Rookie 101 Question - Garden Mower vs. Tractor

ronjhall · Dec 13, 2005

It always makes me wonder why tractor HP has anything to do with size of property. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I believe that it should be the tasks and how much time one is willing put into those tasks. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
If you one goes by the acreage size that I have. My 30 HP tractor is way over-sized for my 4 acres. But I find it is the correct size for the task I have to get done. A smaller tractor will not allow me to put a 90" BH on it. Or other larger attachments.

BillG_in_TX · Dec 13, 2005

TxSteve,

Probably the best way to further your education on all things tractor-related, is to buy the book! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Soundguy · Dec 13, 2005

( It always makes me wonder why tractor HP has anything to do with size of property. I believe that it should be the tasks and how much time one is willing put into those tasks )

I agree.. I only have 13 ac.. but want to mow it in less than 3 hrs.. that means i need a tractor to tote a 10' mower.. So far, my ford 5000 and 7610s do it nicely.

Soundguy

unreconstructed · Dec 13, 2005

I got nailed in Bertram at 0430 one morning several years back. Sucker was sitting right outside town where the speed limit changed. I asked for deferred adjudication and the judge made me write an essay on why I was speeding. Well, BS follows BS to the same spot on the ground so I complied of course. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Any, I have to plug Sidney at Fredericsburg Equipment. He sent me a Christmas Card. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

SteveM · Dec 13, 2005

I would think you should start looking around for a used Kubota BX - with a 60" belly mower and front loader, prices used will start under 10 grand, and generally these machines live in suburban garages and get little abuse. Best of all, they are very reliable and service/parts is easy. Same goes for New Holland and Deere, the advantage goes to Kubota though, as the BX has been around longer, and in greater number = more used opportunity. Moving further down the price scale, the previous B series kubotas offer similar value - take for instance a B7200 or B8200 - you might not get power steering, but now you could reasonably find one in that $8500 range. Other color equivelents would be the Ford/New Holland 1210/ 1220/ 1320 or Deere 755/855. All very good machines for 3 acres with an emphasis on mowing. I would suggest a belly mower if possible, much easier to work around house and landscaping than a rear mower.

Lastly, you mentioned Farmpro - which are Chinese Jinma tractors, sold under many names. Only buy a chinese tractor if you have rebuilt a car or similar water cooled engine (and enjoyed it). If you think a tranny rebuild is a cool way to spend a holiday weekend, than a Chinese tractor is for you. Now I am not being rude /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif- I cannot predict that every Chinese tractor is going to explode in a short time. But some do, and with virtually no service/warranty available, you will be doing the work with your own two hands. You get what you pay for, big time. Good luck with the new place, and have fun shopping!

HRS · Dec 13, 2005

Steve, here is something to think on. I keep a camp site, well over 2 acres as I have stepped it off to check size, mowed with a 2000 series Cub mower I picked up from Lowes. Took 2 1/2 hours last summer when I timed my progress. Now if you aren't pleased with what you find for 8k, I wouldn't hesitate to start out with lawn mower. I've looked at tractors to replace an aging one I have, and there isn't much out there for under 10k, especially with FEL.

I've seen a little Murray you could buy at Wal-Mart last 12 years. Now the deck had to be replaced or rebuilt twice, but it mowed 1 1/2 acre yard all its life. Actually, the thing that broke on it causing it to be replaced was the bushing that ran down between engine and deck. Once this was discovered and replaced, the mower was good as new and ran for a few years after that. My advice is that you not go and spend thousands more than you want to. Getting tangled up with a cut, even subcut with FEL is going to cost you big.
Wish you luck.

CarlGlas · Dec 29, 2005

Steve, it took me 13 years, 3 lawn tractors and 1 garden tractor to figure out that they were nothing but toys.

Sure they served their intended purpose, but deep down I had always wanted a tractor.

The reason I never bought one was because of the price.

Guess what, if I had bought what I really wanted in the first place, I would have saved some money, and still had the same tractor.

When I finally went to buy a tractor, (got permission from my wife) I looked at some grey market tractors and some other used ones before deciding to take advantage of a special financing deal of zero interest for 36 months on a new one.

While trying to decide what to do and what implements to get there was an elderly gent in the store who told me that if I didn't get a FEL with whatever tractor I got, I'd regret it.

He told me that when he bought his tractor 14 years ago he got one and he has always had a use for it and its never been off his tractor. Well, I took his advice and am glad I did.

I've used it to move and spread about 100 yards of sand to the various low spots on my property, I've used it to push T-post in the ground, to clear brush, and now I'm thinking about digging a little pond with it.

So, go ahead and spend the extra money today if you can afford to and get what you want. In the long run, you'll be glad you did.

LBrown59 · Dec 31, 2005

1*Has anyone purchased a tractor with a front loader that really did not want it and then found that they can't live without it?
2* Just wondering how often you use the loader. I am attempting to justify spending another 3k should I go the tractor route. 
******
1*Just about everybody whose done that found that out.
2*I have a BX23 with 349 hours on it. I'd guess 60 to 75 percent of those hours are loader use.
Heck I didn't know you could buy a loader without a tractor. LOL

daTeacha · Jan 1, 2006

I use my loader for the following chores:

1) Clean barn and barnyard
2) Clean up downed tree parts
3) Carry logs and/or firewood to be shortened or split
4) Move mulch around the yard as needed
5) Level the gravel driveway as needed
6) Move dirt
7) Carry picnic tables, chairs, etc
8) Carry fence posts
9) Haul dead deer to the back of the property
10) Make trails in woods
11) Tear down old wooden retaining wall
12) Move landscaping plants, trees, etc.
13) Carry lumber for barn addition
14) Lift lumber, tarpaper, shingles up to roof of same
15) Load rocks into SILs truck since they didn't have any
16) Clear tree off road after ice storm last winter
17) Clear "plow wash" from state plow from end of road since the county truck didn't come down our road due to the tree
18) Move brush into piles to clean up pasture
19) Move rocks around property for landscape uses
20) Haul stumps left after ice storm took trees out
21) Widen sides of rifle range
22) Carry sheep feeders
23) Grade walkout of basement for better water drainage

That's what I thought of here in the past 5 minutes or so. When I got the tractor/loader, I thought I might find a few things to use it for, so I guess I was right.

Think of an FEL like a pickup truck. Once you have one you won't want to be without one ever again, especially if you put some teeth, forks, chain hooks, and other useful bits on it. I really want to get a grapple so I can use it like a giant mechanized hand. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

LBrown59 · Jan 1, 2006

( loader chores:
1) Clean barn and barnyard
2) Clean up downed tree parts
3) Carry logs and/or firewood to be shortened or split
4) Move mulch around the yard as needed
5) Level the gravel driveway as needed
6) Move dirt
7) Carry picnic tables, chairs, etc
8) Carry fence posts
9) Haul dead deer to the back of the property
10) Make trails in woods
11) Tear down old wooden retaining wall
12) Move landscaping plants, trees, etc.
13) Carry lumber for barn addition
14) Lift lumber, tarpaper, shingles up to roof of same
15) Load rocks into SILs truck since they didn't have any
16) Clear tree off road after ice storm last winter
17) Clear "plow wash" from state plow from end of road since the county truck didn't come down our road due to the tree
18) Move brush into piles to clean up pasture
19) Move rocks around property for landscape uses
20) Haul stumps left after ice storm took trees out
21) Widen sides of rifle range
22) Carry sheep feeders
23) Grade walkout of basement for better water drainage)24)Giant vice to hold stuff you are sawing with a SawsAll or chain saw.