Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

Hey guys, I have never posted on this thread before but am looking for some insight. I am on the fence between a garden tractor and a sub compact. I have 3/4 of an acre and my Grandma's yard is just under 3.5 acres. I don't take the tractor over there much, but a few of us grandkids do what we can to help take care of her property. I currently have a Cub Cadet XT2 lawn tractor with a 23hp Kawasaki and a fabricated deck, but it is belt drive. It does no problem in my yard pulling a 300lb lawn roller while mowing. I am just looking at yard projects I have that is part of our 10 year plan that can be done in under 2 years with the right equipment upgrade. I know I want something that can perform ground engaging work, 3 point, rear PTO, and preferably diesel. I have a few friends with garden tractors and SCUTs and they all said to figure out what projects and attachments you want to use. My yard is about 6-12" of topsoil then straight orange clay with occasional medium river rock type rocks. I dug two 6' deep, 24" round holes last year with a hand post hole digger and a digging bar with minimal issue. Less than a 5 gallon bucket of rocks total.

My current list of near future projects and proposed attachments:

• 3000 sqft of brush, rotting trees, and debris laced around good hardwood trees that I want to keep. (grapple if SCUT w/ loader)
• Perimeter fence, approx. 650' of fence, about 80 post holes (3pt auger)
• Regrade my whole yard (box blade, plow to initially tear?)
• Prep areas for sidewalks, patios, and additions to deck (box blade, plow for tearing?, loader if SCUT)
• New downspout/driveway drain pipe to hillside, about 270' run (root bucket or fab my own trencher bucket with a used backhoe bucket and a SSQA adaptor or ripper/plow to break up before hand digging)
• Gravel driveway maintenance (box blade?, loader if SCUT)
• Holes and material moving for deck resurfacing/additions (loader, auger, or 3pt carry-all)
• Archery backstop install (auger, loader/carry-all)
• Position decretive rocks in yard (loader/carry-all)
• Install timbers and crushed limestone for level pad for shed/carport (working zoning temp structure loopholes to put stuff where I want) (carry-all/loader, box blade?)
• Probably plow if we get a good storm and as I get older (early 30's now)
• If SCUT with loader is purchased, loading and unloading materials from truck/trailer

Upcoming projects I could utilize at friends/family's homes to assist with projects I'll be helping with anyways:

• Retaining walls at my brother's
• Patio prep at my brother's
• Retaining walls at my Grandma's
• Grading my brother's yard
• Replacing fence at my brother's
• Grading my Grandma's driveway
• vegetation management
• Helping neighbor with installing fence
• Helping remove brush from neighbor's yard

I don't think anything is uncommon for small tractors, or undoable. I know it'll take longer than renting some heavier equipment and my estimated rental costs get pretty dang close to covering the cost of a SCUT with a loader. I think at this point the toss up is if I need or just want a loader. The cost of the loader is pretty close to the cost of all my other attachments combined. I know I can do everything and probably be satisfied without a loader, but I also am thinking of all the things I can do with a loader.

Also, I have a Kubota dealer I drive past on my way to work about 15 minutes away. Next closest is my Cub dealer, about 20-25 minutes, that also carries Yanmar tractors. I have a good relationship with my Cub dealer that is a 95 year old 4th generation farm/equipment business. New Holland, Massey, JD, Mahindra, Bobcat, and Koiti are all over 45 minutes away. Not bad but not nearly as convenient as the Yanmar or Kubota dealers. I think there is an LS dealer 20 minutes away but I don't know much about LS. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't leaning orange because of the aftermarket support and how common the BX's are for specific generational attachments down the road, like a loader if I'd op to leave that out now. Regardless if I purchase a loader initially or not, the tractor will be hydraulically prepped. I am not opposed to a used tractor. I just can't take on any additional projects right now. I am looking to make my move next year some time, so I got time to sort things out.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate any feedback anyone can give.

 

I vote sub compact or a tad bigger

 

Compact even with less than an acre?

I guess my other question would be belly mower on these good?

 

Customer I sold a ZT to hit a rock.

key didn't shear. Fucked up the spindle arbor and pulley mount. $100 down the drain. New parts on the way.

I'm just venting. The $1 dollar key is supposed to give way, not the spindle!

 

Don’t go to small, you’ll always wish you had a bigger machine when you get to using it is what I’m saying.

The belly mowers do good, they aren’t as fast as a zero turn though

 

That's pretty impressive, in a I'm-glad-i-don't-have-to-pay-for-it kinda way

 

Bx25 or equivalent will be your new best friend

 

Spent 10
Hours today mowing with the diesel… 8.5 hours per tank worth of mowing. 5 gallon tank. The zero Turn goes 3 hours on the same 5 gallons and is not universal like the Kubotas are…. We do a lot the diesels and have ran into zero issues with them. These are 2005 models 22 hp… any questions and I’ll try to answer them for you @awesomeandy013

 

Had to dig a post hole yesterday, figured I better bring out the heavy duty construction equipment.

 

I bit different than my usual 300 size excavator and peterbilt dump truck!

 

A bit of work done on the utility trailer

 

My boss went to tractor supply today and came back and said he doesn’t have to borrow my trailer anymore to move his mower

 

How much?

 

I'm surprised he found one. He must have been there right when the truck showed up.

 

Oh, tell him to get the proper hitch.

Trailers not level with the tow vehicle just annoy me.

 

$1,999.00 I think.

 

Damn. Seems steep. But I guess in 2021 not crazy.

 

I thought it was high as well.

 

Looks like it's attached directly to the bumper and not an actual receiver. I wonder if they make a drop for those??