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Garden Gate:  Garden Tractors  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 05:32:05 AM
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I am looking for a good garden tractor (and mower) that's small but that can plow and til a couple of huge gardens and with a front end loader and bush hog. We have only 3 acres plus a neighbors 2 acre pasture.
Do any of you farmgirls have tractors? Are they small ones? What kind do you have? And would you recommend it? We really need an all-purpose type machine that could handle all these attachments. And be reasonable in price. And a mower also.
I was just looking at small garden tractors on the computer and Craftsman seems to be a good one. But the best model for all this has been discontinued. I might be able to find one for sale somewhere.
Anyway, just thought I'd ask all you farmgirls what ya'll use. We really need something. I have to hire a guy to come turn and til my gardens and that gets expensive. I think our own would pay for itself real fast.
Thanks, Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 06:11:39 AM
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Kris I have a small tractor it is A kabota and it is great. They are expensive and the attachments are over the top we paid as much for the tiller as we did for the tractor. We use ares for snow removal too.But it is a very handy tractor.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 08:10:07 AM
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We have a variety of tractors here on the farm but all are expensive and I'm not sure even a small tractor would be necessary for three acres. I have also found that tractor prices vary greatly from brand to brand and from town to town.
Bush hogs are several tousand dollars and to be able to till you would need a disk or tiller implement which would he several tousand more ON TOP of the cost of the tractor.
I know there are several heavy duty riding mowers that have attachments that may be more what you need.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 08:21:08 AM
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Julie, that's kind of what we were looking for. More a lawn-garden tractor but that can have those attachments added. We'd use it for mowing more but we need the tiller. I know they are expensive. Maybe we can find a good used one. Kabotas are good. But my hubby's a Craftsman man all the way.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 8:31:38 PM
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We have a 1960's era Massey Ferguson 210 farm tractor with front-end loader that has been a very dependable work horse for mowing and rototilling. We also have disc, post-hole digger and rake attachments for it. It's getting a little harder to find parts for but luckily we still have a parts dealer within 60 miles that has been able to find everything we've ever needed. My grandfather bought this tractor new so I don't know how much they cost these days.
We own a landscape business and all of the tractors we own except for the Massey are John Deere or Bobcat. From time to time we rent smaller sized tractors for tight spaces. I've had the opportunity to try out John Deere, Kubota, Bobcat and Cub Cadet machines in the category you are interested in. My preference is John Deere for stability, ease of operation and quality of attachments. Bobcat and Cub Cadet are my second and third choices. Can't say I've ever tried a Craftsman brand tractor but I sure do use their tools alot. Kubotas are okay for light homeowner use if you are mechanically inclined and like to fix and or adjust things all the time. I don't like them because the smaller models are high centered (tippy) and the controls aren't comfortable to operate for long periods of time.
A tractor is a very big investment - like buying a house or a new car. I cannot stress the importance of making sure you have a chance to test drive a machine and try out the attachments before you buy so you don't get stuck with something you don't like or that doesn't work as you had hoped. Small tractors are often advertised to make you think they can do things that they simply don't have the strength to do - especially if you have hard soil or sloped ground. We bought a small excavator several years ago and after 2 days we traded it in for a bigger model because it didn't have the strength to dig in our hard clay soils and would not lift a full bucket of dirt high enough to clear the box on our dump truck. But the specs said it would do both.
You are definitely on the right track by asking others for their experiences. It's also a good idea to talk to others who own the same tractor and attachments you are considering to get their feedback. If there are features about them that aren't ideal, you will get the truth from someone who has tried it out and found out the hard way. A salesman will always tell you what they think you want to hear. Maybe there is a "consumer reports" type of website online for garden tractors that would help weed out the good from the bad.
You could also try checking out Craigslist or farm and construction equipment dealers/auctions in your area. With the economy in it's current state homeowners and businesses are selling off equipment they don't need and you can sometimes find good deals on barely used equipment.
Good luck finding your dream machine!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2010 : 06:55:34 AM
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Ew, a post hole digger would be an extra special attachment. As many as we do. And my hubby is a JD fan. Tahnk you so much for all your great info. Lots of good stuff there. That is a good idea to actually try all the different tractors before making a descision. I really appreciate all your comments. I will show this to my hubby one day when he gets home.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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podsandpetals
True Blue Farmgirl
57 Posts
Cindy
Genoa
NY
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2010 : 7:17:29 PM
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I use a Kubota and a Massy Fregison -both are large. I'm a kubota fan. We used small kubotas- B1700's at a nursery that I used to work at- they where used hard for a variety of tasks and almost never needed mechanical work. Very easy to operate. They also fit smaller people well- my husband has to use our Massy because I can't reach the foot petals safely- so do try out any tractor before using it. I'd also suggest 4 wheel drive- it's really needed if your going to turn soil. If your serious about needing a tractor which can do a variety of tasks well I'd stear clear of the riding mowers- they don't have enough horse power. Kubotas are some what pricey- but well worth the money- I love mine.
www.podsandpetals.etsy.com
ebay seller podsandpetals |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 04:25:14 AM
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Thanks, Cindy. My neighbor up the road has a Kabota. It's small and he's had it for years. But it will pick up and haul a heavy round bale of hay a couple miles. He delivers hay for my cow girl pigs. Thanks for the info. They are good tractors.
Are any of these American made?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
Edited by - kristin sherrill on Mar 03 2010 04:25:53 AM |
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KellyWall
True Blue Farmgirl
336 Posts
Kelly
Apison
Tn
USA
336 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 05:00:28 AM
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Kris, We have a John Deere, it does a great job, we also have attachments for it, bush hog, auger, tiller etc... It is easy to drive, I can even drive it. We got it at Homestead Tractor in Cleveland. A place I highly recommend, as the owners are friend of ours. They sell used equipment too. You can check Craig's list too.
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Garden Gate: Garden Tractors |
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Garden Tractors
