Need advice - 15-20HP

[3inthedirt]

I have owned a '48 Farmall Cub in the past but have since sold it. Fun machine but it doesn't have the easy functionality i am looking for and is horrible for a loader.

I'm building a new house in SC with a little over an acre. I have a 36" walk behind zero turn mower that I bought new in'79. Seems like a tall task in 100 degree days. I could handle the work 90 percent of the time. Neighbors are buying 8-10k sit down zero turns. I can't justify that money for a single purpose machine. I'm quite mechanical so an older machine is just fine.

I'm thinking I need a 15-20HP tractor with a belly mower that has a pto for future attachments (box blade, tiller, FEL, landscape rake?). Does this sound right?

I'm thinking about $8k for a machine as a budget. Maybe Deere for parts availability.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.......

 

[oldnslo]

Deere maybe a 1 series like 1023 or 1025 or Kubota BX series. These have option of belly mower, FEL and come with rear PTO and 3 point as standard items. BX series had 18 HP version but I believe the Deere are all low mid 20 HP range. I don't know the models of older Deere nor what features they have as standard.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

While there are some older "garden tractors" that have that low of HP, most don't have 3pt or PTO ... Some do, but if in working order command a high price ... Especially if diesel powered!

A SCUT (Sub-Compact Utility Tractor) has most of those features available, and quite often a front loader too, and 4X4 ...

Look around Tractor House, you can filter out a lot of stuff, and select to see stuff near your zip code ... These are less than $10K ... Pardon Our Interruption (just click on the link, don't know why it says that!!)

Once you get into older tractors ... I'd stick to brands that would be able to get parts for ... Like Kubota & John Deere ...

 

[jjeff]

Bought a brand new 21hp rebranded as a rural king so tym I guess, withe fel with qa bucket and belly mower tph rear and mid pto, loaded r14 rear tires, couldn't be happier with it for mowing and maintenance of my hilly 3 acre rec property and cabin up north. Still anticipating decent performance however not experienced snow removal with it yet. One thing I did learn is the belly mower needs to be removed to use the tph functions properly. A new 21hp rural king would be out of your budget but a pretty well maintained used tym or rk might be in your budget. Good luck. I'm mostly a Kubota orange tractor guy BTW for the price of a new rk compared to a used problaby not abused BX or 1 series JD figured I probably couldn't go wrong. Unless I was allergic to checking fluid levels, doing PM's, figuring out a few mechanical quirks, and greasing it myself.

 

[3inthedirt]

Thanks for the Tractorhouse idea. Will get my mind trained for pricing these days. My son bought a Kubota L3901 with a finish mower new for about $23k 6 years ago. Seems that prices have increased about 50% since then.

So a sub-compact is exactly what I was thinking. I think my budget wil be the issue.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Just save your pennies, and don't be in a hurry ... In the mean time research what you really want, so when something comes up within range, you can jump on it!

 

[dodge man]

I agree, JD 1 series or a Kubota BX are good choices. They can be found for less than $10k but they will be older.

 

[jjeff]

I agree, JD 1 series or a Kubota BX are good choices. They can be found for less than $10k but they will be older.

Harder to find with loader and.belly mower. In pretty good condition from whT I saw when I was looking.

 

[big bubba]

agree w/Shawn TW, be patient and esp review your future unseen tasks if you intend to keep the property. 15-20hp is a very small machine, and would be limited in larger estate tasks.

as mentioned above, if you wait & save maybe consider something larger to grow with the future. that way in 2-3 yrs after purchase, you won't notice the extra cost.
So many posts on this compact forum state wish they had gone larger the 1st time to avoid expensive upgrade trade ins.
been there myself regards

 

[3inthedirt]

Totally agree with the larger tractor and being patient!!! Winter is coming.............

I can actually get a good Cub with Woods 59 for a couple of grand but it has limitations. I do need something manueverable on a relatively narrow property. I also think it has to be Deere or Kubota. I'm seeing a lot of noise about the plastic hoods on Deere and I'm not surpised. I'm really thinking older Deere that I can add the mower to. The loader is more of a wish list than need. Add ons for the three point are relatively cheap once I have the right platform. Gotta focus on the RIGHT PLATFORM to build upon. That's why I talked my son out of a zero turn mower for his 14 acres/10 acres of grass/field.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

If you have a 3 point and rear PTO, a rear finish mower is relatively easy to source, a mid mount mower (mmm) is much more tractor specific, and harder to source for an older out of production model ... Same goes with the loader ... If you want either, get them with the tractor ...

While my Little Baby Fergie (SCUT) has done everything I've needed here on my 16 acres, when I bought it, it was all there was available with a backhoe (BH) at the time, I was looking for much larger, it just takes longer ... https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/just-little-bites.604057/

The reason I bought ANOTHER ADDITIONAL tractor was for ride comfort ... The little 26" tall rear tires were "unpleasant " mowing my back bumpy pasture ... So, I saved my pennies and bought a tractor with bigger tires! Which came with a bigger motor, so bought a bigger mower! (It also has a suspension seat and an A/C cab!) https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/my-big-lawn-mower.591750/ I was able to get a deal on it because it did NOT have a loader ... Which most people want, so it sat on the dealers lot for over 4 months ... My little tractor has a loader and I still have that for my loader needs.

 

[gstrom99]

I'm thinking I need a 15-20HP tractor with a belly mower that has a pto for future attachments (box blade, tiller, FEL, landscape rake?). Does this sound right?

I'm thinking about $8k for a machine as a budget. Maybe Deere for parts availability.

Welcome to TBN. If you can find one... may I suggest a x55 John Deere (755, 855, 955) would work well for you. Most come with a 70a loader, but mine came with a real nice belly mower and has a later 420 loader (quick disconnect bucket). Simple, solid machine. Should be within your budget. The 1 series Deere and Kubota BX's seem too small, for me anyway. I've retired the mid-mount mower (bought a zero turn), but it mowed great.

 

[Racer4]

Don’t count out Massey Ferguson GC series. I’ve had mine for 15 years and it’s been great. I’ve only got 3.5 acres, probably half is woods. Lots of digging with the hoe, moving logs, brush, & materials with the loader, chipping brush with the 3pt chipper, and snow removal with the blower.
Never had any major problems, and it’s never needed a trip back to the dealer.


The 2300,2400,2600 series were made in Japan by Iseki. They will definitely be cheaper used than a green or orange machine.

I’ve had no issues getting parts via the web. Unfortunately my closest dealer is now over an hour away, because the one I bought from closed up.

 

[JTKub]

I have owned a '48 Farmall Cub in the past but have since sold it. Fun machine but it doesn't have the easy functionality i am looking for and is horrible for a loader.

I'm building a new house in SC with a little over an acre. I have a 36" walk behind zero turn mower that I bought new in'79. Seems like a tall task in 100 degree days. I could handle the work 90 percent of the time. Neighbors are buying 8-10k sit down zero turns. I can't justify that money for a single purpose machine. I'm quite mechanical so an older machine is just fine.

I'm thinking I need a 15-20HP tractor with a belly mower that has a pto for future attachments (box blade, tiller, FEL, landscape rake?). Does this sound right?

I'm thinking about $8k for a machine as a budget. Maybe Deere for parts availability.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.......

Nice!! My daughter lived in SC for a year or so. I loved it there. Would love to head that way if I make it that long LOL. In terms of a something in the 15-20hp range with a FEL, 3-pt, mid/rear PTO and potential of a MMM, $8K these days might buy you an old, high hour, very well used JD. I don't see many JDs or Kubotas in that range and was watching quite intently for some time. About the least expensive new sub compact utility tractor you can get will be in the 20-22hp range and will be diesel and 4x4. Fitted with a FEL and MMM, you can find them in the $16K range, brand new for imports. That's what I wound up buying. A TYM T224. Most of the 4-6yr/old sub compacts like the MF 1723, LS models or used Kiotis sell in the $10-12K range.

 

[3inthedirt]

All great info! Thanks for the older model Deere info, exactly what I was looking for! Will look into MF and NH new as well.

Of course the builder made the land a prairie before building. As you can imagine, all flat. Priority will be mower with add ons later.

Let's face it, it won't get worked to death.

I’ve got some research to do! Thanks again to all!

 

[big bubba]

welcome to this forum, & wise to post here as you do your homework

 

[gstrom99]

All great info! Thanks for the older model Deere info, exactly what I was looking for! Will look into MF and NH new as well.

Of course the builder made the land a prairie before building. As you can imagine, all flat. Priority will be mower with add ons later.

Let's face it, it won't get worked to death.

I’ve got some research to do! Thanks again to all!

Post back with what you find. One thing about TBN members is that we're not shy about giving advice. It (usually) is worth more than you paid for it.

 

[big bubba]

we also like to spend your $

 

[Shawn T. W.]

If mowing is the primary job, make sure you consider the actual PTO HP available ... For example a 25 HP tractor from different manufacturers and even different models can have vastly different PTO HP, at least with a Hydrostatic transmission (HST) you can easily see a 20% - 30% loss of power from the engines rated power! (Gear transmissions have less loss, but still don't put out full PTO HP as the engine)

Then figure on for example a 25 HP tractor could be a SCUT with a much narrower tire track, than a much larger frame CUT with a wider tire track, but both have the same engine ...

 

[gstrom99]

All great info! Thanks for the older model Deere info, exactly what I was looking for! Will look into MF and NH new as well.

Of course the builder made the land a prairie before building. As you can imagine, all flat. Priority will be mower with add ons later.

Let's face it, it won't get worked to death.

I’ve got some research to do! Thanks again to all!

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