Lawn tractor

[kennith]

Garrett

Well, I'm not where you are yet, but I'll get somewhere like that eventually. I'll be valuing a warranty this time around, unless I score a stellar used deal. Given the price they were willing to hit on the Cadet, you never know, I might get the GR for way less. I know the same place had the BX series diesel for around 8. They have very low prices. I suppose because they really specialize in the sort of things you yourself buy, and just have the smaller things becasue they fit in their indoor showroom. Most of what they have is equipped with tires taller than I am. But then, I'm short.

Flyfisher

The BX is what I want to get eventually, when the mower is retired to yard duty. I just really liked it when I played around with it at the dealer. Goats are functional, but their eyes are creepy.

Well, I'm going to head off now and price some things out. I'll let you know what they end up being. I don't expect too much of a sale on these, but you never know.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[flyfisher11]

Better be a good fence!

Goat cheese mmmmmmm!

 

[WillTN]

I have a Kubota BX2200 (not made now, but its probably about the same as mid range BX series ones out now) and like it. We bought it new 5-7 years ago and have never had any problems with it.

 

[ptschram]

Why the dislike for ZTR?

I have gone from having to mow near five acres to about two to 1-1/4 back to 2-1/2. We had Craftsman mowers for a while. While I got good at replacing blade hubs, it was tiresome, along with time to go order them (never in stock), downtime waiting for delivery, etc.

Then got a White, 15 horse. Barely lasted longer than the Craftsman.

Currently using a Wal-Mart special MTD that has lasted surprisingly well, but again, back to the amount of time required to mow the lawn, a ZTR is on the horizon for me shortly.

Yeah, I know, it's only good for mowing, but that's really what I need it for. The old house, we needed a farm tractor (funny, that house was in the city and we needed a farm tractor, live rural now and need a ZTR) here, I would like to make the lawn look nice and get the damned job done so I can get back to wrenching!

My two cents worth.

 

[flyfisher11]

Why the dislike for ZTR?

I have gone from having to mow near five acres to about two to 1-1/4 back to 2-1/2. We had Craftsman mowers for a while. While I got good at replacing blade hubs, it was tiresome, along with time to go order them (never in stock), downtime waiting for delivery, etc.

Then got a White, 15 horse. Barely lasted longer than the Craftsman.

Currently using a Wal-Mart special MTD that has lasted surprisingly well, but again, back to the amount of time required to mow the lawn, a ZTR is on the horizon for me shortly.

Yeah, I know, it's only good for mowing, but that's really what I need it for. The old house, we needed a farm tractor (funny, that house was in the city and we needed a farm tractor, live rural now and need a ZTR) here, I would like to make the lawn look nice and get the damned job done so I can get back to wrenching!

My two cents worth.

PT,

You want to mow fast? You need a Dixie Chopper! Sweet Jesus they move! This one 9 acres per hour!

http://www.dixiechopper.com/model_xt.php

Cheers,

Mike

 

[ptschram]

PT,

You want to mow fast? You need a Dixie Chopper! Sweet Jesus they move! This one 9 acres per hour!

http://www.dixiechopper.com/model_xt.php

Cheers,

Mike

We have some friends with one... Their lawn looks like a golf course and only takes 20-30 minutes to mow about two acres.

Our lawn is so convoluted with trees, buildings a pond, etc it's a nightmare with a regular mower. Hopefully, this summer we'll have a ZTR. Any ZTR would be better than what we have!

I worked with a guy who had a Bobcat diesel ZTR. He claimed it mowed at 20 MPH! He had an orchard of about ten acres and mowed it in two hours.

 

[antichrist]

Kubota is the easy choice in that list. Stay far away from the Cub Cadet junk. It's one step above MTD at best.

I'm pretty sure they are made by MTD now.
The old ones made by IH, like I have, are good quality though.

 

[garrett]

Oh they defintely are made by MTD. The older CCs are certain very good machines.

The zero turns are nice, but not a very good choice for a utility mower/tractor. We had a Gravely zero turn and it was great for cutting quickly, etc., but was useless for anything else. Not to mention you can't cut really high grass with them. And those little tires up front are thin go flat on the rough stuff.

 

[kennith]

The guy is going to run my credit tomorrow on a Diesel GR2100. As always, he was very friendly. I couldn't ignore the shaft drive deck, and that thick frame.

It's got the Kubota Diesel, liquid cooled. It's got four wheel drive and glide steer. Glide steer makes this thing turn on a dime and leave you nine cents change. It's completely kitted out with the deck and everything at 7300. Quite a bit more than I had planned on, but I left it in the back of my mind because that's what I wanted.

I've got the cash, but I'm still financing it. I'm placing a down payment of 4 on it. The payments are low and I need to keep building my credit with various companies anyway. The bank loves me now, but not everyone else does just yet.

We tried to run the application today, but it was a holiday and the finance people were off.

If I am not approved, I'll just borrow from the bank again. The rates are great and I need to up my line anyway. I'm pretty much sold on it, and I'll get it as soon as I can. If he gives me good news tomorrow, I'll be down there with my trailer. If not, I'll take the trailer to the bank, clear my line, and borrow again. I need to keep building my credit to be any good at what I am getting in to, so cash just won't cut it. Frustrating right now, but it will pay off eventually.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[kennith]

Oh they defintely are made by MTD. The older CCs are certain very good machines.

The zero turns are nice, but not a very good choice for a utility mower/tractor. We had a Gravely zero turn and it was great for cutting quickly, etc., but was useless for anything else. Not to mention you can't cut really high grass with them. And those little tires up front are thin go flat on the rough stuff.

Yeah, ZTR is out of the question. I need something I can use for other things if I feel like it.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[DIIdude]

I think if it were me I still would have look hard for a good used compact tractor. You might pay a little more but since you're financing it would soften the pain somewhat. As for a warranty, for a guy like you I really doubt you are going to push a tractor enough to do any real damage. I have a couple of Kubotas, one with almost 6000 hours on it now, and up to this year I've put a couple of bearings and a clutch in it, and I really work my equipment.

For someone with a few acres the versatility can't be beat. Most towns have a rental shop and for a few bucks a day you can get tillers, scrapers, bush hogs, post hole diggers, ect.

I would add, but it sounds like it's too late now, when you go to buy take a good look around because the dealer can make ownership pleasant or a PITA. Nothing worse than needing to mow but waiting a week or so for parts. :banghead:

That's just my .02. Good luck with your new toy.

 

[kennith]

I'm a pretty good judge of character. These aren't the most knowledgable guys, but they have it where it counts. I think they will help me out when I need it.

As for the tractor, I considered it. I really don't need one right now. Used, I can't imagine spending too much more than I am now, but I really want a good mower first, everything else later. If I need a tractor later, I'll get one, but for now, a mower that's built properly will suffice I think.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[kennith]

Well, I bought one. I get the feeling the cat likes the seat, considering she is sitting in it right now. Well, there goes the upholstry. Besides, it's not like it's MY shop or anything. Clearly it belongs to her.

I haven't mowed anything with it yet. It was way too windy to haul the trailer with the Disco today. The hood on the Kubota was flapping all about. I'm going to have to fix it so it can be locked down.

I got the GR2110, with the 54 inch cut and the diesel. Thanks for the tips guys, I'm liking it alot, and I think it will work fine.

Considering it appears to be Tangiers Orange, I'm thinking about going all redneck and giving it a small G4 sticker.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[flyfisher11]

Congrats! That thing looks evil with those headlights,,,,,,whoaoa!!

 

[kennith]

To me, it looks like Lotus decided to build a mower.

The thing is, that Kubota orange is way cooler in person than it is in pictures.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Rocky]

Heck if I want a three year service life, and $4k I'd get the top end sears (great bargains right now at under $2400) garden tractor beat the &h*t out of it and get a new one in three years time for similar money.

Otherwise you are looking at second hand Kubs/JD GTs.

JD is in the process of killing off half its mum and pop dealers right now. While you may have one down the end of the street it might not be there in a month

Also look here. Great resource

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/tractor/

 

[garrett]

Nice choice Kennith.

The problem with buying a piece of shit Sears tractor every few years is that after three years you have a used piece of shit worth $0. In 7 years you will have invested the same amount as he is today, but he'll still end up with a great tractor worth $4K. If you've got the means it's a no brainer.

His Kubota will retain a majority of it's value for a long time to come. 15 years from now it will perform pretty much as it does today and still hold half it's value at the very least least.

Not to mention down time when something breaks has a great deal of value to many people. When that POS Sears tractor needs new bearing set and the deck is flopping around and the grass is a foot high what happens?

 

[RVRSRVC]

Chiming in a little late, but I recently purchased a BX2350 with a front end loader and a 54" deck for our 3 acre farmette. The equipment is easy to take off and on; the bucket and the deck can be on at the same time. I use it for almost everything: pushing dead Rovers into the shop, moving stacks of used tyres to the end of the driveway for the recycler to pick up; a hay trailer for multiple tasks, etc..
When it will run.
I've had issues where it wouldn't turn off by the key-shorted wiring harness; the hydraulic drive wont fully release when the pedal is released- I've run into a few things because it overpowered the brakes momentarily and the dealer hasn't been able to fix it in 3 attempts. And it wont start under 20 degrees. And when it's mowing, the engine temp climbs.
But when it's working, it's been awesome. And everyone I speak with says that all of this is most unusual for Kubota.

 

[kennith]

Heck if I want a three year service life, and $4k I'd get the top end sears (great bargains right now at under $2400) garden tractor beat the &h*t out of it and get a new one in three years time for similar money.

Otherwise you are looking at second hand Kubs/JD GTs.

JD is in the process of killing off half its mum and pop dealers right now. While you may have one down the end of the street it might not be there in a month

Also look here. Great resource

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/tractor/

I'm really liking this thing, though. And like Garret says, it will be around a while. After playing with it a bit, I'm excited to keep this for a long time. One thing I didn't think of before I went out there, is this is easier to haul behind the truck than something bigger. That means even when I go and get something bigger this will still have a place on long trips where mowing may just be enough.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[sven]

I got the GR2110, with the 54 inch cut and the diesel. Thanks for the tips guys, I'm liking it alot, and I think it will work fine.

Diesel garden tractor? Whoa, I didnt even know those existed! Sweet.