Garden Tractor or CUT?

[Cat797]

Hey folks,

The wife and I just bought a 1.5 acre property that we are going to build a house on. My question is for those of you in the know...... Would you get a garden tractor or a smaller compact utility tractor (like a Deere 4100), given that most of what I'd be doing is mowing?

My inner child wants a real tractor but I think common sense would say I need a garden tractor...

I would use it to push some snow and maybe a tiller. I can't see needing a loader ( or at least paying for one). The ground is mainly flat and there are some mature trees to mow around.

I found a nice deere 4100 with deck, power angle blade, and a 3- point rear blade for $9,500. I'd like to be less than that, but can spend up to that amount if it makes sense. I just don't want to spend 3 hours mowing, but also don't want a zero-turn either.

What say you oh wise ones of the Smokering?

Thanks,
Ed
_________________
Insulated Offset RF:
UDS:
Weber 22.5 OTG
Weber 22.5 Performer

[Smokin Mike]

I can't sing praises high enough for my 33hp New Holland CUT. But I'm not in your shoes and have different needs I'm sure. I have a zero turn mower for the grass and use the tractor for everything else... front end loader, back blade, box scrape, post hole digger, aerator, root rake, cement mixer, tiller, plow, wood splitter, trailer hitch, bush hog, finish mower and I'm sure I've forgotten an implement or two but you get the idea.

With all that being said, I probably wouldn't use the tractor for finish mowing unless it was a good sized field. If you're wanting that nice residential manicured look to your lawn then a lawn tractor would be the way to go. And if you don't require a lot of implements then the answer is obvious. But a tractor, especially with a front end loader, is a mighty handy thing to have. My advice... buy both. I just love spending other people's money.

[BUGSnBBQ]

What's more important to you - A nice 'pretty' lawn (manicured looking) or the versatility of various attachments you can get for the CUT? JM3C

[Maniac]

got a kubota bx22 and use it for every thing. bought a mower deck years after i got the TLB. my needs are much different than yours i'm sure but if i was building a house a CUT would be my first investment...run a line here...landscape there...move a rock here put in a patio there...mower would be "well" just a mower.
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RF Smoker
20" disc
uds

[Cat797]

Very good points I hadn't thought of Maniac.

I should have mentioned that the tractor I am looking at has a mid mount 60" deck. It would theoretically cut as nice as a garden tractor wouldn't it? I'm just thinking it might not be as maneuverable......
_________________
Insulated Offset RF:
UDS:
Weber 22.5 OTG
Weber 22.5 Performer

[Smokin Mike]

[PaulOinMA]

We had 3 acres in NJ and a garden tractor with a 50-inch mower was fine: 1995 Simplicity Landlord. It's larger than a lawn tractor, has a PTO, and there are a variety of attachments for it.

I have a plow blade, cart, and aerator for it. Had a broadcast spreader, but that rusted out. That's enough for an acre homeowner. Just bought a walk behind broadcast spreader for what I have to do here. Another broadcast spreader for the tractor would be too much.

Oh wow, a little diesel tractor. Do like!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simplicity-legacy-Diesel-Diesel-sub-compact-tractor-60-Legacy-garden-tractor-/221310831168

We have 1 acre here in MA, and most of it is wooded. Sitting on the Simplicity to mow is overkill. I usually use a 20-inch push mower.

A CUT for a couple of acres is too much. My brother-in-law had to dig a trench around his house for drainage. He used that as an excuse to buy a CUT. Rationalized it as saving money by spending $15,000 on a CUT, rather than renting.
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Pitt's & Spitt's U2436

[Maniac]

"Next consideration are the tires. If you have the industrial tires then you will surely "track" up the yard. If you go with the lawn tires then you will be absolutely worthless out in the muck and snow."

smoking mike i have lawn tires on my machine and it did pretty good in mud and snow BUT it is a 4x4 so that is cheating
_________________
RF Smoker
20" disc
uds

[flyin-lowe]

I know you said you didn't really like the zero turn mowers but that would be my choice. My old house was a 1 acre lot and with my 50 inch Dixon I could mow it in about 20 minutes, and it looked nice. The cut will be better then a CUT tractor and a lot faster. Not sure how much space you have but if I were in your shoes I would consider a nice ZTR to mow with and then maybe a used tractor if you find you need one. The ZTR will do a lot of the stuff a home owner needs, (spreader, snow plow, aerator, etc) just not a bucket.
I bought a new house last year with 5 acres and my Dixon just didn't cut it. I ended up buying a new Farris ZTR to mow with. Both my neighbors have small tractors with finish mowers but I can mow 15 acres or more in the time it takes them to mow their 5 acre lot.

[Smokin Mike]

[millstream]

I'll chime in on this one. I'd get a small tractor that will accept a MMM (mid mount mower). With 1.5 acres, especially with a new house, I would also suggest one with a quick attach front end loader. Picking rocks out of the lawn, mulching the new landscape, spreading gravel, taking the garbage out to the curb etc... A front end loader is the handiest attachment that you can put on a tractor. IMHO

Also, if you're convinced you won't use it much, I'd buy one used, (not used up though). If you don't like it or use it much, you will be able to sell it for darn near what you paid, plus you'll have gotten a bunch of work out of it fixing up your new place.

Finally, don't discount looking into an off brand tractor, (Mahindra-TYM etc) I own at least one of each of these manufacturers tractors (Kubota, Deere, Case IH, Cub Cadet and Mahindra) For the money, a used Mahindra is hard to beat. The Kubota's and Deeres are fine tractors, you will just pay a premium for them. Although it's JMHO and YMMV plus a bunch of other stuff that might mean I am FOS.....
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Mak 2 Star
XL BGE

[Cat797]

Thanks for all of the replies guys.

Millstream, that's exactly what I was thinking.......
_________________
Insulated Offset RF:
UDS:
Weber 22.5 OTG
Weber 22.5 Performer

[BBQonICE]

I guess I would challenge you and say after you build your house how many times would you actually use a tractor and loader or blade, etc. How many times you going to pick up rocks or spread gravel. especially on 1.5 acres...wouldnt all this be done after you build. a wheel barrow and grunt work goes a long way too...keeps the Honey Do list going.
If your planting it all to grass not vary many times.

How big a garden you going to have...do you need a tiller? or do sections. I grew up on a acreage of about the same...Dad was a Massey Ferguson dealer so we had the largest garden tractor mower with attachments for a bit but went back to standard garden tractor. Just did grass on rotation. The previous unit went to a farm who had lots of tilling and lots of rough grass....no manicured lawn....so no need for push mower either.

Are you having a manicured front and back yard lawn or standard grass all same on acreage.

other option for you is a commercial Grasshopper type mower. they are fast but expensive.
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Come on in for a Cool one!

[Cat797]

C'mon now BBQonICE,

You sound like my wife!!!

At the end of the day, my common sense may take over and just get a mower, but I am also looking at the possibility of getting a fixer upper to use and make nice, then flip it and settle in on a nice garden tractor or zero-turn. I have a buddy that has an in with all the JD dealers around here where they call him with their wholesale units and he fixes them and sells them. If I can get him to find me a good one, I may do that.

You are correct, I probably don't need a CUT. But, I WANT one Haha........

We'll see what happens.
_________________
Insulated Offset RF:
UDS:
Weber 22.5 OTG
Weber 22.5 Performer

[millstream]

Cat,

You know you want, I mean NEED one!!!


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Mak 2 Star
XL BGE

[Maniac]

common sense ...What is that Can't PLAY ...i mean work with that
_________________
RF Smoker
20" disc
uds

[Cat797]

Haha, Millstream, I definitely want that!!! Don't think my budget or need is going to justify that.....LOL

I talked to my buddy who is the moonlight John Deere mechanic around here, and looks like right now I'm leaning toward taking his x495 so he can upgrade to his FIL's X748. He has a 2305 with FEL that I can use, and if I have any heavier needs, will borrow another buddy's Cat track loader.

The x495 only has 200 hours on it and a 60" deck. Also has a 3-pt hitch so I can use a tiller, and will get a snow blade for it.

Thanks for all the input guys!

Ed
_________________
Insulated Offset RF:
UDS:
Weber 22.5 OTG
Weber 22.5 Performer

[Maniac]

Good luck with the new toy
Does that model have the hydro lines you could hook up to by the floor boards?
_________________
RF Smoker
20" disc
uds

[whall]

I was browsing this thread and it reminded me of something that I had seen a couple years ago. . .

Have you ever seen a cat carrying off a deer



I just had to share that

[Cat797]

That's awesome Whall...........I've got a picture or two I am looking for that I will post up.

Ed
_________________
Insulated Offset RF:
UDS:
Weber 22.5 OTG
Weber 22.5 Performer