Riding mowers

[Kazedwards]

Ok so now that we are seeing the finish line I've been thinking it's time for me to start looking at getting a riding mower for the new place. The new place is 3 1/2 acres and has a gentle slope. I don't want to spend more than 3k and would rather be closer to 2. I also want to buy new because I'm not good with mechanical stuff and the people who are tend to cost a lot. It wouldn't need many attachments but I would like it to be able to have a plow in the winter. Also be able to pull a cart. Also about a quarter of it will be seeded and graded nice. The rest will be a bit rougher.
Any suggestions?

Here's a picture of the 3 1/2 acres



-Zach

[Rockporter]

Hubby has a Toro riding mower we just got a few months ago. He is quite happy with it and he had it financed through Scheffield for zero interest.

The cost was around $4,000 when all was said and done but it includes quite a few extras. He has a shade canopy, high back seat and seat cover, dual bagger, with weight kit in front. We also have a little carrier that holds 100 pounds he can put in place of the bagger when he wants to move small stuff from the front to the back.

I don't know if Toro has a plow attachment in their line up. The Toro can pull a cart and we bought one from Tractor Supply that holds 1200 pounds, it seemed better than the ones sold for the Toro that are aftermarket. His Toro is the 42" Zero Turn Time Cutter SS4225 and he really likes it. His does not have the steering wheel, he has the two bars for control. His is considered a medium duty and I think it has two different engine setups, his is the bigger engine.

Here is the link to Scheffield with all the equipment manufacturers they finance. You have to find an authorized dealer near you. If going this route, I would see what they have you want and fill out your application online. Hubby was answered back in 7 minutes with a telephone call. It was the fastest authorization we have ever experienced. Hubby's payment is only like $89.00 month with zero interest.

https://www.sheffieldfinancial.com/cust_equipment_list


The mower hubby has.

https://www.toro.com/en/homeowner/ri...r-ss4225-74721



The Dixie Chopper has a snow blade attachment but the machine by itself would be around $6,000 before you add attachments. Way out of your intended budget.

http://www.dixiechopper.com/download...gnumR-2017.pdf

[dmforcier]

Snow plow means you're going to need a tractor. Drop that requirement and many things become possible.

[oakley]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Snow plow means you're going to need a tractor. Drop that requirement and many things become possible.

Good advice. Multi-purpose equipment gets expensive. Yet in theory makes so much
sense.

I did not enjoy the chore of researching a mower but got good advice on a tractor
forum. This was three yrs ago.

The best advice I was given was to avoid the big box stores and find out what local
dealers are in your area. I ended up with Husqvarna Zero Turn at just under 3,000.
Welded steel deck. Zero interest. Has started every time, no troubles. They delivered
that same day and gave a quick trouble-shooting lesson. I've heard from neighbors
they give great repair service if I ever need it.

I also have the trailer to haul crap. Love it. Not a chore at all. Powerful and zippy.

[clkeiper]

Originally Posted by oakley

Good advice. Multi-purpose equipment gets expensive. Yet in theory makes so much
sense.

I did not enjoy the chore of researching a mower but got good advice on a tractor
forum. This was three yrs ago.

The best advice I was given was to avoid the big box stores and find out what local
dealers are in your area. I ended up with Husqvarna Zero Turn at just under 3,000.
Welded steel deck. Zero interest. Has started every time, no troubles. They delivered
that same day and gave a quick trouble-shooting lesson. I've heard from neighbors
they give great repair service if I ever need it.

I also have the trailer to haul crap. Love it. Not a chore at all. Powerful and zippy.

excellent advice. I was also going to say not to make a purchase without actually mowing your WHOLE area to see how much time it takes if you go with a tractor vs a zero turn. you will be shocked at the time difference. I would never go without the zero turn mower if I had an option. we have had a Dixon for over 20 years. no thanks to a tractor mower.

[oakley]

Believe it or not, lol, their is a 'snow plowers' forum out there. Maybe a few.
They discuss things like, "where do you push your snow to be respectful of neighboring homes", etc.
(At one time I considered a plow attachment for the Jeep.)

Lots of advice out there for those that need DIY yard maintenance. They might know more about
a combi-unit.

[Worth1]

I found a forum for people that had mail order brides run off.
I was trying to figure out how my neighbors son could have had two run off in a year.
There is a forum for everything.
Worth

[imp]

First of all, I would ask you what you plan to do with this land? Keep it as a green area more or less? Livestock? will you be gardening or small scale farming? How much snow do you getup there on average? How long is your driveway from the house? Any outbuildings that must have a path to them in the winter? Do you have to keep up the bar ditches or does the county mow ( and do they mow often enough)?

With 3.5 acres you are on a border between a big serious lawn mower and a small tractor. What your needs are will dictate what you need to look for.

And yes, like Carolyn said, mow that property before you decide. Walking a property, or mowing it, will tell you a lot about what you need.

Depreciation is another thing to think about in thee small tractor/big lawn mower thing.

There is also your time to think about. How much time do you want to spend mowing, plowing, etc.?

edit:

BTW, sure is pretty and it looks like good land, too.

[Rockporter]

Originally Posted by oakley

Believe it or not, lol, their is a 'snow plowers' forum out there. Maybe a few.
They discuss things like, "where do you push your snow to be respectful of neighboring homes", etc.
(At one time I considered a plow attachment for the Jeep.)

Lots of advice out there for those that need DIY yard maintenance. They might know more about
a combi-unit.

Hmm, a plow attachment for a vehicle, could make some side dollars in winter with that helping out the neighbors.

[Worth1]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LnhmYdPxDkk

[Rajun Gardener]

You're asking for too much from a 2k purchase unless you find a super deal on a used mower that won't take all day to cut your yard and last more than a few years.

I don't know how many months you have to mow there but here in La I mow about 10 months and of course the winter months are less cuts. You need to figure out about how many hours it takes to cut your place and go from there. Then you need to figure out how often you need to plow snow. Then think about how much time you want to spend mowing and plowing with a small machine.

And finally think about all of the other uses a small tractor will have. The budget has nothing to do with your needs, it won't make things easier if you buy a small machine and over work it and then have to buy another one.

I live on 3 acres and put 50 hours on the mower a year. It takes 3.5 hours to mow because of all the trees, flower beds, driveway and anything else you have to mow around. Last year I had to buy a new mower and after a 16 year old John Deere finally lost the transmission. I found Hustler had the best deal for a semi commercial Zero Turn. I ended up with the Raptor 52" cut for 4k and a standard 3 year warranty. Stay away from the big box stores and buy from a dealer, the big box store models are made cheaper and that's why the price is lower. I 1st bought an Ariens 52" for HD and 3 weeks later one transmission went out so I exchanged it and again in a month a transmission went out. I returned it and bought the Hustler. You need to get a metal deck, those stamped decks won't last and rust faster.

I hate to say it but all of your needs point to a small tractor either with a belly mower or finish mower. I know you're trying to stay on a budget but take the 2K and finance the rest or buy something cheap and plan to upgrade in a few years. You really need to consider all the uses of a small tractor since it's gonna be used almost all year either mowing, plowing, grading or gardening.

Good Luck on your decision.

[PaulF]

I would love to have a small Kubota tractor with a mower attachment and snow plow hook-up. If I ever blow up the small John Deere riding mower I have had for 10 years, it will be replaced with a Gravely zero turn. My Gravely self propelled mower is the best I have owned in 50 years of lawn mowing. The John Deere rider is OK, but has had several problems including a deck replacement (actually repair by a local welding shop) because it was a stamped, thin metal deck...purchased at a dealer, by the way.

Lots of research should go into this decision. My Gravely guy offered for me to try out the mower just to see if it was what I wanted. Maybe you can find a guy like that.

[My Foot Smells]

no belly, i always feel like a fool driving one of those to cut the grass and i've driven enuff to go around the world twice.

gravely makes nice equip. grasshopper is king imo. exmark also makes a good mower. john deer series 7 or 9 is a good mower (but not the 300 series).

looks like you will get bounced around with that terrain.

i mow 2 acres with an exmark 42" welded deck (the first proto type) and it takes 1.5 hrs, 1 hr if i push it, and more depending on how many beer breaks i take.

i used to like kubota, but they have outpriced themselves and are made even cheaper now with outrageous expense for parts. mahindra is a better bang for the buck, and the russians make good tractors on the used market.

i take this post as you are wanting a city clean prestine look and not something just to knock down the outer edges.

also you got some slope which indicates transmission wear. some machines rear torque ratio is just geared for flat land. I don't know how much you weigh, but pulling that hill with machine weight + your weight might be something to consider.

Best Bet: Get the neighborhood kid to mow it for $20 a week.

Worst Bet: Getting suckered in to one of those "do it all" tractor/mower things.

Grasshopper makes commerical mowers (what you want and need here) that the deck is out front and flips up for easy clean/maintenance.

Bottom Line: Dig a little deeper and get a commercial grade mower w/ a 60" deck. Now is not the time to be cheap. You build a nice fine house but want to maintain the place with a sears & roebuck mower?

Budget: $7500.00 for commercial ride with some decent suspension and tranny.

Or if you are just wanted to keep it off the doorstep and lap around the house a few times, there are unlimited options.

Most replies I see here are from flat landers. Ask your gravely dealer about the tranny.

[Worth1]

If it were me I would buy a real tractor even and old one I had to restore.
If too old I would have to make sure it had live power and brakes on both sides of the wheels so I could flip it the other way real fast.
Most riding mowers dont have a locking rear end and they wont get out of their own shadow on any wet slope uneven ground or dip.

No I am not a flat lander and was raised on tractors mowing steep rocky hillsides most people wouldn't attempt.
Some were so steep we had to back up the slope and mow down.
Much of it was shredding tree sprouts from the bulldozing,
3 acres is a lot of land to take care of for an undersized machine.
Another option is to rent one once a month or less.
Don't get tricked into thinking these little things can do big jobs they cant or wont for very long.
The nice lawn around the house can be done with a self propelled walk behind.

[PhilaGardener]

+1. Just think of all the other things you will do with that tractor