Looking for Mower Advice

[Bdsankey]

Hello, I'm looking into new mowers for my home for next season. As of now I am wanting AWD/4WD with the ability to add a blower and obviously mower deck. I'm wanting to stay shaft drive. Currently I mow ~1.2 acres on a 48" cut Husqvarna that does a pretty good job but would like to get something that will last me 10, 15, maybe 20 years with good maintenance. What I'm torn on is do I get a big garden tractor (Deere X700 series or Simplicity Legacy XL) or do I step into a sub-compact tractor (Deere 10xx series, Kubota BX, Mahidra eMax, Massey GC1700)?


As of right now the main usage is mowing and snow-blowing. Eventually I may end up with a tiller as the wife wants to plant a decent sized garden. I feel that going the Deere X758 route would be my best choice as it is diesel-powered and the Deere mower decks are known to be pretty darn good. My only main concern with going the sub-compact tractor route is the quality of cut won't be what I'm after. The simplicity will have the best cut but I personally HATE Briggs motors with a passion and was also told their quality is not what they used to be ~10-15yrs ago as a whole package. Being that I live in farm country in Wisconsin there are loads of Deere dealers around me which also is a bonus towards them. I personally like the "buy once-cry once" strategy, especially if its something I'm going to use and maintain. I would rather buy new so I know its entire life cycle as opposed to used.


Thoughts/opinions?

 

[ikeG]

We have had 3 different x700s at work. All 4wd/awd, all diesel, 2 with baggers. Unbelievable how well built they are. If you let a kubota-lover borrow one, the experience will make them switch brands. True story.
If it's used strictly for mowing, I think the 10xx series is not worth it. If you have tons of mowing to do, check out the 2038 with 72" deck. My brother bought one and loves it. Not sure on a bagger option for it though.

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[Bdsankey]

We have had 3 different x700s at work. All 4wd/awd, all diesel, 2 with baggers. Unbelievable how well built they are. If you let a kubota-lover borrow one, the experience will make them switch brands. True story.
If it's used strictly for mowing, I think the 10xx series is not worth it. If you have tons of mowing to do, check out the 2038 with 72" deck. My brother bought one and loves it. Not sure on a bagger option for it though.

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Right now on my 48" it takes me around 1.5hrs, 2-2.5hrs if you include trimming. I'm not really to upset about the time and could care less if the seat time really reduced, I more so want to upgrade to something I can work off of and have for a decade or two without really having to mess with it other than general maintenance. I have the same feeling about the 10xx series as I think it's just a bit too much for me. A family friend has an older Deere diesel 2wd that has been running hard for ~15yrs and has a boatload of hours on it and they aren't easy with it. I likely will get the mulching kit in case that is what I want to do. I will be overseeding this fall after I kill all the weeds/crabgrass as well as doing it again come spring which should really put the lawn growth into overdrive. I likely will put 2-5hrs on a week during the summer and 1-6hrs a week during the winter depending on if it snows. It'll always be on a tender and a block heater come winter so I am not too worried about it starting (my garage is unheated).

 

[Bdsankey]

Is the quality of cut loss with a sub-compact tractor that huge?

 

[torqued2dmax]

Stiner is a great tractor with any kind of attachments you want , it articulates also !

 

[ikeG]

Is the quality of cut loss with a sub-compact tractor that huge?

Not totally sure Brad

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[silvrmax04]

If you want it for the attachments then your on the right track. If to cut lawn and plowing how about a zero turn and a separate plow , snowblower etc.

 

[PureHybrid]

I bought a Bx2370. Not a Deere fan, but if they were cheaper I'd buy one. At the time Deere was quite a bit more, but with the 0% financing they have now it'd be hard to not go that way.

IMO a sub compact tractor cuts just fine, they're not overly heavy, and the deck size (60") isn't so big that it scalps a lot. I've had awesome luck with my Kubota so far, but don't expect anything geared towards the homeowner type to last 20yrs. EVERYONE has cheapened up the small equipment

 

[bigmackmiller]

I think the quality of cut will be as good if not better on the sub compact as far as the JD's are concerned. You can still get a 7-iron deck on say a 1025r where as the 700 series has to use the 62c. The government stepped in to stop allowing the 700 series to come with a 7 iron because of weight and lack of roll over protection. The 7-iron is what comes on all their commercial zero turns etc...I'm no sure on quality of cut for Kubota's or other brands. I sell Case IH for a living but we have nothing to offer in those products

 

[Bdsankey]

If you want it for the attachments then your on the right track. If to cut lawn and plowing how about a zero turn and a separate plow , snowblower etc.

So the issue with that is I have a large driveway that drifts a ton as well as our road drifts. Our road, according to the neighbors, is typically plowed last. There was a storm this past winter were they were locked in for 2 days and a backhoe/loader had to come to open up the road. We moved into this house in March so we didn't experience the horrid drifting too much but our driveway defintely did on the few storms we had. Also, with my 28" cut snowblower it takes just over an hour to do just the driveway on a ~4-6" snowfall, add another 15-20 min for the little path to our second garage and it adds up.

I bought a Bx2370. Not a Deere fan, but if they were cheaper I'd buy one. At the time Deere was quite a bit more, but with the 0% financing they have now it'd be hard to not go that way.

IMO a sub compact tractor cuts just fine, they're not overly heavy, and the deck size (60") isn't so big that it scalps a lot. I've had awesome luck with my Kubota so far, but don't expect anything geared towards the homeowner type to last 20yrs. EVERYONE has cheapened up the small equipment

One thing I don't like on the BX series is the turning radius. Since my main usage will be mowing. A BX is around 77-78" uncut circle with a 60" deck and the 1025R is 48-50" uncut circle, both in 2wd. The Kubota is a killer quality tractor but I don't think it'll be my ideal rig for mowing. I haven't looked into any other brands besides Deere and Kubota. Mahindra, New Holland, Massey etc are all making units but I don't think they will be as refind as Deere/Kubota. While I would also usually agree on quality, the sub-compacts I think are definitely a step-up over anything else in terms of build quality. For example, many box store mowers can go 5-7yrs with general maintenance with the occasional deck bearing/pulley replacement. I don't see any reason that the tractor itself should have no issue going 15 years with regular maintenance with quality lubricants. I also think that the parts availability from a big brand like Deere or Kubota will allow me to repair the tractor for at least that long.

I think the quality of cut will be as good if not better on the sub compact as far as the JD's are concerned. You can still get a 7-iron deck on say a 1025r where as the 700 series has to use the 62c. The government stepped in to stop allowing the 700 series to come with a 7 iron because of weight and lack of roll over protection. The 7-iron is what comes on all their commercial zero turns etc...I'm no sure on quality of cut for Kubota's or other brands. I sell Case IH for a living but we have nothing to offer in those products

I did not know that the 7-iron deck is what came on the commercial zero-turn. Thanks for that information. They seem to do a killer job with cut quality so I don't think that'll be an issue then.

 

[RobsDmax]

I sell and have ran these for years now, (since I was about 5 I am 28 now) we own and run a JD dealership and sell Exmark/Toro as well. Based on what you are looking for you are going to have to decide on the tiller usage to me before you buy. The nice thing about Deere products is that they hold value. We currently have 0%/60 on both the X7xxs and the 10xxs. The cash discount is so small you might as well finance. The cut quality on the X7s with the HC decks will provide a better cut 100%, however you cannot get a 48" on the 10xx series.

If you plan to go the sub-compact route please consider the value of Deere before just buying whatever is cheaper. Have every single unit you are considering be shown how to take the deck off and on, and attach other attachments. You CANNOT beat a Deere on the attachability. I can have the deck off and be tilling in under 5 minutes if outfitted correctly.

As far as X758 vs 1023/1025R the drivetrain is near identical, I would go 1025R so you can set the height on the 3pt for tilling (1023E and every competitor is only Up/Down) OR you can do a X758 with the hitch but I would want to bet by the time you get a X758 outfitted with 3 PT it will be cheaper to do a 1025R.

Sorry for the info drop :spit:

 

[Bdsankey]

I sell and have ran these for years now, (since I was about 5 I am 28 now) we own and run a JD dealership and sell Exmark/Toro as well. Based on what you are looking for you are going to have to decide on the tiller usage to me before you buy. The nice thing about Deere products is that they hold value. We currently have 0%/60 on both the X7xxs and the 10xxs. The cash discount is so small you might as well finance. The cut quality on the X7s with the HC decks will provide a better cut 100%, however you cannot get a 48" on the 10xx series.

If you plan to go the sub-compact route please consider the value of Deere before just buying whatever is cheaper. Have every single unit you are considering be shown how to take the deck off and on, and attach other attachments. You CANNOT beat a Deere on the attachability. I can have the deck off and be tilling in under 5 minutes if outfitted correctly.

As far as X758 vs 1023/1025R the drivetrain is near identical, I would go 1025R so you can set the height on the 3pt for tilling (1023E and every competitor is only Up/Down) OR you can do a X758 with the hitch but I would want to bet by the time you get a X758 outfitted with 3 PT it will be cheaper to do a 1025R.

Sorry for the info drop :spit:

I am 100% onboard the Deere train at this time. I am planning on buying in spring (March-May timeframe) and it seems like Deere always has 0% for 60mo, it just seems that the "incentives" change. The Deere units seem to have the best package overall (best turning radius, best mower decks, well-built loaders, and a killer dealer network). The issue for me on the X758 is by the time I buy the PTO and 3-point it's about the same price and the 1025R, less capable than the 1025R without much cost/size difference, and the 1025R will hold it's value better. I don't plan on looking at the 1023e as it doesn't offer a cost-saving that is worth it IMO.

Tiller usage is still up in the air to me. It would be nice for flattening some spots in the yard as well as building a garden (don't know how big yet but there is a section next to the house that is perfect for a large garden). With the 1025R I don't have to really plan on that usage as it is already equipped with a PTO and 3pt, whereas the X758 isn't and would be an expensive option to get after the fact at a dealer.

If you were closer I'd buy from you in a heartbeat!

 

[PureHybrid]

No way a 1025R will make a 4ft circle.

How do you plan to clear snow with it? If your driveway drifts pretty deep, I think you'll have a hard time with it

 

[Bdsankey]

No way a 1025R will make a 4ft circle.

How do you plan to clear snow with it? If your driveway drifts pretty deep, I think you'll have a hard time with it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiHwIJzm1VQ&t=187s

Reference the video above. They do back to back tests against the BX and record the diameter of the unmowed patch. I plan to clear snow with a front-mounted snowblower. It isn't awful to do now with the 28" Husqvarna I have now but man it takes some time when there are drifts and being outside in below zero weather isn't fun to begin with. Obviously I will get the block heater kit for the 1025R and keep it plugged in during the winter.

 

[PureHybrid]

Then why does JD list the turning radius as 7.4ft?

https://www.deere.com/en/tractors/compact-tractors/1-series-sub-compact-tractors/1025r/

 

[Bdsankey]

Then why does JD list the turning radius as 7.4ft?

https://www.deere.com/en/tractors/compact-tractors/1-series-sub-compact-tractors/1025r/

That one I can’t answer. If you assume the deck is centered, 88.8” (7.4ft) minus half the deck width is 58.8” which isn’t far off.

 

[PureHybrid]

That one I can’t answer. If you assume the deck is centered, 88.8” (7.4ft) minus half the deck width is 58.8” which isn’t far off.

I watched the video, and you can see how much sharper Deere has that inside tire laid over. And I guess my definition of uncut radius was different, they literally measure the swath of uncut grass.

 

[Bdsankey]

I watched the video, and you can see how much sharper Deere has that inside tire laid over. And I guess my definition of uncut radius was different, they literally measure the swath of uncut grass.

The uncut diameter measurement they did is identical to how manufacturers rate their riding lawn mowers. In the tractor side it appears this measurement isn't relevant (makes sense, their main goal isn't mowing).


The 7-iron deck seems to have proven itself after doing a bunch of reading. The commercial mowing guys seem to really like that deck and have long lifespans.

 

[Kunz111]

My dad has a cub cadet sc2450. Very handle little machine, has the backhoe, 60 inch deck, loader, made a setup so he can use a 4 foot pusher for plowing snow, and had a tiller for it too. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it feels very very top heavy. I don’t feel comfortable at all on hills. Not sure if all sub compact tractors feel that way or just the cub.