Compact Utility Tractors for Mowing

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bwise.157

bwise.157

Burning Hunk
Oct 24, 2013
128
heath, ohio
My property has some steep terrain, and I have some wooded areas I like to keep maintained. I have about 2 acres of mowing each week, but nothing is flat.

Some of my wants: prefer Diesel, 54 inch deck, 4 wheel drive.

Are the Kubota (i.e. BX series) and John Deere (1023/1025's, 2305, etc) compacts good options? Are they maneuverable/agile enough for mowing? Other models worth looking at?

I have a 1999 John Deere 790, so I don't need a loader, blade, etc. I just need a solid mower that will work on steep terrain.

Any suggestions are welcome! Thx!
 
A commercial zero turn (scag, Exmark ect...) will run circles around a utility tractor. If it's only use is to mow then I would not consider anything other than a zero turn. They are better on hills, faster around objects and cut quality is great. But if 4x4 is needed due to muddy conditions then they might not be the best choice.
 
My neighbor has had a BX 1023 with belly mower for years and loves it. He mows around two acres too.
 
I just got a Kubota BX 2200 with a 60" deck and I'm extremely happy with it. It's very maneuverable and the quality of cut is excellent. If you go this route I'd recommend loading the tires since you have some steep areas and look for one with a ROPS that isn't crazy high like some of them are now.
 
I've got a BX2200 also and it will climb almost anything, including stuff that is dangerous. On steep hills, put the shifter into 'low' and use 4x4. The traction is amazing. I don't load my tires, and would not unless you find it is needed. Consider the distance between trees and the variable terrain for the deck choices. I went from a 54" to 60" for faster cutting but found the 60 was a bit too wide for some areas and scalped in a few spots that were OK on the 54.

Whatever you do, make sure you get a hydra drive. Much safer and effortless compared to gear shifting.
 
DougA said:
I've got a BX2200 also and it will climb almost anything, including stuff that is dangerous. On steep hills, put the shifter into 'low' and use 4x4. The traction is amazing. I don't load my tires, and would not unless you find it is needed. Consider the distance between trees and the variable terrain for the deck choices. I went from a 54" to 60" for faster cutting but found the 60 was a bit too wide for some areas and scalped in a few spots that were OK on the 54.

Whatever you do, make sure you get a hydra drive. Much safer and effortless compared to gear shifting.
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A 54" deck is about all the bigger I want. My JD 790 has a geared transmission, and works great for what I use it for. However, it would be too clunky and cumbersome with a belly mower. The BX series from Kubota looks nice, but I have never had a Kubota. I have always had Deere equipment. I want to get by a Kubota dealer and check them out soon.

I don't normally load tires either, but would use suitcase and/or wheel weights if needed.

My brother has an x758 (or something like that) from John Deere. He paid a ton for it. I can buy a small compact for less and have a more durable machine... I think.
 
I have a 2003 John Deere 2210( which is now the 2305) with a 62" MMM and FEL. I love the tractor's versatility. However, if you are simply looking for a just a solid machine for mowing, I would advised against a tractor and would second a zero turn mower.

Although, have you thought about purchasing a rear mounted 3 point mower for you current tractor? I would think if you had a wide open area to mow and kept the FEL loader attached to the tractor it would do fairly well.
 
Zero turn unless those hills are steep enough to flip it backwards.

A tow behind for the 790 or an ATV ?
 
I took a zero turn out for a test drive once. I cut the ditch in front of the dealership and it got stuck trying to go up the slope. The slope was pretty similar to what I have so it was a fair test. I left the mower there and told the guy it was not going to work. I took a Honda compact out and loved it except back then, it was gear only and after you have driven a hydra drive, gears are horrible when you have rough terrain and lots of trees.

I know the OP has a larger tractor but a compact is capable of doing almost everything a larger unit can do. Last week I hauled a 20"x11' chunk of oak out of the woods with the Kubota.
 
DougA said:
I took a zero turn out for a test drive once. I cut the ditch in front of the dealership and it got stuck trying to go up the slope. The slope was pretty similar to what I have so it was a fair test. I left the mower there and told the guy it was not going to work. I took a Honda compact out and loved it except back then, it was gear only and after you have driven a hydra drive, gears are horrible when you have rough terrain and lots of trees.

I know the OP has a larger tractor but a compact is capable of doing almost everything a larger unit can do. Last week I hauled a 20"x11' chunk of oak out of the woods with the Kubota.
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My parents had a zero turn back in the day, and it wasn't very good on hills. It was an old Snapper with a 60 inch deck.

To use my JD790 to mow would be cumbersome. It is just too large to maneuver around a yard. If weighted properly, a compact would be able to get everything I need/want, just not sure which model is best. Price for a 4x4 compact with a belly mower is actually lower than some of the higher end 4x4 lawn mowers.

I keep leaning towards the Deere compacts though, as the Yanmar Diesel is a quite reliable engine. I already have one tractor with the Yanmar engine, and it has never caused a problem.
 
You use the 790 for all the mowing now? Or you have something else also?

Tire chains can make a huge difference on a 2wd. I've never mowed a lawn with a 4x4 anything, but I have accidentally torn up sod with a 4x4 tractor - the front wheels can really dig in when turning sharp.
 
maple1 said:
You use the 790 for all the mowing now? Or you have something else also?

Tire chains can make a huge difference on a 2wd. I've never mowed a lawn with a 4x4 anything, but I have accidentally torn up sod with a 4x4 tractor - the front wheels can really dig in when turning sharp.
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I use a JD L120 that I bought 10 years ago, before I bought my current property. 48" deck. 22hp. Hydro is running out of steam and can barely climb the hills anymore.
 
Ah, I see. I have an LA135 that I do the lawn with here, on some pretty signficant hills. The transmission is still doing good but I spin out once in a while if I hit it wrong or don't get by butt in the right spot at the right time. So I've been meaning to get chains for it for a while but haven't gotten there yet.

Part of me would also like to have something bigger & better too. :)
 
You will not go wrong with the Kubota. My neighbor had a Deere mainly because he always wanted one. He loved my Kubota and wished he had went with a Kubota instead. Their reliability is very impressive. I have never had an issue with mine in 6 years. Even using the same battery!!!
 
DougA said:
I took a zero turn out for a test drive once. I cut the ditch in front of the dealership and it got stuck trying to go up the slope. The slope was pretty similar to what I have so it was a fair test. I left the mower there and told the guy it was not going to work. I took a Honda compact out and loved it except back then, it was gear only and after you have driven a hydra drive, gears are horrible when you have rough terrain and lots of trees.

I know the OP has a larger tractor but a compact is capable of doing almost everything a larger unit can do. Last week I hauled a 20"x11' chunk of oak out of the woods with the Kubota.
Click to expand...

Doug, can the BX2200 be fitted with a front bucket. Do you have a PTO as well? Can I attach say a 60" brush hog for mowing fields on this small compact? Lots and Lots of hills on my property as well. Have a Craftsman 26HP garden tractor with 54" deck and I hate it. Just beats the hell out of me and seems poorly built.
 
The BX2200 is quite an old model now. I think the latest is BX2360 but since I can't afford it, my wife will not allow me to look. Any in that series will have a mid PTO for mower and a rear PTO for implements. so yes, you can put a bush hog on it for sure. I honestly am not familiar with the newer models. Huge difference in power between a 26 hp Craftsman and a Kubota. If I put mine on 4x4 low, I can drive part way up a large tree - done it just to see.

Some of these can be fitted with a front bucket , yes. Mine had no remote hydraulic outlets and that was an extra option at the time. Best to buy one with the bucket (fel) already attached as they are pricey to add later. Most of the BX25's include a loader and backhoe which is what I want when I win the lottery.

This is a listing for a 2360 w a fel and mmm.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kubota-BX-2...463?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4639ba6487
 
I priced a new BX2670 last fall with a 60" mower deck, front end loader, and a 4' tiller at $18k and change.

The 2005 BX2200 with 950 hours was $8500 including tax with a 60" mower and loader. Used was the only way to go for me.

20150307_100907.jpg
 
The models quoted are SCUT's... Sub Compacts.. A Compact Tractor, not good for mowing a finish cut in my eyes, as they are way to big, unless you are going at a big field. My Kioti CK30 CUT will rut up my yard with the R4's, although I could have gotten turf tires on it, it wouldn't then function as a tractor...

The SCUT's you mention will cut grass fine, but be much slower than a zero turn, as well not do the curves as nicely or quickly.

Myself personally, would prefer the Kubota over the JD... however, the JD 1023 and 1026 I believe both offer the quick disconnect drive over deck, as well as FEL, that would be sweet for a machine like that. Your not going to like to mow, especially around obstacles with the FEL attached... and your not going to want to do real tractor work with a mower deck attached either... that quick disconnect feature makes that portion painless... However, I am not a fan of JD... It's a plastic tractor, with Aluminum crank cases..

The point is, there is no perfect machine, not one does everything perfect.

I use a Kitoi CK30HST for the real tractor work, and a Cub Cadet 2042 Garden Tractor with a 48" deck (heavily tree'd yard) for my mowing and some light duty tractor work. I wish I had a zero turn for speed of mowing, but the zero turn couldn't do the fun stuff I use the Cub for. I hook up the small trailer I got from TSC to it, and tow tree stands and such back in the woods in the tight trails the Kioti won't go down without widening...
 
Deere x530 or x540 if you're just cutting with it and want hill-ability without paying for 700 series. I've had an x530 for 2.5 years doing 2.6+acres and you can't beat it. Power steering and lift, option to engage both rear tires together, pulls my 5x10 trailer up hill (loaded with 700+ lbs of dirt, or loaded 3-4 stacks high of pine straw) with no problem. X500 was ok, but once I tried power steering on a mower , it was worth the price to move to the x530. Try putting a turn knob on the steering wheel too. You've already got a tractor and the 2wd 110 will at least cut the lot so you don't absolutely need the 4wd, so why pay for it.
 
Went to both a Deere and Kubota dealer today. Looked at the 1025r and the BX2370. Definitely liked the Deere more. Price was actually the same for those two units, with a landscape rake thrown in from Deere. Kubota was just the tractor and deck. Haven't made the purchase yet, but will probably do this coming week.

My parents have an x540 with locking differential, which I thought would be enough to pull my roller and handle the hills. It is a very nice machine. If it worked, I was going to see about getting one. Unfortunately, I tried it today, and it struggled. The roller weighs about 900 lbs. Couldn't pull it up the hill, even with weight added to the tractor. Just mowing, does great, but I want something that will do everything. This will be a purchase that will last me the next 20 years, so I don't want something that only does some of what I need. I normally don't splurge, but I might have to this time!
 
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Have the Kubota BX25D with mowing deck. I find I prefer our Craftsman lawn tractor better for a few reasons - less noise, smaller turn radius, better cut. Not sure how well it would do on hills as the 2 acre lot is fairly level.

Have you thought about a 4-wheeler with a brush hog or similar for your hilly section?
 
Lake Girl said:
Have the Kubota BX25D with mowing deck. I find I prefer our Craftsman lawn tractor better for a few reasons - less noise, smaller turn radius, better cut. Not sure how well it would do on hills as the 2 acre lot is fairly level.

Have you thought about a 4-wheeler with a brush hog or similar for your hilly section?
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Cut quality is one thing I am worried about. Current mower does a heck of job on cut quality when it works.

Does your BX 25D have a 54 or 60" deck?
 
I have both the JD 1026 r 60 in deck and a JD x520 54 in deck. I am very impressed still with the versatility of the subcompact but for everyday mowing even with hills the x520 is just easier.


For your described need have you considered an x748? If you have 790 already may be perfect for your needs.
 
None of those tractors are going to pull a 900lb roller up a steep hill with turf tires more than likely. It's going to need R4's, which is going to bite into your grass and rip it up and cause ruts. There isn't going to be a ton of performance difference in that regard between the X504 and the 1025R... the kicker to the 1025R is going to be fuel consumption, the FEL, and the cat 0 ability.

You will see towing capacity difference between the two, but on flat land. Loading tires helps, but the 1025's tires are pretty small, so it would be indifferent for the most part. There isn't a huge price difference going to the 2032, but you do loose the TLB ability.

Do yourself a favor, and check out the Kioti CK2410, it's Kiotis' sub compact... it's a much beefier subcompact than a 1025... though it doesn't have the quick disconnect.
 
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