Please recommend a garden tractor for my use

[jar944]

I don't see anything that any riding mower would have a issue with.

 

[ycgoat]

I have cut down worse than that with a Dixie Chopper, but it was not mine and belonged to my job. We used the machine afterwards with no problems, so it probably just dulled the blades a bit. That was about 2 acres with a 60" the chopper

 

[Beemer]

We found a JD 445 most useful but it really depends on what purposes you need it for.
It has a liquid cooled, fuel injected Kawasaki, 22 hp twin engine.
It can take a two stage snow blower, plow, big mower deck and front end loader; all options.
They are serious well built tractors that came out before JD dressed down to sell at big box stores.
Next model up, 455, is diesel.

Neighbor has similar Kabota and likes it too.

 

[CN Spots]

$1500 is a tough call. Me I would find a used clean machine 42” with a twin cylinder Kohler or Kawasaki motor . Just Make sure you can get one that you can get serviced and can find parts. Check the local dealers like Cub Cadet, John Deere, Husqavarna, etc some take trades and you might luck up. Don’t get hung up on the electric blade start, manual is fine, I like foot operated drive pedals.
I just got a Cub Cadet XT2 42” with a V twin and it turns on a dime but new they are $3k

This^

I've got an old JD LT155 with manual engage and a lever to lift the deck with. My yard is like yours with roots and uneven terrain and it's handy to be able to slightly lift the deck in a few spots to keep it from scalping or performing impromptu woodworking.

 

[finn]

If it’s only 1/3 acre, rent a tractor with a rotary cutter (bush hog) for a day. Maybe two days if they have a box blade, landscape rake, hardly rake, or the like.

 

[babyseal]

Farmall Cub, pretty little '50s Lo-Boy, sold on Facebook locally couple weeks ago. $600...with the brushhog deck. I caught it about 5 minutes after it was posted, and was still didn't get the call in fast enough.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

You need a brush cutter, not a lawn mower.

Exactly my thoughts. Brush cutting will prep the land so a lawn mower can be used. For 1/3ac, you're not needing a long term commitment. Rent a brush mower, knock it down a tome or two. That space is easily maintenanced with a riding mower, a garden tractor would be overkill. What was the total size of the property?

 

[Fixr]

If it’s only 1/3 acre, rent a tractor with a rotary cutter (bush hog) for a day. Maybe two days if they have a box blade, landscape rake, hardly rake, or the like.

And consider hiring a landscape pro or a friendly farmer to do the work of bush-hogging and scraping/raking the area, leaving it smooth and clean enough that it can just be mowed in the future.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

As for the sticks, have get together, cook some steaks and feed the free child labor you had over to have a yard day. They can see the fruits of tgeir labor as you teach them the basics of starting a campfire. The food just sets the tradition and cycle of a good days work topped off with a good meal and family time.

 

[JamesW84]

Exactly my thoughts. Brush cutting will prep the land so a lawn mower can be used. For 1/3ac, you're not needing a long term commitment. Rent a brush mower, knock it down a tome or two. That space is easily maintenanced with a riding mower, a garden tractor would be overkill. What was the total size of the property?

8 acres total, but probably an acre and a half is what I use. The front yard with the automower is probably 1/2 acre then the rest.

And consider hiring a landscape pro or a friendly farmer to do the work of bush-hogging and scraping/raking the area, leaving it smooth and clean enough that it can just be mowed in the future.

I've thought of that. I requested a quote yesterday, so we'll see what they have to say. I need someone to level it off anyway because I backfilled with dirt from my shop build and compacted with my backhoe. I learned that backhoes (with me operating anyway) aren't good at leveling...especially if it isn't flat ground

The only reason I have interest in a garden tractor vs a lawn tractor is because I bent the deck several times on my last zero turn (craftsman ZTS 7500 42"). I had it for 13 years and it served me well, but my ground isn't flat enough.

 

[Fixr]

8 acres total, but probably an acre and a half is what I use. The front yard with the automower is probably 1/2 acre then the rest.

I've thought of that. I requested a quote yesterday, so we'll see what they have to say. I need someone to level it off anyway because I backfilled with dirt from my shop build and compacted with my backhoe. I learned that backhoes (with me operating anyway) aren't good at leveling...especially if it isn't flat ground

That's where a pro comes in. I have several hundred hours of experience running a backhoe, but an experienced pro can do a far better job in a fraction of the time, and should be able to easily make the ground plenty smooth enough for your purposes. I've seen a pro do in two hours what it would have taken me days to do, and he did it better. It also cost less than I would have had to pay if I'd been renting the backhoe.

 

[KenC]

Then why are you considering the Ford?

If you are going to go with a garden tractor, I highly recommend you stick with a cub cadet(Ideally a 1450 or 782) as it has the toughest rearends/frames/front axle and best support. John Deere 318 or Wheel horses are not to0 far behind. Those three have the best parts support and repower kits are available/easy if needed.

Gravelys, the larger Simplicity's and case/ingersoll were excellent as well but they are not supported as well and repowers at least on the gravely and Cases were more difficult because of proprietary crankshafts on the gravely and the Cases using the flywheel end instead of pto end to drive the transmission. I personally never messed with the simplicity sunstars but they have their supporters.

Fords GT support is non existent. 20 years ago my wife's grandmother wanted to get hers repowered and after looking at parts availability we got her a used Cub cadet.

All of the garden tractor options **** in the mowing department, not only do the blades turn slow but they are not as deep, tend to windrow clippings, and do not do a good job mulching compared to a true commercial mower deck.

Agree with most of the above. Wheel Horse is the hardest (IME) to find parts for. Case parts are available from a couple of dealers that I know of and have good user support on the net. I would narrow the field to either Case or a hydrostatic trans JD or Cub Cadet. Just don't care for manual trans for mowing. Just avoid hydros with belt drive, none of them are a tough as the older shaft drive versions. Either of those with a set of Gator blades will make quick work of leaves.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

8 acres total, but probably an acre and a half is what I use. The front yard with the automower is probably 1/2 acre then the rest.

I've thought of that. I requested a quote yesterday, so we'll see what they have to say. I need someone to level it off anyway because I backfilled with dirt from my shop build and compacted with my backhoe. I learned that backhoes (with me operating anyway) aren't good at leveling...especially if it isn't flat ground

The only reason I have interest in a garden tractor vs a lawn tractor is because I bent the deck several times on my last zero turn (craftsman ZTS 7500 42"). I had it for 13 years and it served me well, but my ground isn't flat enough.

Understood on the garden tractor. I myself bumped up from a jd130 to a cub cadet xt2 gx54d so I could get the features I needed at a more affordable price. Now it still was a significant chunck of change, but compared to an equivalent jd brand, half the cost. I've got 13hrs on it already and bought it this past une july mowing abt 2.5 of the 5.5ac. My terrain is sandy, rough, hilly and forage grasses and a lot of tree cover. The acre around the house is bermuda grass.

As for the brush mower, I use a DR Mower XL30 pro 22hp. That machine is a monster and it will clean up under brush areas.