What should I buy?

[justsomeguy]

I have ten acres with horses and will use a tractor to mow about 4 acres of field and some other brush cutting. I could live with a 4 foot rotary cutter but need enough power to cut a dense field and do some brush cutting. I would also like a FEL, but it will be used irregularly and a low lift weight is OK.

What is the cheapest Deere I can go with and not regret my decision? I need the tractor to be green as I am from the Quad Cities (where Deere is based) and know folks that work there and I also know it is a good company.

 

[RoyJackson]

Well, you just described a Deere 790 in your post. For 10 acres, I sure wouldn't go any smaller.

Go for a 5' cutter though. The 790 can easily handle a 5' light duty unit. If the brush is real thick, you may have to take some partial passes.

Are you planning to clean out your horse stalls too? The 790 might be a bit big for that.

 

[justsomeguy]

The 790 is interesting, but it is one of the few JD tractors not built in the U.S., isn't it? No way I could get away with a 2210?

 

[RoyJackson]

"The 790 is interesting, but it is one of the few JD tractors not built in the U.S., isn't it? No way I could get away with a 2210?


Well, you could look at a 4200 or 4300. They also have Yanmar engines. If you can't swing a new machine, look for a used one.
If you go used, I'm partial to the 4300 (or 4310).

I don't think the 2210 would be adequate for the job. The 4010 and 41xx tractors wouldn't handle a 5' rotary cutter.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I am going to agree with Roy, a 2210 is going to be undersized for your property. 4 acres would take a long time to mow with a 2210. I recently got a 4410 for 10 acres, and it is just about right. I am doing quite a bit of landscaping, which you didn't mention, so you may not need that much tractor. Look at the smaller of the new 3x20 series and the 4110 -- or as Roy has suggested, find a good used 4x10 or 4x00.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I agree with the others, but, the 790 is the "cheapest" that I'd recommend for you. The pricier models will offer hydrostatic transmission which is easy to learn and offers other advantages.

 

[WV_Cavalier]

Well...I currently have 4.82 acres on my horse farm (3 horses) and find that the 2210 is sized just perfectly for it. Unfortunately, I'm having to sell the 2210 since I'm moving to 13 acres in the wild and wonderful (WV) that is on the side of a hill. The 210 loader has been just perfect for me, and sounds like it would fit your needs, as well. I use the loader for moving around my muck pile, moving and leveling blue stone dust, and a very occassional job on my 1/4 mile driveway to spread/level crush and run. You just have to trim your trees up so you can get the ROPS under them when you mow. I've got a Bushhog blade I put on back for ballast if I'm doing heavy work with the FEL, and for fine leveling. The 62" MMM has been great and no trouble mowing along fence lines. Speed is all relative -- both my wife and I are more than happy with the speed we can mow the fields.

For my money, you couldn't go wrong with a 2210.
John

 

[skivt]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The 790 is interesting, but it is one of the few JD tractors not built in the U.S., isn't it? No way I could get away with a 2210? )</font>

Are you sure the 2210 is made in the USA? I am sure I remember reading a post that the 2210 is also made offshore. JD was talking about bringing it back to the US but I do not think that happened yet.

hmmmm...interesting. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[JD2210MAN]

The 2210 is still made overseas. I mow 2 acres of lawn with my 2210 and it has no problems. I went from 4+ hours with my craftsman to one hour using the 2210. I have a 62C mowing deck and is does not tax the engine at all. Not even on hills but if the hill was steep enough you would use low gear anyway.

Good luck in your search!!!

 

[RalphVa]

I vote for a 4010. It'll generally be a little cheaper than the 2210 and takes the same implements.

The only time I've bogged my LX4 is when too low down on sand. Sand slows down the hydro feeding the PTO when the blade rubs into it.

The FEL has plenty of heft. You'll need filled tires and a minimum of about 300# on the 3 pt to use the full capability of the FEL.

The nice thing about the 4010 is that the tires and wheels are still small enough to not kill you to remove them.

Ralph