My wife and I are buying a place here in Wisconsin that has a large yard (2-3 acres) and a very long, sloped gravel driveway that will soon be covered in snow. I have been looking around at dealers locally and on the net for a garden tractor that will suit my needs. Cost is a factor so I am thinking of a used machine. I have heard good things about the JD 345 and the Cub 3204. Anyone have any thoughts? I am not settled on anything yet.
Which garden tractor do I need??
- Thread starter OB1
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Bob_Skurka
Super Member
- Joined
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I think both are fine machines, but I think your decision will likely come down to actually finding a good, well maintained, used unit.
I would probably take either one without any preference to brands, but I would strongly favor the unit that was dealer maintained, has fewer scratches and dents (visible abuse is a sign of lack of mechanical care)
I would probably take either one without any preference to brands, but I would strongly favor the unit that was dealer maintained, has fewer scratches and dents (visible abuse is a sign of lack of mechanical care)
mainiak1
Bronze Member
You might want to look at Wheel Horse brand I have owned them for many years. They sell for less money than a JD and I feel every bit as good. They sell two different quality machines. They bought out Toro stay away from Work Horse model. Wheel Horse will will have a cast Iron front end. The nice part is attatchments will fit implements for 20+ years. There are allot of those floating around for reasonable prices. They have quite a following on the net do a search.
Having owned a JD345 I can tell you that it was a great machine however it does not have the diff lock which might be a hindrance if you plan on mowing hills or pushing / blowing snow. You would have to step up to a GX345 to get diff lock.
Dutch445
Elite Member
OB1,
If you do a little more research, you will find differences in the snowblower attachments on these tractors. Single vs. 2-stage snowblowers. The JD 345 you mentioned only offers the single stage type, although they are a very good quality snowthrower. IF you could step up into the 425-445-455 tractors, they were available with the 47" 2-stage that will handle the deeper and heavier wet snows better. I'm not saying that the single stage won't work, but not as good in the heaviest conditions.
I think you will find most other brands offer a 2-stage snowblower, so it might come down to what you do find used that is in your price range.
Have you set a price range for your purchase yet?
darn, in 2 months we could be dealing with snow, eh?
(in reference to the last post about diff lock, the 400 series deere's do have the diff lock also)
If you do a little more research, you will find differences in the snowblower attachments on these tractors. Single vs. 2-stage snowblowers. The JD 345 you mentioned only offers the single stage type, although they are a very good quality snowthrower. IF you could step up into the 425-445-455 tractors, they were available with the 47" 2-stage that will handle the deeper and heavier wet snows better. I'm not saying that the single stage won't work, but not as good in the heaviest conditions.
I think you will find most other brands offer a 2-stage snowblower, so it might come down to what you do find used that is in your price range.
Have you set a price range for your purchase yet?
darn, in 2 months we could be dealing with snow, eh?
(in reference to the last post about diff lock, the 400 series deere's do have the diff lock also)
MarkLeininger
Platinum Member
I bought a used Ariens snow thrower for $1000 just before we moved to a house that came with a garden tractor that will mount a front snow thrower. So one option you have would be to buy a dedicated snow thrower now and wait until next year to get the tractor, then you wouldn't have to worry as much about the size of the tractor, differential lock, or you could get a zero turn, etc. I'm not sure of the performance/cost tradeoffs on the two options. It also leaves you with two engines to maintain instead of one. You will also find prices on lawn tractors to be a bit lower in the middle of January in Wisconsin, although the selection might be a little thin.
Thanks for the reply. I will have a gravel driveway and have asked about gravel and its effects on a 2-stage thrower. Was told I would just have to adjust the feet up a bit to avoid putting gravel through the impeller. Don't know what I think about that whole thing but I think a differential lock might be something I would appreciate as there is a fairly sharp incline at one point in the driveway and the area to be mowed is rolling. Thanks to all who have replied so far!
Ledgemere Farm
Veteran Member
Get wheel weights and suitcase weights to hang on the back.
Might take a look at Power Trac. We have had good sucess with them. Now have six. www.power-trac.com
While looking around on the net, I also find the 3206 was a line model also offering the differential lock. Anyone have any thoughts on this model? The used category is probably where I will need to be and the 3235 is in the 2004 new model line up.
Libertine
Gold Member
OB1:
You might want to give some thought to a 2 wheeler, given the size of your property. There is a thread in the general buying forum (same one you posted to) on them-lots of photos too. You might want to study that. These are often dismissed by those unaware of their capabilities who have never used one, but in Europe they are used as professional ag tractors. They will do everything the models you are looking at will do plus a lot, lot more-including doing 180s when mowing just like a ZTR. For many tasks, the 2 wheel tractor will easily "out work" a garden tractor, can be used on steep slopes, are simpler to maintain, etc. They come with geared transmission, geared PTO (using both PTO lugs & standard 1 3/8" PTO shaft), shuttle shift, differential lock, etc.-everything you might find on a larger CUT. You can use almost any small gas engine or small industrial diesel engine. Unlike a garden tractor, it is very easy to adjust the track width (distance between tires) from very narrow to as wide as a typical CUT. Also, you can use any pull behind implement sold for garden tractors with a 2 wheel tractor (there are photos in the above mentioned thread). If you are on a budget, older 2 wheel Gravelies can be purchased very reasonably-although they lack some of the more modern features of the newer 2 wheelers. I had two (before I bought a new BCS model 850) and used them for pushing snow with a dozer blade (although blowers are available), finish mowing, brush hogging (including wacking down small sapplings), plowing, tilling, etc. etc. For many tasks, I prefer a 2 wheeler to my NH TC40. Their main weakness is lack of loader/back hoe capacity (although you can get a small backhoe for a 2 wheeler). But you're not going to get much loader capacity on a garden tractor anyway. For the smaller property they are a real alternative to the garden tractor.
Link to very knowledgeable BCS dealer-lot's of info.
You owe it to yourself to at least check into it.
JEH
You might want to give some thought to a 2 wheeler, given the size of your property. There is a thread in the general buying forum (same one you posted to) on them-lots of photos too. You might want to study that. These are often dismissed by those unaware of their capabilities who have never used one, but in Europe they are used as professional ag tractors. They will do everything the models you are looking at will do plus a lot, lot more-including doing 180s when mowing just like a ZTR. For many tasks, the 2 wheel tractor will easily "out work" a garden tractor, can be used on steep slopes, are simpler to maintain, etc. They come with geared transmission, geared PTO (using both PTO lugs & standard 1 3/8" PTO shaft), shuttle shift, differential lock, etc.-everything you might find on a larger CUT. You can use almost any small gas engine or small industrial diesel engine. Unlike a garden tractor, it is very easy to adjust the track width (distance between tires) from very narrow to as wide as a typical CUT. Also, you can use any pull behind implement sold for garden tractors with a 2 wheel tractor (there are photos in the above mentioned thread). If you are on a budget, older 2 wheel Gravelies can be purchased very reasonably-although they lack some of the more modern features of the newer 2 wheelers. I had two (before I bought a new BCS model 850) and used them for pushing snow with a dozer blade (although blowers are available), finish mowing, brush hogging (including wacking down small sapplings), plowing, tilling, etc. etc. For many tasks, I prefer a 2 wheeler to my NH TC40. Their main weakness is lack of loader/back hoe capacity (although you can get a small backhoe for a 2 wheeler). But you're not going to get much loader capacity on a garden tractor anyway. For the smaller property they are a real alternative to the garden tractor.
Link to very knowledgeable BCS dealer-lot's of info.
You owe it to yourself to at least check into it.
JEH
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