Buying Advice John Deere 500 series or cub cadet xt2 or ?

[dgolden]

Ok honestly if y’all saw my internet history the last 2 months you’d think I was planning to start a riding mower company.

Anyway I’ve been going cross eyed in this forum for weeks. Decision time is coming soon. First background then what I’m looking for and need and finally thanks to everyone who maybe giving advice.

Background: I’ve inherited a house free and clear in a rural area. There has always been a lawn tractor there but always craftsman brand. Needless to say I’ve not been pleased as an observer of the brand and while I’m inheriting the tractor as well let’s be real it’s junk.

Property info: 1 acre with lots of hills. Some gradual some steep. Mature trees. 1/4 acre of the property is a garden plot for vegetables. 1/4 of the property is covered in fruit and nut trees and the last 1/2 acre is yard none of which is flat. Driveway is approx 120’x24’

Work I want to be able to do:
* Mowing
* Towing a cart with mulch
*Towing cart with brush before mow. Believe me there’s tons of twigs and branches each and every mow
* if possible prefer lawn/garden tractor with attachments for spreading: salt, fertilizer, maybe tiller attachment
* would like tractor to work triple duty: grass, cleanup/landscaping/snow removal
* able to handle other property tasks

Budget: 6-9k

Stuck between John Deere x500 series and cub cadet xt2

Open to suggestions and opinions

Will not buy used, learned once too many times about buying someone else’s problems.

 

[tomplum]

This is an easier decision than you think. You really don't need to research any further online. Put on your blue jeans, kneel down and look under the two riders. Look at the difference in the stability of the frames, steering and transmission belt for starters. Plus you can get hooked up with a nice 4 wheel steer model should you desire. A 42" deck maybe all you need and would save $$ on bagger costs if you were considering one for clean up.

 

[dgolden]

Thanks y’all that’s where I’d been leaning but a good size purchase like this always better to get another opinion.

 

[dgolden]

Isn't the Cub Cadet XT3 more comparable to the x500 series vs the XT 2 ?
XT3 has the K66 transaxle.

I mistyped. Either way I’m gonna be going with the x500 series I think. I’ve been diving even deeper and the JD is going to end up more reliable for what I’m going to need and want to do.

 

[Blue14]

The Cub Cadet XT2 Enduro has the Tuff-Torq K62 has the Hydrostatic Transmission with steel gears and the one I have has the Dif-Lock on it.

 

[atsah]

I would think the X500 series vs the X3 would be more on the level..

 

[dieselscout80]

I think it’s the X584 that’s dot 4 wheel steering and a different al lock.

 

[Tractorable]

I have an X590 and the wife and I really love it. I bought it primarily for the K72 but have found all the other features to be great. I especially like the fuel injected Kawasaki motor which starts instantly hot or cold.

 

[IrishStout]

I was in the same boat about a year ago. I researched and visited dealers for a long time. I really thought I wanted the Cub Cadet but started seeing some disturbing videos of folks with issues. Visited the dealer one last time and found someone had returned the very Cub model I was interested in after only 3 hours of usage, which reinforced what I already knew. I got lucky and found a used 2 year old JD X580 with 46 hours on it, front blade, rear sleeve hitch, and back blade for $1500 less than the tractor alone would have been. I was at the JD dealer looking at new and mentioned the unit to him and he basically asked why I was talking to him. No regrets so far. I did the 50 hour maintenance and have just pushed over 105 hours with no issues. I would suggest getting the mulch control. My 54 inch deck was side discharge, but I recently added the manual mulch control kit. Much improved now.

 

[Topcat14]

Yeah it’s not even close- if you are just mowing the cub XT2 is fine mower for flat or slightly rolling terrain, once you get into any type ground engaging work, plowing snow or snow blower, it’s a no brainer the JD 500 series tractor is head and shoulders above the XT2. Like someone above mentioned the Cub you would consider for your needs would be the XT3 – and even there the JD 500 series is better