what is the best combo tractor?

[aesanders]

LBrown59,

Can you possibly stop posting about the Simplicity Legacy XL? You obviously do not like it as you post negativly about it non stop.

I doubt if you have ever used one or seen what it can do.

Recommend your BX all you want, but please stop posting about the Simplicity.

 

[JerryG]

aesanders,
Your Bio doesn't tell anything, but do you have Simplicity? I guess that you do it just doesn't tell anything that you have. Is it right that you have to have their attachments or at least some attachments can only be used that are made by Simplicity? I think that Simplicity is a good mower. I just don't know about use of attachments on the XL and would like to. Thanks.

 

[aesanders]

Jerry,

Just to clarify, I do not own a Simplcity Legacy XL. I do have a smaller Garden Tractor by Simplcity. A good friend of mine has a diesel Lecagy XL and I have used it several times. The Simplicity Legacy XL has a limited Category 1 hitch available for it that is not proprietory. It is not a standard item because many people buy the machine just to mow with. The size of the XL is nearly identical to sub cuts such as the Kubota bx22-24 or Massey 2310. The 3 point hitch on the Legacy XL is the same size as those on other subcuts such as Massey 2300 and Kubota BX (limited category 1). The front end loader on the Legacy Xl has about as much lift Capacity as those machines as well.
It is a great mower first and formost. It is a very comfortable tractor to operate. If I were picking a tractor in this size range and mowing was my #1 criteria, I believe the Legacy would be a top choice. I think it is hands down the best mower in this size range. That's not to say that other machines in this class are bad mowers, just that in my opinion the Simplicity excels at this task. Other sub cuts are better at other applications. The John Deere 2210 is probably the best in this size range for strictly loader work. If I wanted a tractor this size for front end loader work and backhoe work, I would most likely get a Massey 2310 or BX24. The loader, backhoe package are good values.
There are many good choices in the subcut market, but certain machines excel in certain areas.

My Simplicity is strickly a mower and a darn good one at that. I had considered the purchase of a subcut at one time and spent a considerable amount of time looking into them. Needs change and I'm now looking for a larger machine. (I miss my Case 580k I sold a couple years ago)
I'm no expert though so please understand that any opinion is strcily my own. Just thought the Simplicity would be worth looking into for the original poster.

P.S. I slightly edited my bio.

 

[flusher]

Here's what I have for my 10-acre, flat, 30 almond trees near center of the parcel, 3/4-acre landscape, about 7 acres of natural vegetation (=weeds):

Kubota B7510HST (21 HP engine, ~16HP PTO, hydrostatic transmission) with LA302 front end loader (FEL)- $10,000 for the tractor, $2600 for the FEL last May. Weighs about 1900 lb with FEL attached.

4-ft box KK boxblade from TSC ($375)

4-ft KK rotary mower (brush hog) from TSC ($675)

4-ft Yanmar RS1200 rototiller from local grey market tractor dealer ($300)

Huskee lawn tractor, 18HP engine with hydrostatic transmission, 42" mower, from TSC ($1000 plus $180 for 3-year service contract)

The brush hog takes care of the weed mowing and the Huskee does the lawn and the orchard. Generally speaking, 4-ft wide implements are right-sized for a parcel as small as 5-10 acres. It takes me all day to mow my weeds with the brush hog. But I mow slow, in low gear, and keep the FEL bucket near the ground to intercept any debris that I may have missed in my site inspection.

The B7510 has a second PTO shaft that will accept a mid-mount mower (MMM) for lawns, but I couldn't justify the cost of the MMM (IIRC, over $2K). Also my tractor came as a package with ag tires which tear up a lawn. I would have to spend upwards of $1K to get wheels with turf tires if I want to used the tractor on the lawn. Hence, the Huskee purchase.

I'll probably get a PTO-driven post hole digger (PHD) next year when I replace about 1/4 mile of farm fence. I looked at hydraulic PHDs, but they're about 3X more expensive than the PTO-driven type and my B7510HST can supply only about 4.7 gal/min of hydraulic flow at it's auxiliary port. That's marginal for even the smallest hydraulic PHD.

The other problem I have is with the up-down range on the 3-point hitch being somewhat limited. This is a concern for implements like PHDs. Larger tractors don't have this problem as bad.

These problem areas are things to be concerned about when making a tractor purchase. You may have to up-scale to a larger machine.

 

[depasseg]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is it right that you have to have their attachments or at least some attachments can only be used that are made by Simplicity? I think that Simplicity is a good mower. I just don't know about use of attachments on the XL and would like to. Thanks. )</font>

As someone who has a Legacy XL, I'll echo everything that aesanders said. It has a Category I 3-pt hitch. Because it is shorter than some tractors it is given the term "limited". This limitation becomes a factor with implements that need a lot of ground clearance, like a post-hole digger. That is why simplicity sells one of their own - so that the clearance isn't an issue. I've heard that other aftermarket PHD mfgs make them in sizes to fit tractors like the legacy, so you aren't tied to buying only simplicity implements. As for it's loader and backhoe - a bx24 has as much strength as the legacy xl.

As for it's designation - there are some folks who are dead set against calling it a sub-cut. Since I've never seen a definition of a sub-sut, i don't know if that's true or not. What I do know is that with the optional rops, loader and backhoe it's specs are almost exactly the same as the bx24 in terms of power and capability. I hope that helps.

 

[MattBeef]

I'm in the same boat as LBrown 59 (sorta...)

We finish-mow ~ 7 acres of "yard" -- nice grass, hilly terrain, lots o' trees, outdoor riding arena.

The wife runs the Kubota ZG20 and usually knocks out the 7 acres by herself (~ 3 hrs). If we're in a big hurry, I hop on the B7800 w/MMM (60") & Ind Tires. Man, 9 feet at one swath -- now that's cutting!

The 60" KK Shredder is great for "cleaning up" around the hay fields, pastures & shelterbelt - but, that's not part of the "routine grass cutting"

The B7800 is also great for the PTO: Spray rig, rental roto-tiller (~ 5,000 sq ft garden), PHD. It's also great for moving snow in the winter & landscaping / maintenance in the summer w/ FEL & 72" BRB.

I know -- the original post was about "one" combo tractor...

My $0.02:

If finish-mowing is "it", go for the Z-Turn. They are the cat's a$$ for pure speed-mowing.

If you truly want a combo, go for the (S)CUT w/ PTO & MMM. Get the biggest you can afford.

Ya know, I hear folks say that the Z-Turns don't really go faster than a "tractor-style" mower -- they're just more maneuverable.

Is this really true?

I know they're more maneuverable (duh...).

But, they sure LOOK and FEEL faster on the straight. When I compare the wife on the big Sears tractor-style mower vs the ZG20, she's just blazin' on the 'Bota...

Be cool,

mlg

 

[proudestmonkey]

I agree that the Simplicity is worth looking into. You may not find that you need to have the 3 pt. hitch. The Legacy XL does not include one as a standard feature, but you can get one--which means if you don't need one, you can save some dough. Also, the Simplicity is a little less expensive, if you get the air-cooled gas engine (and don't need the torque of a diesel). When I first planned to upgrade from my John Deere, I looked at the Legacy XL and was very close to buying it, until I did a price comparison at another dealer that also sold the Kubota. They were quoting the Legacy XL with 60" mower for $8,399, which was roughly $1,500 less than the Kubota with the 60" mower. Of course that was without the 3 pt. hitch on the XL.

I also think you should sit on and ride around each, and do it with a model that has the front-end loader on it. I decided on the Kubota because the Simplicity felt like a "lot less tractor" than the Kubota. The FEL just looked "thin." Maybe they have similar capacities, and on paper are similar, but in actual appearance, the Kubota seemed a lot more rugged and capable. That's just my take.

if I had mostly lawn, didn't live on a big hill, and didn't think I really needed an FEL, but wanted something large enough to get the job down quick, I would probably have stayed with the Simplicity. I am glad, though, that I got the Kubota. You have no idea how nice it is to have an FEL until you have one (I've put 15 hours on my Kubota, using the FEL exclusively, in the past two weeks--that's almost 30% of the hours I put on the John Deere riding mower I had for the entire year last year).

Oh yeah, if you do decide to get an FEL, you will absolutely need a 3 pt. hitch for added weight in the rear, so make sure you include that necessity in pricing out your options.

 

[coasterez]

I would suggest that you also look at the TYM T233 or T273. These are really well thought out newly designed machines. Light and nimble enough to mow, yet big and heavy enough for 3ph attachments and ground work. They are the best "do everything" medium sized machines out there. See the threads on the TYM forum to read more.

You have many options available to you. Try as many as you can. If still in decisive, lean toward a bigger machine. You won't regret it.

Regarding the Simplicity.... I looked at them in the store; never used one. But, I would be wary of machines that require proprietary attachments. Cost now and certainly a few years down the road will be much higher for such implements, if you can get them at all.

I have a similar problem with a JD I own - too small for standard attachments. Everything has to be JD, and they cost so much that I have purchased a total of zero extras since I bought it 12 years ago. It actually made more sense to buy a bigger tractor. So I did (CK25). Now I have the perfect mower (JD), and perfect ground workhorse (CK25). But, I'm $20K poorer than had I just bit the bullet and gotten a bigger tractor to start with.

Lesson learned. There was no TBN to help me back then.

Tom

 

[aesanders]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(

Regarding the Simplicity.... I looked at them in the store; never used one. But, I would be wary of machines that require proprietary attachments. Cost now and certainly a few years down the road will be much higher for such implements, if you can get them at all.

)</font>

The Legacy Xl has a limited category 1 hitch just like other subcuts such as Kubota, Deere, Massey. Most 3rd party attachments designed for limited Category 1 machines such as rotary cutters, box blades or post hole diggers will work for the Legacy.

 

[coasterez]

This is true. Just keep in mind that the key word here is "limited". Nonetheless, limited CAT1 might fit many users needs. Just be aware of what you're getting yourself into.