Which brand to buy?

[DmansPadge]

I am looking to buy a riding tractor to mow 1 1/2 acres of flat land, do some light duty towing and using a front blade to smooth sand and maintain about a 100 ft driveway. I have been looking at Cub Cadet, Kubota, and many others. I want something to last me 20+ years. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Dargo]

Look them up on Consumer Reports. They have recently tested lawn tractors in that range comparing their abilities as well as their durability. They accept no advertising money, so their reports are as they see them; not slanted by advertising money.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( their reports are as they see them; not slanted by advertising money. )</font>

Just their personal prejudices and opinions???? Before you take their opinion, be sure to read the entire report carefully because the "features" they consider important may or may not be the same ones you consider important for your use. I dropped my subscription long ago.

 

[Schultz]

Power Trac makes a nice little tractor for your needs called a PT180. Check them out on the web

Power Trac

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> I dropped my subscription long ago. </font>

Bird, my brother lives and breathes by the Consumer Reports guides, he won't buy anything unless they say it is the thing to buy. Me, I try stuff out and see if it works for me. I recently needed to buy a car for one of my VPs and picked up a new Chrysler 300 for him, he LOVES that car, but Consumer Reports basically dislikes Chrysler in all shapes and sizes.

For me, I think Cub Cadet makes some good stuff, but they also make some really light duty stuff that I would not ever consider, the lower end of their scale appears to be built for cost, so it can compete in the Big Box stores.

I doubt running a light duty lawn tractor with a front blade would be an advisable thing to do, but running a well made garden tractor that is heavily built with the same front blade won't stress the machine and will likely yield a decade or two of good service. I think it all goes back to the old saying "you get what you pay for." If you want a 20 year machine, then you have 2 choices, buy a good quality machine that is actually built for the tasks, or buy a machine that you will likely have to hold together with bailing wire because you beat it up by working it too hard. Now I am not endorsing any brand, I'm just saying that asking a LT to do the work of a GT is not advisable, even if both machines outwardly look the same, the guts of the drive train, frame, gearing, etc will likely be different and those are the things, along with the engine, that you will really be working.

 

[bontai_Joe]

If you want a machine that has a chance of lasting 20+ years, you should be looking at high end garden tractors. For 1 1/2 acres, you don't need the size or extra strength of a compact utility tractor, and a light duty lawn tractor has less of a chance of lasting as long as you want. (Some folks can get more than 20 years out of a $999 machine, but I suspect the last 10 years are less than fun) I'd be looking at the Deere 300 series, Cub 3000 series, Ingersoll 4000 series, Simplicity Prestige and Legacy and their Massey Ferguson and Agco clones, Toro 5xi series, Kubota "G" and "BX" series. All of these machines are expensive, strong, durable. You didn't mention a budget, so these are what I'd be looking at if money wasn't a problem. Sit on them, and see how they feel as to control layout, seat comfort, leg room, ease of getting on and off. Check out the dealer's service area for parts inventory, is it clean and professional looking? Are the mechanics hotrodding around out back on customer's machines? Compare warantees, financing, etc. and who you think will be there for you for service and repairs.

 

[rexman]

has anyone heard that kubota is coming out with a new garden tractor that has 4 wheel drive and is called the gr series.does anyone know anything about it

 

[Bird]

Yeah, Bob, all of us, including the guys at Consumer Reports, have our personal preferences that shadow our opinions. I say you need to only consider their opinion if you read the entire report for several reasons. A few examples:

We bought a new '82 Isuzu Imark sedan with the diesel engine. When Consumer Reports did their evaluation, they compared it to the compact Oldsmobile and a compact Toyota; both with gasoline engines. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif How's that for a comparison? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif They had also sent out questionnaires to owners of those three vehicles, and I was one of those who answered the questionnaire (I was also a subscriber at the time). Of course Consumer Reports recommended the Toyota (if you go by Consumer Reports, you'd never buy a motor vehicle unless it said "Toyota" on it, would you? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) In the first paragraph of the report, the author plainly stated that he did not like diesel powered automobiles unless it said "Mercedes" on it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif And in the narrative, his only criticism of the Isuzu was that it was awkward to get in and out of the back seat. He was right, but I doubt that it was worse than the other two and wasn't something I cared about. And in the chart he had of their survey results, customer satisfaction and reliability were higher on the Isuzu than either the Olds or Toyota. Unbiased report? I think not.

Another of their "evaluations" was of walk behind lawnmowers. Now the best walk behind lawnmowers I ever used were the old 2-stroke Lawnboys made by OMC. Consumer Reports rated them very poorly because they didn't have the power of a Briggs and Stratton engine in foot high grass. Since I never let my lawn get a foot high, that didn't mean much to me.

And how many remember how they deep sixed the Suzuki Samurai because it was too easy to turn over? They killed a very popular little car, then got lots less publicity later when they admitted it was more stable than a Ford Bronco.

So, they're entitled to their opinion and the rest of us are entitled to ours. I don't happen to believe their reports are "unbiased" as they claim, but I have no proof; I just don't take their word for what's best, and I don't subscribe to their magazine anymore.

 

[sneaky_pete]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( if you go by Consumer Reports, you'd never buy a motor vehicle unless it said "Toyota" on it, would you? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

I knew there was something I must like about that magazine... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Pete

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I agree with Bob. I am fond of Cub Cadet and John Deere both, but I don't think either one's bottom shelf product would last for 20 years when used as a "yard" tractor. I like John Deere's GT series. They are reasonably affordable and built to last. I also like Cub Cadet's 2500 series with the cast iron transaxle and filter. It's pretty hard to beat shaft drive. I am sure Kubota and NH have good GT versions as well, but I am not familiar with them.
I guess my point is that I don't think you will be satisfied using a light duty tractor for blading, and I agree that you get what you pay for.
As a final point, look for a motor with full pressure lubrication. That should extend it's lifetime provided you keep up the maintenance.
Good luck!

 

[bczoom]

I agree with several (but not all) things posted here.

To respond to the original post, dmanspadge requirements sound relatively light and a LT might work but... a couple things to consider as it applies to the 20+ year longevity issue.
How well will the tractor be maintained? If you aren't real big on cleaning out the mower deck, leave the machine or attachments outside, a LT may not hold up for that long. A GT has a heavier deck and can withstand a lot more years of abuse and rusting.
Will the requirements change over a period of 20 years? If much of anything changes over that period (e.g. moving to a larger place), a GT is more versatile and more attachments are available. (dmanspadge - your profile is empty - are you grading or clearing snow on the driveway). A snow blower may be an option if in the north over the years.

Personally, I like the selections of bontai_Joe, Bob and GreenRules. I have more trust in the quality, serviceability and parts availability of the higher-end machines. If these are out of the $ range, it's pick and choose what feels best of the rest of the pack. Almost all are made by MTD so many are comparable in many areas.

As for Consumer Reports. I've let my subscription lapse as well. I used to use them as a reference and they did provide some insight as to things I hadn't pondered (like the talking heads on TV). An example of where I didn't care much for their review was in the case of my SUV. When I bought it they listed it as the cream of the crop. By the time their annual buying guide came out, it was the bottom of the heap. I've had for years now and have never encountered any of the things they stated for their change in the vehicles recommendation.

 

[DmansPadge]

Bczoom, I live in south Texas and will be mowing about 1 1/2 acres of flat land. I want a tractor capable of pulling small trailers, leveling sand and maintaining a 100 ft. rock driveway. I take excellent care of my equipment... it will be garage kept (attachments and all) and I'm a mechanic by trade so I will keep on top of maintenance. As for looking down the road... I have no intentions of moving. I just bought this land to build a new house on next year. I do want a tractor that will last.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

A little off subject, but do they still have a shipbuilding facility in Orange? My Dad is a WWII Navy Vet. I found the stats on the ship he was on and they listed it as built in Orange, TX in 1942. Thanks.

 

[DmansPadge]

GreenRules, they sure do still have one. However, I would imagine it employs about 1/10 of what it did when it built the ship your dad was on. It had closed down for about a year but has since reopened. They mainly do updates and rebuilds to ships now instead of building from the ground up. Glad to know Orange, TX is know for something!

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Thanks for the info. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif He was on a Destroyer Escort, later known as a Fast Frigate.