which tractor??

Anonymous-0 · Feb 6, 2012

Trying to keep my best friend and Brother from doing something stupid.... His requirement is mowing 2 acres and cleaning a 1200 ft driveway. Mentioned a 54 inch belly mower and 54 inch snow blower. He lives in Aberdeen, MD..... He's also throwing that JD word around.
Don't believe he wants anything old and diesel is prolly more his speed but maybe not.
Anyway, what would be a decent choice to look at to cover his needs and maybe a few small whims?? Thinking he'd get more out of a blade than a snowblower but don't know how much snow that area gets. 4WD is probably in his thinking too but maybe not a showstopper. The unspeakable is a JD X728 so something related in size... He said he ran across one with the belly mower, snow blower, and a trailer to haul it on for $11K, is that normal??
Those zero turn mowers are just mowers? Or do they handle other jobs too?

Thanks, Dave

VicS · Feb 6, 2012

It"s a hard fact of life, everybody can"t get along with old tractors. Some people just want turn the key and it go. I love old tractors and have a few. But I can"t abide my lawn-mower not working at a turn of the key( I love to mow the first couple of times then it is a burden. Vic

Russ from MN · Feb 6, 2012

The newer JD's with the Yanmar diesels seem to be very good. We have about 600 hrs on our 4600 with no unscheduled maintenance. What does he have for dealers nearby? Can he do the maintenance himself? If he gets lasting snow then I would recommend a blower, if it's going to melt in a few days then a blade is fine. Before global warming I used to run out of room to push snow, the driveway would be pretty narrow by spring. Also you have a better looking yard with a blower.

flyingace · Feb 6, 2012

(quoted from post at 17:09:56 02/06/12) Trying to keep my best friend and Brother from doing something stupid.... His requirement is mowing 2 acres and cleaning a 1200 ft driveway. Mentioned a 54 inch belly mower and 54 inch snow blower. He lives in Aberdeen, MD..... He's also throwing that JD word around.
Don't believe he wants anything old and diesel is prolly more his speed but maybe not.
Anyway, what would be a decent choice to look at to cover his needs and maybe a few small whims?? Thinking he'd get more out of a blade than a snowblower but don't know how much snow that area gets. 4WD is probably in his thinking too but maybe not a showstopper. The unspeakable is a JD X728 so something related in size... He said he ran across one with the belly mower, snow blower, and a trailer to haul it on for $11K, is that normal??
Those zero turn mowers are just mowers? Or do they handle other jobs too?

Thanks, Dave

The JD X728 is basically a large garden tractor priced similar to a compact utility tractor. I just can't see the value, even with the extra stuff thrown in.

I was just rooting around, and I saw a 50 HP FWD Mahindra with FEL going for around 15K. Of course it's a little more $, but this will handle anything he needs and then some. I think that JD garden tractor will come up short time and again and he will kick himself for spending so much for so little.

Of course, if he's willing to go the used route, he can get even more for the $. I have very similar requirements on my property. I have a used 3000 diesel and a mix of new and used implements. Grand total, around 5K. However, you do need to be willing to get your knuckles busted, and I can understand if he just wants something new.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 6, 2012

(quoted from post at 18:20:41 02/06/12) I can understand if he just wants something new.

He's got a lot on his plate and not a lot of time, so tinkering isn't really an option. New isn't really necessary either, just dependable. I don't know what he has for dealer support but he must pass by yard with them nasty green things in it too often :roll:

donjr · Feb 6, 2012

Know the area well. I'm not sure of that model Deere, but there is an Atlantic Tractor in Whiteford, and another AT in Oxford, Pa., both within 25 miles. Great dealers, good people. I've been doing business with them for close to 50 years. If he wants to look at NH or Mahindra, W.G. Coale is a bit closer in Churchville, Md., about 10 miles. They've just picked up the Mahindra line- we haven't seen too many of them around here yet. Coales has been in business for about 90 years; again great people to deal with.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 6, 2012

(quoted from post at 18:40:58 02/06/12) Know the area well. I'm not sure of that model Deere, but there is an Atlantic Tractor in Whiteford, and another AT in Oxford, Pa., both within 25 miles. Great dealers, good people. I've been doing business with them for close to 50 years. If he wants to look at NH or Mahindra, W.G. Coale is a bit closer in Churchville, Md., about 10 miles. They've just picked up the Mahindra line- we haven't seen too many of them around here yet. Coales has been in business for about 90 years; again great people to deal with.

Are you in the Aberdeen area???

ShadetreeRet · Feb 6, 2012

A few years my daughter and her then husband bought a Kubota BX23. 23hp with hydro trans. They bought a 60" mowing deck for it which was one of the smoothest mowers that I have ever seen, and it was heavy gauge metal, built to last. I was really impressed and even amazed at the work that little tractor did. Kinda pricey new, but a good used unit would be a lot less.

donjr · Feb 6, 2012

Bout 25 mile NW of Aberdeen--

Anonymous-0 · Feb 6, 2012

(quoted from post at 19:27:17 02/06/12) Bout 25 mile NW of Aberdeen--

feel like coaching a brother a little if he needs help pickin something out?? Him and I patitioned lodge together and were raised together before he rotated back to the States and retired at APG and works there as a civilian now...

JDseller · Feb 6, 2012

Dave the earlier models that evolved into the JD 728 are: 425 to X475 to x728. You can find good JD 425s for in the $3500-4500 range. A JD 445 is little better as it had fuel injection, larger tires and seat. They will run in the $4500-5500 range. Then you can get a used snow blower for them for $850-1250 range. Buying the mower the the blower is usually cheaper. The prices I quoted above are for 500-700 hour machines. They will last well into the 1500-2000 hours with a little care. These are good mowers that mow well and last. They will out mow a compact utility as they are much more maneuverable. A compact utility is designed to do what a tractor and lawn mower both do. I think they don't do either the best.

donjr · Feb 6, 2012

Good lodge in Aberdeen. AT may be his better choice- they have a 'Ready to Mow' service truck for the mechanically challenged. They have all the parts needed, and come out to the house, totally service the tractor and warranty the service and repairs. I don't know how pricey it is, but a couple of my neighbors use it. Tell him to travel up to Esdraelon in Cardiff 2nd or 4th Thursday and say 'Hi'.

Old Roy · Feb 6, 2012

Although not as fast as the Dixie Chopper I have seen these in action.. just got to get one with the drive wheels under the driver Grashopper make both designs.
also comes in diesel

which tractor??

Anonymous-0

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