Trouble Convincing Signifcant Other to Buy SCUT

[DeereMann]

Um, I think some folks take some of the tongue-in-cheek 'advice' a bit too seriously?

OP asked for advice how to 'convince' the spouse a tractor = good. Does that not require a bit of marital persuasion? And a bit 'o levity is too much? :confused3:

What started as an interesting thread has become far less so.

DeereMann Out.

 

[newbury]

OP - is there any place near you where you can rent a tractor?
Get prepared to clear that other half acre and start cutting down and moving trees by hand with her help. You buck the wood she moves it. Make sure it needs to be piled far from where it is cut. Then rent a small tractor for a while and do the same. Get HER to drive the tractor to move the wood.

Of course then she might want a new tractor for herself, but it's worth a try.

/edit - if you see my avatar I'm using a backhoe on a B7610 to move a tree around on my 1/4 acre (0.25) suburban lot.

 

[VH5150]

I'm not sure. I'll need to look. I know there's a Bobcat dealer a few towns over that rents much larger tractors, but I don't believe Bobcat has SCUTs. I'm trying to 'sell' this to my wife as a glorified lawn tractor that is only slightly larger than a lawn tractor. If I get something too large I'm going to hear 'where are you going to keep that thing'? (emphasis on "thing")

 

[aczlan]

I'm not sure. I'll need to look. I know there's a Bobcat dealer a few towns over that rents much larger tractors, but I don't believe Bobcat has SCUTs. I'm trying to 'sell' this to my wife as a glorified lawn tractor that is only slightly larger than a lawn tractor. If I get something too large I'm going to hear 'where are you going to keep that thing'? (emphasis on "thing")

Might try United Rentals in Hookset ( Equipment & Tools Rental, Trench Safety Rental Equipment in Hooksett, NH 03106 | United Rentals, Inc. ). They generally have that size equipment for rent.

Aaron Z

 

[grm61]

Hi everyone, long time lurker (6+ months) and first-time poster.

I am having a bear of a time convincing the wife as to the value and practicality of a SCUT. She's thinking cheapo riding lawn mower (>$1,200 "John Deere" from Lowe's) and I'm thinking used Massey GC or Kubota BX (around $7,000 - $9,500). At a minimum I want a MMM and FEL.

Has anyone run into trouble convincing your significant other as to the value of a SCUT? Any suggestions?

Among others, I've tried the following arguments to no avail:

1. A good SCUT could easily last 20 years whereas box store lawn tractors are cheaply made
2. Allows me to have loam and bark mulch dropped off by dump truck. I can use the FEL to spread easily
3. I can use it to plow snow (live in NH) and spread sand/salt easily with rear PTO attachment
4. A SCUT is a glorified lawn mower (I know it's not, but work with me here! ) that is better built and offers a lot more functionality.
5. I'm not getting any younger, so a FEL would be helpful.

My wife is not convinced our yard is large enough to justify the expense, whereas I think it's plenty large. We have about 3/4 to 1 acre of grass, a large driveway to plow in the winter, and plenty of mulch areas around the yard. We're also planning to cut down trees and add another 1/2 acre of lawn.

Could I get by with a riding lawn mower? Yes I could, but I don't want to. I feel a SCUT offers more practicality and functionality, and would make maintaining our yard a lot simpler, especially as I get older (I'm already pushing 45 years old).

Thank you in advance for any replies!

If you want a tractor and can afford it, you should have one.
Do the best you can to warm her up to the idea with projects etc.
She should eventually give in.

A guy should have the tools he needs.
Take away her washing machine and dishwasher for a couple weeks see how she likes "working without the proper tools"

I'm sure it will all work out, make sure you get what you really want so you only have to do this once

 

[Kioti Tom]

I just spoke to the wife about this, and she replied that having the tractor has opened up all sorts of new opportunities in landscaping. She says just having the tractor to move move bulk mulch in the spring is worth it alone. Of course we use it to build rock walls, clear brush and just for general lifting like heavy filled flower pots, pulling dead trees, plowing our road and driveway. We have had 5 tractors through the years together, and they have been major time and back savers for the both of us. And as you have pointed out the older you get the better the motorized wheel barrow starts to look. Plus the little BX or equivalent will be easy and fun for her to operate also. You will find all kinds of things to do with your tractor and you place will look better for it. Tell her my wife approves of the purchase, and she wants to call and talk to her, Linda would be happy to back you up.

James did the smart thing too. He got wifey involved with the latest purchase and got one that was
easiest for her to get on and off of also. She as he said, approves...:thumbsup:

 

[radioman]

geez guys you forgot one thing-- fuel consumption. When I was using box store mowers, they consumed alot of gas. Just mowing 1 acre would make me go through 2.5-4 gallons a day with box mower and it must be run wide open and if it hit tall grass, it bogs down. Now with BX I can fill her up with 5 gallons of diesel for the month and mow weekly and engine never bogs down in tall grass. A diesel engine is so much more efficient to the point you will use it for everything and even for uses you never thought of. With a Box mower,you dont want to use it much but just mowing. Same goes for snowblowing, I go through a gallon of gas for each snow blowing event in my driveway only but now a tank 6.1 a month or more doing my driveways and others. The way I see it is that in the fall and spring I hardly use it so I use less then 5 gallons so I look at my budget for the year and I can burn 5 gallon a month on average for everything, dirt moving, firewood chores, towing trailers,mowing, gardening, tilling,harvesting, plowing snow, getting vehicles unstuck, unloading vans/trailers/, etc and so much more. When I had box mower, I was happy just to be able to ride to mow. Now I am happy to do everyday chores and saving money and time and I always wondered why I didnt get it before.

 

[dodge man]

I disagree. Just saying, that may be how you "run" your relationships, but it's 2014 gentlemen. Not 1950. If my wife said "I'll divorce you if you buy a tractor," I sure wouldn't buy a tractor. I don't think your comment really has any place in this discussion. It's not helpful or constructive. If the guy wanted to divorce his wife, I'm sure he would know how to go about it. Clearly, he wants input on how to convince her it's a good idea to buy a tractor; I laud his interest in keeping her involved in the decision making. Relationships take two.

I guess I should have put a smiley face after my post because I wasn't serious when I made it. I guess you can't always see when someone is joking when you make a post. My wife wasn't on board when I bought my tractor but she also knows when I need/want something bad enough and says go ahead and get it. I think she now sees that it was a good buy. I also wasn't going to buy it without here OK.

 

[justme23005]

I'm not sure. I'll need to look. I know there's a Bobcat dealer a few towns over that rents much larger tractors, but I don't believe Bobcat has SCUTs. I'm trying to 'sell' this to my wife as a glorified lawn tractor that is only slightly larger than a lawn tractor. If I get something too large I'm going to hear 'where are you going to keep that thing'? (emphasis on "thing")

I own a tree service.. Hire me to clear the trees.. I'll bring my little Satoh Beaver, she can run it & see how handy it is. She'll fall in love with it, and drag you off to the tractor dealer to buy one. )

 

[motownbrowne]

I guess I should have put a smiley face after my post because I wasn't serious when I made it. I guess you can't always see when someone is joking when you make a post. My wife wasn't on board when I bought my tractor but she also knows when I need/want something bad enough and says go ahead and get it. I think she now sees that it was a good buy. I also wasn't going to buy it without here OK.

Right on, my bad. I apologize. It can be pretty tough to gauge the tone of a comment when it's typed. I guess it's just a touchy topic for me. I hope people remember that we don't all have the "typical" american marriage. Lots of female breadwinners out there these days. They deserve our respect too.