Want to make sure I'm making the right decision

[danadsr]

Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

This is my first ever visit to any forum on the internet. Please bare with me. I have @ 6 acres that my wife and I mow as a lawn. In the beginning we were using a 1939 Ford 9N with a 60" brushhog then a 60" finishing mower. this did a fine job but the old Ford is getting tired and I plan on restoring it and retiring it to occasional use and maybe parades. For the past year we have kept everything cut with a, believ it or not, <font color="green"> </font> Garden tractor with the 26hp Kholer, hydrastatic trans, and 50" deck. This has been working great except that it takes about 6.5 hours to mow. I have recently been offered (only because I went to the dealer) a brand new <font color="orange"> </font> B7800 4wd, Hydrastatic Trans, Turf Tires, Foldable ROPS, mid mount PTO, and the LA402 FEL for $15,900. I have always like <font color="orange"> </font> (my favorite home improvement store is <font color="orange"> </font> , and my favorite NASCAR drive is (bet ya'll can guess)). Do you think this is at least a fair price? I don't mind people earning a living, but I don't want to pay them a years salary on my own.

danadsr

 

[Bird]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

Prices vary in different parts of the country a bit, and I don't keep up with them too well, but that price sounds about right to me.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

Looks like a good price based on this web site web page

You want to go with the 72 inch deck to cut the time to mow that big lawn. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, or perhpas not, more seat time /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

<font color="blue">...it takes about 6.5 hours to mow... </font>

I don't understand how the Kubota is going to save you any time over your 50" lawn tractor... unless you decide to mow with a large bat-wing mower... and then you'll need a much larger tractor...

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

Welcome to TBN!

<font color="blue"> B7800 4wd, Hydrastatic Trans, Turf Tires, Foldable ROPS, mid mount PTO, and the LA402 FEL </font>

What will you be using on the B7800 to mow with; the 60" finish mower from your 9N(rear mount, I'm quessing)?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

In Houston TX area recent quotes I got on a 7800 are: $11895, $11950, $11810 and for the 402: $3095, $2950 & $2950.

I feel your pain /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
For the last 2 years I cut 4 acres with a 20hp 48" Scotts before I got my 7500 a couple of weeks ago. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bmac]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

<font color="blue"> I don't understand how the Kubota is going to save you any time over your 50" lawn tractor... unless you decide to mow with a large bat-wing mower... </font>

With only a 10" difference in deck width (assuming he will continue to use his 60" mower) I understand your concern. However, shouldn't the increase in tractor speed significanly shorten the mowing time? Just wondering.

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

With a 26hp mower you are already going to be going pretty quick. I'd have to agree with John. If your sole purpose is to decrease the mowing time only then $16k is alot to pay to decrease mowing time an hour. I would at least go with something with a 72" deck. That's what my 455 has and that does make a big difference over a 50" deck.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

Hi,

Well I don't know, but I have a 20 hp garden tractor with a 46" deck, and my B2910 [same as the 7800 in reality] with a 60 inch RFM is a world of difference. The Kubota will cut A LOT faster.

Now if this poster goes with the 7800, I would suggest he also budget for a 72 inch mower.

BUT if grass cutting is the REAL reason for buying to begin with, maybe he [sorry, forgot your name] should be looking at one of those zero turn diesel Kubota mowers. From what I have read here, super for grass cutting and FAST too...[don't think this was mentioned in this thread yet...]


Not a tractor though...

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: Want to make sure I\'m making the right decision

<font color="blue">…shouldn't the increase in tractor speed significanly shorten the mowing time?...</font>

Using his supplied numbers:

He’s currently mowing @ 2.25 mph averaging .92 acres per hour… taking 6 ½ hours to mow 6 acres… with his Garden Tractor and 50” mowing deck…

Let’s assume his Garden Tractor top speed is 5.5 mph… now lets mow @ 4.25 mph (85% efficiency) to average 1.75 acres per hour… now only taking 3 hours 25 minutes to mow 6 acres…

Now some options:

1) Buy a second Garden/lawn tractor ~~ under $1100. for ~48” deck, same top speed as original…
Now-using two Garden tractors, wife on new one, him on old one /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, both going 4.25 mph to average 3.5 acres per hour… taking 1 hr. 45 min. for 6 acres…

2) Spend $17,000 ($15.9 for B7800 & attach & $1.1k for KK 72” rear finish mower), the Kubota mowing @ 6.25 mph to average 3.86 acres per hour… taking 1 hr. 33 min. for 6 acres

3) The ultimate option is have the wife drive the Garden Tractor and him drive the brand new Kubota B7800 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif @ their optimum speeds to average 5.6 acres per hour taking 1 hr. 4 min. for 6 acres /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

(rounding of numbers was done to expedite answers /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)