ZTR or Tractor for 5 acres

[flymutt]

I just bought a house with 5 acres, of that I will have to cut about 4 acres. It has trees and pasture along with a small hill. I mostly want something to cut grass and haul a trailer around and I don't want to spend all day cutting grass. I have looked at the 20-24 HP tractors but it seems like a lot of money ($10,000+) and I don't think I will use any of the attachments that you can get, except maybe a tiller. I really don't know much about ZTR's except that you can get a good size deck and they cut faster, but I am not sure if you can tow anything with them. Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[mwood]

I think the ZTR would be the better option if you aren't looking to do anything but cut grass. I have seen some people pull a small cart behind them, but you have to be really careful to turn SLOWLY /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Otherwise you jacknife badly.

You can easily get a 60 inch deck ZTR which will handle your mowing for less than $7000 that will be commercial grade. If you don't need the commercial grade, expect to pay MUCH less!

Happy mowing!

 

[sneaky_pete]

I also have five acres with trees, pasture, and some grass. My place came with a 16 hp Kubota G1800 lawn tractor w/ a 54" MMM. It's a great mower, fast and does an excellent job. It easily tows a large utility trailer full of branches, dead wood, compost, or whatever. The wheels are small enough that it rides very rough out in the pasture, where the ground is not smooth. Also, the MMM is too fine for the coastal bermuda grass in the rough pasture and it doesn't do well if the grass gets too high. I finally ended up buying a CUT to take care of that, and for the FEL. But the lawn tractor is a very capable machine for lawn and under the trees.

The only downside to the Kubota G or TG series lawn tractors is their cost, but they are extremely well built and I expect mine to last forever with good maintenance.

Pete

 

[Freds]

I have a Kubota G2160 and am very happy with it, except that it has an idiot light rather than a fuel guage. I've cut through some think, high stuff and the 21hp diesel didn't bog down with *sensible* mowing (speed, cut path). It has a 60" deck and I can cut about three acres witha moderate amount of fencing and trees in 2-1/2 hours without really trying to hurry. It's extremely sharp turning and will circle around most of my trees.

I almost went with a ZTR, but the dealer didn't think I would be happy with it in the soft areas I have to mow. He felt the added weight and front idlers would be a problem, at least at the models I was looking at.
Another thing you might want to consider is if you ever want to roll your lawn or pull an areator.

 

[maxtractor]

I would vote for a CUT. I have a Kubota B7610 and can mow three acres in 2 hours with a 5 ft. MMM. Plus it can do so much more. I know you think you won't use it for anything else but you will find tons of uses for a tractor. I know a ZTR mows great and is a little faster, but they ride rougher and are far less flexible. I could only afford one machine and I chose the tractor and I have never regretted it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Soundguy]

I vote on a cut. ztr's just cut grass... mind you they are painfully efficient at it. However a 20ish hp tractor can do lotsa tasks. I see Nh has a 10la? or something like that.. it is a subcompact.. and has a very small loader, and MMM throw in a box blade and 4' rotary mower and you'r set.

Soundguy

 

[DiskDoctr]

Flymutt,

If your main priority and task is to cut grass, and you can live without towing a trailer (they make some nice 2 wheeled hand trailers- sort of like a long wheel barrel), then a good ZTR could be your answer.

4 acres is a lot of grass. I would also recommend you check out this post with close to the same questions you are asking... Post

If on the other hand you want to tow, plow, FEL, etc go with a tractor. MMM or RFM would both be good and would depend upon budget, size, and time you want to spend mowing. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Good luck on your decision, and ask lots of Q's. Good people here willing to help.

-JC

 

[flymutt]

Thanks very much for all of the advice. What size HP would I need for a ZTR or a tractor? I have read that it should be at least 20 HP. I am looking at the Kubota 2230, but it not sure if it is overkill for what I am going to use it for. I am afraid that the ZTR will be a little rough since it is kind of a bumpy pasture and I am also thinking about clearing out some brush.

Flymutt

 

[Bob_Skurka]

ZTRs are great high speed cutters for SMOOTH lawns, but the majority of them will rattle the fillings out of your teeth if you try to cut on bumpy land, my neighbor has a Dixie Chopper and uses it on fairly smooth reclaimed pasture. He can only run it at about 1/2 speed because it bounces him out of the seat! The problem with pasture is that it often LOOKS smooth, but really it has little bumps and ruts that you don't really notice until you are right on top of them.

As for a tractor, I would look for something about 30hp with a 72" deck, if your in an arrid climate with thin grass, you might be able to go up to an 84" mower deck. If your grass is heavy, you are probably limited to 72". 5 acres is a reasonable amount to mow and will take quite a bit of time with a BX size machine, which probably won't give you anything bigger than a 60" deck.

You might want to consider a USED Steiner or Ventrac, they are the same physical size as a BX Kubota but will run up to 72" decks and they are great on bumpy turf. Fast mowers too because they are both very manuverable brands. Used Steiners can be found as well, Ventracs are a lot harder to find used. On the used market, both can be had for under $10,000.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am afraid that the ZTR will be a little rough since it is kind of a bumpy pasture and I am also thinking about clearing out some brush.
)</font>

Well.. that line pretty much nailed it.. 'tractor'. A ZTR gets its efficiency boost in cutting grass by factoring in speed, and overall appearance of cut. A bumpy pasture will give you a worse looking cut if you are trying to make up time by flying down the rows. And aside from a stray bush here or there.. ZTR's are not brush clearing machines.

A small CUT is great for 5 ac. A 4' brush mower will cut brush, and if you keep it smarp and mow every week will cut grass into a 'shaggy' lawn appearance. A machine that can handle a 4' rough mower can usually pull a 5' finish mower. Another option is to simply buy a 5' rough mower, and just take 2/3rds bites out o fthe small amount of brush you will cut. Keep it sharp and mow often, and if you are simply 'topping' grass.. a 30ish hp tractor will pull one of the economy duty 5' rough mowers.. Alternately, a cut with a mmm and a small rough cutter is a great choice.

Heck.. if you could find an old farmall H or M with a belly mower you would be set.. just get a kk 6' rotary mower and throw it on the back setup as a drag mower and then go. I almost bought a 49 'H' farmall with a 72" belly mower Great lawnmower. was a trike and turned on a dime... and was only about 2000 - 2500$ but I waited to olong and someone else got it.

Soundguy