Comparison Looking for advice- Steiner/ Simplicity?

[ryebread211]

Just bought a 4 acre lot and need a tractor/ mower. I currently own a Simplicity Boradmoor and LOVE the quality cut and striping, but not enough tractor for this lot. This is very hilly and would not want to attempt on a Zero turn or the Broadmoor. Lot is very long and not alot of obstacles (see pic). Here are my main uses/wants, in order to neediness:
1. quality mower with striping ability.
2. Good on hills and side slopes.
3. 4x4
4. Ability to tow trailer with fire wood.
5. Lift bucket/ slip scoop.
6. Snow plowing
7. fuel consumption

Its about 7-8 miles of mowing per cut.

My top two choices: (at this point)
New Simplicity Legacy XL with 60" fab deck $11k
Used Steiner 430 4x4 with 60" finish deck and slip scoop. <$10k

Any opinion would be appreciated.
Thx.

 

[chim]

Welcome aboard, and get ready for lots of different advice. Here's what I can tell you:

1. Real striping isn't something that interests me. I do vary the direction of travel to get different patterns though. The grass pressed down by the wheels does some pattern.

2. Most 4WD's will do fine on slopes and to a certain degree, sidehills. Weight and its distribution, tire size/type etc come into play. There is one spot here in particular that required use of 4WD to keep my B7500 from slipping and crabbing its way along a sidehill. It was equipped with loaded R4's and a 60" RFM. The L3200 walks right along the same place in 2WD with loaded R4's dragging a 72" RFM.

3. 4WD? Wouldn't be without one.

4. Tractor / mower size depends on trailer.

5. Had tractors with FEL's for over 20 years. Very useful. Quick off and on is a necessity.

6. With the FEL and an inexpensive rear scraper you can handle most anything.

7. Can't drink enough fuel to worry me.

EDIT TO ADD: Width of the mower and the tractor HP makes a big difference. I went from 33 minutes per acre to 22 when I went from the B7500 and 60" RFM to the L3200 and 72" RFM. The ZTR boys will be chirping about how much faster the ZTR's are, but I fail to believe they'll reduce the 22 minutes per acre enough to make me want one. With 3-1/2 acres of mowing, various projects and snow removal here, I really like having one machine that can do it all.

 

[wmonroe]

Just bought a 4 acre lot and need a tractor/ mower. I currently own a Simplicity Boradmoor and LOVE the quality cut and striping, but not enough tractor for this lot. This is very hilly and would not want to attempt on a Zero turn or the Broadmoor. Lot is very long and not alot of obstacles (see pic). Here are my main uses/wants, in order to neediness:
1. quality mower with striping ability.
2. Good on hills and side slopes.
3. 4x4
4. Ability to tow trailer with fire wood.
5. Lift bucket/ slip scoop.
6. Snow plowing
7. fuel consumption
Its about 7-8 miles of mowing per cut. My top two choices: (at this point) New Simplicity Legacy XL with 60" fab deck $11k Used Steiner 430 4x4 with 60" finish deck and slip scoop. <$10k Any opinion would be appreciated. Thx.

Welcome to TBN!

A camp I worked at in college had a couple Steiners, I can't remember the model but they were very good machines. I'm not familiar with simplicity so I'll just give my Steiner experience.

1. Good quality machines that are reliable, very few breakdowns in a commercial use. The mower deck we had used a metal roller on the back of the deck and produced very obvious striping.
2. The model I used was very stable on hills, probably the most stable feeling machine I've operated and it didn't have the dual tire option.
3. Not sure they make a 4x2 Steiner.
4. We had a homemade weight bracket/hitch on the back and didn't really tow much with it. Can't help much here.
5. We had a mower deck, snow blade, spinning brush, blower, and bucket (up/down lift and dump/curl back).
6. This was one of our main snow clearing machines and usually used the snow blade but on occasion used the spinning brush if it was a light snow. Very useful machine for snow clearing.
7. We had gas machines that were filled out of larger storage tanks, I never kept track of how much was used.

My recommendation would be a diesel powered Steiner.

 

[murphy1244]

If your doing hills you need a steiner or ventrac. all are full time 4 wheel drive. Mine has striping rollers.

 

[wmonroe]

If your doing hills you need a steiner or ventrac. all are full time 4 wheel drive. Mine has striping rollers.

I forgot ventrac, didn't the sons of Steiner break off and start it?

 

[murphy1244]

I forgot ventrac, didn't the sons of Steiner break off and start it?

Yes they sold steiner to jacobson and built a new factory in Orville ohio

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I sell both, I'd buy the Steiner.

 

[joemd11]

I'd have to agree with the Steiner/Ventrac recommendation. Simplicity is a good mower (I just bought another one last summer), but I don't think they are as good as they once were when they were built in WI.

 

[big bubba]

If your doing hills you need a steiner or ventrac. all are full time 4 wheel drive. Mine has striping rollers.

btw murphy 1244 looks like you have a very nice place & equip to keep it up

 

[murphy1244]

btw murphy 1244 looks like you have a very nice place & equip to keep it up

Thank you very much.:thumbsup: