How Big Do I need?

[dbs179]

I am in the process of closing on a new house right now, and know I am going to need a tractor for plowing out my driveway and mowing the lawn. What I am wondering is about how much HP should I need. My driveway is about 800 feet long by about 12 feet wide, with a few places to push snow up on the edges. My lawn will be about a full acre (when I get grass to grow). Also I will be living in West Virginia, so on average there is not more the 12-18 inches of snow on the ground at any given time. Any input on models and makes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Dave

 

[Gatorboy]

If plowing snow and cutting grass is all that is all you plan on doing with a tractor, you could get a plow for the front of your truck for snow, and get yourself a nice 60" walk-behind mower (Scag, Exmark, Toro, Hustler, etc.) for cutting the lawn. It will sure save you alot of money.

 

[dbs179]

You don't think a snow blower on the tractor might be a better or quicker way to get rid of the snow?? That was the reason I was thinking about a tractor instead of a truck and plow,, or would the truck and plow do a better job? Again, thanks.
Dave

 

[Henro]

Hi,

It would be helpful if you gave a little more info about what else you plan on doing with the tractor (you may not know everything yet, tractors can be such useful tools) and how much property you are dealing with, etc.

I think it is hard for anyone to give good advice without knowing more of the specifics...Not that Gatorboy's advice is not good...but it does assume you have a truck... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> ( You don't think a snow blower on the tractor might be a better or quicker way to get rid of the snow?? ) </font>

What is used to clear the streets in your town? Around here, all I see are trucks with plows on them -- that has to be the fastest way to do it I think.

I am assuming you already have a truck. Your profile is pretty sparce, so it's sometimes hard to give good advice not knowing some basic information.

Welcome to TBN.

 

[BotaGuy]

Any of the Sub-compact tractors will work nicely. These would be the Kubota BX-2230 series, the New Holland TZ series, the John Deere 2210, and the Massey Ferg. GC series. You will find these to be exceptional mowers with benifits. The benefits being built on a tractor frame, 4WD, and the ability to do many other things such as front end loader tasks and various implements can be used on the 3 point hitch. The sub-compact will do all of your chores and beg for more. Good luck.

 

[dbs179]

Sorry for the lack of information guys. I will have about 8 acres of woods. With one of those acres cleared for the house and lawn. Most of the lot is on a hillside, so not much use other than a buffer from my neighbors. I don't think I will use the tractor for much other than plowing/blowing snow, and mowing the lawn, however, I did see you can put a number of other attachments on it to do various things that may come in handy over the years. This my first house, and it is was just built so I am sure that I will have tons of work to do, just not sure what yet. And I do not have a truck right now, but it would not be that hard to pick one up if that is the way to go. Thank you both so much for the input.
Dave

P.S. I used to live near Pittsburgh as well.

 

[Golfgar4]

Welcome to TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Just keep hanging around and asking questions (and doing A LOT of reading of past posts) and you'll learn a wealth of information! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If the only thing that you want to do is clear the driveway of snow and mow your lawn, then I would agree with Dave's comments.

However, you may want to seriously sit down and think about what you may doing in the future. Of course, this "thinking" should include guidance from the wife also. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

But with the acreage you've mentioned, I know I'd be thinking of a few more projects I'd want to be doing. Things like tilling a nice sized garden plot, cutting walking trails through the woods, cleaning out the woods of deadfalls for fire wood, mowing field/natural areas, installing fencing, and doing landscaping are just a few that come to mind.

Now if those might be things that you would want to do in the future, I think pursuing a tractor purchase would be a very wise decision. If you're going to consider this, then start out by visiting various dealers in your area and seeing what is out there. Most dealers will let you "test drive" tractors around their lots. You might get lucky and find a dealer that has an area set aside for test digging with the FEL. Oh, and it's a WHOLE lot of fun too! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I would also agree with BotaGuy about the size of the machine you might consider. A sub-compact seems like it would be the correct size for your application.

Now that you've gotten started on asking questions, you're on the road to learning a lot of really good information and having fun while you're learning! Doesn't get much better than that. At least, not until you get the tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

FAR BE IT FROM ME TO ARGUE WITH EVERYONE HERE, BUT . . . you say you 1 acre of lawn. You have 800' of driveway. You have 8 total acres but most of those are woods with a slope that you are using as a "buffer zone" from your neighbors.

SO, based on that. 1 acre = Garden Tractor.
Snow Blowing 800' = big Garden Tractor.
8 unsued acres = nothing.

If I was you, I would look at Cub Cadet, JD, etc. I would probably be looking for an 18 to 20 hp garden tractor with roughly a 54" mowing deck and a 48"+ snow blower. A tractor like that will last you a VERY LONG time, will easily accomplish your goals and won't bust your budget. A blower will move snow much faster and with less effort than a FEL or a blade, works well on gravel or asphalt. You would need wheel weights and probably chains for the winter.

Now if you want to start to play in the woods, which I understand have some slopes in them, then you might want to look at some different machines.

Slopes make for the infamous "pucker factor" that many tractor owners talk about, that is the point just before you flip a tractor. There are great slope tractors on the market. If you want something reasonably conventional looking, the Ventrac and Steiner brands of tractors are amazing units. My little Ventrac 3000, which is a non-conventional tractor, allows me to do U-Turns and "Figure 8's" in places on my hills that would have caused me to pucker so much that the seat of my tractor would have been sucked so far between my cheeks that it looked like floss. But it does it without any puckering at all. Another great, non-conventional tractor to consider is the Power Trac. I would think a PT422 would easily accomplish your current jobs and probably most future jobs as well. PT units don't have the weight transfer features, so they are not as good on a slope as either the Steiner or the Ventrac, but they are much better than any Sub-CUT or Garden Tractor on a slope.


I suppose the real question is, what do you want to do in the future with those woods? If they will likely be woods then there is no reason to go bigger than one of the better brands of Garden Tractor with about 18 to 20hp.

 

[riptides]

I like Bob and Gary's advise to you so far. I like the advice all others have given as well. They are weeding information out of you!

So here is my take. You sound familar to me. Perhaps 15 years ago when I said I just wanted a buffer, that is why?
BIG /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Well, how long to you plan on staying? Eight acres is a nice buffer but it would make for nice trails too. And as others have mentioned, you MIGHT feel the need to go work in them thar woods!

That changes everything, or nothing. Big /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Anyway....
do you plan on burning wood? Hmmm.... 30hp tractor with FEL

I say 30hp class machine because of Stump/Brush clearance factors.

Your driveway? I missed it? gravel or paved? I guess with a snowblower it would NOT be gravel. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just making sure.

Did I say welcome?

Welcome.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Yes, I smile a lot. It is up to everyone to figger out why! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif