Garden Tractors

[m1garand762]

Wheel horse tractors are readily available and have remained very similar since the 70s they will outwork and loot live there owners. Many attachments are available. Or look for an old gravely

 

[GeneV]

I guess it depends on the attachments you want. That determines size, capability and especially cost. Sure there's Subcompact sized versions. None of them are cheap.

That's just it, what attachments are required by the o/p? I had a Craftsman Proseries 27048 garden tractor, carbon copy of Cub's XT2, awesome garden tractor. Had a 26hp Kohler, a Tuff Torq K62 trans, and a locking differential. Accepted a sleeve hitch with all the usual attachments which could mount on there. A snow/dozer blade could mount on the front, I would plow snow with it, and also would [somewhat] level out the paddock where I rotated my pigs. With tires loaded with windshield washer fluid, that thing was a beast for it's size. And, it mowed great, too.

BUT, can't mount a loader on it. Best case scenario is a front scoop. And even if you fabricobble a loader on there, there's still the front axle to beef up...coz with the one on there now, it's a nope (unless you're talking a very light duty loader).

Personally, I needed a loader, and was searching far and wide for a small tractor w/ loader the size of the Craftsmen, found none that are currently manufactured. The closest in size were the old Case 400 and 600 series, later mfg'ed by Ingersoll. But A), they're fairly old machines with all the usual issues associated with buying old machines, and B) most of them are 2wd only with no power steering. With a loader, that's good to have. Only Ingersoll's 6000 series had all that, but looking at size it's about that of a SCUT, and again it's an older machine.

So to sum it up, if the o/p is needing a loader, he's probably going to be needing a SCUT. I believe the smallest one out there is Kubota's BX1880.

 

[Yander]

Here is a simplicity with a diesel, loader and 1,400 hours. You can buy a SCUT for this price but you are paying a premium for the compact size in these models. Also, simplicity is arguably one of the best GT's you can buy so you are paying for quality too. This would be a very capable little machine in probably a sub 1,000lb machine.

 

[Death Row Dave]

I have owned 3 hearty garden tractors :
JD 400
Simplicity 9020 Power Max
Case 440

They were part of America , same as my 32 Ford and my old Harleys , a thing of the past .

They were all built by an American , going to work to earn a wage to raise a family .

They were proud of the quality products they produced .

Sorry but those days are memories .

 

[Death Row Dave]

Case made some that looked very much like shrunken versions of their ag tractors. I almost want one just for the novelty

View attachment 779602

I have one , that you can purchase if you want one . Case 440

 

[coobie]

Does anyone make the Garden Tractors anymore. The ones you can add attachments . The ones smaller than a subcompact but bigger than lawn tractors.

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[ruffdog]

The Deere X700 series are made at the Horicon WI USA plant.

TractorData.com John Deere X700 tractor information

 

[tacticalturnip]

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Unfortunately Ingersoll has been out of production for a while now; they were purchased by a company here in Maine, they even moved production here, it didn't last long.

Their website hasn't been updated in over a decade.

INGERSOLL

 

[coobie]

Unfortunately Ingersoll has been out of production for a while now; they were purchased by a company here in Maine, they even moved production here, it didn't last long.

Their website hasn't been updated in over a decade.

INGERSOLL

Yes I know they have but there are some pretty decent older 4020 ingersolls out there for around $3500 bucks.Just have to be patient and find a good one.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Yes I know they have but there are some pretty decent older 4020 ingersolls out there for around $3500 bucks.Just have to be patient and find a good one.

Oh absolutely; the Hydriv's are among the best garden tractors ever made, arguably the best.

 

[AtomicSloth44]

I have a JD x738 and it can handle a lot of attachments, I have the 60" mower deck, 47" snow blower and a blade as well...this thing is 4WD and it is a nice size for me.

 

[Skypilota72]

Simplicity Legacy XL 27HP Diesel Garden Tractor, 4-Wheel Drive​

 

[Soloz2]

Does Cub Cadet still make the XT3? Shaft drive hydro and built strong. Simplicity was still making garden tractors a few years ago as well. JD x700 is a true garden tractor and some of the better speced x500 series would be considered GT as well.
I've got an old wheelhorse 312-8 and it's a beast!

 

[walnutman]

Not sure how much you want to spend. Look at the Yanmar SA221. Runs around 12k and possible 2k rebate. I have the largest Yanmar... YT359C. 59hp. In case you were unaware, all smaller JD tractors are Yanmar powered.

2021 Yanmar SA221 in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont

Multi-purpose Compact Tractor The SA221 packs the power you’d expect from a much larger tractor. That means the SA221 can do serious work with a front-end loader, a hydraulic backhoe, and three-point hitch attachments for mowing, tilling, planting, digging, plowing and so much more.

allaroundpower.com

 

[nknelsen]

Does anyone make the Garden Tractors anymore. The ones you can add attachments . The ones smaller than a subcompact but bigger than lawn tractors.

The kioti CS2410 is the size of a lawn tractor on Steroids. It's very little bigger then a full size garden tractor, but with a loader and a full cat 1 3 point hitch.

I had one for 7 year's, it was an awesome tractor. I only sold it to buy a bigger kioti.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Not sure how much you want to spend. Look at the Yanmar SA221. Runs around 12k and possible 2k rebate. I have the largest Yanmar... YT359C. 59hp

The kioti CS2410 is the size of a lawn tractor on Steroids. It's very little bigger then a full size garden tractor, but with a loader and a full cat 1 3 point hitch.

I had one for 7 year's, it was an awesome tractor. I only sold it to buy a bigger kioti.

Those are both subcompact tractors; they're good machines, but it seemed OP wanted to avoid SCUT's.

@Soloz2 unfortunately Cub Cadet has killed off the XT3, and therefore killed off the last shift-drive garden tractor.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I'll try to summarize some of the thoughts thus far: fiture out what implements you want to run, THEN start looking for a platform that will handle them. I think you'll end up looking more for a SCUT than what we grew up thinking about as a "garden tractor."

 

[3gunr]

Can't forget the generation that followed!

View attachment 779608

My dad had that same model with several attachments , it was still going when he sold it, at least 35 yrs old.

 

[DJ54]

Does anyone make the Garden Tractors anymore. The ones you can add attachments . The ones smaller than a subcompact but bigger than lawn tractors.

Depends a lot I guess on what you intend to do with it. For garden work, older classic models from the 50's 60's and early 70'sare the ticket. I have a couple Wheel Horse's I use in my garden, and help take care of some crops our antique tractor club plants for our annual Harvest Day's at a local County owned Farm Park. Both have the original slot hitch on back for attachments, but I bought a sleeve hitch adapter that can be changed out on both in less than 5 minutes. The sleeve hitch allows you to use the Brinly brand attachments, which are easier to find, less expensive too.

I also have a Sears ST10. It came with several ground engaging attachments, plus the mower and snow blade. It is a rarer model, Deluxe model if you will with electric 3 pt. hitch. It was a barn find that I bought at a consignment auction for $300. It saw little use from the original owner that according to the serial number is a '74 model. Apparently the middle man who brought it to auction wasn't much of a mechanic, and replaced the carb. on it. It does run great, and the electric 3 pt. works well so far. I use the disk that came with it to make hill rows for onions etc.. I modified it to widen it out. I use the cultivators that came with it for in between rows cultivating, and made an adapter from the Sears 3 pt. to sleeve hitch so s to use my Brinly planter.

2 years ago, I bought a Wheel Horse model 953. It was only made 1 year, but following years the model number changed to a 1054. They came with factory hydraulic lift for rear, and mid mount attachments. I used it last year to cultivate potatoes here, and at the farm park, Indian Corn and pumpkin patch in the early stages at the Farm park. Pretty sweet tractor. I'll probably use it both places planting Indian Corn, and Sunflowers at both places, since I have the Brinly adapter.

For overall cultivating and general performance, I have more than several of the old David Bradley 2-wheelers Sears sold. Sears sold a multitude of attachments with/for them. With the 15", and 16" tires, they have plenty of ground clearance to straddle row cultivate plants up to 10"-12" tall. Most were powered by a 3 hp. Briggs engine, although they did make 5 & 6 hp models. I do have one of the 5 hp. models. Both models have plenty of power for the attachments that came with them. They will pull a cultivator at an idle, but I run them at around 1/3 throttle to sling oil around in the engine. Wheel weights/loaded tires are a must for pulling the plow. The 3 hp. models are very economical on fuel. I cultivate my little 1/4 acre garden a lot, like every 3-4 days at times, and doubt I use much over 4 gallons of gas all summer. Great thing about them, is if the engine is anon runner, they can be repowered with another engine. I've repowered several with 3 hp Briggs off of low hour sidewalk edgers. Basically all you have to do is change out the OEM pulley, and bolt it on, hook up the throttle, and you're good to go.

Auctions are the best place to find any of the above, or other models. It seems they magically increase in value, once someone buying them to flip buys them. If you're handy with wrenches, a little tinkering can go a long way. If not, there are plenty of forums, and if you're a fan of FaceBook, numerous pages of about any brand tractor pages that folks will help you out if you have a problem. Posting a few pics of one's I have below.

 

[Bushbunnie]

they all make a pretty small sub compact. I was just down at the Kubota dealer and they had exactly what you are asking.