Clueless about tractors

[PJL13]

Hello all!

I'm in the process of building a house on 4 acres of old farmland (wheat). I am now at the crossroads of figuring out how to maintain my property when it is completed. I'm very clueless to the tractor world and differences between various types.

I my several of my searches, I haven't been able to determine what will be best for me to perform the following: Mowing, snow removal, landscaping (nothing crazy, maybe a small orchard and garden). I have had various sites, people and internet searches result in recommendations for:

1.) No tractor - Just buy a zero-turn mower and a snowblower
2.) Garden or lawn tractor with snowblower attachment
3.) Subcompact tractor with front loader for snow, and a mower attachment...and wallet permitting, a backhoe for other work

I certainly like the idea of subcompact tractor, but not sure what the difference is between that and a Garden (or Lawn) tractor. Furthermore, I wasn't sure if a subcompact tractor would even be too much for my needs.

Of course, the next issue would be which brand, model, options, etc to get.

Anyhow, I would welcome any thoughts, suggestion and input that anyone has.

Thank you!

 

[dickfoster]

You've come to the right place. How much grass needs to be cut and how often? How much snow needs to be removed ie. feet of driveway etc. etc. Backhoes are nice to have but not cheap to buy. Before making any firm decisions on brand, first shop for decent dealers that will provide the level of service you need. If the dealer is crappy the brand of tractor you have won't matter much.

 

[Thomas]

:welcome:
Lot of good reading also try SEARCH.

 

[BigBoyToys]

Seeing you don't have "woods" to contend with, something in the Kubota BX line or similar would fit the bill. Just see what local dealers are around and what brands they carry. Then test drive a few.

 

[TheMadOne]

Hello all!

I'm in the process of building a house on 4 acres of old farmland (wheat). I am now at the crossroads of figuring out how to maintain my property when it is completed. I'm very clueless to the tractor world and differences between various types.

I my several of my searches, I haven't been able to determine what will be best for me to perform the following: Mowing, snow removal, landscaping (nothing crazy, maybe a small orchard and garden). I have had various sites, people and internet searches result in recommendations for:

1.) No tractor - Just buy a zero-turn mower and a snowblower
2.) Garden or lawn tractor with snowblower attachment
3.) Subcompact tractor with front loader for snow, and a mower attachment...and wallet permitting, a backhoe for other work

I certainly like the idea of subcompact tractor, but not sure what the difference is between that and a Garden (or Lawn) tractor. Furthermore, I wasn't sure if a subcompact tractor would even be too much for my needs.

Of course, the next issue would be which brand, model, options, etc to get.

Anyhow, I would welcome any thoughts, suggestion and input that anyone has.

Thank you!

The biggest differences between a standard garden tractor and a SCUT(Sub Compact Utility Tractor) are(In my opinion, and in no way to be taken as gospel):

The hitch-Most garden tractors will have a single hole for towing a small trailer. SCUTs will have some manner of 3-point hitch for mounting implements.

Fuel-Most garden tractors are gas engines. SCUTs are diesel.

PTO-very few garden tractors have a rear 540RPM PTO.

Weight-most SCUTs will weigh more than most garden tractors. This allows them to do more work.

Strength-most (big box) garden tractors are much less capable of pulling, and are also less forgiving of abuse.

You'll notice that I said "most" in relation to things about garden tractors. The reason for that is there are some machines that toe the line between garden tractor and proper SCUT.

A good dividing line(I think) would be the rear hitch. Cat 1 hitch=SCUT Nothing/Single hole=Garden Tractor Cat 0/Cat 1 Limited=Questionable

 

[jeff9366]

The large rear wheels on traditional tractors provide substantial mechanical advantage when PULLING.

The Three Point Hitch, including Power Take Off (PTO) is the primary focus on a traditional tractor, Front End Loader (FEL) is secondary and rear/center drawbar is trailing tertiary focus.



A Zero Turn mower provides the fastest, highest quality cut of lawn.

How many obstacles, such as trees and flower beds, are in the area you will mow two to four times per month? The greater the need for maneuverability, the more a Zero Turn will shine.

 

[brasco426]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=353157

Already great advice given, here's a thread I started of what I've been upto with our SCUT. We have just over 6 acres combined property to maintain with horses. Some of the things jobs it's tasked with is snow removal, loader work, grading, mowing, maintaining the horse rings to name a few. We enjoy having a SCUT around and I don't know how we managed before having it. Too add a little to what others have said I will add this, decide what jobs need to be accomplished throughout the year for your property and your needs and match a machine to those needs. Good Luck and it will get much easier keep reading and learning all you can before you take the plunge. . Donnie

 

[AxleHub]

Pjl,

You wrote "I certainly like the idea of subcompact tractor, but not sure what the difference is between that and a Garden (or Lawn) tractor. Furthermore, I wasn't sure if a subcompact tractor would even be too much for my needs."

A scut is more about hydraulics and lifting plus the added things a garden tractor does. So a scut can lift a pallet of landscape blocjs or patio blicks ans carry it to a location while a faeden teactor pylls a xaet ans yoy dobthe loadibf in and our with muscles.

A garden tractor pulls the little cart of dirt you shovelled into it while the scut scoops up the dirt in its bucket and to drive ir to where it gets dumped.

Both cut grass, both can plow snow, both can have a snowblower . But a scut can lift and carry snow while a garden tractor pulls a xart of snow you shoveled into it.

But the point is pjl . . Yyou have 4 acres in upstate New York apparently. Do you want a lawn tractor/garden tractor that requires phtsical work from you or do you want a scut that wants to do a bunch of the physical work?

I think TBN is effective at telling you ideas and information about mowers and tractors uses and capabilities. But you should " sit on some seats " furst just to gain an idea of the sizes that separate the categories. Stop into a Kubota dealer and ask to see and sit on a couple sizes of BX products. Keep a blind eye to color or name. You are only there to see price tags and physical size of units. Don't ask for quites . . Just general price ranges.

Now do the same thing at a Home Depot or Lowe's or ???. Or that same Kubota dealer also sells lawn tractors in 2 wd or 4wd. Again . . . you aren't there for bids and test drives . . you are there ti fet an udea what $ 3000 looks like vs $ 10,000 vs $ 15,000. Not brand not color.

Then come back to tbn with more idwa what you want to do with your money ans your land.

Tbn forums cover $ 1500 lawn tractors and $15,000 scuts. My point is . . you need to "aim us" more than you are to get more valuable input from us.

 

[JFoy]

PJL13,

First, welcome. Second, as to the uses of a SCUT, while I've used tractors for plowing gardens over the years, I bought my first true SCUT (Kubota BX25D) back in December. Up to that point, around the house, I used a regular riding mower with a little tow-behind cart. Now with the SCUT, I mow about 1.5 acres with it. I brush hogged 3 acres with it last week. Had a tree service here a couple months ago and I told them to leave anything over 2 inches in diameter for my wood stove. I moved and piled all of that with the pallet forks from the tree sites to the the wood storage area with the pallet forks. Every couple of years, we get a couple dump truck loads of mulch in for landscaping. I've always moved it by wheelbarrow. Next time, I'll use the Front End Loader (FEL) and be done in a half day instead of two days - not to mention my back won't hurt from all the shoveling. I've got a collapsed septic line that needs to be replaced. I'll use the Backhoe (BH) to dig it up instead of shoveling that or hiring it out. I bought some gravel for the flooring of my storage shed area. Used the FEL to move it. Wife wants a privacy fence that will require around 30 4x4s. I'll use the post hole digger aka auger to make those holes instead of doing that by hand. It used to take me upwards to 3 hours to mow my lawn with my 42" riding mower. Now it takes less than 2 hours with the 54" Mid Mount Mower (MMM) on the tractor. Bought a new wood stove back in December. Unloaded it at home with the pallet forks.

Get the idea?

 

[MF283]

Pjl,

You wrote "I certainly like the idea of subcompact tractor, but not sure what the difference is between that and a Garden (or Lawn) tractor. Furthermore, I wasn't sure if a subcompact tractor would even be too much for my needs."

A scut is more about hydraulics and lifting plus the added things a garden tractor does. So a scut can lift a pallet of landscape blocjs or patio blicks ans carry it to a location while a faeden teactor pylls a xaet ans yoy dobthe loadibf in and our with muscles.

A garden tractor pulls the little cart of dirt you shovelled into it while the scut scoops up the dirt in its bucket and to drive ir to where it gets dumped.

Both cut grass, both can plow snow, both can have a snowblower . But a scut can lift and carry snow while a garden tractor pulls a xart of snow you shoveled into it.

But the point is pjl . . Yyou have 4 acres in upstate New York apparently. Do you want a lawn tractor/garden tractor that requires phtsical work from you or do you want a scut that wants to do a bunch of the physical work?

I think TBN is effective at telling you ideas and information about mowers and tractors uses and capabilities. But you should " sit on some seats " furst just to gain an idea of the sizes that separate the categories. Stop into a Kubota dealer and ask to see and sit on a couple sizes of BX products. Keep a blind eye to color or name. You are only there to see price tags and physical size of units. Don't ask for quites . . Just general price ranges.

Now do the same thing at a Home Depot or Lowe's or ???. Or that same Kubota dealer also sells lawn tractors in 2 wd or 4wd. Again . . . you aren't there for bids and test drives . . you are there ti fet an udea what $ 3000 looks like vs $ 10,000 vs $ 15,000. Not brand not color.

Then come back to tbn with more idwa what you want to do with your money ans your land.

Tbn forums cover $ 1500 lawn tractors and $15,000 scuts. My point is . . you need to "aim us" more than you are to get more valuable input from us.

:thumbsup:

 

[flusher]

Before you really overthink this, head for a few dealers and get some seat time behind the wheel of several SCUTs. Discuss your wants and needs with the sales person. Check out the service and parts departments.Your questions will be answered faster that way. Choose the dealer who is the most helpful and treats you with respect.

Good luck

 

[Al Mac]

Welcome to TBN.
As many comment on the advantages about having a SCUT. I will say that I could not agree more. It is like having several people helping on a project but you don't have to listen to them. Just you and your toy, I mean tractor.
Something not talked about much is the dealers. When I was looking I went into the parts counter first at each dealer looking for a somewhat odd item. It was a fuel cover for a older model in the dealers make.
A internet search was helpful picking the model and aprox year. From the time I asked the question about getting a fuel cap at counter I watched to see how much they were willing to do to help in my "problem".
From their I looked at the models they had in the yard. The sales people are always helpful but a tractor is out of warranty a lot longer than it is in warranty. Parts and service are often closely tied with how they help costumers.
I ended up with a Kubota B 2920, FEL,MMM,Blower which is the help I needed with the kids not home now.

Enjoy your search.

Al

 

[whizdbiz2]

Another consideration if you need a mower on a SCUT, think about a 3 pt. mounted (rear) finish mower. Much easier to take on and off and you can get into corners easier, if that is a need (I have 4 pasture fields to mow and need to be able to back into the corners to clean it up, can't do that with a mid mount). Might be cheaper too, lots of good used ones out there, and when you don't need it anymore it's easier to sell than a MMM.

I've always had riding mowers for grass and a couple of N series Fords (a 9N and an 8N) for bigger work, but got a Mahindra eMax 22 SCUT with a FEL a couple of years ago. Wish I'd done that much earlier.

 

[jeff9366]

How many obstacles, such as trees and flower beds, are in the area you will mow two to four times per month?

This question has been hanging for awhile.

 

[PJL13]

Thank you all for your responses. I certainly agree that I need to get to some of the dealers/stores around here, which is on my list of things to do before the house is completed.

As far as details of our land, we have about 2.5 acres that we hope to grow grass on and mow, currently with no obstacles. Additionally, we have a 250 ft driveway, which we'll need to plow.

Next step for me will be to check out the local vendors.

I appreciate all of the information and input and as I gather more information and have more "direction" of our end goal(s), I'll be sure to post more.

 

[jeff9366]

As far as details of our land, we have about 2.5 acres that we hope to grow grass on and mow, currently with no obstacles.

In that case, a Three Point Hitch mounted Rear Finish Mower might be as good or better than a Zero Turn for you.


FINISH MOWER VIDEO: finish mower tractor - YouTube

 

[Teachu2]

Pjl,



So a scut can lift a pallet of landscape blocjs or patio blicks ans carry it to a location while a faeden teactor pylls a xaet ans yoy dobthe loadibf in and our with muscles.

I question the first part of that - a pallet of blocks may be north of 2200lbs, which is beyond most SCUTs and many CUTs. I certainly can't argue with the second half of that sentence, though! :confused2:

 

[brasco426]

I certainly can't argue with the second half of that sentence, though! :confused2:

Lol

 

[AxleHub]

I question the first part of that - a pallet of blocks may be north of 2200lbs, which is beyond most SCUTs and many CUTs. I certainly can't argue with the second half of that sentence, though! :confused2:

Greetings teachu2,

Since getting forks to be used on my scut . . I often use pallets of different dimentions to move pato blocks or landscape blocks or concrete blocks or bags of heavy weight from spot to spot. The weight varies from a couple hundred pounds up to about 800+ pounds depending on need and physical size of the pallet. I wasn't referring to commercial palletizing.

And yep . . Sometimes automatic spellcheckers seem to re-interpret typed statements lol.

 

[jeff9366]

I'm in the process of building a house on 4 acres of old farmland (wheat).

I like the idea of subcompact tractor, but not sure if a subcompact tractor would be too much for my needs.

3.) Subcompact tractor with front loader for snow, and a mower attachment...and wallet permitting, a backhoe for other work

I would plan your garage to have one door tall enough so your tractor can enter/extit without having to fold the ROPS. Having two doors for the tractor, one at each end of the garage, will be a feature of my next house. I would not store a tractor for residential use outside. Weather and rodents will cause more depreciation than actual use. Tractors are theft prone. There are no VIN numbers on tractors, which can be routinely checked by law enforcement. When gone, seldom recovered.


A Backhoe for a sub-compact tractor adds $5,000 to the price. It is hard to imagine how you will get $5,000 value out of a Backhoe on four open acres.

Your Front End Loader is for landscaping tasks. Various Three Point Hitch implements, relatively cheap, lay pipe and wire easier than trenching with a Backhoe.

What tasks do you envision requiring a Backhoe on four acres? Relative to your money this may be where you can benefit from our experiences.

You will find far more uses for your tractor when you have it than you can imagine now. You will meet your new neighbors sooner than expected, and find them to be surprisingly friendly, when you have a tractor.