Comparison one tractor vs mower + tractor

dodge man · Feb 26, 2010

I'd say if you have a nice finished lawn, you aren't going to be happy with what a bigger tractor does to it. A BX with a FEL and box blade and a bucket load of dirt will tear up your lawn a little bit. A good comprimise might be something like a B instead of a BX. You just need to decide how many really big jobs you have.

MESSMAKER · Feb 26, 2010

3 acres is a good bit to mow especially with a inexpensive mower so that means that you need a solid piece of equipment. A ZTR and a nice used tractor with a FEL would be great but it would cost $$ and the tractor WILL be hard to find. That would leave me looking for a scut or small cut with a belly mower. You will need the mower 20x more than you will use the loader so keep that in mind.

wolc123 · Feb 26, 2010

The best reason for both a zero turn and a tractor is that way you do not need to run R4 tires which are a recipe for disappointment on and off the lawn. They damage turf nearly as bad as R1's yet provide traction in the mud little better than turfs. A tractor with R1's and a zero turn with turfs gives you the best tire for almost any job.

LBrown59 · Feb 26, 2010

wolc123 said:
The best reason for both a zero turn and a tractor is that way you do not need to run R4 tires which are a recipe for disappointment on and off the lawn. They damage turf nearly as bad as R1's yet provide traction in the mud little better than turfs. A tractor with R1's and a zero turn with turfs gives you the best tire for almost any job.

The worst of both worlds.

Steve C · Feb 26, 2010

casolorz said:
We are about to move into our new house on a 3 acre lot. I'll be doing most of the landscaping. Its fairly flat other than its a walkout lot so there is a bit of slopped grading around the house. There is also a pond and an easement, but aside from that mostly flat.

I am considering buying a good fast mower, like a ZTR or similar, and then picking up an old used tractor with a loader to do the heavy work. Or the alternative is that I pickup a small kubota, mahindra, tym, cub/yanmar, which allows me to have a belly mower and a loader.

What would you recommend?

Also suggestions on both of the options are welcome, I am trying to keep it at the lowest end of all the manufacturers.

Thank you,

--Carlos

You cannot beat a zero turn mower for mowing grass. I have a 26 hp Swisher with a 60 inch deck. It is a high end consumer mower not a professional unit. It cuts twice as fast as my garden tractors. It does ride a little harsh due to the small front wheels.

A purpose built machine like a zero turn mower will outperform a tractor when doing what it was built for.

On the other hand the sound of a 3 cylinder diesel just loafing along while cutting grass can make the experience more enjoyable even if it does take longer. You have to decide if time is more important than the experience. The tractor is slower.

Nitro-Fish · Mar 1, 2010

How much of a budget are you working with? If you can afford it and stay within your budget, I would get a decent used Commercial Zero Turn Mower and a used CUT. There are several decent deals around (especially with the economy the way it is) on low hour machines purchased by landscapers who have fallen on financial hardship due to the economy (ZTR's that is), CUT's may be a different story, but they are out there too if you're patient. I have and wouldn't trade for anything a Bob-Cat Zero turn for the mowing and believe me, there is nothing like using a commercial cutter for the yard, I have cut my mowing (and trimming) time down to next to nothing. If I only had the opportunity to purchase one or the other, I would definately choose a tractor and a must is a FEL for the tractor. When looking, buy as large of a CUT as you can afford the 1st time, some may say different, but I wouldn't settle for smaller just so I could use a MMM (or rear mower for that matter) on the CUT. Make sure you look at loader capacity and rear lift capacity while you are searching, it will save you money in the long run.

casolorz · Mar 1, 2010

Nitro-Fish said:
How much of a budget are you working with? If you can afford it and stay within your budget, I would get a decent used Commercial Zero Turn Mower and a used CUT. There are several decent deals around (especially with the economy the way it is) on low hour machines purchased by landscapers who have fallen on financial hardship due to the economy (ZTR's that is), CUT's may be a different story, but they are out there too if you're patient. I have and wouldn't trade for anything a Bob-Cat Zero turn for the mowing and believe me, there is nothing like using a commercial cutter for the yard, I have cut my mowing (and trimming) time down to next to nothing. If I only had the opportunity to purchase one or the other, I would definately choose a tractor and a must is a FEL for the tractor. When looking, buy as large of a CUT as you can afford the 1st time, some may say different, but I wouldn't settle for smaller just so I could use a MMM (or rear mower for that matter) on the CUT. Make sure you look at loader capacity and rear lift capacity while you are searching, it will save you money in the long run.

I haven't finalized my budget yet but when I talk about getting a good mower and a CUT I am definitely talking about an older CUT or one of those cheaper yanmar I often see on craigslist.

irvingj · Mar 2, 2010

I got my SCUT primarily for the snowblower, plus the TLB set-up for working some of the trees around into firewood, plus drainage ditches, landscaping, etc....

I also found a good price on a very little-used MMM, and finally tried it, even with some steep slopes on my lawn. It worked great! It saved me MORE time over mowing with a push mower than the front-mount blower did over the walk-behind blower I'd been using. The cut is beautiful, and I found the tractor, with MMM, was easily able to negotiate the slopes.

So, for the first time in this guy's lifetime, I have a rider mower, plus I still have the backhoe & FEL. Very happy. So far I haven't been into the woods very much, so the turf tires may be a problem down the road-- but so far, so good.

Removing implements has not been a problem, either; takes a bit of practice, but doesn't take much time. Summer, most of the time has the MMM only; winter, the BH and the blower. FEL as needed.

A very good all-around machine, IMO. (Granted, my lawn's not that big; a ZTR would be overkill for me.)

3BPercherons · Mar 2, 2010

FWIW - When I moved to my 5 acre microminifarm I couldn't afford both a mower and a tractor, so I opted for a Kubota B7800 w/ FEL and MMM, using Kubota's 36 month/0 interest financing. Once the tractor was paid for I immediately bought an Exmark Lazer Z XS, once again using 36/0. Now that it's paid for, and I have expanded tractor requirements, the B7800 is about to give way to an M6040; once again using 0% financing (I just love using other people's money for free).

Who knows what I'll need by the time it's paid off.

casolorz · Mar 2, 2010

irvingj said:
I got my SCUT primarily for the snowblower, plus the TLB set-up for working some of the trees around into firewood, plus drainage ditches, landscaping, etc....

I also found a good price on a very little-used MMM, and finally tried it, even with some steep slopes on my lawn. It worked great! It saved me MORE time over mowing with a push mower than the front-mount blower did over the walk-behind blower I'd been using. The cut is beautiful, and I found the tractor, with MMM, was easily able to negotiate the slopes.

So, for the first time in this guy's lifetime, I have a rider mower, plus I still have the backhoe & FEL. Very happy. So far I haven't been into the woods very much, so the turf tires may be a problem down the road-- but so far, so good.

Removing implements has not been a problem, either; takes a bit of practice, but doesn't take much time. Summer, most of the time has the MMM only; winter, the BH and the blower. FEL as needed.

A very good all-around machine, IMO. (Granted, my lawn's not that big; a ZTR would be overkill for me.)

Thats a pretty cool little tractor. I think because of financing and budget I'm going to go with a one tractor with a MMM solution. Now on to finding the right solution.
On the low end, the mahindra and the tym seem to be able to carry more on the loader. Thats about as much as I know at this point.

--Carlos

KU Gator · Mar 2, 2010

You may want to spend some time thinking about what you will spend most of your time using the tractor to do and what types of additional projects you may want it to do. If you are going to buy only one machine, most of your seat time is likely to be mowing. Also look at other projects and what they are to involve. If most of the projects are relatively small, such as put in a patio, flower bed, small garden, etc, then I would suggest focusing on a SCUT or maybe CUT that will do those jobs well and contracting out or renting equipment for the rare time you really need the bigger equipment.

casolorz · Mar 2, 2010

Yeah I planned on renting or hiring for some of the big projects. I already have 10+ boulders that no scut I buy will move, they are like 2 tons each.

KU Gator · Mar 2, 2010

I did not quite finish my thought. Point being, focus on what you need most of the time. For instance, ability to remove and re-install the MMM or FEL are features I would look for and in the long run may be more important to you than a little extra lift capability of the FEL.

With regard to rocks, they are very heavy. When moving one, even if you can, keep the bucket low and move slow. Quick turns with the bucket up and significant weight in it and it gets unstable quick. My tractor seat probably still has pucker marks in it from one turn like that.

timswi · Mar 2, 2010

BotaBigot said:
Either way would work, and there are obvious advantages for each. I elected to go SCUT, and found my BX to be as good or better lawn mower than any garden tractor I've had. The FEL and BH come off quickly to put it in mower mode. It's no ZTR, and it's heavier than my previous mowers...so I have to be more aware of ground moisture. In TLB mode, it has done all I have asked. The disadvantage in TLB mode is light weight...the BH can push it around, especially if you dig aggressively. It will do most of what larger TLBs can do...but takes longer.

I can take the loader off of my BX in under three minutes and the MMM in under five. I haven't found the MMM even on the BX to get in my way all that much; depends on what you are doing. I have a dedicated lawn mower that we haven't used in two years; probably sell it this spring.

All of the above is exactly correct. I almost never take the MMM off, even when doing FEL/BH work. If you watch what you are doing, it doesn't get in the way. The BX is a great grass cutter as well. I cut a little over 2 acres. Don't have an exact amount of time that it takes, because I enjoy it too much to pay attention

Gittyup · Mar 4, 2010

You can also move rocks with a rock sled.

casolorz · Mar 5, 2010

So I went to a garden show today because they usually have a few tractor displays. I think JD and New Holland are probably out because of price.

I am looking at the kubota and the mahindra, I think the models were bx2660 for the kubota and 1816 for the mahindra.

The mahindra is a bit cheaper, but it also seems to have better specs, specially in the loader department.

The only downside I see to the mahindra is that the MMM is only 54 inches.

Also I can't find the exact info of the mahindra on the mahindra site, I suspect the dealer didn't have all his facts.

Comments?

Thanks,

-Carlos

mostly_gas · Mar 6, 2010

Depending on the shape of your lawn, I would not think you would lose too much time without the "extra" 6 inches. I would want turf tires instead of R4 for mowing. I have R1 tire and they tend to chew up the lawn.

TripleR · Mar 7, 2010

mostly_gas said:
Depending on the shape of your lawn, I would not think you would lose too much time without the "extra" 6 inches. I would want turf tires instead of R4 for mowing. I have R1 tire and they tend to chew up the lawn.

I thought the same thing until I replaced my 54" with a 60" MMM. I could tell a significant difference in time spent and was able to trim much better with the 60". Of course the time saving is going to depend on the size of your lawn, but trimming is worth it to me as I don't need a trimming mower.

JackMentink · Mar 7, 2010

If you are really serious about mowing lawn quick and smooth, get a zero turn. Get the tractor for tractor stuff. Tractors are not good lawn mowers as they are too heavy (tire marks) and they don't turn well for mowing. I would not be without both my tractor (38hp Montana R3644) or my zero turn Gravely 2348XP both were great investments and do their jobs well.