a Kubota L3010 (32hp) but I plan on keeping my little Yanmar. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

jhgnag · Feb 7, 2002

beenthere,

I agree with you about the ATV's & hunting. Just doesn't seem right. They are pretty fun to drive though.

BOTAMAN · Feb 7, 2002

In my area some people have tried the ATV mowers but discovered if they let the grass get too tall they would have to drive so slow that the atv would over heat.
This would not be a problem on a liquid cooled machine or the addition of a electric fan helped with the problem.

MossRoad · Feb 7, 2002

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=7905&prmenbr=6970>Take a look at this trail mower from Northern Tool</A> Looks powerfull, wide and reasonably priced. Just ignore the typo in its description that says it is 2 Horse power /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif, it is 12 horse power.

looch · Feb 7, 2002

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/horizontal-item.jhtml?id=0010046520021a&navAction=jump&navCount=0&indexId=&podId=0010046&catalogCode=XB&parentId=&parentType=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fitem-link.jhtml.1_A&_DAV=0010046520021a>Here's one</A> (from Cabelas of all places).

cowboydoc · Feb 7, 2002

I know a few people that do this. They think it's fine for what they do. One of my friends has a Polaris Sportsman 500 and uses it to mow, blade, haul firewood and other stuff, etc. He's on 10 acres and has never needed anything else. I've been there when he's mowing 8" grass with it and it's done fine. I've seen the pull behind ones at Farm and Fleet for around $1200. I think you would be fine with it if that's all you want to do.

frank_f15 · Feb 7, 2002

DON'T confuse the capabilites of an atv with a tractor!if all u are going to do is cut grass, then a large garden tractor will suffice for a lot less than an ATV, but if u need to move any amt of snow? or is that not a factor?

Kelvin · Feb 7, 2002

I am sure that the ATV/pull mower setup you are considering will do the mowing job that you need. If you plan to mow regularly, then a pull behind finish mower may be what you want; otherwise, a pull behind rotary mower would fit the bill. The only problem that I see is mowing across hills where the mower may have a tendancy to slide downhill...hopefully not dragging the ATV with it.

A tractor with finish mower and/or rotary mower will also do the trick. A large lawn & garden tractor will also suffice if you plan to mow frequently. You can also use the lawn & garden tractor rather than the ATV to pull the offset pull behind mower for double (or more) cutting width.

Other than money, the key issue that'll drive you towards one of the options over the others is the use of the equipment other than mowing. Depending upon the deal that you come across, the tractor is the most expensive but also the most versatile when it comes to keeping up the acerage. Most people find many uses for tractors that they had never thought of before purchasing their first one. However, if you have a desire for ATV fun, then that desire may override the more "practical" aspects of the tractor. Certainly, the cheapest option is the lawn & garden tractor which should last 5 years or more while you gain experience in this area.

This is a good board which should overload you with information.
Good luck,
Kelvin

butzkeg · Feb 8, 2002

ATV's and hunting are a perfect mix if you ask me. That's one of the reasons I have owned an ATV. There are several people in my area that have them as well, and they are ridden frequently. I believe the animals have grown accustomed to seeing and hearing the ATV's, so it does not disrupt them.

If you have a 4wd ATV, you should have no trouble pulling a 500lb. mower. These machines can be extremely powerful (obviously not very heavy though).

I've pushed 12"+ of snow, pulled 60ft trees, and pushed 1 ton dump trucks with ease on my ATV.

If you would have no need for a tractor beyond the lawn and snow, a tractor may not be your best option. Same said with the ATV; if you only want it for the lawn and snow, get a lawn tractor and snow blower.