what garden tractor to buy?

16 years ago

have had a toro wheelhorse 416 h garden tractor for 17 years. has been a good machine but i'm looking for a new unit. i mow approx. 2/3 of an acre - sloped. also will need to something to plow a gravel/sloped drive with a large area at bottom. with my toro i have to start at top of drive and plow downhill. it seems to have enough power (16 hp) but not enough traction (have wheelweights and chains) to do a good job on snow deeper than 8-10 inches. i've been considering several options: a toro 5xi (20 hp/1000 lbs), a john deere x 534 or 540, and the kubota gr 2100. all have +'s and -'s. i really would like a 4wd. the toro 5xi would be about 400 lbs heavier than my old toro but would still be 2wd. the jd 534 has 4 wheel steering which i think would be great for mowing and though it is only 2wd it does have the traction assist function where you can lock in both rear wheels for positraction. in all honesty i wonder about the quality of this unit as the levers and controls look flimsy. i have also read from other sources that the newer jd's aren't the quality units they once were. i looked at the kubotas also and was impressed. the bx series is bigger than what i need but look like a heck of a machine. the g series units look great but they don't come in 4wd. the gr2100 is 4wd and looks great for mowing but no hydraulic function for snowblade ( i have a hydraulic lift on my toro and really like that option). any suggestions? would like to keep under $10,000 if possible. any suggestions? thanks!

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Comments (10)

sawdust_maker
16 years ago
A Ventrac 3000 series? This will do all that you want, plus more. Mine was about $10K, including a bucket.

A Powertrac 180? This will cost well under $10K, but you will need to ship it home since they sell direct from the factory. Even the 422 model might be under $10K, depending on implements. Do you secretly lust for a backhoe and/or a grapple bucket?

Both will give you AWD/4WD, plus quick change for the implements. Both are known for their abilities to handle hills. Both provide everything from buckets and blades to mowers and stump grinders. Yes, with fully hydraulic lifts. Both are heavily built.

My Ventrac mulched leaves in the morning yesterday, then moved a cubic yard of pea gravel. In a few weeks, it will be plowing my moderately hilly driveway, no chains are necessary.

Think outside the box.

John
johnsinva
16 years ago
Or, you could simply add more weight to your 416 and see how it does. You can fill your tires and fabricate a weight bracket to hang weight off the back.
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I would buy a Craftsman 6500, I hear they can pull a trailer house up a mountain and push 15 foot piles of snow. They are "real" GT's. P.S. Good luck with receiving much help from people you have jerked around with for the past few months!
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tall_dog
16 years ago
Take a look at a Simplicity Legacy XL. Very capable tractor.
deerslayer
16 years ago
GTs don't do a very good job pushing more than 10" of snow. I blade snow with a WH 312-8 and it does a good job for my conditions. We usually get one or two snowfalls over 6" per season. I usually begin blading the heavy snowfalls after about 4" accumulates. I can blade 4-6" using ags without wheel weights.

Have you considered getting a snowthrower for your WH 416-H? That combination could easily handle the deeper snow.

-Deerslayer
eal51
16 years ago
I'll add to tall dog's Simplicity Legacy. The Presitge and Conquest from Simplicity now have 4 wheel drive. The Conquest does not have hydraulics but the Prestige does. Great machines!!

Enjoy the journey.

eal51 in western CT
steve2ski
16 years ago
bkim110, Since you are used to hydraulic lift, you will not be satisfied with anything but that.
1st requirement; Hydraulic Lift
2nd requirement; Traction assist (4 wheel drive)

I personally think that you should consider a snowblower for your Wheelhorse or a blade on a truck for that depth of snow. This would eliminate the second requirement.

Snowblower for a WH or a Blade for a truck are pretty cheap options when compared to a $10,000 4 wheel drive lawnmower.
Just my thoughts
ervie
16 years ago
Your best option is to get your driveway paved and buy a Honda
walk-behind snow thrower with tracks. The Honda lists for $2100
and I can't find any other brands with tracks this year. It will work on your steep driveway.

Your Toro was perfect for your lawn or else it wouldn't still be running well. Keep it or get one just like it.
User
16 years ago
I agree with keep the Wheelhorse and put a snow blower for it.

While competent for plowing snow that 416 will laugh at 10" of snow with a snow thrower. It takes far less traction to shuffle through deep snow when the thrower has tossed all but an inch or two 30 feet away.

I've seen what many consider ineffective LTs for snow removal become snow kings with the addition of a single stage thrower, weights, and chains.

My Toro Wheelhorse 518xi literally idles along in 10" snow moving cubic yards of high mountain snow with the OEM 44" dual stage snow blower, weights, and chains.

And once you've had a tractor mounted snow thrower you'll never walk behind one again and Toro offers a nifty cab for that horse.

Adding a snow thrower to your 416 is both the most cost effective solution and the most effective solution you can choose.

I don't know where you are but you might contact these people for info on Toro Wheelhorse snow thrower/blower attachments.

click here for toro Wheelhorse attachments
donco
16 years ago
Still another option: Buy a Ford N (9N, 2N or 8N) with a back blade for plowing your drive. Probably less than $3k & they're antiques, too. Then get a decent dedicated mower for the rest. You can't possibly have too many toys...er tools, I mean. Right?
Don
butchs_hobby
16 years ago
I'd go for a blower and a cab for your tractor, a blower will handle a lot deeper snow than you can blade. Besides a guy can never have too many attachments for his tractor, that's what makes them so useful! With a blower it'd add some front end weight and would probably help steering traction. In the past I've saw some kool pics on here of guys with front mounted sweepers on GT's and the snow was just flying, not what you'd want on a gravel driveway but I'll bet there's one to fit your WH.

what garden tractor to buy?

Comments (10)

sawdust_maker

johnsinva

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