We are new owners of a 12 acre piece of property, and I'm struggling with the proper selection of mower type. Although budget a concern, I would be willing to pay more if it makes sense.

- I don't intend to mow all 12 acres often if ever (like 3 to 5 acres)
- the property has some elevation change, and a few places where have 20 degree slopes I would like to mow
- I have an RV, shed, and a few other items I'd like to mow around, but mostly open acreage

Here are the three options I'm looking at:

ZERO TURN MOWER
- Bad Boy or Gravely
- Around $4k
- Strictly mows

TRACTOR STYLE RIDING MOWER
- Husqvarna GT52XLS
- $3200
- Has attachments for hauling

UTV PULLING a BRUSH HOG
- Mule or similar w/ swisher rough cut mower attachment
- $10k (for mule and mower attachment)
- Advantages of UTV as well as mows
- We eventually would want a UTV at the property anyhow

I don't want to spend $10k on strictly a mower, but would be willing to spend that much on the UTV option IF the mowing works well. I'm concerned that it wouldn't be a very good cut, but it has ok reviews online for the mower attachment.

I want something efficient, safe to use (and my wife to use), and that can cut high grass as well as cut grass to a low height.

Let me know what you guys use or would recommend.

Zero turn will provide fastest every day mowing, if that's a concern. Personally I'd also get a small tractor with a front end loader for mowing the high grass and use it for other things that come up.

Edit - I see where you plan to rarely mow the entire acreage, so maybe a small tractor is bad advice.

[This message has been edited by techno-ag (edited 6/16/2013 2:26p).]

Kubota has a small one w attachments.

Is this acreage open with no trees or is it wooded? I use my John deere commercial ZTR mower for around the house and up to a few acres that I need maintained close to the ground with a clean cut. This area has to be mostly free of limbs and debris as far as my laziness will allow. For the rest which is mowed once a year and managed for wildlife, I use my 55 hp tractor and 6' shredder. I'm mowing 3-6' tall thick grass that often has 3-4" limbs hidden in it and an occasional 6-8" that I can just run over without damaging anything.

Just depends on what you will be doing with it most of the time. If yours is open and clean, and one of those brands of zero turn mowers has a good reputation and will actually hold up in the long term, the. It's hard to beat a ZTR. its expensive for a reason. Sure, it just mows but it does it quickly and cleanly and you can get really close to obstacles.

If you want some attachments and stuff then you might have to step up to a compact tractor with a belly mower. It mows well too but slower and you can't maneuver it well but you can plow, till or shred with it too.

Ill put money on the fact that you will have BOTH within the next 10 years though.

I'd tell you to nix the tractor style riding lawn mower right now as it is way lower on the list of smart choices versus the ZTR.

I'd also say that unless you really plan on using the UTV regularly, don't spend the money on it and a pull behind mower.

So you are left with a ZTR, which is great for strictly mowing.

The other option is to look at a 20-30hp tractor, which given your acreage is probably the best overall choice. Kubota, JD, MF and every other MFR out there make smaller utility tractors that are jack of all trades, master of none type machines. All of them have the option of a belly mower that turns your tractor into a riding lawn mower (with a lot of extra power), or you can opt to go with a pull behind finish mower.

Having said that, the tractor will not be as good an option for strictly mowing as the ZTR will, but it will be able to do things the ZTR only wishes it could do (front end loader, box blade, shredder, post hole digger, back hoe, PTO tiller, PTO wood splitter, etc, etc, etc.).

I opted for the "not nearly as good at mowing, but better at everything else" personally. My little 24hp Kubota with a 5' 3 point finish mower has been a workhorse on my place, and it's not nearly as big as yours. I would love to have a ZTR, but I just can't justify both and the ZTR doesn't do all of the other things, which for me was the deciding factor.

+1 on small tractor in the 25-30hp range.

I agree with the above analysis and I think it breaks down to the ZTR or the smaller tractors in the 25 to 40 horsepower range with all the features listed above.

For me personally, I would spend on the ZTR and get a good used compact tractor since I don't want to rack up a lot of hours on a compact tractor mowing the grass which is the main type of work I will be doing. A compact tractor is well worth its money for all of its functions but the relative amount of time I would need a front end loader, post hole digger, blade, etc. is far outweighed by the every 2 weeks of mowing for 3 to 5 hours to mow 5 to 10 acres.

That is why I am opting for a good commercial grade ZTR with 60" deck (Scag, Toro, Dixie, etc.) and then get a used compact tractor around 35 horse with 4 wheel drive for those times when I need a tractor.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Thanks guys!

The property is mostly open, with the main obstacles being around my RV/shed/grill/etc.. Nothing built on it yet, and mostly cleared.

The ground is not totally flat, there are some uneven and bumpy areas, and towards the pond some decent slopes.

I was leaning away from zero turn due to the elevation changes, slopes and uneven ground. Was leaning more towards the Husqvarna GT52XLS (52", 24 hp) due to speed (7.8 mph), fabricated deck, and more traditional operation (i.e. my wife can drive it). The attachments are a bonus (dozer blade, bucket, dump cart), but mowing is primary use.



What are the primary reasons you would go away from this type and go to the zero turn? Do you anticipate any issues on slopes or uneven ground using the zero turn? Any maintenance differences?

Here are some pictures of the property:







Thanks again!

The ZTR is just flat out better in a strictly mowing application, especially over a tradidtional lawn tractor/riding lawn mower.

Since you don't have much in the way of obstacles, a compact tractor with a belly mower or a 3 point finish mower will be 10x better than any riding lawnmower out there, and give you considerably more versatility over every other type of cutting platform.

If you are worried about learning how to drive a tractor, they are no more difficult than a ZTR or a riding lawn mower.

Trust me - you will be much happier with the stronger frame, heavier build and more versatility of a good compact tractor than a riding mower. With a little dilligence, you can get a good one with reasonable hours for under $10k, and it will probably even come with some implements to go with it. And it will last 10x longer than even a top of the line riding mower.

In terms of strictly mowing, the order will be as follows:
1. ZTR
2. Compact tractor
3. Riding mower

In terms of overall versatility:
1. Compact tractor
2. Riding mower
3. ZTR

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THIS!!