Used Lawn/Garden Tractor Recommendation

[Anonymous Poster]

We have some personal friends that own 1 1/2 acres that want a lawn/garden tractor to mow, haul and till. They might want to retrofit a small FEL onto it in the future, but not now. Their tractor/mower-deck budget is 1K and the wife means 1K. They have looked at new gas burners and found that they did not get much for their money. Could you recommend a used make/model/year that is well built and parts are still available? They tend to keep things long and would not want to resale it. I will be helping them find one.

 

[chrisjbell]

Yikes - good luck on the $1K limit on finding something that will handle a loader...

But for what it is worth, we have a Kubota to do the "big stuff" (need a bigger one in my opinion /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif), and use a JD LX255 for mowing the yard near the house and for hauling a wagon around. It is a great tractor - my neighbor has one of the Sears models, which is a decent garden tractor, but it isn't built as well as the JD. Price reflects it, too, I'm afraid.

Most of the larger JDs will handle a FEL. I don't think ours is big enough, but a couple of sizes up will. However, I would be surprised if you'll find one, even used, for $1K.

That's the Bad Thing about tractors. You always want something more expensive than you want to pay (and the things really hold their value, too). Can anyone tell me where to find a PTO tiller for $100? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Happy hunting...Chris

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Chris,

The FEL, tiller and cart is not included in the 1K price - just the tractor and mowing deck.

 

[beenthere]

A tractor and mowing deck at $1K might be possible if you go find an old 30 year old Deere or maybe a Cub Cadet, or Wheel Horse (and there are others). I know you can get tractor parts for old Deere's such as the old 110's being built in the late 60's. The parts for decks might be tricky if the deck is rusted out. Bearings and such are available. They still run and will mow the lawn. The old 110's will take a FEL but it is not much more than a toy and I wouldn't suggest even thinking about doing any work with it.
Value of something that will run well and mow well nowadays is more likely in the $4-8k range, not in the $1k max.
Your neighbor is in need of re-thinking on this one. Big time re-thinking. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Steelfan]

I totally agree with Beenthere. I think any tractor that you could find in that price range wouldn't do much good with a FEL on it. I bought a Wheelhorse 16hp Garden tractor (C165) at a public auction a couple years ago for $850. It came with the mowing deck, and a blade for the front. This tractor was from the early 1980's, but was in excellent shape. All that being said, I'm not sure you can get a FEL for it, and if I could I doubt that it would be very usable. I think Re-thinking is a good idea.

 

[s1120]

Here's my recommendation.........

paul's Ingersolls

Each one I got was less then a grand, and they are REAL tough. You cant kill these things.

Now as for a FEL..... Well thats a tough one. I have also been looking for a tractor with one. I may try to build one for one of them, but more as a project, then a real hard worker. Probably the cheapest garden tractor/loader tractor is the old Case 64_ tractors. But they are few and far between, and seem to go for around $2000 +.

Good luck, and happy shopping.

 

[Redfisher]

You could go a pre-1983 Cub Cadet wide frame, like a 149.If you get lucky for a grand. They will work okay with a small loader for yard work.You can also buy cad plans to build your own loader.Att. pic of Cub with older loader.

 

[cowboydoc]

There isn't such a beast in my opinion that you won't have to put alot of money into, in my opinion, let alone run a tiller with. Anything in that range is going to be in need of an overhaul if it was much to begin with. Overhauling those engines is incredibly expensive. You aren't going to be getting much besides someone else's problems at that price. By the time you get one in good working order you will have been better off to have bought a better unit to begin with.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks to all for the recommendations. It seems like an old Case, Ingersoll, WheelHorse or Cub Cadet would be the way to go. The FEL requirement was confusing and far fetched. They would probably drop the idea before too long.

 

[chrisjbell]

Hi Rob,

I think I'm in the same position as you are now. My father in law just bought some property and is looking for a tractor with very similar requirements. He priced the Sears low end lawn tractors at about $1200 but is thinking he wants a bit more out of it. I have a Kubota B7300 with FEL and he guessed that he could perhaps find one of those for maybe $2000 - $ 2500 /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.

I'm trying to ease him in to the idea that tractors are really darn expensive and that they hold their value like crazy. You really do have to get an old machine to drop the cost much. When I told him I paid over $10K for my B7300 five years ago (and that I could probably sell it for nearly what I paid for it) I think he nearly fainted /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Even our little JD LX255 won't handle an FEL, and that is a $2500 tractor...

Anyway, I'm with you on this one...Chris