Lawn tractor advice

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supton

supton

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Wife and I looked at a property today which we kinda liked. Has a horse pasture and what I'd estimate at 3 acres that would have to be cut at some point, if not points, during the year. I didn't walk the full yard but it didn't seem like brush hog level with big rocks and obstacles and the like. But it wasn't dead flat either. Do they make lawn tractor tires that are lugged for traction? The cheapskate in me says to use a standard riding mower and make do. Find one with tire chains. Preferably an older machine, all cast iron and the like.

Does that make sense, or should I be looking at something larger? Well, if we bought that land, that is.
 
Sounds like perfect garden tractor territory to me. Yes, they make ag tires for most any tractor, lawn or garden, as well as HDAP tires which are great for traction without the damage of ag tires.
You can go cheap if you like, but I've almost always regretted it. A JD 4XX series, like a 435, 445, 455 would be great, as would the newer X500 and up series. If you mow tough ground, you'll thank yourself later for getting a quality tractor, they're indispensable in my book. A 54" deck is good, and a 60" is better for lots of mowing quickly.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: supton

Does that make sense, or should I be looking at something larger? Well, if we bought that land, that is.


Goats
 
Originally Posted By: supton
Does that make sense, or should I be looking at something larger? Well, if we bought that land, that is.


Get the garden tractor first, then you'll have more of a reason to purchase that (or a similarly sized) property.
grin.gif
 
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Originally Posted By: Lawn_Care
Originally Posted By: supton
Does that make sense, or should I be looking at something larger? Well, if we bought that land, that is.


Get the garden tractor first, then you'll have more of a reason to purchase that (or a similarly sized) property.
grin.gif



Ha! I like how you think.
wink.gif


Had not heard of "garden" tractors before, but I guess they are a step above lawn tractors. I figured there was something between this and small tractors.

Wouldn't mind a Ford 9N but that seems just overkill... which is of course right sized, but still.

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Goats


Probably not out of the question according to the wife (still working on convincing her that we don't want guinea hens).

Originally Posted By: Lawn_Care
Plus - a larger tractor usually has a wider variety of implements available, something that may be handy on a property that size.


Not sure how much work I want to do... This one was under 5 acres so it's not like I could justify something to haul firewood etc. It does have a good 100 yards of driveway to move snow off of, so a larger tractor with a small plow would probably be nice, push the snow to the edges and then run a small snowblower up and down the side.
 
4 years ago I bought a Massey Ferguson GC2400 3cyl diesel 22hp. Bought a mower,loader and snow blower for it in the original deal and a King Kutter tiller a bit afterwards. This tractor amazes me on how tough it is. I do look after it but it does get worked...HARD, mainly doing a lot of snow work in the winter with the blower. The updated versions are now GC17xx depending on what you get. Quoted a Deere at the time and for being made of a lot of plastic, the price was ridiculous.

Lots of 0% finance deals available from many manufactures trying to clear this years stock. Will also echo the "buy more tractor than you think you need". You'll be amazed how much work owning rural properties can be.
 
Yep, Carlisle makes an assortment of really great lawn/garden/tractor tires.

IMO, there's more important things for really rough mowing though. Size/weight of the machine. Strength of the transaxle, axles, cutting deck.. Just to name a few!
 
Also if its rough, a good suspension seat. On a slightly rough lawn my toro SS5000 beats me up at times. An old pasture, suspension seat for sure, or a tractor, with a finish type bushhog.
 
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Sounds like you need a $200 beater Craiglist find to knock the weeds down a few times a year.


Strange enough, I have that already. Toro 12-38, 12 hp and 38" deck. Was given to me eons ago but I never liked how it cut, the carb would act up and the brakes have never worked right (a lever likes to fall off and now either worn or out of adjustment). Last time I used it, it decided to eat part of the deck, so it's just sat ever since. Does seem like a reasonable use for it...

 
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Sounds like you need a $200 beater Craiglist find to knock the weeds down a few times a year.


Strange enough, I have that already. Toro 12-38, 12 hp and 38" deck. Was given to me eons ago but I never liked how it cut, the carb would act up and the brakes have never worked right (a lever likes to fall off and now either worn or out of adjustment). Last time I used it, it decided to eat part of the deck, so it's just sat ever since. Does seem like a reasonable use for it...



They will cut surprisingly big stuff and for mine the limit on how steep a hill it will go is pretty much a tie between going over backwards and traction, but you basically have to cut twice when the weeds get 2'+ tall and woody as they fold over and stand up on the first pass.
With a 100yrd driveway and few acres to mow, you might think hard about compact tractor capable of running a finish mower and 4-5' bush hog. One of my regrets on my lawn is not getting my big tractor earlier and sculpting the terrain to be mowed by it with a 6-7' finish mower. Now the wife's fruit trees have taken root so the layout is mostly fixed, and convoluted...

Anyways, before you go buy a good new lawn tractor for $4k, check how much extra is needed for a used low hour compact utility tractor.
 
Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
You don't want Guinea hens. We had some for awhile at my old house, they squawk constantly.


I don't want them, but the tics can get really bad in the spring. I'd rather do chickens if I had to.

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Sounds like you need a $200 beater Craiglist find to knock the weeds down a few times a year.


Strange enough, I have that already. Toro 12-38, 12 hp and 38" deck. Was given to me eons ago but I never liked how it cut, the carb would act up and the brakes have never worked right (a lever likes to fall off and now either worn or out of adjustment). Last time I used it, it decided to eat part of the deck, so it's just sat ever since. Does seem like a reasonable use for it...



They will cut surprisingly big stuff and for mine the limit on how steep a hill it will go is pretty much a tie between going over backwards and traction, but you basically have to cut twice when the weeds get 2'+ tall and woody as they fold over and stand up on the first pass.
With a 100yrd driveway and few acres to mow, you might think hard about compact tractor capable of running a finish mower and 4-5' bush hog. One of my regrets on my lawn is not getting my big tractor earlier and sculpting the terrain to be mowed by it with a 6-7' finish mower. Now the wife's fruit trees have taken root so the layout is mostly fixed, and convoluted...

Anyways, before you go buy a good new lawn tractor for $4k, check how much extra is needed for a used low hour compact utility tractor.


Thanks! Will keep that in mind if I go this route.
 
There use to be a osternation of peacocks around the neighborhood. They are good to domesticate and have around. Not too much noise until it's time to go home for the night.
 
You're heading into the lull period of lawn mower/tractor sales--fall and esp. winter. I understand the cheapskate in you...have it myself...but I bought a brand new Simplicity lawn tractor the end of Nov. 5 years ago. Model year change was just around the corner, and by buying in winter, what would have been a year old model, I managed to get a $2100 tractor for $1200.

And I'd really look at Simplicity--easily the equal of John Deere. Simplicity also makes the Massey-Ferguson riding mowers, if you'd like their name on the mower. I do prefer new in some things, like mowers. Who knows how it was used/abused by the previous owner, if buying used. I do like a warranty sometimes.


https://www.simplicitymfg.com/na/en_us/home.html
 
Originally Posted By: supton


I don't want them, but the tics can get really bad in the spring. I'd rather do chickens if I had to.



We have chickens and they have been great so far. No roosters, just hens. They eat all the bugs and the eggs are fresh!
 
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