Tractor Size

[martytim]

I am looking at John Deere Tractors and wanted to make sure I get a tractor that will do the jobs I need to do. I was looking for a little input if anyone has experience with the jobs I need to do and what size tractor will get the job done.

1. snow blowing a 660' driveway that is open to a 10 acre field...2-3' drifts.

2. mowing 4 acres of grass.

3. tilling a 1/2 acre garden.

Thanks.

 

[JDFANATIC]

martytim,

That's a loaded question. Here you will find no end to the ways we can spend your money! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif As for the tasks listed, all of the JD products from the sub-CUT's and up will work; it is just a factor of how much time and money you want to spend at it.

A 2305 sub-CUT, or a left over 2210, would work. The blower would be either a 46" single-stage or a 47" 2-stage. I might be leaning to the 47" for the drifts you describe, but it also depends on what type of surface your driveway has. The blower and front hitch/upstop etc required will set you back about $3K MSRP (this cost would go up on larger machines). These tractors can run a LX-4 (48") brush hog or a 62" mid mount mower, or a 72" rear discharge finish mower.

If you wanted to move up in size (10 acres is 10 acres, and there is no limit to the tasks you can find on it) Deere is still purging their inventory of 4010/4110/4115 tractors (the series is being replaced with the 2520 and the yet to be released 2320). These could be great choices too.

Recently released is the 3203. A hydrostatic variant of the time proven 790. It will not accept a midmount mower or a front blade/blower (you can get rear mount blowers for this machine, but you've got to want to crane your neck behind you).

After that, the 3x20 series and the 4x20 tractors are really nice!

 

[beenthere]

Similar to mine, and I am looking heavy at the 3520. That size frame gives you a lot of flexibility and power and isn't (to me) too big.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Exactly like me my friend. I choose the 3320. With my snow drifts I am glad I did not go smaller. If it was me I would Definately look into a 3-series of 4310 and larger 4 series. The new 3203 is just missing some nice features but if you cannot aford the 20 sere maybe look there. I use a mmm and love it. I have 6 acres, small pond and small alfalfa field as well.

 

[dubba]

Just to give the other side of the coin...

I bought a used ('96) 325 lawn mower 2 years ago. (550 hrs when I bought it, over 1250 now)

It snow blows my 1500' of driveway, plus the inside of 3) 80ft diameter round pens for the horses. Takes me 2 1/2 hours for 1 ft of heavy snow.

I mow 3 acres 2 times per week. Takes 5 hours each time

I only rototill about 1/4 acre of garden.

The lawn mowers other jobs include bringing wood & wood pellets to the house, pulling the manure cart out of the barn to the "pile" 3X per week, pulling the manure spreader around in the spring, fertilizing duty as needed.

I also spread 3 well placed loads of loam last year.

The lawn mower does not really have enough traction to pull around my 5' York rake, but as long as I take it easy on the depth adjustment it is ok.

This is my experience with a JD 325 lawn mower. I expect that anyone else that didn't have all day to "get R done" would have set fire to this thing by now. Just meant to imply that you don't have to spend ALL your money if you don't want to.