How to choose a riding yard tractor

[newman8102]

Hello all,

I want to upgrade to a bigger yard tractor...that can cut grass ( 1 acre), plow or snow blow snow (1/4 mile) and that can turn tight ( 16" or less) for under 4k. There are a lot to choose from and quality matters to me. John deere 304 , cub 1050 lx , craftsman yt 4500 all sound good but are they ?

Advice is what I need

Thanks Y'all

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Hello all,

I want to upgrade to a bigger yard tractor...that can cut grass ( 1 acre), plow or snow blow snow (1/4 mile) and that can turn tight ( 16" or less) for under 4k. There are a lot to choose from and quality matters to me. John deere 304 , cub 1050 lx , craftsman yt 4500 all sound good but are they ?

Advice is what I need

Thanks Y'all

I have a cub 2544 which I am trading in on my new JD 2520. The cub is a nice machine but the hydro forward and reverse (I found myself going slow both ways) are weird you have to take from the forward to give the reverse more power. I found myself on my sloped property wishing it had more of something?? If I was in reverse going down backwards down hill it was fine... I have done a lot of plowing with mine and bent a few of the brackets that hold the blade in the straight and angled positions. Factory support was terrible on this and the design is blah.... My wrist kills me from raising lowering the deck and especially plowing!!!! If I were you I would try to find a used unit that has some type of hydraulic power assist for plowing etc. My driveway is also 1/4 mile long and I don't think I could have gone another winter with it!!!

 

[Carl in CT]

I would go for the Deere. The Cub Cadet 1050 lx is a box store machine and will fall apart within 3 years doing what you are talking about. If you want to save money and get a Cub 1050 at least get the one with the Kawasaki motor. That way at least you will have a good motor to put into a used carcass you find on craigslist three years later. :laughing:

I would steer clear of the Crafstman too. More box store level quality (or lack thereof). OK, maybe I am being a jerk and/or mower snob here but in all seriousness those machines have their place for the right application but snow blowing or plowing 1/4 mile and mowing an acre or more aint it.

I'm not sure the JD 304 can efficiently handle 1/4 mile of snow and an acre of grass either. I just looked at a JD x320 and I think that was just a tad over $4k. That was just for the mower but it had a much larger motor and was better suited for the 48" deck I was looking for. I ended up buying a Simplicity Conquest instead but the x320 is a nice machine. The x324 had the 4 wheel steering but that was another $500 so that's going to burst your budget.

If you had a half acre or less of pretty flat lawn and little to no snow removal I'd say go ahead and get the Cub or the Craftsman. To be honest I would search for a good used machine if you want something built well enough to mow and plow what you mentioned and includes the necessary attachments for $4k or under. You just aren't going to be happy with the cheaper ones after the first year or two at that price point asking them to do that much.

 

[jenkinsph]

I think Carl nailed it.

If it were me I would go for the X320 or X324 and extra attachments, but it will cost more than $4000.

 

[KU Gator]

I agree with the others comments. When we bought our current home on 3 acres, I bought a John Deere GT245 with snow blade and 54" deck from the previous owner of the home. When he told me what he wanted for the then 3 year old tractor, I thought I could get one at the Big Box store for that. But I found there is a lot of difference in what they sell vs what you get at the dealership. I used it the 1st winter to clear the driveway and with the chains, it did an acceptable job. I still use it to mow, but the other duties are now done with the Kubota.

I recently had the 1st failure. A tie rod broke. It was great to be able to go on line and find the parts break down for a now 6 year old no longer in production garden tractor. Then to my surprise, call the dealer, expecting to order the part, but find they had it in stock.

 

[MESSMAKER]

The John Deere is for mowing. It does a fine job, but is not heavy duty. I have a Cub C. and would not recommend one. That leaves the Craftsman. They are not great, but the Garden tractor is a pretty darn good buy at under 3 grand (closer to $2500 if you shop around). They have a strong tranny, an OK motor and are a bit light on the frame and deck, but the others are not that different. The JD 320, which is a sturdier model is great but is twice as much.

 

[Carl in CT]

14 years ago when I bought my Toro/Wheelhorse I intended to get a plow and wheel weights, etc and maybe a tiller and was gonna use that machine for everything. What did I end up doing? Mowing and very occasionally pulling the little tractor cart around, that's about it. OK, I did break the tranny pulling some small stumps with it but that was my stupidity :ashamed: and Toro still warantied it even though it was 2 months past warranty. That's why I found a 1958 Massey Fergusson 202 work bull tractor/loader/backhoe on Craigslist for $3,000 last year for that kind of stuff (love that old backhoe!).

My point is, I found that a new 9hp 29" cut Craftsman snow blower on sale in the fall was about half the cost of the plow, wheel weights and chains and it doesn't tweak on my tractor and put extra hours on it and its been pretty darn good for the last 8 years. As far as tilling, I got a 1976 Troy Bilt Horse with a blown motor off a buddy. He refused to take any money for it so I gave him and his wife a gift cert for a nice restaurant. I stuck a new $230 Briggs motor on it (took all of 30 mins to do) and now for $300 I have a tiller that would cost over $2,000 new that is a beast, gets into places no tractor can and also doesn't use up my tractor.

Obviously those options take more time and effort and take up more space in the shed and I don't have 1/4 mile of driveway either but they save money and save wear and tear on the tractor. Someday when my snowblower breaks I may get a snow blower for my new tractor if I have the cash then. So maybe you should spend the money on the best tractor you can afford now like the X320 or X324 or a Simplicity Broadmoor or Conquest. Then get a used snowblower for a couple hundred in the fall and save up for a blower or plow setup for your tractor.

 

[Carl in CT]

Judging by the "Thanks Y'all" in your original post you are not near eastern CT, lol. If you are however, here is the answer to your problem. Keep an eye out, you might get lucky with a find like this but they go fast if they are as good as this one appears to be. I looked for used ones before I bought my new tractor 2 weeks ago but I couldn't find anything that lasted long enough for me to take a look at it.

http://http://newlondon.craigslist.org/grd/2374086276.html

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you want heavy duty, check out the NEW John Deere X 700 series or if you dont mind used, look at the X475 or older 445 with the Kawasaki fuel injected water cooled engine at 830 pounds it is one heck of a garden tractor and can be bought for $3500 to $5500. A friend just bought a 2003 X475 with 500 hours in like new condition for $4500 in Houston. If you are in that area, check out Houston Craigslist for the 445 which is also for sale and same price and clean enought to eat off of. I have been advised that if you are looking at used 445 dont buy anything pre 1999 as they have a plastic gear in the engine that wears out prematurely but was corrected in 1999 and new models.

 

[jenkinsph]

If you want heavy duty, check out the NEW John Deere X 700 series or if you dont mind used, look at the X475 or older 445 with the Kawasaki fuel injected water cooled engine at 830 pounds it is one heck of a garden tractor and can be bought for $3500 to $5500. A friend just bought a 2003 X475 with 500 hours in like new condition for $4500 in Houston. If you are in that area, check out Houston Craigslist for the 445 which is also for sale and same price and clean enought to eat off of. I have been advised that if you are looking at used 445 dont buy anything pre 1999 as they have a plastic gear in the engine that wears out prematurely but was corrected in 1999 and new models.

Very satisfied with my X749, very heavy duty for a riding mower imo. This thing has way better traction than I initially thought it would have.