Buying Advice What size?

[MESSMAKER]

I mow a good bit of commercial stuff and have done do for the last 8 years. I have done it with a 27hp tractor and several different 5 foot cutters. If you ask the experts, I am under powered. I have mowed hundreds of acres over the course of hundreds of hours. I do 99% in mid range at full speed. I only struggle in thick wet grass or very steep grades. 15 acres is not a back breaker to maintain. You can plan on mowing 5 acres in about 3 hours so you can knock it out in a few evening or one weekend. A 35 hp tractor is about the sweet spot and should do you well, but you can make do with less. If you go much bigger, you get into a tractor that is powerful, but bigger and heavier. This works against you sometimes. It requires a larger truck and trailer if you need to move it or take it to the shop. My neighbor has a 55 hp tractor but he uses mine a good bit because it is more nimble, easier on the turf and way easier to move. It also uses about 1/2 the fuel. That being said, his will do twice the work in the right circumstance. A couple suggestions, Get a loader, consider a susp. seat and hydo tranny. Shuttle is pretty good, but a gear tractor makes most jobs a bit harder.

 

[Phillip w]

I mow a good bit of commercial stuff and have done do for the last 8 years. I have done it with a 27hp tractor and several different 5 foot cutters. If you ask the experts, I am under powered. I have mowed hundreds of acres over the course of hundreds of hours. I do 99% in mid range at full speed. I only struggle in thick wet grass or very steep grades. 15 acres is not a back breaker to maintain. You can plan on mowing 5 acres in about 3 hours so you can knock it out in a few evening or one weekend. A 35 hp tractor is about the sweet spot and should do you well, but you can make do with less. If you go much bigger, you get into a tractor that is powerful, but bigger and heavier. This works against you sometimes. It requires a larger truck and trailer if you need to move it or take it to the shop. My neighbor has a 55 hp tractor but he uses mine a good bit because it is more nimble, easier on the turf and way easier to move. It also uses about 1/2 the fuel. That being said, his will do twice the work in the right circumstance. A couple suggestions, Get a loader, consider a susp. seat and hydo tranny. Shuttle is pretty good, but a gear tractor makes most jobs a bit harder.

Big 10-4, you and I seem to be on the same page with same idea. And yes, mowing down around my pond powered me out really bad. Tractor really struggled to handle it. My solution was to buy a 7 ft mower and put it on a bigger tractor. But up around the barns and stuff that bigger tractor is cumbersome. However if you want to knock down a pasture with a few rag weeds, milk weeds and horse weeds with a 5 ft on a 30-35 hp tractor should work ok if it is not to big and thick. I am on the same page with you. For a brand I think with his acreage any brand will work. Everyone has there preferred preferences and reasons why and sometimes you are just splitting hairs.

 

[areid]

I have a B3030 and love it for its size and ability. To me it's perfect for moving some dirt and mowing or lifting reasonable loads. I cannot lift 1600 lb bales bit I can skid them around when necessary. I chose to go with the B series because it is easy on the grass even with Ag tires on it. If you want a tractor that can pull a half ton out of the ditch or one that can dig out a 2 ton rock or pull out stumps then go for a heavier tractor. As for me the 30 hp has done amazing feats. Cutting grass and cleaning up bush is a snap.