That is some serious mowing. How about a used zero turn, or if a tractor is needed, a used Deere 400-500 series.

My first question would be how often do you want to replace your equipment? Many on this forum will tell you that they get 20-30 years out of their equipment. Some do I am sure.
6 acres of less than billard table smooth yard is heavy duty mowing. It will take a heavy toll on any equipment.

$3-4K is not really very much to spend on a mower. Especially one that you will put to very heavy use. I would recommend that you start right now going to Home and Garden shows around your area and seriously start looking at Commercial ZTR's and Compact Utility Tractors like Deeres, Mahindra, Gravely, ExMark, Grasshopper, my own favorite after going through your same exercise 8 years ago is a Walker. All the afore mentioned are heavy duty real steel not tin machines that with good maintenance and care will last many years and will be a pleasure to own. Buy big box store stuff at your peril. Most if not all is meant to make the residential yard owner feel cool because he can mow a 10000 sqft lot on a riding mower and not have to walk it any more.

I am not trying to be disparaging at all, just trying to point out that your chosen life style (to have 6 acres) it totally out of the norm to those people who are the market for Yard Tractors sold by Home Depot, Lowes Menards and Sears.

Next step after you have done your research, call the dealers this spring and have demonstrator models brought for you to ride on your property. If they won't do it look elsewhere. Someone who is trying to help you buy a good serious piece of equipment will want you to try it out and be happy with your purchase and will not expect you to make a decision after driving one around their parking lot.

Good luck

With the brands named, you might want to go to one of those dealers and look at a used tractor. $3K to $4K is not going to get you what you need in new equipment.

Or you up the amount of money to spend on new.

Enjoy the journey.
eal51 in western CT

The information as put forth by the previous persons is what i recommend, too! A light duty lawn tractor as sold by the big box stores, ones designed for LAWN mowing, are not going to hold up to all of that heavy mowing you are contemplating doing! Buying one will be like sending a boy out to do a man's work! Better to buy the correct mower first, and have it usable for a long time, than to save money on price and quality for a cheap one, and then have to replace it in several years, all because you equated price to length of time you will be able to use it for heavy work!
At six acres, i think i'd hire somebody to mow it twice a summer, or grow goats to keep it mowed!

I didn't notice you mention doing any gardening with one. Lots of ways to mow grass with various machines. A real Garden Tractor takes attachments for working up the dirt in your garden.

I use John Deere Garden Tractors for mowing in the christmas tree fields because the heavy frames take to field use better. Before planting a section I've found it nice to blade down any bumps and ruts so it mows smooth in the future.

What I'm saying is really consider what you will be doing before looking at any particular machine. What Sears calls a GT does not have a pto or 3pt hitch... but then if you don't need those.

Almost everybody around here, and they are more than a few, and they are not rich, who are doing what you propose, use a small, old, farm tractor with a bush hog to mow about five acres and a lawn tractor to mow close to the house.

I would say they mow the large part once a month.

I would also look at a small compact tractor with attachments for that amount of acreage. Example would be Ford 1300 or similar. You can get brush hog and "finishing mower" along with other attachments like rotor tiller, box blade, and front end loader. If you are willing to shop around and drive some you can find something similar with alot of attachments used for 3K or 5K if you are handy with a wrench. IF you have no clue how to preform pre-ventive and routine maintenance. Then, new with a warranty would be better, but, Don't expect to get off cheap as you would with used.

I've got 10 Acres. We mow, pull a harrow & cart, and move a lot of snow. I started with a 20 hp Yardman & wore it out got a Ferguson TO30 for the heavy stuff, moved up to a New Holland TC30 with a loader and A Husqvarne GTH 2548. The Husqy is in the shop getting a new engine. My advice. #1 buy from a dealer, #2 buy a heaveier duty tractor than you will ever need! Check on Boomers, Simplicity, Kobota, & JD Compacts. I'm ready to trade the garden Tractor in on a compact.
Jerry

if you need to go over rough terrain and dont need a immaculate lawn go for a westwood tractor as they are reliable work hoarses and fit chevron tires (looks like mini agri tires)

callum They don't export Westwood to the U.S. right now. Though westwoods are pretty impressive machines.

I have 7 acres, and I can't imagine mowing all of it. Are you sure you NEED to mow all six? If you do, go with the advice of the above. You need more than just a riding mower.

Good luck.

I still say look for a compact or utility grade tractor. They do so much more. We Spray and dig post holes with 3pt hitch equipment. I like the old tractors, but the new utility tractors are much safer. I wear my seat belt any time I am not perfectly flat. The All wheel drive is nice too. The only time I got it stuck a neighbor happend by with about a 400 HP JD all wheel drive. He pulled me out sideways!

I have a cub cadet GT3235 tractor. It has shaft drive with a locking diff, hydraulic steering and deck lift, shaft driven deck and shaft driven cast iron transmission. It would handle 6 acres with no problems. I bought mine as a left over so the dealer discounted it significantly. Normally this tractor is around $7000 with a deck, but I was able to get it for $5200. Cub cadet had financing available with no interest for the first year. I paid mine off within the first year so I didn't pay any interest. I suggest contacting a local dealer and see what they have. You might be able to get good deal on a new tractor like I did or maybe a used one that was traded in. I recently checked the website of the dealer I bought mine from had my same tractor but used for $4500 or so with the deck and less than 100hours on it.